Any Dell Studio Desktop experience?

[oldcpu]

I'm looking at purchasing a new PC. I may purchase a Dell Studio Desktop (recently released by Dell) and I am researching compatibility. I checked the openSUSE HCL, but its too new to appear there. I have discovered problems some openSUSE users have had with some of the components I have listed, but I have also read success stories by users in other Linux distributions.

Does anyone have experience with that Desktop under Linux, or have experience with the audio, wireless, or graphic chipsets ?

I called Dell and obtained the following on the Dell Studio Desktop I am considering:

• Intel Core 2 Quad-Core Q9450 (2.66 Mhz)
• 4 GB RAM, 1 TB SATA hard drive
• motherboard chipset is an Intel G45 (according to Dell support)
• Graphic card = 256MB Radeon HD 3650
• Audio hardware codec = ALC888S (according to Dell Support)
• Wireless = Dell Wireless 1505 (BCM93421 chipset according to Dell support)

My thoughts on some items:

• I've read of users having trouble with 3D working on Radeon HD3650, but then I don't use 3D. I believe openGL and/or Vesa driver should work.
• I've read of Linux users have trouble with ALC888S audio hardware codec, but I've read with 2.6.27 kernel and with non-nvidia motherboard chipset that ALC888S codec works ok with Linux (and hence the importance of the Intel G45 motherboard chipset).
• I've read BCM4321 wireless chipset works with ndiswrapper on Ubuntu. I have not researched enough to determine if there is linux firmware for that.

I very painfully chose the ATI Radeon 3650 graphic over the significantly superior (and more expensive) nVidia 9800 because of the well publicized nvidia quality/heat problems with that nVidia 9800 card. One merely has to google on this to get swamped with hits. The performance difference between the two graphics cards is staggering (as nvidia card is massively superior in performance) , but I can not accept the significant risk of the graphic card gradually failing (which is what has happened to many nVidia 9800 from the various surfing I have done - I wish I was wrong on this).

Note this is my own post, and my considerations have nothing to do with the views of this forum, nor with the views of Novell/SuSE-GmbH.

[oldcpu]

A further note, one reason I am considering dell, aside from the technical, is:

• their price is competitive, albeit definitely no where close to being a bargain (I can build a cheaper PC myself, if I wanted to spend the time - I don't (want to spend the time))
• by ordering Dell I can get pre-installed Vista in English for my wife (she wants Vista) and I can get an english keyboard and english manuals, which is difficult to get in Germany from the average mail order place and difficult to get from the average computer store
• I want to send some money Dell's way for their supporting Linux (albeit Ubuntu), and I'll definitely write them a favourable letter if this install of openSUSE Linux works well for me. I think such purchases (with appropriate letter of thanks) is one way to try and influence PC suppliers such as Dell, toward Linux

I know thats not much, but we all do the very little that we can.

[oldcpu]

Originally Posted by oldcpu

I've read BCM4321 wireless chipset works with ndiswrapper on Ubuntu. I have not researched enough to determine if there is linux firmware for that.

Hmm... I've read of this post from a user who managed to get the BCM4321 working without ndiswrapper. ... so there is hope
Installing Broadcom 802.11 Linux STA driver « Djays’s Blog

[oldcpu]

Originally Posted by oldcpu

Wireless = Dell Wireless 1505 (BCM93421 chipset according to Dell support)

Thats a typo. Should read "BCM94321" which I believe is a BCM4321 "for short".

[deltaflyer44]

BCM4321 wireless chipset

Yes this will work using the hybrid drivers,but a compile will be necessary,or you could use ndiswrapper & the windows driver ( /me ducks Larry's right hook )

Andy

[Axeia]

I think I remember reading somewhere that only nvidia GPU's between date x and y were affected by the problem. However I can't find the source..

I do know Dell worked around the problem on laptops based on the same chip by upping the fanspeed.. May I ask why you're looking at a top of the line card and post

but then I don't use 3D. I believe openGL and/or Vesa driver should work.

Seems like a waste of money.. unless your wife does make use of it under windows of course.

[oldcpu]

Originally Posted by Axeia

May I ask why you're looking at a top of the line card and post

Seems like a waste of money.. unless your wife does make use of it under windows of course.

Don't forget, even ignoring 3D (which I don't plan to use) there is also play back of High Definition Video, which is still in development, but the technology is now starting to move fast. I did read an assessment that the Radeon HD3450 is "just" capable of play HD Video, which IS something I want, and that the basic Intel graphics (NOT the Intel 4500 GMA) may not handle the top High Definition Video, so that was also a factor.

There is typically a lot of flexibility with Dell, but in this case, the only graphics offered with the other features I wanted (hard drive, RAM) was the Radeon 3450HD.

Also, remember I rejected all nVidia 8000 and 9000 series, and also rejected the Intel 4500 GMA (as there were no drivers yet).

But from what I have read, the Radeon HD3450 is very far from being a top performer.

[oldcpu]

Originally Posted by oldcpu

... that the Radeon HD3450 is "just" capable of play HD Video, .

Just ignore some of my previous post ... I'm getting my Laptop Studio mixed up with my desktop Studio.

Reference the fair question ... the price I was looking at for the Dell 3640 was either 10 or 20 euros more to upgrade for 3450 to 3650. So thats why I considered it. My reasons for the 3450 are in the previous post.

[Dexter1979]

Originally Posted by oldcpu

I'm looking at purchasing a new PC.

Does that mean you will be changing your name to 'BrandSpankingNewCPU'?

The Dell Studio is a nice looking pc. I kind of like the Hybrid.

In either case Dell would not be my choice in case of trouble. I just don't like it when I can't just walk into a shop and say 'Please fix this.' Building my own would be my choice.

I know, a bit of a useless post but I couldn't resist the quote

[oldcpu]

Originally Posted by Dexter1979

Does that mean you will be changing your name to 'BrandSpankingNewCPU'?

The thought did occur to me.

Originally Posted by Dexter1979

In either case Dell would not be my choice in case of trouble. I just don't like it when I can't just walk into a shop and say 'Please fix this.' Building my own would be my choice.

The HP dv5 looks attractive. When I was searching/purchasing, none of our local storeshad the HP dv5 configured the way I like.

But I see one now has a nice HP dv5.

Still, the Dell Studio 15 runs pretty good on openSUSE-11.1 beta5. The only item that I am not happy (yet) with is the audio, although I am getting there. The headset/mute function does not work well.

I also want to carve up the disk more (reduce Vista more in size, it takes up FAR TOO MUCH hard disk space).

I've read of HP dv5 users having problems with their audio. I confess I've stopped tracking this, now that I have a Dell.