Dell Precision 670?

etcetera · 03-13-2006, 03:21 PM

I want to get Dell Precision 670 - is that a good choice for SUSE or Fedora Core?

Any issues?

Any alternatives?

I want a dual Xeon either 2.8 or 3.0Ghz and SCSI hard drives.

pljvaldez · 03-13-2006, 04:04 PM

Are you ordering from Dell? If so, I would get a 670n loaded with RHEL. Not sure if the hardware in the 670 and 670n are different. But at the very least, you'll have linux compatible hardware with a 670n, even if you nuke RHEL and install Suse...

etcetera · 03-13-2006, 07:21 PM

No, not from Dell, from ebay.
You can pick up a nice, off-lease unit for about a grand. Example: Dual 2.8Ghz, 1GB of RAM, SCSI disk(s), etc. These were very expensive machines recently. While not the latest and greatest, I think they are best bang for your buck, and a nice box compared to my dual P-II. (Which is still half-decent BTW)

peter_89 · 03-13-2006, 07:42 PM

Nah. The best possible thing you can possibly do is buy a computer pre-loaded with Linux. No hardware issues.

pljvaldez · 03-13-2006, 11:47 PM

If you're getting it from ebay, you might email the seller and see if you can find out what hardware is in the box. Then you can find out if it'll be supported in linux. Or see he'd be willing to pop a knoppix CD in it and at least figure out if all the hardware is recognized...

etcetera · 03-14-2006, 10:32 AM

I was under the impression that Dell Precision was one model certified to run Linux, or at least RedHat. That, plus the fact I like its top-end configuration, makes it appealing. You can pick up an off-lease model for a nice price, 60% of what a similar new box will run.

pljvaldez · 03-14-2006, 10:49 AM

Well, I know the 670n is linux compatible, but I'm not sure about the 670. They've taken to adding an "n" to the linux machines. Not sure if that's just because the OS is different of if they're putting in slightly different hardware.

peter_89 · 03-14-2006, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pljvaldez

Not sure if that's just because the OS is different of if they're putting in slightly different hardware.

They would have to, unless they made RedHat/Novell sign a deal to make their distributions compatible with Dell's proprietary hardware.

etcetera · 03-14-2006, 12:51 PM

OK... So what is the difference between 670 and 670n?

etcetera · 03-15-2006, 02:51 PM

Will Linux run on this?

http://cgi.ebay.com/DELL-PRECISION-6...QQcmdZViewItem

pljvaldez · 03-15-2006, 03:39 PM

Like I said, I would call/email and see if they'd be willing to drop a knoppix cd in it. If it works on knoppix, it should be good to go...

etcetera · 03-20-2006, 09:34 PM

There seems to be a multitude of issues concerning Linux on Dell Precision 670:

http://groups.google.com/group/alt.o...b6a4d828cda4eb

http://groups.google.com/group/novel...a86df18c22b256

http://groups.google.com/group/linux...a54f2f4c93bdcd

Does anyone here have Linux successfully installed on Dell Precision 670 (Not 670n)?