Dell Inspiron 15 3520 as replacement for Insignia NS-P11W7100

[Egzoset]

Salutations!

Earlier this month i needed to "upgrade" my hardware so i got a Dell NoteBook S/T "B92LTW3", the Inspiron 15 3xxx (End-of-Line) series with board 0DVVYG A00 inside, except those details didn't appear until it was in my hands... Anyway i've done my best to decide which Linux breed has chances to stick around for a long while. Fisrt the .ISOs are all required to launch from an amovible 'YUMi-exFAT' (Ventoy) drive, for uEFi BiOS convenience exactly; then survive a reboot and finally manage to run some multi-media player as iP-TV with one BlueTooth audio device, optionally completed with a gamepad so to play legacy games like Mario Bros and similar. Ah, and i had to find 'HardInfo' pre-installed or easy to add, preferably v2...

Here's one sample i collected and sorted out as a function of memory (starting with lightweight):

​

[ https:// i.postimg.cc/WzLPZR9t/Fedora-Cinnamon-Hard-Info2-on-Dell-Inspiron-15-3520-BT-2x-650x380.png ]​

If i'm interpreting this correctly that appears to be favorable to 'VLC', so far.

Next i'll have to look around for previous records from my former Insignia NS-P11W7100 "transformer" tablet and compare, this is some of what i managed to find:

​

[ https:// i.postimg.cc/HxMdL0ww/Sparky-Hard-Info2-Insignia-vs-Dell-900x350.png ]​

Yet in the end one very determining test will be to evaluate it once dedicated to its intended use, eventually ditching away the Linux flavours having their drivers less than fine-tuned, in particular the BlueTooh thing which MX Cinnamon actually allowed me to skip during a software update... Lucky me.

Good day, have fun!!

 

[Egzoset]

There's been a new release of MX recently, so i gave it some fair try exploring many different situations:

​

[ https:// i.postimg.cc/1RWLktKZ/Dell-Inspiron-15-3520-running-permanent-MX23-3-setup-2024-May-30-1080x330.png ]​

If it weren't for the late transition to pipewire i'd have my favourite paprefs tool available via synaptic so to get 2 BT earphone sets active simultaneously, while even with both of them confirmed to be connected & ready i'm afraid only 1 single set has sound at any time - so far... Since i already seen this work before i won't despair having sufficient support for 2-persons iP-TV viewing and/or even legacy 2-players gaming, eventually.

On a side-note, i can't but notice that Celluloïd proves having poor memory-wise performance compared to all other evaluated options, which means i can now refrain from further spending resources on it when i'll try sort out between VLC, Hypnotix and SMPlayer next time.

 

[Egzoset]

UPDATE:


Once i paid closer attention to Celluloïd i started to realize it was tempting to interpret the numbers just a little further, aided here with colour:

​

[ https:// i.postimg.cc/mgLbKjqd/Dell-Inspiron-15-3520-Non-Live-MX23-3-Emerging-patterns-2024-May-30-950x290.png ]​

This initial exception caused me to notice two more: « CPU N-Queens » & « SysBench Memory (Multi-thread) », as they appear to be an echo of performance. Actually if i calculate the mean values i get 525.26 ±0.54 % and 9977 ±0.61 % respectively, e.g. boundaries with a ± error margin around only ~½ %! ... Is it possible 'HardInfo2' values like these could somehow become useful in avoiding other "rejects" in the future and hence even save time & effort in the process??



At least that's competition for all previous champions, i'm thinking of LMDE followed by Sparky, or vice-versa...

Good day, have fun!!

 

[Egzoset]

Salutations,

This time i'll try to focuss on the qualitative aspects, starting with what's sticking around after an install/reboot from my 'YUMi-exFAT' SSD drive, sorted by order of kernel:

• Alma 9.4 Seafoam Ocelot (5.14.0-427.18.1el9_4.x86 - has 'dnf')
• LMDE 6 Faye (6.1.0-21)
• MX 23.3 Libretto (6.1.0-21)
• Sparky 8 Seven-Sisters (6.7.12)
• XUbuntu 24.04 LTS (6.8.0-31)
• Lite 7.0 (6.8.0-35) - listed as 'Ubuntu'
• Manjaro 24 (6.9.3-3) - for Arch enthousiasts

Keep in mind some of those may have needed a second Linux install to recover from their own failed GrUB2 configuration - just don't ask me which...

The home-made slogan for my Dull Inspiron 15 3520 still applies with variable intensity nonetheless (Fix once, Break many). Alma Linux didn't provide access to my NTFS Win11 partitions out of the box, for example. Availability of 'HardInfo' was also random, most got v2.0.17 (LMDE, Manjaro, MX, Sparky, XUbuntu) and i even saw v2.1.5 (Alma) and v2.1.12 (Manjaro); my worse option happened to be from Lite only offering v0.6a...

Realtek's rtw88_8821c/ce BlueTooth support caused errors at boot time when launching Lite and Alma, while other may still have related issues not so visible until i try to watch iP-TV programs. As for desktops i hated the one in Alma and also found a few Xfce menus hard to live with (Manjaro) once the font size was adjusted for my specific purposes, specially that of XUbuntu despite the fact it seems to come with « Ubuntu Pro » option$! Gnome Videos ('Totem') felt uncooperative under Alma (that one again...), besides LMDE/Sparky/XUbuntu got issues with it as well (from "auto" ratio to d-bus ones). As for my soft touchpad features they didn't work using Alma, Manjaro and XUbuntu, partly under MX i think; double clics ain't appealing enough in comparison.

Among a few bizarre oddities i noticed an absence of action after i double-clicked an .m3u TV list from the Lite desktop and 'Celluloïd' felt buggy on it too. 'Sparky Player' won't even load on Sparky, 'Hypnotix' did install but it ain't displaying TV programs nor video... Generally speaking i'd dare say that Alma proved so frustrating it was a pain in the neck, possibly for a lack of training: e.g. the machine taking control of a human!

Finally, no BlueTooth sound was part of my selective criterias: i just relied on this Dull NetBook's own set of speakers (once shaping spectrum via VLC's equalizer, to make listening somewhat more natural)...

My verdict so far? Try a duo like MX + LMDE so to be sure one install will integrate the other in its GrUB2 boot menu.

Next, the matter of video buffering might become another source of concern as i've often felt forced to fall back to Win11, with deep regret.

Good day, have fun!!

 

[Egzoset]

Hello,

After 2 months of Dull Notebook ownership the One & Only OS capable of supporting a pair of effectively active BT earphones (via 'paprefs') + 1 GamePad happens to be Linux Lite 7.0 (Ubuntu-based with kernel v6.8.0-36), too bad i must regret to admit this is also the less reliable scenario among a very short list including native Windows 11 (and its suite...) now occupying 36.7 % of my permanent storage space - e.g. AFTER i "politely" reclaimed the rest despite BitLocker's initial reluctance.

Further improved performance eventually came from MX 23.3 (Debian-based 'BookWorm'/'Libretto' with kernel 6.1.0-21): it auto-compiled its very own home-made BlueTooth driver upgrade! Unfortunately, 'PipeWire' still remains incompatible with 'paprefs' that used to allow me to get BOTH wireless earphones simultaneously active.

LMDE 6 (Debian-based Mint 'faye' with kernel v6.1.0-21) would rank as my next best choice of Linux for this particular hardware configuration. Past those 2 i'd need to better compare Sparky 8 vs Manjaro 24.0.2, but i also noticed my touchpad could require some annoying hard clics; as for XUbuntu 24.0.4 "LTS" it felt so flaky i intend to recover its partition besides that of Alma 9.4 (Seafoam Ocelot) when convenient, especially the later as its desktop just turns me crazy.

The numbers under MX have improved, even Celluloid appears to have made some gains according to both of my selected criterias (HardInfo's « CPU N-Queens » + « SysBench Memory (Multi-thread) ». 'SMPlayer' got an edge, followed by 'Hypnotix'; next with 'VLC' in par with 'MPV' it seems. YMMV!

Ah, and so far Gnome 'Totem' ain't ready for a match. Que sera sera!

 

[Egzoset]

Nearly a month later i revisit my selection of installed hardware-specific Linux spins:

• Alma 9.4 Seafoam Ocelot (5.14.0-427.20.1el9_4.x86_64) - Hard Clics, hanged hard on exit
• LMDE 6 Faye (6.1.0-22) - Based on Debian 12, supports more pleasant touchpad Soft Clics
• MX 23.3 Libretto (6.1.0-23) - Based on Debian 12 (BookWorm), pleasant Soft Clics too
• Sparky 8 Seven-Sisters (6.9.7) - Based on Debian of June 27 (as PreEmptive), Soft Clics too
• XUbuntu Noble 24.04 LTS (6.8.0-36) - Listed as 'Ubuntu', Hard Clics
• Lite 7.0 (6.8.0-38) - Also listed as 'Ubuntu' in GrUB2 boot menu, Soft Clics
• Manjaro 24 (6.9.9-1) - Arch-based, bad font size chops launcher menu, Hard Clics

Alma is definitely destined to leave space for future evaluation of additional spins, so is XUbuntu. Too bad i can't keep at least one Arch-based Linux but Manjaro will have to evolve and polish a little further...

 

[Egzoset]

P.S.:

When using an external USB 'YUMi-exFAT' (Ventoy-based) drive it's no big deal to double-check that the copy of a freshly downloaded .ISO image-file is still OKay, for example via Thunar's "properties" feature which conveniently offers a fine selection of hash numbers, like SHA512 for the Endeavour OS spin as i recall, etc.

Too bad if it just won't boot where 7 other Linux flavours already installed and continue to work as expected months later...

 

[Egzoset]

Five months have past, i thought i'd be more productive but the shorting daylight makes me lethargic i guess. Many weeks ago MX 23 started to give me trouble reading local video files and there won't be a 3rd chance if it gets worse, instead i may prefer to try something else, which is why is downloaded two versions of Garuda Linux just recently:

​

'garuda-xfce-linux-lts-240428.iso' (2G6)​

'garuda-cinnamon-linux-zen-240428.iso' (2G5)​

The good news been that both proven 'YUMi-exFAT' friendly, at least in LIVE mode (so far)... Unfortunately i quickly felt tired fighting my way through it, 1st having to adjust its display settings just to fit my NoteBook display. Then the orgy of colours didn't help as i tried to find out how to get 'HardInfo' installed, which didn't happen because i was tempted to "update" in hope i'd get my hands on whatever was supposed to install software; instead the "install" went on and on until zero bytes of space was left! All the wait for nothing, i didn't even begin to see what's the gaming fun in it, yet i understand the CLI enthousiasts may find it attractive somehow. Not me.

It seems none of the spins cumulate my personal preferences, starting with a need for some search zone in the launcher menu. Signal strength (besides a WiFi access point) is missing in many of the alternatives i installed permanently, for example. And/or i typically find myself obligated to add the SHA control sum feature to my file manager for handling ISOs correctly. Etc., etc.

I've wanted to discover another Arch alternative for a long time, too bad Garuda's focus on a flashy theme doesn't suffice for my everyday needs. Maybe i'll have a change of mind if it will let me play some old games but i ain't excessively optimistic about that...

Good day, have fun!!

 

[Egzoset]

More progress:

[ https:// github.com/hardinfo2/hardinfo2 ]
System Information and Benchmark for Linux

[ https:// www.linux.org/threads/hardinfo2-for-redcore-gentoo-based.53698/post-250078 ]​

Forums | General Linux Forums | Distribution Specific | Other Distributions | HardInfo2 for RedCore (Gentoo-based)​

There's a tabloïd informing us in advance about which Linux is going to support 'HardInfo2' exactly.


HardInfo2 v2.1.11:

EPEL 8​

MX-23​

Mageia 9​

PCLinuxOS​

Ubuntu 24.10​

HardInfo2 v2.1.14:

MX-23 Testing​

HardInfo2 v2.1.17:

OpenMandriva 5.0/Rolling​

SlackBuilds​

​

Also [ https:// aur.archlinux.org/packages/hardinfo2-git ]​

AUR 'hardinfo2-git 2.1.17.r1.g6216559-1' (for Arch)​

HardInfo2 v2.2.1 (Distro support added: Gentoo, LiGurOS, Zorin, Artix OS):

ALT Sisyphus​

Debian 13​

EPEL 9/10​

Fedora 39/40/41​

Fedora Rawride​

Freshcode.club​

Kali Linux Rolling​

Mageia cauldrau​

Manjaro Stable​

OpenSUSE Tumbleweed​

PureOS landing​

Raspian Testing​

HardInfo2 v2.2.3 (pre-release):

[ https:// github.com/hardinfo2/hardinfo2/releases/tag/release-2.2.3pre ]​

'hardinfo2_2.2.3-Puppy-10.0.8_amd64.deb'​

'hardinfo2_2.2.3-Puppy-23.12_i686.deb'​

HardInfo2 v2.2.4:

AUR​

Debian 12 Backports​

Debian Unstable​

Devuan Unstable​

Gentoo overlay GURU​

LiGurOS develop​

Manjaro Testing​

Manjaro Unsable​

OpenMandriva Cooker​

Ubuntu 25.04​

Wikidata​

HardInfo2 v2.2.4-1:

AUR [ https:// aur.archlinux.org/packages/hardinfo2 ]​

So my preferred strategy if finally clear! 1st identify a Linux .ISO actually known to support HardInfo2, only then it's going to be OKay to attempt a download in order to evaluate 'YUMi-exFAT' compatibility...

Think "green", save the planet: all wasted storage space multiplied by download (and even compilation) time involves a carbon footprint which future generations can no longer afford!!

 

[Egzoset]

After my previous Garuda and RedCore installations it felt less than satisfying to end up with no HardInfo2 data to collect and compare, so i wiped that out to re-evaluate the current Fedora and Manjaro Cinnamon releases instead:

​

[ https:// i.postimg.cc/4xd7GCtH/Hard-Info2-Fedora-vs-Manjaro-2024-Nov-12.png ]​

Most unfortunately none of them allowed iP-TV watching without annoying interruptions, despite having a fair number of video player alternatives... Garuda probably was the worse, followed by those two. RedCore may still become a valid candidate once it gets HardInfo2 available, so i can eventually proceed further based on objective numbers rather than only some subjective impression(s).

 

[Egzoset]

Update


Video playback reliability improved significantly with Manjaro, probably a result of unplugging from my larger HDMi display, possibly also related to previous connection hiccups:

[ https:// i.postimg.cc/nrYXzJSD/Hard-Info2-in-Permanent-Manjaro-setup-2024-Nov-14-640x135.png ]​

In any case this could mean i'll flush Fedora and reclaim its partitions if it won't work better as well. As for Manjaro i was quite pleased to find it allows me to get Hypnotix installed! So far so good.