FreeBSD desktop "best-fit" Dell platform suggestions?

Frank Fenderbender frankfenderbender at council124.org
Sun Mar 31 05:37:23 UTC 2019


I have 17 old-and-new systems running for a development LAN, wherein I will be developing cross-platform/platform-independent GNU-licensed software.
With the more-open installations I see the logic of picking a system AFTER picking an OS is safer in terms of driver support and general compatibility.
I've had problems with 32-bit TrueOS (aka GhostBSD) on an old Dell Dimension 4550; likewise with Debian GNU/Linux 5.0.3 (lenny) on an old HP Pavilion 6465 (p6400).

My Ubuntu 16.04 desktop is running on a Dell Precision 5820 Tower, and my Ubuntu 16.04 server is running on a Dell PowerEdge T300 server.

In terms of platforming FreeBSD, I've decided to stay away from systems of old, which have compatibility-availability-support issues galore.
However, I do not want to trade in the problems of older systems which have drivers covered for newer systems which may not as yet.

So, I am pursuing the "reverse engineering " methodology by fitting a system to an OS rather than shoehorning an OS onto a "hardcoded" system.

I have my Dell account to work with and am looking for a dual internal HDD (1TB each) workstation with 32GB memory and 1 NIC.
Since it's known that NVIDIA is directly-connected to CIA shenanigans which smells of a backdoor security breech from the get-go -- and, I see numerous issues on FreeBSD and Ubuntu forums revolving around NVIDIA -- I am opting for AMD graphics. I can be persuaded....

Nevertheless, I would appreciate a word from the experienced installers (and post-install users) w/r/t their assessment of the "best fit" Dell for a FreeBSD desktop installation (perhaps the post-PC-BSD TrueOS' or the DesktopBSD rendering).

My goal is a system whereon I can develop and test python3, pyqt5, and sqlite3 based software.
I'm uncertain whether PyCharm now officially supported/released for FreeBSD, so if anyone has insight on that (or other quality free-to-low cost IDEs), I'd appreciate and value your input. Thanks.

I have the following $2,107.33 (every system over the cost of maximizing ram and upsizing the internal hdd hurts) configuration in my "shopping cart" but am still leery unless I review some "hmm", "uh-oh", and/or "voila" comments beforehand, so that I may modify my choice(s) before pushing a "buy" button.

If you've seen systems that quite childish, and the elitist views that feign dictatorial censoring "strength" only show cowardice and a an embracing of ignorance, "fake" awareness, and pseudo-tolerance. So, give me your from-the-hip truthful shots and all, even if at Dell. Sadly, only [cr]Apple offers credit (through barclayCard) but they cann'yt write an OS to save their SJW-converged company at all.. preferring to fire or ban or censor criticism instead. Who needs merit anyway?! QA only hurts bad programmers' feelings so it's bad and/or "privileged" os some other excuse for generalized drooling. ;-)

Okay, back top my starting point system:

Precision 3630 Tower - VR Capable ( $1,679.00 )
<https://dell.com/en-us/work/shop/desktop-and-all-in-one-pcs/precision-3630-tower-vr-capable/spd/precision-3630-workstation/xctopt3630us4>

SYSTEM CFG QUERY			SYSTEM CFG SELECTION
-------------------------------			-------------------------------------
Precision Workstation				T3620 MT
Dell Precision Tower 				3620 XCTO BASE
Processor						7th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-7700 (Quad Core 3.6GHz, 4.2Ghz Turbo, 8MB, w/ HD Graphics 630)
Operating System				Ubuntu Linux 16.04
Microsoft Office					No Productivity Software
Chassis Options					Dell Precision Tower 3620 Up to 90% efficient 365W Chassis, v2
Video Card						Integrated Graphics included
Memory							16GB 2X8GB DDR4 2400MHz UDIMM Non-ECC
Systems Management			No Out-of-Band Systems Management
Wireless							No Wireless
Internal Hard Drive Configuration	C2 SATA 3.5, 2 HD
HDD Controller					Integrated Intel SATA Controller
Boot Hard Drive					3.5" 1TB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive
2nd Hard Drive					1TB, 3.5" SATA (7,200 RPM) Hard Drive
3rd Hard Drive					No Additional Hard Drive
4th Hard Drive					No Additional Hard Drive
5th Hard Drive					No Additional Hard Drive
Optical Drive						16x DVD-ROM drive and 19-in-1 Media Card Reader
Hard Drive RAID					No RAID
Keyboard						Dell KB216 Wired Keyboard English Black
Mouse							Dell MS116 Wired Mouse Black
Network Card					1Gbit NIC add-in card (PCIe- Intel)
Thunderbolt Card				No Thunderbolt Add in Card
Serial Port / PS2 Adapter			No Serial Port/PS2 Adapter
Power Cords						US Power Cord
Placemat						Documentation MUI
Resource DVD					Dell Precision T3620 Resource DVD
Operating System Recovery Options	OS-Windows Media Not Included
Energy Star						Energy Star
Optical Software					PowerDVD Software not included
Dell Threat Protection and Endpoint Security Suite​	No Dell Data Protection | Endpoint Security Suite Software
Storage Volume					No Raid Configuration over 2TB
Canada Ship Options				Non-Canada orders only
Packaging						Dell Precision Packaging
Driver							No Wireless LAN Card
Regulatory Label					Tower 3620 Regulatory Label DAO
Documentation / Disks			Safety/Environment and Regulatory Guide (English/French Multi-language)
Non-Microsoft Application Software		Ubuntu Linux
Cables and Dongles				Video Cable, DisplayPort-to-VGA, One VGAConnection, One Adapter
UPC Label						No UPC Label
Hard Drive Software				No Intel Technology enabled
Processor Branding				LABEL,INTEL,CI7,7,SML,KBL
Stands and Mounts				No Stand
Hardware Support Services		5 Years ProSupport Plus with Next Business Day Onsite Service
IEEE 1394						No Firewire Card
Speakers and Soundbars			No External Speaker

I figure it easier to re-install on an Ubuntu ws than a Windows 10 one, esp. when I do not want to pay a fee to Mictrosoft just to erase it.
Many of us would like to be so well-off to do that... most of us are not.


thanks for your suggestions,
Frank
frankfenderbender at council124.org







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