Installing Linux Lite 5.0 on a Dell Precision T1700 and NVidia GK107

[Şerban S.]

Hello everybody!
As I said before, I moved on a different machine.
I will be updating this post, as I gather new info on how Linux Lite 5.0 (or higher! ) works on this machine.
For now, I will only post here the output of the inxi -c 0 -ACdGMNSz command so you can figure out what kind of machine this is and get inspired on what works and how.

Code:

serban@T1700:~$ inxi -c 0 -ACdGMNSz
System:
  Kernel: 5.4.0-40-generic x86_64 bits: 64 Desktop: Xfce 4.14.2
  Distro: Linux Lite 5.0 LTS
Machine:
  Type: Desktop System: Dell product: Precision T1700 v: 01 serial: <filter>
  Mobo: Dell model: 048DY8 v: A01 serial: <filter> UEFI: Dell v: A25
  date: 02/02/2018
CPU:
  Topology: Quad Core model: Intel Core i7-4790 bits: 64 type: MT MCP
  L2 cache: 8192 KiB
  Speed: 1129 MHz min/max: 800/4000 MHz Core speeds (MHz): 1: 1097 2: 1098
  3: 1097 4: 1098 5: 1098 6: 1098 7: 1098 8: 1098
Graphics:
  Device-1: NVIDIA GK107 [GeForce GT 630 OEM] driver: nouveau v: kernel
  Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.8 driver: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa
  resolution: 1920x1080~60Hz
  OpenGL: renderer: NVE7 v: 4.3 Mesa 20.0.8
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel 8 Series/C220 Series High Definition Audio
  driver: snd_hda_intel
  Device-2: NVIDIA GK107 HDMI Audio driver: snd_hda_intel
  Device-3: DigiTech type: USB driver: snd-usb-audio
  Sound Server: ALSA v: k5.4.0-40-generic
Network:
  Device-1: Intel Ethernet I217-LM driver: e1000e
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 223.57 GiB used: 18.77 GiB (8.4%)
  ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: A-Data model: SU650 size: 223.57 GiB
  Optical-1: /dev/sr0 vendor: PLDS model: DVD-ROM DH-16D8S
  dev-links: cdrom,dvd
  Features: speed: 48 multisession: yes audio: yes dvd: yes rw: none

I also uploaded the data on the Linux Lite HW Database so people can get a reference on Linux Lite performance.
The only trouble I had was actually caused by my low level practice with booting and installing UEFI kits. It took me some 40 - 80 minutes to figure out the exact steps of the boot process.
From what I can say now, everything goes FLAWLESSLY.
Unfortunately, thorough tests, require a huge amount of time since I need to test many scenarios.
From what I could gather so far:

1. RAM consumption with OpenShot rendering a 720p HD video = 1600 MB;
   
2. Video used: NVidia GK 107 with 430 driver, worked with 37 FPS;
   
3. Video used: NVidia GK 107 with XOrg driver, worked with 31 FPS;
   
4. OpenShot (same as above) + Chrome, 15 documents = 2700 MB RAM;
   
5. CPU load, never maxed (went at about 65%);
   
6. SWAP = 0. I belive this is mostly due to the 240 GB SSD.
   
7. Partitioning: GPT.
   

There is still a huge amount of work to do here. A quick overview:
Three NVidia drivers to test: 340.108; 390; 435.
The Intel HD Graphics 4600 (need to set it as primary display, then see what happens next, even remove the GeForce GT 630).

Hope this will help people make a good choice and figure out WHY Linux Lite is great.
I guess it worths mentioning that my applications installation script, remained the same as for LL 4.8 on Lenovo ThinkPad T400.
The only problem I had is FSLint since it lacks a version compatible with the new components in Linux Lite 5.0 / Ubuntu 20.04.
All other User Apps (packages) (about 100) work fine.

I am very happy Linux Lite is so highly flexible!
Thanks Jerry, send my gratitude to all the team!

Best regards!