{"id":533,"date":"2020-11-07T17:01:54","date_gmt":"2020-11-07T17:01:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.gordonbuchan.com\/blog\/?p=533"},"modified":"2021-04-15T00:58:28","modified_gmt":"2021-04-15T00:58:28","slug":"dell-xps-13-9300-considerations-for-linux","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.gordonbuchan.com\/blog\/index.php\/2020\/11\/07\/dell-xps-13-9300-considerations-for-linux\/","title":{"rendered":"Dell XPS 13 (9300): considerations for Linux"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The Dell XPS 13 (9300) is a high-end laptop designed for Windows, which can be reformatted to run Linux.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.gordonbuchan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/image-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-540\" width=\"353\" height=\"353\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.gordonbuchan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/image-1.png 850w, https:\/\/blog.gordonbuchan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/image-1-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/blog.gordonbuchan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/image-1-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/blog.gordonbuchan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/image-1-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/blog.gordonbuchan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/image-1-100x100.png 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 353px) 100vw, 353px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">You can pay as much as you want, or you can be patient<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>My patience was rewarded with a chance to buy a full spec system at a good price on a factory refurb with full warranty. So the lesson is: you can pay as much as you want. In addition to being a factory refurb, this model is now technically obsolete: a refreshed model Dell XPS 13 (9310) with a slightly newer CPU was announced in October 2020. See my blog post about the eBay Global Shipping Program run by Pitney Bowes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-gordon-buchan-blog wp-block-embed-gordon-buchan-blog\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"9J5im6Bozf\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.gordonbuchan.com\/blog\/index.php\/2020\/11\/07\/ebay-global-shipping-program-gsp-pitney-bowes-and-23-days-between-kentucky-and-canada\/\">eBay Global Shipping Program (GSP), Pitney Bowes, and 23 days between Kentucky and Canada<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;eBay Global Shipping Program (GSP), Pitney Bowes, and 23 days between Kentucky and Canada&#8221; &#8212; Gordon Buchan Blog\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.gordonbuchan.com\/blog\/index.php\/2020\/11\/07\/ebay-global-shipping-program-gsp-pitney-bowes-and-23-days-between-kentucky-and-canada\/embed\/#?secret=RMN19njvgl#?secret=9J5im6Bozf\" data-secret=\"9J5im6Bozf\" width=\"525\" height=\"296\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The best computer is the one you have with you<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Before this purchase, my main personal laptop was a 15.6\u201d i7-4712HQ laptop 16GB RAM 1TB SSD, which is usually connected to a monitor, keyboard, and mouse on a desk at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"259\" height=\"194\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.gordonbuchan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/image-2.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-542\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>However, when leaving the house, I have usually reached for my 11.6\u201d netbook \u2013 a single-core Celeron (essentially a 64 bit Atom) with 4GB RAM and a 64GB MMC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.gordonbuchan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/image-3-1024x689.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-543\" width=\"204\" height=\"137\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.gordonbuchan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/image-3-1024x689.png 1024w, https:\/\/blog.gordonbuchan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/image-3-300x202.png 300w, https:\/\/blog.gordonbuchan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/image-3-768x517.png 768w, https:\/\/blog.gordonbuchan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/image-3.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 204px) 100vw, 204px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The golf cart of computers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This system is the golf cart of computers, but with enough performance tuning, can provide acceptable performance under Linux.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.gordonbuchan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/image-4.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-544\" width=\"285\" height=\"256\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.gordonbuchan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/image-4.png 1000w, https:\/\/blog.gordonbuchan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/image-4-300x269.png 300w, https:\/\/blog.gordonbuchan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/image-4-768x687.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 285px) 100vw, 285px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>So I knew that my next personal computer purchase had to be small. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">More power<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For this new purchase, I needed the horsepower of a server: lots of CPU cores, lots of RAM, lots of SSD drive space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Dell XPS 13 (9300) has a 13.4\u201d screen, but fits into the Amazon Basics 11.6\u201d Laptop Sleeve:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.gordonbuchan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/image-6-1024x1007.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-547\" width=\"146\" height=\"143\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.gordonbuchan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/image-6-1024x1007.png 1024w, https:\/\/blog.gordonbuchan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/image-6-300x295.png 300w, https:\/\/blog.gordonbuchan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/image-6-768x756.png 768w, https:\/\/blog.gordonbuchan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/image-6.png 1476w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 146px) 100vw, 146px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Specifications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This machine has\nsome serious horsepower. I waited till i could get 32GB of\nlow-powered DDR RAM in this small a laptop, only available as of the\n10<sup>th<\/sup> generation Intel Ice Lake processor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Intel i7-1065G7 CPU\n(4 dual-thread cores)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>32GB RAM<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1TB SSD<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>13.4\u201d 4K\ntouchscreen<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">USB-C\/Thunderbolt 3\ndocking stations, dongles, and the BIOS compatibility issue<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are discussions on Reddit and other places that allude to compatibility problems between the Dell XPS 13 (9300) and certain USB-C\/Thunderbolt 3 docking stations. My first USB-C dongle purchase, which worked with a Dell XPS 15 (9550), was not compatible with the Dell XPS 13 (9300). Several posts on Reddit said this was a known issue and spoke of rumors of a Dell XPS 13 BIOS update in November 2020. However, I was able to find a part that is compatible:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"778\" height=\"417\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.gordonbuchan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/image-12.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-574\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.gordonbuchan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/image-12.png 778w, https:\/\/blog.gordonbuchan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/image-12-300x161.png 300w, https:\/\/blog.gordonbuchan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/image-12-768x412.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Dell support for Linux hardware drivers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Dell offers support for Ubuntu 20.04LTS hardware drivers for this model. There are apt repositories offered by Dell. However, i found that Ubuntu 20.04LTS detected all of the hardware, aside from the fingerprint reader, which required an apt repo:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-reddit wp-block-embed-reddit\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"reddit-embed-bq\" style=\"height:316px\" ><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/Dell\/comments\/hq3kf3\/xps_13_fingerprint_drivers_are_here\/\">XPS 13 Fingerprint drivers are here<\/a><br> by<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/user\/l1k3ab0t\/\">u\/l1k3ab0t<\/a> in<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/Dell\/\">Dell<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/embed.reddit.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"UTF-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Dell deserves credit for building a system which is so Linux-friendly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Dell is still Windows-centric for utilities like Dell Update and BIOS firmware updates<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Dell has done a great job in supporting desktop Linux on the Dell XPS 13 (9300). However, some things are still Windows-centric: the Dell Update utility, and the BIOS and firmware updates provided by Dell, assume you are running Windows. For this reason alone, you should consider formatting your system as dual-boot between Windows and Linux baremetal partitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Formatting the Dell XPS 13 for dual boot between Windows and Linux<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This Dell XPS 13 came with a \u201cdigital license\u201d for Windows 10 Pro. If you buy a new laptop, it is almost certainly associated with a license for Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro that will activate as soon as you reformat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Run the factory-installed Windows to test the hardware<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Dell XPS 13 (9300) shipped with a factory-installed copy of Windows 10 Pro. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you buy the Dell XPS 13 (9300) for use with Linux, I suggest that you run it on the factory-installed Windows first. Test the hardware: connect to the Internet, play a video. Then run the Dell Update utility to see if there are any updates, especially firmware or BIOS updates, you will need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">RAID vs AHCI setting in BIOS for Linux<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you intend to reformat this computer with Linux, you need to go into the BIOS and change the SATA drive controller from RAID mode to AHCI mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Change the SATA controller from RAID to AHCI in BIOS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Go into the BIOS of the laptop by pressing F2 during bootup, and change the SATA controller mode from RAID to AHCI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Stay in UEFI mode<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It may be tempting to switch to Legacy BIOS mode, but stay in UEFI mode: it will help Linux to create a multiple-boot menu later on during the build.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Creating a bootable USB-C memory stick installer (I used a USB-C micro-SD card reader)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>I found that even with a USB-C male to USB-A female adapter, i was unable to boot from a USB-A memory stick. I was almost able to boot from a micro-SD card (after enabling the option in BIOS). However, I received a device driver error from the Windows 10 installer. I succeeded with a micro-SD card in a USB-C adapter:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-amazon\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Memory Card Reader, 3in1 USB Type C Card Reader + USB OTG to USB 2.0 Adapter + Micro SD TF Card Reader for PCs and Notebooks Smartphones\/Tablets with OTG Function\" type=\"text\/html\" width=\"525\" height=\"550\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen style=\"max-width:100%\" src=\"https:\/\/read.amazon.ca\/kp\/card?preview=inline&#038;linkCode=kpd&#038;ref_=k4w_oembed_W813q7AoXJiGcV&#038;asin=B07167FPVR&#038;tag=kpembed-20\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>(I assume there is such a thing as a USB-C memory stick, but they are not yet common.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Rufus ISO utility<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Rufus is an ISO burning utility:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/rufus.ie\/pics\/rufus_en.png\" alt=\"[rufus screenshot]\" width=\"214\" height=\"275\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/rufus.ie\/\">https:\/\/rufus.ie\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Download a fresh ISO of Windows 10 from Microsoft:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-ca\/software-download\/windows10ISO\">https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-ca\/software-download\/windows10ISO<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Use Rufus, and specify partion type GPT and target system UEFI-CSM. Burn the micro-SD card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Run the Windows installer. Destroy all existing partitions. Then, install Windows in a 200GB partition, but leave the rest of the drive space as \u201cunallocated space.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Download a fresh ISO of Ubuntu 20.04LTS Linux:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/releases.ubuntu.com\/20.04\/\">https:\/\/releases.ubuntu.com\/20.04\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Use Rufus, and specify partion type GPT and target system UEFI-CSM. Burn the micro-SD card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Run the Ubuntu Linux installer. Let the installer use the remaining \u201cunallocated space\u201d on the hard drive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Linux will install with a multiple-boot menu<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It will also install a multiple-boot menu that appears when you start the computer. By default, Ubuntu Linux will boot first, but you can choose Windows as the boot within 10 seconds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.gordonbuchan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/image-7-1024x537.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-550\" width=\"136\" height=\"71\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.gordonbuchan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/image-7-1024x537.png 1024w, https:\/\/blog.gordonbuchan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/image-7-300x157.png 300w, https:\/\/blog.gordonbuchan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/image-7-768x403.png 768w, https:\/\/blog.gordonbuchan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/image-7.png 1235w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 136px) 100vw, 136px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.gordonbuchan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/image-8-1024x300.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-551\" width=\"313\" height=\"90\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Consider using KVM to host Windows and MacOS under Linux<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>KVM allows you to host Windows, MacOS, and Linux as guest virtual machines under Linux. See my blog post on the subject:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-gordon-buchan-blog\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"n1ab81tAhA\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.gordonbuchan.com\/blog\/index.php\/2020\/10\/06\/atelier-linux-kvm-windows-macos-presentation-linux-meetup-montreal\/\">Atelier Linux KVM Windows MacOS &#8211; pr\u00e9sentation Linux Meetup Montr\u00e9al<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Atelier Linux KVM Windows MacOS &#8211; pr\u00e9sentation Linux Meetup Montr\u00e9al&#8221; &#8212; Gordon Buchan Blog\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.gordonbuchan.com\/blog\/index.php\/2020\/10\/06\/atelier-linux-kvm-windows-macos-presentation-linux-meetup-montreal\/embed\/#?secret=tMXAdJTzyf#?secret=n1ab81tAhA\" data-secret=\"n1ab81tAhA\" width=\"525\" height=\"296\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Dell XPS 13 (9300) is a high-end laptop designed for Windows, which can be reformatted to run Linux. You can pay as much as you want, or you can be patient My patience was rewarded with a chance to buy a full spec system at a good price on a factory refurb with full &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.gordonbuchan.com\/blog\/index.php\/2020\/11\/07\/dell-xps-13-9300-considerations-for-linux\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Dell XPS 13 (9300): considerations for Linux&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-533","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-linux"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.gordonbuchan.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/533","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.gordonbuchan.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.gordonbuchan.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.gordonbuchan.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.gordonbuchan.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=533"}],"version-history":[{"count":42,"href":"https:\/\/blog.gordonbuchan.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/533\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2551,"href":"https:\/\/blog.gordonbuchan.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/533\/revisions\/2551"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.gordonbuchan.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=533"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.gordonbuchan.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=533"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.gordonbuchan.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=533"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}