I custom ordered my Compaq Persario 5000z, which turned out to be better for me as a result. Bottom line is that my system ended up with a few better components than the shelf models (still isn't saying too much).

Loading Solaris 8 didn't work too well. I couldn't find drivers for my video, modem, or NIC. Solaris did install and I would have continued with Solaris but, since I was rebuilding the OS anyway, I installed Red Hat 7 for grins.

Red Hat installed drivers for every device but my modem (if I recall correctly). That coupled with it's cool collection of stuff decided for me. Solaris was pretty much the same Solaris I've always used and the Gnome window manager was far too appealing for me to struggle through tracking down video and NIC drivers just to get a functional system.

This configuration worked great as a database server for a year until my kid's gaming reqs conflicted with mine at which point I moved to Fedora for my Dell, which still serves as a database server.

Bottom line is that you're likely to have fewer configuration and compatibility issues on your Compaq with some Linux distro.

By the way, I learned my lesson with the Compaq system. These systems were not meant to be used for anything other than Windoze. Even Win2k was a hard fit. I buy nothing but Dells anymore. I can't speak to other distros but Fedora installed on my Dell desktop system without a hitch. I use it primarily as an Oracle database server, keeping up on their latest technologies.