New Laptop Configuration

[Gelf VXR]

Thinking about a new laptop specifically for EfiLive, need some advice?


I know I 4 GB RAM (Excel Pivit Tables are memory hungry)

Processor, egain excel pivit tables are processor intensive, I havn't a clue there so many types now, centino dual core? What about AMD 64 bit plus 64 OS?

HD, what ever!

Which OS, there are so many???

USB 2, is there any improvement in com speed with flash scan?

Seperate or intergrated graphics memory?


Thanks in advance

[redhardsupra]

to use more than 4gb of ram you need a 64bit OS. in 32bit windows you will see a max of 3.25gb. 64bit windows so far sucks, especially on the driver side; this applies both to vista and xp. in general xp is a much more stable OS simply because it's more mature.
as far as cpu's, get the one with the lowest power consumption ;)
usb2 is a norm, good luck finding a laptop without it now.
avoid integrated graphics as the plague. it is by far the biggest downfall of all cheap laptops.

[Gelf VXR]

to use more than 4gb of ram you need a 64bit OS. in 32bit windows you will see a max of 3.25gb. 64bit windows so far sucks, especially on the driver side; this applies both to vista and xp. in general xp is a much more stable OS simply because it's more mature.
as far as cpu's, get the one with the lowest power consumption ;)
usb2 is a norm, good luck finding a laptop without it now.
avoid integrated graphics as the plague. it is by far the biggest downfall of all cheap laptops.

Thanks for input, I was just enquiring if USB 2 offerers any imporvrments over USB 1 with com speed?

[TAQuickness]

yes - usb2 is much faster

[GMPX]

I just got a new HP laptop with 2.0GHz Dual Core Centrino, 4Gb RAM (Vista only see's 3Gb). It is plenty fast enough, only problem is Vista, I wish I could have got XP for it, Vista is really unstable IMHO.

Cheers,
Ross

[TAQuickness]

Do some digging Ross - You'll probably find all the XP drivers you need. Took me about 48 hours to dig them up for my latest HP desktop.

[Gelf VXR]

I searched on the main website, I couldn't find a minimum or recommended pc configuration?

I don't to spend a fortune, I have a laptop for work use, not meant for personal use, which I am using now. When it died, it prompted me into the decision to get mt own, I just want one for efilive really to work well on?

[Bruce Melton]

http://forum.efilive.com/showthread.php?t=7496&highlight=USB

[TAQuickness]

The main page should have these specs - I'll let the guys know.

I believe the minimum PC configuration will be anything that can run windoze 98 or later.

[ScarabEpic22]

Ive been running EFILive on my HP Pavilion dv9575 for almost a year now. 2ghz Centrino Core2 Duo T7300 w/4mb L2 cache, 2gb ram, nVidia 8600GS 256mb+ graphics, vista ultimate x64. Its crashed about 3 times on me in the past year, so for me its actually been more stable than XP x86 was for me.

Id say get 4gb ram (I want to upgrade mine already), get at least a 2ghz core2 duo processor (AMD's kinda dropped the ball right now, Intel has the better dual core processors), make sure the HDD is at least a 5400rpm drive otherwise data transfer will suffer, and Id recommend a seperate graphics card but it eats battery. If you want a laptop that has all the power, just be warned it will suck battery. Mine's a 17" screen, and with the brightness turned all the way down I get 2.25hrs tops on battery. If you get Vista, get Ultimate x64 or Home Premium x64. The only driver problem Ive had was back before FTDI got the FlashScan drivers signed by Microsoft, other than that everythings worked perfectly.

If you have more questions, just ask away and Ill try and help! :D

[joecar]

GELF, what PC do you have now (speed and memory)...?

[Gelf VXR]

GELF, what PC do you have now (speed and memory)...?


I have been relying on my work laptop, an IBM R52, 24 months old. I can still use this while i'm working away, I want a personal laptop for use in nthe car for data logging, i know BB is available now, but pid selection is limited.

What about this for data logging? Advent 4211 Net book, around GBP280 OR USD560


Specifications

1.6GHz Intel Atom; Windows XP Home Premium; 10.1in (1024x600) LED-backlit LCD screen; 80GB HDD; 1GB RAM; Intel 945 Express integrated graphics; 2 x USB, 1.3Mp webcam; Bluetooth; ethernet; VGA video out; 3.5mm headphone and line-in sockets; 3-cell (2200mAh) lithium-ion battery; 259x178x30mm; 1.13kg

[joecar]

I find the best performance feature is at least 1GB RAM over everything else (altho at least 1GHz helps).

[1998ws6]

I run a panasonic toughbook cf-74 dual core machine, touch screen, and serial port, great for all tuning applications. Great battery life, but very pricey.

Ryan

[Bruce Melton]

Cf-73 here with 2 bats and single core 1.7. Does it all, about ~ $400 used.

[Gelf VXR]

Quick update, I bought the Advent 4211 Net book and have been usng it with EfiLive and black box logging with no issues what so ever

[Gelf VXR]

Is the intel N270 atom a dual core, i only ask as i noticed in the task manager two seperate CPU usage history, shown below


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y164/andysa1966/atom.jpg

[joecar]

GELF,

I read in this doc that it is single core hyperthreading: http://download.intel.com/design/processor/datashts/320032.pdf

Cheers
Joe

[redhardsupra]

atom n270 is a single core hyperthreaded cpu, the new atom n330 that just came out few days ago is a real dual core one