On Mon, Mar 24, 2008 at 4:01 AM, James G. Sack (jim) <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > RB W wrote: > > On Sun, Mar 23, 2008 at 10:04 PM, James G. Sack (jim) <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > wrote: > >> Gus Wirth wrote: > >> > RB W wrote: > >> >> I'm looking for some insight and/or advice in choosing between a > >> >> couple laptop systems. These are just the key factors for figuring out > >> >> Linux compatibility and with respect to using virtualization such as > >> >> Xen, KVM, etc.. > >> >> > >> >>> From what I have been able to track down the Intel system should > >> >> "outperform" the AMD system by a little bit. Both systems feature > >> >> hardware virtualization of their type. Both systems can be expanded to > >> >> 4GB of RAM. I looked for faster 7200RPM HD for both (size is different > >> >> but speed is more important I think for the intended purposes). > >> >> > >> >> There is a L2 cache difference and from what I understand that is a > >> >> large reason for the difference between the Intel and AMD in > >> >> performance. Here are the comparison systems: > >> >> > >> >> 1.) > >> >> Intel Core 2 Duo T7250 2.00GHz 2M L2 Cache, 800Mhz Dual Core > >> >> 2.0GB, DDR2-667 SDRAM, 1 DIMM (4GB Max) > >> >> 120GB Hard Drive, 9.5MM, 7200RPM > >> >> Intel Integrated Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 (965GM) > >> >> > >> >> 2.) > >> >> AMD Turion 64 X2 TL- 60 2.00GHz 1M L2 Cache (2x512) > >> >> 2.0GB, DDR2-667 SDRAM, 1 DIMM (4GB Max) > >> >> 80GB Hard Drive, 9.5MM, 7200RPM > >> >> ATI Radeon X1270 > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> If I want to go cheap and trim @$200 from this setup I could do the > >> >> following. Would this be a huge step down from the above two systems? > >> >> This CPU still has the Pacifica virtualization but slower HD and less > >> >> Max RAM. > >> >> > >> >> 3.) > >> >> AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-58 1.9GHz 1M L2 Cache (2x512) > >> >> 2GB DDR2 (Not expandable) > >> >> 160GB 5400RPM > >> >> ATI Radeon X1270 > >> >> > >> >> I did read about some delays in Linux drivers for the ATI video but > >> >> things will work under Linux with the proprietary fglrx driver. The > >> >> Intel X3100 video chip is a part of the 965GM apparently so it should > >> >> work if the rest of the Intel parts are included and it appears so. > >> > > >> > Performance is going to be an issue if you intend to do much with > >> > virtualization. Don't skimp on the hard drive, so that leaves out > option > >> > 3. Depending on what virtual machines you will be running, the ability > >> > to expand RAM to 4GB will be a plus. I run a single virtual machine at > a > >> > time with 1GB RAM in my host system and it performs adequately by > giving > >> > the M$ Windows virtual machine 512MB RAM. Linux virtual machines do > fine > >> > on 256MB RAM. > >> > > >> > The video can also be a performance killer. The Intel solution uses > >> > shared memory, which means memory access has to be divided up between > >> > the graphics and the CPU which leads to contention. You don't specify > if > >> > the AMD solution with the Radeon X1270 has dedicated memory or not. If > >> > you have dedicated memory for the video, you are going to get better > >> > performance because you won't have memory contention. > >> > > >> > If you need maximum Linux compatibility now and want only open source > >> > software, I'd go with the Intel solution. If you don't mind using one > of > >> > the latest Linux distributions and the proprietary ATI driver, the AMD > >> > solution sounds good. AMD, who now owns ATI, has released the specs for > >> > their chips and full open source drivers should be available in a few > >> > months. See > >> > > <http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=r500_glxgears&num=1> > >> > for good news about this. > >> > > >> > There are other things in the laptop that might give you problems. > >> > Wireless is one of the big ones. There have also been problems with > ACPI > >> > and getting the laptop to hibernate, if you want that capability. > >> > > >> > The only real way to tell which machine would be best for you would be > >> > to try them out in real life. Any way you can rent one for a week or > two > >> > to try it out? Barring that, have you found any reviews where Linux is > >> > specifically mentioned as having been installed and tested? > >> > > >> > >> Further complicating the options: good deals on third-party laptop hard > >> drives and memory may make it worth lo-balling the purchase > >> configuration and replacing the shipped HD and RAM afterwards. > >> > >> Regards, > >> ..jim > >> > > > > This is exactly my strategy with the 1 piece of 2GB RAM so I only have > > to buy one (at @$50) other 2GB RAM module to Max RAM. > > > > The link to the Refurbished Laptop sites actually have situations > > where for less money you can get more Laptop with the understanding > > that you are going to immediately drop $80-$100 when you replace the > > 1GB of RAM with 2 - 2GB modules... > > > > Still looking at this option... > > > > how about sodimm 4GB for $60 (after $10 rebate) > http://shop1.outpost.com/product/5475019 > > > > Regards, > ..jim
SOLD!! ;^) rbw -- [email protected] http://www.kernel-panic.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/kplug-list
