PC versus Laptop

My older pc cant handle sl apparently the cpu and the memory arent good enough...I want to update but Im told that the motherboard (requires a socket A compatable processor) is to old...

any UK computer experts have any thoughts or advice on this ??

(no offence to U.S. computer experts but if parts are available UK people might be able to advise as to where Im best going )

I just posted this for Lexxi over on the undying thread:

/327/85/252954/1821.html#post2241598

My experience with laptops generally has been stellar. I exclusively use one for my SL experience and I have several friends I know that also use them exclusively. Whilst mine runs SL very well it is now aging, the Vostro 1500 that my friend has I mention in my post is much newer and still runs SL like a dream, I can only imagine the newest laptops are even better.

I run SL on my Dell Studio 17 and it runs almost near perfect, as I run on the highest settings. As with any laptop, as long as you have a decent cooling pad underneath to help assist the fans (mine cost a whopping $20) you should have nothing to worry about. I can see how some laptops without proper cooling devices would overheat and die, though. But cooling pads are extremely inexpensive.

My laptop had a tendency to overheat. So I got a cooling pad/fan. Which used power of computer. Which caused problems when running SL. Maybe computer was dying anyway, which is likely, but it just seems as if the cooling pad helped kill it. Much power being used.

(starting to sound wobbly, I am)

I seriously doubt that cooling your laptop helped kill it, it was probably already dying as you already said. Once heat damage has happened it tends to go downhill quickly and a cooling pad will not help much. It is better to use one from day one of the new lappy.

It was around when I started using the cooling pad that it started crashing with that "faulty hardware" error message.

I should not be allowed near computers. I probably stuck it into the wrong holes and killed the computer. Though the fan worked.

If you are going to look seriously at a laptop I strongly suggest you stay away form anything with an NVIDIA chip in it. NVIDIA has been haveing problems with chip failure rates. They invested in some new technology that is not working out for them and the result is chips that are failing at a high rate. Of course they wont say which models have those chips so it becomes a crapshoot for you the consumer.


Also, HP has been haveing massive problems the last few years and has several class action lawsuits againts them.

Nvidia really is the only game in town for 3D graphics, if you don't want to chance problems with them (and you are perfectly correct that there has been many problems with recent offers from them) then you might as well give up the idea of doing 3D graphics and use your computer for something else.
Don't even think about going for a Radeon, they are driver-wise far worse than Nvidia generally.
That only leaves Integrated Intel chips on laptops (no desktop offering) and that is the poorest option of all for performance.
Sorry the state of the 3D graphics industry atm is really that poor, the sad truth.

hi
my old pc was fabulously rubbish at sl, so i upgraded the tower to a windows xp intel (R) core TM 2 quad cpu Q6600 @ 2.40 ghz with 3gb ram and nvidia Geforce 9500 GT graphics card. So far no complaints. Cost about £500. I seriously looked at a laptop, but I also needed it for CAD for meetings and client presentations, but as previous posts they have a tendency to overheat, sl and autocad/3D is hungry and the battery power is poor. If i ever get a laptop i would only use it for CAD and probably go for an HP model. I just couldn't face another breakdown where the laptop is sent away and probably costing more to upgrade then justified.

So, this is the best I can seem to get from Dell, thoughts? . . .

Vostro 1710 Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T5670 (1.8GHz, 2MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB)
Operating System XP
LCD Panel 17.0 inch Widescreen WXGA+ LCD Anti-Glare Display
Memory 2GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz, 2 DIMM
Optical Drives 24X CD Burner/DVD Combo Drive with Roxio Creator
Video Card 256MB NVIDIA® GeForce™ 8600M GS (128 bit)
Hard Drives 160GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive with Free Fall Sensor
Wireless Cards Dell Wireless 1395 802.11g Wi-Fi Internal Card

that is without looking at the super expensive Alienware ones.

All looks good to me Lexxi, those are the options that make most sense for the money I think.

Thanks

Very Welcome, glad to help

would that apply to pc video cards made by nvidia too ? because curiously it has been implied that the memory on my pc graphics card failed..and guess what make it is?

I'm using both. For different stuff.

If I'm just logging in, do some chat/IMs and maybe some small scripting, I use a laptop ( macbook pro). If it's a decent machine, it will render graphics well. And it allows me to do this anywhere in the house.
Ergonomically it's not the best thing though, and if you're not planning to do a complete setup (external monitor, keyboard, mouse etc.), I wouldn't recommend it if you're planning on doing long sessions, with building designing etc.

For those moments, I use a fixed desktop setup. Allowing me to have multiple monitors, a high end gfx card. And most importantly a desk and desk chair.
Having a stationary workplace, which is ergonomically sound, is in the end a lot better if you're planning on doing long(er) sessions of building/scripting/designing etc.

Of couse this can be done on a laptop too, if you make sure you add the external monitor(s), keyboard, mouse etc. And constantly connect/disconnect all of those when you want to use it. But that negates the advantage of the laptop again (mobility, quick setup).

So it mostly depends on what you're plannning to do in SL. Socialize/chat/have fun: go with a laptop. Script/build etc. for longer periods, go with a desktop.

Not as much as you might think dependning on how you work. I am using a MS Laser Wireless mouse, the laptop keyboard feels fine to me and I only plug in to an external monitor occasionally.
Three quick unplugs or plug-ins, unplug the power cord, the mouse USB stick, the ethernet cable and I am away and mobile again. Plus you get a built in protection against power failure with a laptop.
YMMV as with all things but it *can* be quick and easy.