Video card for notebook
- Thread starter milefile
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- 10,832
I got a Dell Inspiron 8200
Specs:
Intel 1.6 P4
15 inch UXGA
256 RAM
20 GB HD
32 MB NVIDIA GeForce 3D card
Integrated Ethernet card
32X CDRW/DVD-ROM
I don't need a huge HD becasue I'm networking it and my current machine will become like a file server and it has 20GB left on it.
My current tower machine is: 800 mhz, 196 RAM and 40 GB HD. I figure if 800 mhz has never given me any problems 1.6 ought to be plenty. I just don't know whart anyone needs with a 2.8 Ghz processor.
But anyway, I'm pretty psyched, and it's a step up in everything except the HD.
- 2,732
First off, what type of processor is it? If it's Celeron, upgrade, because those are crap. From its clock speed, it looks like it's too low for a modern P4(But then again, I couldn't find Inspiron 8200 on Dell's website...), but definately too high for a PIII, so maybe a Centrino? I would definately upgrade your hard drive, though. Even though you're going to have your other computer act as a file server, I would suggest getting maybe a 30GB hard drive. Windows XP requires at least 5GB for it's OS, then you'll need to install an office suit(Microsoft, OpenOffice, etc), which will take up more disk space. Then programs for web editing and the like, probably. You'll also want a picture editor, which will take up more. Basically, you'll notice that with 20GB, you will lose space pretty rapidly, especially if you want to do any video editing...
2.8 Ghz.... I would only have 2.8 if it were in a desktop or a server. I wouldn't want it in a notebook because as of now, it would be WAY too hot... If you can, I would suggest getting an ATI video/graphics card. ATI has better detail, while nVidia is more for clock cycles. If you are willing, though, you could try putting Linux on your notebook sometime.... I'm still trying to figure out how to view Windows partitions over the network from a Linux box, but I havn't really tried too hard, and I'm sure that there are some distros that make it easier than Slackware...
If you have any comments or anything, feel free to email me.
Sage
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I have 20 GB on my iBook (with Office X and Studio MX installed), and I have more than enough room... *checks HD*... I'm using just under 5 GB. Then again, I dunno how much space OS X takes up compared to XP, but even with that factored in, 20 GB shouldn be plenty. (And the iBook is my primary computer... it does desktop duty quite nicely 
)
)
- 10,832
It's a Pentium. I wouldn't do a Celeron. I plan to install Macromedia Studio MX, Photoshop, an ftp program (I could just use IE), the Java platform, and a C compiler. I don't think I'd need much else. And I won't even do the entire Studio MX. Just Dreamweaver and Flash. Maybe Coldfusion is I ever get into that. I use notepad more than anything else. And I'll get rid of most of what it comes with from Dell. I don't plan to keep any files on it though, as they will all stay on the old machine unless I need to take them somewhere. I plan to add a HD to the old machine and run Linux on it. RIght now my Linux machine is ****. Not even powerful enough to run Gnome. Kind of a waste since it was supposed to be for me to test scripts but I just do it on my PEHosting space since the router isn't configured to let anyone in, and even if it was, it'd be too weak to work well.
Sage
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Milefile - No Fireworks? Fireworks is like the greatest thing in the world, especially with the excellent integration with Dreamweaver (you can't get anywhere near the same level of integration with Dreamweaver and Photoshop). Trust me, at least keep Fireworks for a while... I think you'll love it.
- 10,832
Originally posted by Sage
Milefile - No Fireworks? Fireworks is like the greatest thing in the world, especially with the excellent integration with Dreamweaver (you can't get anywhere near the same level of integration with Dreamweaver and Photoshop). Trust me, at least keep Fireworks for a while... I think you'll love it.
I can always add it. I'm just so familiar with Photoshop. Every time I try to use fireworks I get stumped for 0.5 seconds and I just go do it in Photoshop. I do want to learn it, though. I can be very impatient.
- 2,732
What do you mean? What type of processor does it have? Gnome1.4 runs on my 200mhz POS Pentium 1 w/ MMX(I do also have 64MB memory in it). What distro did you end up using? You could try installing Slackware on it, since I have that thing running on my 200mhz. Then you don't need to use Gnome, KDE, or the like for most of your computing time on that computer because most commands can be run from text mode. Then once you get your server settings configured, you can keep the computer on, turn off the monitor, and if you wish, plug the keyboard and mouse into your laptop, as well as your monitor. Then you can also update files and the like remotely.
I would suggest using an FTP program OTHER than IE. There are plenty of freeware FTP programs out there, or you could use the text-mode FTP program that comes with Windows. You can chmod and do all of the same commands as with any other commercial FTP program, but it might take a while longer, and there aren't metres to gague how long it will take to download or upload files, but at least it has more flexibility than IE for FTP purposes....
P.S. Either Email me or something and we can discuss your Gnome problem. What I ended up doing was downscaling most of the graphics and eyecandy. I also have my resolution as 800x600, which is good enough for what I use it for(I'm not on it too much, mostly because it doesn't have 3d Studio Max and it is too slow because of the age of the processor...)
- 10,832
In August I plan to take a course at the local community college. It's an introduction to computer science for majors. Doing it on my own is just too inefficient and slow. I'll benefit from the structure, expertise, and community of a class. I'm going for the big package, a total career change. Playing with PHP and Java in my spare time is great but not enough. I got the notebook so I could set it up in the family room and not have to isolate myself in that hot, cramped computer room at my house. Especially with the baby, I hate being stuck back there all by myself. It'll be nice to have an idea I want to try and instead of walking across the house I'll just move three feet and still be available, and cool.
rjensen11, I ended up with Red Hat, my uncle-in-law's choice.
rjensen11, I ended up with Red Hat, my uncle-in-law's choice.
Sage
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Heh, that's kind of interesting, because it's been the exact opposite for meOriginally posted by milefile
I can always add it. I'm just so familiar with Photoshop. Every time I try to use fireworks I get stumped for 0.5 seconds and I just go do it in Photoshop. I do want to learn it, though. I can be very impatient.
... I had a hard time figuring out Photoshop, but I think Fireworks is a piece of cake (and one can't deny how helpful it is that Fireworks has a full set of vector tools to work with 
).BTW, you do know that Dreamweaver has FTP support built right into it, right? (The best feeling in the world is to finish something in Dreamweaver, just press Command+Shift+U, and butta-bing, butta-boom, it's uploaded
)
- 10,832
I know. I oughta use some of the features, huh? I have a bad habit of learning programs in pieces. If somthing doesn't work right away I just do it the long way rather than figuring out the program. Then I go back and get it later. I don't remember what it was but somthing didn't work when I tried to use the FTP. I probably hadn't entered the information correctly. And I've only worked on that one site sice I've had it. Maybe I can email my questions to youOriginally posted by Sage
BTW, you do know that Dreamweaver has FTP support built right into it, right? (The best feeling in the world is to finish something in Dreamweaver, just press Command+Shift+U, and butta-bing, butta-boom, it's uploaded
Sage
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Heh heh, sure! I don't mind... and I've become pretty familar with Dreamweaver.Originally posted by milefile
Maybe I can email my questions to you
(I'm not even close to having explored every vast thing you can do in there, but I can do what I need to get done without any problem) I'm not quite as handy with Fireworks, but I'd be more 'n happy to help you with that too.If you want to email me about, please use the GTP link first (don't want to post it and get a bunch of crawlers sucking it up and spitting spam right back at me
I've had that happen before)
- 10,832
I had this plan to network the notebook by running a wire up the wall from a jack, accross the attic, and down a wall in the family room, right were I'll use it most of the time. So I got the wire and jacks and cut the holes for the jacks. Then I went up in the attic and realized it's pretty much impossible to finish. The slope of my roof is so low that I can't even crawl to where I need to drop the wire down for the jack. So now I have these holes (albeit small) for nothing. And I have to figure out another way to run the wire, an invisible way, says the wife, and I tend to agree. It was such a great plan.
- 2,732
That's cool how you're getting into coding so seriously. I would recomment trying to get something at least a PII for a server. I'm sure that you can find some for pretty cheap on ebay, the only thing I'd be concerned about would be shipping. Or maybe your work is clearing out some older computers? That's how my dad picked up our 120mhz computer(It's busted now, ever since I dismantled it completely(that is, removing the memory, hard drive(1GB), Floppy drive, and CD-ROM drive, as well as the soundcard...) ), which we got a few years ago. So a PII with a decent hard drive and either a 10/100 or 10/100/1000 ethernet card(personally, I think 10/100 is more than sufficient, just don't get a 1/10, those things suck ass, I used to have one in my 200mhz, and I thought it was slow because of the processor, but once I got the 10/100 in there, it went a lot faster), it should work nice as a server. Just remember to use Slackware so it doesn't have to waste resources on a GUI like Gnome or KDE.
Radeon is the brand from the company ATIOriginally posted by Giancarlo
Does Radeon make video cards? They're so much better than GeForce cards (not neccessarily more expensive, though..
GeForce is the brand from the company nVidea(sp.)
Originally posted by milefile
Heh, we ended up having to drill two holes, to the outside of our house. This was because my dad got the brilliant idea of ethernet networking AFTER we got our attic insullated again.... Since you're using a notebook, have you considered using a wireless LAN? If you placed your wireless router closest to the centre of your house, you should get pretty good coverage... This also means that you won't be limited to your distance by how long the cord is, and it also reduces the chance of Alex tripping over the cord once he starts to walk.
- 10,832
I'd love to do a wireless but I just bought my wired router a month ago and I'm not too into getting another one already. I didn't know I'd be getting a notebook so soon then. I plan to run the wire straight through the wall and down under the carpet around the edge of the room. In one spot it'll go accross for about two or three feet. But nobody walks there unless we have company. And this means I have twice as much wire as I needed. What a pain.
- 10,832
Well I got my notebook just now. I'm at work and won't get a chance to fire it up until I get home. I have to say I'm a little disappointed in that although I knew it was a refurbished system (same Dell warrantee as new), another refurbished system, like the one my co-worker just got, was in asthetically better shape. Like I can tell the mouse pad has been used, etc. My co-workers was brand-spankin' new. It even still had the plastic wrap on it. I know all that matters is how it works, and I'm sure it'll be fine.
- 15,799
Nice! My Dad has a crappy Compaq Presario. I don't know what model though...
As for video cards, you don't need much for content creation applications (Photoshop, Dreamweaver, etc). My old 266mhz PC could run Photoshop and Dreamweaver and it only had an 8mb video card I think. Then, my next computer after that had a 16mb card before I spend the money on a trusty 128mb GeForce 4 Ti4200.
- 10,832
Well I fired it up last night. Very nice. I'm happy. Especially that my cabling project worked, including attaching my own connectors. *phew* That would've been great... two evenings worth of work down the tubes. Now all I need to do is figure out the networking with my other machines. If anyone knows about file sharing and drive mapping a new XP laptop, an old 98 machine, and a Red Hat machine, please do share. The Linux and 98 boxes are already connected and sharing drives through a router/switch. Now I want to add the XP laptop and I didn't have much luck/time last night.
- 10,832
Originally posted by rjensen11
I'd help you out man, but right now I'm kind of tired because for the past week I've been helping an aunt of mine move. Man, if I feel how I do now, I wonder how bad I'll feel once I'm 30, then 50, then 80!
My next step is to put XP on the 98 box. I may just loose the Linux box for now as it's not really benefiting me in any way. We'll see. I'm in the long process of backing up files. Then I'll get my drivers organized and hopefully I'll be ready by this weekend.
- 10,832
Heh. I actually have to send this laptop back as it is apparently defective. It just locks up while it boots and there's really nothing left to try. The good news is that I will probably end up getting a slightly better computer out of it. And I don't have to return it until the new one arrives so I'm just keeping it on until then
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