From owner-freebsd-hackers@FreeBSD.ORG Thu Jul 24 20:21:41 2008 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-hackers@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:4f8:fff6::34]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 119E51065679 for ; Thu, 24 Jul 2008 20:21:41 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from jdc@parodius.com) Received: from mx01.sc1.parodius.com (mx01.sc1.parodius.com [72.20.106.3]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 056F08FC17 for ; Thu, 24 Jul 2008 20:21:40 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from jdc@parodius.com) Received: by mx01.sc1.parodius.com (Postfix, from userid 1000) id B7A2F1CC0A0; Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:21:40 -0700 (PDT) Date: Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:21:40 -0700 From: Jeremy Chadwick To: Zamri Besar Message-ID: <20080724202140.GA2893@eos.sc1.parodius.com> References: <1216910072.2251.8.camel@jill.exit.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Disposition: inline In-Reply-To: User-Agent: Mutt/1.5.18 (2008-05-17) Cc: freebsd-hackers , freebsd-mobile@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Laptop suggestions? X-BeenThere: freebsd-hackers@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: Technical Discussions relating to FreeBSD List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Thu, 24 Jul 2008 20:21:41 -0000 On Thu, Jul 24, 2008 at 10:39:22PM +0800, Zamri Besar wrote: > On Thu, Jul 24, 2008 at 10:34 PM, Frank Mayhar wrote: > > > My old Dell Inspiron 5160 has developed problems that I can't fix, sigh, > > so it's time to replace it. I'm hoping for some good suggestions from > > this list (cc'd to hackers for the exposure, I know everyone doesn't > > read -mobile). > > > > My criteria: > > * 3D acceleration. > > * MiniPCI wireless (don't care which card, I'll replace it > > anyway). > > * At least 15" screen. > > * Decent power consumption. > > * Plays well with FreeBSD 7-stable. > > > > Nice to have: > > * Dual core. > > * >4GB memory. > > * Working suspend/hibernate mode (and no, I'm not holding my > > breath). > > > > So, suggestions? BTW, if I get a decent response I'll summarize it for > > the list, along with the one I chose and my experience after > > ordering/installing it. > > > > > > If cost is not a big problem, then IBM/Lenovo Thinkpad Series (I prefer > T-series) is the best from my past experiences. And you may check following > articles for further tips/advices: > > http://www.freebsd.org/doc/en/articles/laptop/index.html > http://laptop.bsdgroup.de/freebsd/ > http://tuxmobil.org/mobile_bsd.html > > and off-course, freebsd-mobile archive: > http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-mobile And if you go with Lenovo, be aware that their T60/T60p/T61/T61p series (and possibly the X-series) are known to sport very high temperatures. Some people have reported temperatures of nearly 90C on their GPU (when idling), which has a direct effect on the overall temperature of the CPU (due to close proximity) and so on. This requires the fan to be on at almost all times (usually low-speed mode). Others have it worse (the laptop literally shutting off in the middle of operation): http://unix.derkeiler.com/Mailing-Lists/FreeBSD/stable/2008-06/msg00020.html Many of these laptops emit a strange high-pitch electrical noise which fluxuates in frequency and amplitude; of course, a lot of people can't hear it, which is good for them. This was tracked down to some power saving features listed in the BIOS (of both the CPU and the chipset), which you can disable: http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Problem_with_high_pitch_noises Be sure to look at http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Category:T60p, specifically the very bottom of the page. You'll notice a very large number of problem entries. A lot of them have no real response from Lenovo. Draw your own conclusions. -- | Jeremy Chadwick jdc at parodius.com | | Parodius Networking http://www.parodius.com/ | | UNIX Systems Administrator Mountain View, CA, USA | | Making life hard for others since 1977. PGP: 4BD6C0CB |