Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: LePaul on August 31, 2006, 08:46:25 PM
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As we were discussing the other day, here's one of the systems I was checking out...
Logic Supply (http://www.logicsupply.com/product_info.php/cPath/50/products_id/415)
Pros:
Small
DC
No fans
Modest processing power
Cons:
Nothing Intel or AMD, all VIA processors
Here's the "goals" of what Im trying to get:
1.8 to 2.0 Ghz processing (Intel or AMD)
1gb RAM
40gb (or more) HDD
Onboard sound
NIC
Modest video out
2 USB ports
1 9-pin RS-232 port
2-4 hour power usage (either via included batteries like a laptop or in the case of a car pc type system, via external 12v battery
Laptop like dimensions, smaller is better
Price...ideally less than $1500
Now perhaps there are some laptops out there than can do this.
Let the ideas fly
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Why does your car need a PC?
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Its for my robot project, the R2-D2 I've been building out of aircraft grade alu.
The artifical intelligence software (LISP) is a pretty heavy hitter CPU wise. It connects, via RS232 to the control board, which then connects to the motor controllers.
The "catch" has been finding a PC solution that is small enough to fit inside the droid, have decent power duration AND have got processing power. I've found that once you go beyond 1.3 ghz, the CPUs really guzzle power.
The Car PC types allow for connecting into an external power source, such as a 12v 7amp battery (or bigger). But those systems have been really light powered, cpu wise.
So, Im just scouting for ideas.
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Ahhh ok.
Makes sense now.
Carry on:aok
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Ummm, I may just be stupid ........... ok hell, lets forget the "may" part ......... but why dont you just use any standard laptop you want and use a AC/DC adapter for cars? $500 will net you a new Dell laptop and $50 for a Auto adapter.
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Go to Dell.com and choose laptops.
Under home systems you can shoose 12,1" models. Select the cheapest of the XPS M1210. You get to configure the system and when you get to battery you will find and option that gives you two 9cell batteries. That system has a 1,86 ghz core2 dual core cpu. It should give you plenty of power and battery time. It costs just under 1500USD.
dunno if this works, but try it: http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&oc=M1210S1&s=dhs
There are so many options on Dell.com that can give you what you want really, and 2-4 hours battery time should be within reach of most of them. If you wait a month or so there should me more options with the core2 cpu. These cpus use less power and gives more performance than the current genereation of dual core cpus. Sometime early next year an even better mobile platform will be released by intel that giver you even more.
If you put dells aside there are even more, but i chose dell because they are available all over the world with identical specs.
Is screen size important to you at all?
snippet from the m1210 presentation:
"the M1210 is a true high-performance PC offering up to 7 hours 54 minutes of mobile use, using the optional 9-cell Lithium Ion battery."
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Take a look at these 2 systems too. They both offer over 4 hours battery time and have dual core (previous generation) of 2ghz. One is a tablet but that can be practical because it has a keyb and can also be used as a regular laptop.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,126552-page,1-c,notebooks/article.html
http://www.pcworld.com/product/specs/id,28944-c,notebooks/specs.html
The Lenovo looks very strong in my book and the pcworld team likes it too.
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I'm checking those links out now, thanks
Screen size isnt important, actually once installed, I'll probably remote into it via wireless networking
As for the power conversion, you loose a lot there.
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Ok I checked the Dell's and the PC World articles.
The HP-Compaq is about $2200+
The Dell doesnt indicate to me what sort of duration the battery would give. I checked the additional battery item...I think its simply an extra battery, not an additional one in the laptop.
The Lenovo looks like a promising contender. 4 hour power life, that's impressive.
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I would give Dell a call and explain your situationa and what you need. Then compare their offer with the Lenovo. Personally Id go for the Lenovo because im pretty sure it has inherited the Thinkpad quality that i have learned to trust.
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Does your software need a decent GPU, or is it CPU and ram hungry only?
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Originally posted by Nilsen
I would give Dell a call and explain your situationa and what you need.
he calls dell and asks for a PC for his r2d2 and you think they will have an intelligent response?
:rofl :lol
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Originally posted by Mustaine
he calls dell and asks for a PC for his r2d2 and you think they will have an intelligent response?
:rofl :lol
:p
He does not have to go into details... just how much battery life he needs :lol
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Originally posted by Nilsen
Does your software need a decent GPU, or is it CPU and ram hungry only?
Mostly CPU/RAM/ IO
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If you go with a PC solution, get an Opus power supply. I'm running Windows XP on an Epia M-10000 motherboard (1ghz, 512megs RAM, 250GB storage) in my car computer. I use a 90watt Opus power supply, and it is fantastic. Built in regulator, automatic startup/shutdown. It puts my computer into hibernate everytime I shut off the car, then automatically brings it back up. It can also use Standby if you want.
I know you keep saying you need lots of CPU power, but you're trading a lot for it. Size, battery life, money, etc. I do constant realtime video recording, audio playing, movie playing, media management, GPS, and wireless network scanning from my setup, and that's with a little 1ghz processor.
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Originally posted by LePaul
Mostly CPU/RAM/ IO
Then you shold be fine with either choise. Neither of them have powerful GPUs
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Hi Chair
I really need the CPU power. That's why screensize and video havent been a big requirement
I've checked the EPIAs out, one of the other guys I know tried the 1.5ghz VIA chip and it ran very, very slowly for his robot project.
You're right, the size is excellent...and being DC already, and fanless, was a real plus.
But sadly, the core issue here is something that can process the software well.
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Originally posted by Nilsen
Then you shold be fine with either choise. Neither of them have powerful GPUs
I tend to agree. Im surfing the Lenovo site now for more info.
Great lead, I thank you
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Originally posted by LePaul
I tend to agree. Im surfing the Lenovo site now for more info.
Great lead, I thank you
np.. my pleasure..
To make it harder to choose then you may also want to look at the fujitsu-siemens P series. They are worth looking at if you want to sacrifice power for alot less weight and 7,5 hour battery life on one battery.
-edit- nevermind.. they cost a fortune :D
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LOL, the Lenovo 3000 V100 Series looks good so far
I really wish the PowerPC OS has support for peripherals. I really like how the iPaq i have boots n powers up within seconds, versus waiting a minute for Windows Xp
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Originally posted by LePaul
LOL, the Lenovo 3000 V100 Series looks good so far
I really wish the PowerPC OS has support for peripherals. I really like how the iPaq i have boots n powers up within seconds, versus waiting a minute for Windows Xp
yeah..
Vista is supposed to give you faster boot times, but thats all PR so far and im not sure if the V100 is "vista ready". Im guessing Vista will take away lots of the power too just for running itself.
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Maybe you should check how the asus machines are priced over at your side of the pond.
This one can give you 6,3 to 7,9 hours with the 9 cell battery:
http://usa.asus.com/products4.aspx?modelmenu=2&model=606&l1=5&l2=64&l3=0
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How about a Mac Mini? DC, powerful, and cheap.
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Originally posted by Chairboy
How about a Mac Mini? DC, powerful, and cheap.
AI software wont run on Mac, even after putting Windows on it, there is the issue of power. Mini's are AC, dont come with DC. Even if you do, power hungry....know a person doing this route and getting less than an hour on his.
Thought that :)
Chair, you still building that canard?
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Actually, they are DC. The wall-wart is just an AC/DC adapter. They run off 12v DC. If he was using an inverter, well, that's why it ate the power so fast.
Got a link to that software again? I've got a friend who wants to build his own R2.
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Here it is... Leafproject (http://www.leafproject.org/)
One of the other R2 guys, Marcel, is going this route. You can see his progress (http://www.leafproject.org/FamilyTree/R2/r2.htm) on there (or the link i gave)
There's also a YahooGroup for Leaf, I think they give it at the site
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Have you bought a laptop yet?
Had a look at a review of the Dell D820 today (norwegian language only) and with the 9cell battery it lasted 5 hours and 20 mins. Atm the 9 cell battery here in norway costs nothing more than the 6 cell. Performance was also great. It is larger than the Thinkpad tho.
Should be within your price range.
-edit- Looking at Dell USA they even claim 6,6 hours but i trust the tested time more. It is well below your max price
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nevermind
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I've built quite a few of the Via miniitx (http://www.mini-itx.com/) boards, they run just fine and will usually fit in a glove box or under a seat with no problems.
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Originally posted by x0847Marine
I've built quite a few of the Via miniitx (http://www.mini-itx.com/) boards, they run just fine and will usually fit in a glove box or under a seat with no problems.
Please review my first post and the system requirements :)
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Originally posted by Nilsen
Have you bought a laptop yet?
Had a look at a review of the Dell D820 today (norwegian language only) and with the 9cell battery it lasted 5 hours and 20 mins. Atm the 9 cell battery here in norway costs nothing more than the 6 cell. Performance was also great. It is larger than the Thinkpad tho.
Should be within your price range.
-edit- Looking at Dell USA they even claim 6,6 hours but i trust the tested time more. It is well below your max price
So far Im just observing and using the Gateway Solo for testing thus far. Software is running, controller card is connected via RS-232 and its working ok. I'm toying with the software to guage the cpu load, etc.
I, too, like the Thinkpads. The pricing is pretty good also
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a C3PO that that used bablefish or google to translate would be soooo funnnyyy!!!!!OMG