[TriLUG] Linux Notebook / OT: Windows Experience Index

Anderson Silva afsilva at gmail.com
Sun Aug 5 18:43:51 EDT 2007


I bought a laptop from http://www.allaroundgeeks.com/ - the hardware it
comes with works well with linux. I've used: Ubuntu 7.04 , Fedora 7 and
currently running RHEL 5 on it.

The guys from AGG will actually ship the computer with Ubuntu pre-installed.
The price is good, and the I am pretty happy with the hardware.

AS

On 8/5/07, Tom Eisenmenger <teisenmenger at charter.net> wrote:
>
> Hi all,
>
> You may remember my asking for recommendations on technologies to look
> for or avoid in a budget notebook purchase.  You may be interested that
> I am opting for one of three Gateway notebooks, all Intel-based (specs
> are from www.gateway.com:
>
> MT-6841:  2.0 GHz Intel Core Duo T2450 2MB L2 Cache 533MHz FSB, Intel
> 945GM chipset, 2GB Dual-Channel RAM @ 667MHz, Intel GMA 950 video, 160G
> 5400RPM SATA HD
>
> M-6816:  1.5GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5250 2MB L2 Cache 667MHz FSB, Intel
> 965GM chipset, 2GB RAM @ 667MHz, Intel GMA X3100 video, 160G 5400RPM
> PATA HD (Best Buy says it's SATA)
>
> M-6817:  1.5GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5250 2MB L2 Cache 667MHz FSB, Intel
> 965GM chipset, 2GB RAM @ 667MHz, Intel GMA X3100 video, 250G 4200RPM SATA
> HD
>
> While in the stores, if a machine wasn't locked down I'd run
> Start->Control Panel->Performance Index to get the "Windows Experience
> Index".  This is where things get interesting...
>
> MT-6841:
> Processor:  4.7
> Memory: 4.6
> Graphics: 3.1
> Gaming Graphics: 3.1
> Hard Drive: 4.8
>
> I'd also tested the MT-6840 which is, as far as I can tell, IDENTICAL to
> the 6841 except it has only 1GB of RAM (2x512).  I got these WEI numbers:
>
> MT-6840:
> Processor:  4.7
> Memory: 4.5
> Graphics: 3.2
> Gaming Graphics: 3.1
> Hard Drive: 4.7
>
> Notice how the Memory score dips as you would expect in comparison to
> the 6841, but the Graphics score actually increases a bit and the Hard
> Drive score dips!  Why would this be the case?
>
> Now, on to their newer models...
>
> M-6816:
> Processor:  4.6
> Memory: 4.5
> Graphics: 3.4
> Gaming Graphics: 3.5
> Hard Drive: 4.7
>
> M-6817:
> Processor:  4.6
> Memory: 4.5
> Graphics: 3.4
> Gaming Graphics: 3.5
> Hard Drive: 5.1
>
> Why would the supposedly slower-spinning hard drive in the 6817 score
> significantly higher in the WEI, especially when Gateway suggests it's a
> PATA, not SATA, drive?  My suspicions are as follows:
> 1) Gateway published the 4200RPM figure mistakenly.
> 2) Gateway intended to install 4200RPM drives but was supplied 5400RPM
> drives instead.
> Could there be other scenarios I'm not recognizing?
>
> Also note that the M-series Intel Core 2 Duo chip scores a bit lower
> than the Core Duo in the MT-series machines!  I suppose that could be
> attributed to the difference in clock speed or perhaps that the
> installed version of Vista (Home Premium) is only 32-bit software so, in
> effect, the Core 2 Duo chip is "behaving" like a Core Duo and the clock
> speed difference is accentuated.  In today's general computing world,
> how important is 64-bit processing?  Although I generally use just
> standard office and internet apps, I am considering doing some digital
> music production in the future (think ProTools LE and an Mbox).  I
> suspect I'd be fine with the Core Duo.
>
> The Core 2 Duo machines come with improved graphics , faster FSB, and a
> faster HD but with lower Processor and RAM WEI scores at a $150
> premium.  Oh, and they come with a webcam - the world really wants to
> see my ugly visage YouTubed ad nauseum, I'm sure... ;-)     The chassis
> is Gateway's new glossy style - looks like a smudge factory waiting to
> happen but it IS slightly thinner and lighter than the older Core Duo MT
> series.
>
> The Core Duo MT series comes in a slightly heavier/thicker brushed
> aluminum style chassis and seems like it might be a bit more robust.
> The reviews I've read for this machine are generally positive - the Core
> 2 Duo M-series is so new the laptop sites haven't reviewed it yet.
>
> Well, I want to make the decision today so here goes...  Understanding
> that Linux (currently Mint with Beryl) will be used as much if not more
> than Vista on this machine, what recommendations might you make?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Tom Eisenmenger
> --
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-- 
http://www.the-silvas.com



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