[TriLUG] Linux Notebook / OT: Windows Experience Index

Mon Aug 6 12:18:11 EDT 2007

Hi Anderson,

Thanks for the tip!  Unfortunately, part of the justification for a  
new notebook is that I feel I have to at least be familiar with Vista  
so that I can intelligently answer student and/or client questions  
about it.  As it stands, I purchased a Gateway MT-6841, have already  
wiped it and reinstalled Vista in a smaller partition to get rid of  
the crapware in one fell swoop.  Next is to install Mint Linux, my  
current fave.

Thanks for everyone's help and comments!

Tom

On Aug 5, 2007, at 6:43 PM, Anderson Silva wrote:

> 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
>> --
>> TriLUG mailing list        : http://www.trilug.org/mailman/ 
>> listinfo/trilug
>> TriLUG Organizational FAQ  : http://trilug.org/faq/
>> TriLUG Member Services FAQ : http://members.trilug.org/services_faq/
>>
>
>
>
> -- 
> http://www.the-silvas.com
> -- 
> TriLUG mailing list        : http://www.trilug.org/mailman/listinfo/ 
> trilug
> TriLUG Organizational FAQ  : http://trilug.org/faq/
> TriLUG Member Services FAQ : http://members.trilug.org/services_faq/