New PC - 2009
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It's been a long time I'm surviving with the same PC at home. May be it's time to buy a new one...
Requirements
- Main requirement: silence!
- Form-factor: Laptop would be a nice-to have. Would free some space on the desk, reduce cable clutter. But more expensive
- On battery time is secondary. I'll mainly use it as a desktop anyway
- Resolution: laptop, min. 1440x900, ideally 1920x1200. Desktop, min 1920x1200 mandatory.
- Ports: IEEE 1394 interface mandatory to acquire DV Video from digital handycam
- OS: PC must be Linux compatible. Let's get a Windows license for ease. Windows 7 english 64-bit Professional minimum.
- Ultimate + Media center would be nice-to-have
- CPU:
- 2 cores mandatory + Intel VTx instruction (or similar)
- 4 cores ideally
- Graphic cards:
- NVidia used to have good Linux compatibility, but I heard many troubles with these cards nowadays. This constructor builds Ubuntu laptop, and includes a NVidia GeForce GTX 460M card (1.5GB).
- Intel' GMA series work perfectly well on my DELL E6500 with Lucid 10.04.
- Bluetooth
- Wifi 802.11 n
Hardwarde information
Intel
- Intel branding and CPU names is very confusing, and full of exceptions. We have
- the microarchitecture,
- the codename (variants of that microarchitecture), and
- the brand name (the name under which the CPU is sold on the market)
- First, look at Westmere architecture. Westmere is the latest architecture from Intel, with the most powerful features. That page gives the best overview of what CPUs to look for, both for desktop or laptop.
- For desktop, 2 codenames provides the Westmere architecture:
- Gulftown codename (for server and performance PC) — basically all CPU branded Xeon 36xx / 56xx and some branded Core i7.
- Clarkdale codename (for value/mainstream PC) — basically some Core i3 and i5 (and Pentium / Celeron).
- For laptops, there is only one codename, Arrandale, sold under the brands Core i5 and Core i7.
Intel microarchitecture
- Nehalem
- The successor of the Core architecture.
- Westmere
- A 32nm shrunk down version of Nehalem, which features some improvements like:
- AES accelerated instructions
- Better virtualization support (Intel VT-d...)
- Integrated graphics (laptop)
- All CPUs with the westmere architecture should have the same features, however with some differences like # cores, cache size, CPU speed, etc.
- Note also that there are differences between laptop & desktop. For instance laptop integrates Intel VT-d in the CPU, whereas this feature is actually provided by the chipset (5500/5520) for desktops.
Intel Chipset
- (Desktop) Intel 5500 and 5520 Chipset
- Supports the Intel Xeon processor 5500 / 5600 series.
- Provides QPI, Intel VT-d (Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O), Intel TXT (trusted execution)
- See also Wikipedia article
Intel Codenames
The 3 following codenames are based on the Westmere architecture:
- Gulftown (32nm)
- Includes the Core i7-9xx, Core i7-9xxX, Xeon 36xx (all with 6 cores) and Xeon 56xx (4-6 cores).
- Clarkdale
- Closely related to mobile Arrandale, originally sold as Core i5 and Core i7.
- Arrandale
- Mobile version of Clarkdale, sold as Core i3, Core i5 and Core i7.
Intel Brands
- Intel Xeon
- Intel Xeon is an Intel brand targetting performance / server desktop PC. We limit ourselves to those based on the Westmere microarchitecture:
Summary below, see wikipedia for details:
| Brand | Codename (desktop) |
Arch | Brand name | Cores |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xeon | Gulftown | Westmere | Xeon 36xx Xeon 56xx |
6 4-6 |
- Core i5 / Core i7
- Core i5 / i7 is an Intel brand, both targetting desktop and laptop markets. Summary below, see the pages on wikipedia (Intel Core, Core i7 list, Core i5 list):
| Brand | Codename (desktop) |
Arch | Brand name | Cores | Codename (laptop) |
Arch | Brand name | Cores |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core i5 | Lynnfield Clarkdale |
Nehalem Westmere |
7xx / 7xxS 6xx |
4 2 |
Arrandale | Westmere | 4xxM / 5xxM / 5xxUM | 2 |
| Core i7 | Bloomfield Lynnfield Gulftown |
Nehalem Nehalem Westmere |
9xx 8xx / 8xxS 980X |
4 4 6 |
Clarksfield Arrandale |
Nehalem Westmere |
9xxXM / 8xxQM / 7xxQM 6xxQM / 6xxLM / 6xxUM |
4 2 |
NVidia
See this post on GuruHT:
| FX 3800M | 128 cores | 1GB DDR3 | 256-bit mem itf | 100W |
| FX 2800M | 96 cores | 1GB DDR3 | 256-bit mem itf | 75W |
| FX 1800M | 72 cores | 1GB DDR3/DDR5 | 128-bit mem itf | 45W |
| FX 880M | 48 cores | 1GB DDR3 | 128-bit mem itf | 35W |
More comparison charts on notebookcheck.net:
DELL
Mobile Workstation
| Model | Code | Price | OS | CPU | RAM | HD | Monitor | GPU | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Precision | M6500 | 2759€ HT 2939€ HT |
Win 7 Pro 64 | i7-840QM 1,86GHz | 4GB 8GB |
500GB | 1920x1200 17" RGB | NVidia FX 2800M 1GB | 802.11n + DL DVD+/-RW slot-in + Base service |
| Precision | M4500 | 2249€ HT 2429€ HT |
Win 7 Pro 64 | i7-840QM 1,86GHz | 4GB 8GB |
500GB | 1920x1080 15.6" LED | NVidia FX 1800M 1GB | 802.11n + DL DVD+/-RW + Base service |
| Precision | M4500 | 2014€ HT 2194€ HT |
Win 7 Pro 64 | i7-840QM 1,86GHz | 4GB 8GB |
500GB | 1920x1080 15.6" LED | NVidia FX 880M 1GB | 802.11n + DL DVD+/-RW + Base service |
TBC:
- Alienware
- Z600
- Latitude
HP Desktops
HP Essential
Nothing to see there...
HP Advanced Desktops
Nothing to see there...
HP Elite Desktops
Nothing to see there either...
HP Workstations
Z200
Core i3 / i5, too small.
Z400
- Many Xeon W35xx CPU, based on old Nehalem architecture
| Model | Code | Price | OS | Chipset | CPU | Freq | Cores | RAM | HD | GPU | Other | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EliteBook HP Z400 | KK657EA | 4313€ HT | Win 7 Pro 64 | Intel X58 Express | Xeon W3680 | 3,33GHz | 6 | 12GB | NV Quadro FX 3800M 1GB | DL DVD+/-RW | No Intel VT-d in chipset | |
| EliteBook HP Z400 | KK717EA | 2455€ HT | Win 7 Pro 64 | Intel X58 Express | Xeon W3670 | 3,20GHz | 6 | 6GB | None | DL DVD+/-RW | No Intel VT-d in chipset |
Z600
| Model | Code | Price | OS | Chipset | CPU | Freq | Cores | RAM | HD | GPU | Other | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EliteBook HP Z600 | KK691ET | 2249€ HT | Win 7 Pro 64 | Intel 5520 | Xeon E5630 | 2,53GHz | 4 | 6GB | None | DL DVD+/-RW | Good, a bit expensive | |
| EliteBook HP Z600 | KK643EA | 1983€ HT | Win 7 Pro 64 | Intel 5520 | Xeon E5620 | 2,40GHz | 4 | 3GB | None | DL DVD+/-RW | Not enough RAM | |
| EliteBook HP Z600 | KK712EA | 2186€ HT | Win 7 Pro 64 | Intel 5520 | Xeon E5630 | 2,53GHz | 4 | 6GB | None | DL DVD+/-RW | Best choice, 2,645.06€ incl VAT. |
Z800
Targetting multi-CPU system. Too expensive.
HP Laptops
Cfr laptops for small & medium businesses.
HP EliteBook NoteBook
| Model | Code | Price | OS | CPU | RAM | HD | Monitor | GPU | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EliteBook 8540p | WD921EA XN715EA |
1915€ HT 1786€ HT |
Win 7 Pro 32 | i7-620M 2,66GHz | 4GB | 320GB | 1600x900 15.6" | NVidia NVS 5100 1GB | 802.11n + BD ROM + DL DVD+/-RW + 3G telephony |
| EliteBook 8440p | VQ667EA | 2048€ HT | Win 7 Pro 32 | i7-620M 2,66GHz | 4GB | 500GB | 1600x900 14" | NVidia NVS 3100 512MB | 802.11n + BD ROM + DL DVD+/-RW + 3G telephony |
| EliteBook 8440p | XN710EA | 2025€ HT | Win 7 Pro 32 | i7-640M 2,80GHz | 4GB | SSD 160GB | 1600x900 14" | Intel HD Graphics | 802.11n + BT + BD ROM + DL DVD+/-RW + 3G telephony incl. GPS |
HP EliteBook Mobile Workstation
| Model | Code | Price | OS | CPU | RAM | HD | Monitor | GPU | Other | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EliteBook 8740w | WD760EA laptopshop |
2199€ HT 2439€ TC |
Win 7 Pro 64 | i7-640QM 2,80GHz | 4GB | 500GB | 1920x1200 17" | NV Quadro FX 2800M 1GB | 802.11n + BT + BD ROM + DL DVD+/-RW | Best |
| EliteBook 8740w | WD762EA | 2789€ HT | Win 7 Pro 64 | i7-740QM 1,73GHz | 8GB | 500GB | 1920x1200 17" | NV Quadro FX 2800M 1GB | 802.11n + BT + BD ROM + DL DVD+/-RW | Not Westmere |
| EliteBook 8740w | WD939EA Trilands Bechtle |
1649€ HT 1768€ TC 1810€ TC |
Win 7 Pro 64 | i7-620M 2,66GHz | 4GB 3GB? 4GB |
500GB | 1920x1200 17" | NV Quadro FX 2800M 1GB | 802.11n + BT + BD ROM + DL DVD+/-RW | Good! |
| Model | Code | Price | OS | CPU | RAM | HD | Monitor | GPU | Other | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EliteBook 8540w | WD740EA Trilands |
2284€ HT 2544€ TC |
Win 7 Pro 64 | i7-640M 2,80GHz | 8GB 4GB? |
500GB | 1920x1080 15.6" | NV Quadro FX 880M 1GB | 802.11n + BT + BD ROM + DL DVD+/-RW | A bit expensive |
| EliteBook 8540w | WD742EA Trilands |
1899€ HT 2125€ TC |
Win 7 Pro 64 | i7-640M 2,80GHz | 8GB | 500GB | 1920x1080 15.6" | NV Quadro FX 1800M 1GB | 802.11n + BT + BD ROM + DL DVD+/-RW | Best (see review) |
| EliteBook 8540w | WD743EA | 2199€ HT | Win 7 Pro 64 | i7-740QM 1,73GHz | 8GB | 500GB | 1920x1080 15.6" | NV Quadro FX 1800M 1GB | 802.11n + BT + BD ROM + DL DVD+/-RW | Not Westmere |
HP ProBook NoteBook
Looks too cheap to be good.
Essential NoteBook
None (Old CPU's, like C2D, pentium, celeron)
HP Mini
None (out of scope).
HP Mobile Thin Client
None (out of scope).