Linux laptop

[Ettig]

I think about buying a Linux laptop. Can someone suggest me some?

[Orimae]

You can buy a Linux laptop? not just buy a regular one and install Linux over the OS on it?

[Ettig]

You can buy a Linux laptop? not just buy a regular one and install Linux over the OS on it?

Well yes but there are companies like lenovo for example which offer laptops with pre installed linux. Laptops where the hardware is matched to Linux.
But i couldn't find any decent with ati/nvidia cards. And Intel is not that good even for Regnum (?)

But i am not really that much into this. I know intel is said to be the best for linux, but maybe there are other options, just trying my luck.

I found this (www.linux-onlineshop.de/Linux-Hardware/Linux-Notebooks/15-6-Zoll/Tuxedo-Book-321-15-6-Zoll-matt-NVIDIA-GT-540M-bis-Intel-Core-i7-2670QM-4-8GB-RAM-500-1000GB-HDD-SSD-DVD-RW-BluRay.geek">) for example but couldn't find anything about this company so dunno about the quality and if it is really good for linux.

[Cuchulainn]

the link you posted in the previous post does not work.

if you buy a notebook with only Intel graphic chip, make sure that it isn't labeled as "GMA HD". I think the best Intel graphics option is HD 4000. HD 3000, HD 2500, HD 2000 should be also good enough for decent regnum gaming. A overview of mobile Intel-Core-i processors: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_der_Intel-Core-i-Prozessoren#Mobil

Instead of an Intel Core-i processor, you could buy a notebook with AMD Llano or Trinity APU. a list of Llano APUs for notebooks: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMD_Llano#Modelle_f.C3.BCr_Notebooks_2
list of Trinity APUs for notebooks: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMD_Fusion#Modelle_f.C3.BCr_Notebooks

The disadvantage of Trinity APUs: cost more than older Llano, and the support via free default drivers is still very bad compared to Llano or Intel graphic units.

what price range should the laptop have you gonna buy? I think if you want a notebook with decent graphics capability AMD Llano is probably most favorable. Disadvantage compared to Intel: CPU is a bit slower.

[Ettig]

the link you posted in the previous post does not work.

if you buy a notebook with only Intel graphic chip, make sure that it isn't labeled as "GMA HD". I think the best Intel graphics option is HD 4000. HD 3000, HD 2500, HD 2000 should be also good enough for decent regnum gaming. A overview of mobile Intel-Core-i processors: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_der_Intel-Core-i-Prozessoren#Mobil

Instead of an Intel Core-i processor, you could buy a notebook with AMD Llano or Trinity APU. a list of Llano APUs for notebooks: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMD_Llano#Modelle_f.C3.BCr_Notebooks_2
list of Trinity APUs for notebooks: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMD_Fusion#Modelle_f.C3.BCr_Notebooks

The disadvantage of Trinity APUs: cost more than older Llano, and the support via free default drivers is still very bad compared to Llano or Intel graphic units.

what price range should the laptop have you gonna buy? I think if you want a notebook with decent graphics capability AMD Llano is probably most favorable. Disadvantage compared to Intel: CPU is a bit slower.


Thx for the info, i will look into those.
price range is up to 900€.
Also fixed the link.

[jarnoob]

It is said there have been some performance improvements for linux intel GPU drivers (and mesa) due to Va*ve's help (cause they going to release few linux games and they just decided to help with performance issues). Although I can't confirm it (cause I have GMA X3100, which doesn't get any performance boost).

I wouldn't go for anything bellow HD4000 if you decide to get intel. Everything bellow is too slow for any kind of gaming at reasonable resolution.

What I will suggest NOT to buy, is laptop with intel+nvidia - it might, and it probably will be, that Optimus thing which Nvidia decided NOT to support on Linux, thus support for Optimus sux a lot and you will be kinda lucky if it will work for you. So buy laptop with nvidia GPU only if you are sure it is not Optimus.

No exprerience with AMD.

Anyway, if interested, performance of regnum online in 1024x768 on Intel GMA X3100 with DDR2@666 mem with 2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo is ~10 in fixed pipeline, ~0-1 in shader model 2 = NOT playable. Since HD4000 is a lot newer GPU (+ you will have DDR3 system mem with it) it might do much better, especialy with new drivers with optimizations from Va*ve.

[Cuchulainn]

I agree that notebooks with dedicated Nvidia should be rather avoided. The notebook you linked above has a NVIDIA GT 540M card.

you can use a price comparison site like geizhals (or heise) (just enter the CPU or APU you want):
http://www.heise.de/preisvergleich/?fs=A6-3420M&in=1

Clevo notebooks can be also configured very well, without windows if you want. Clevo is not a well-known brand, because it's notebooks are mostly labeled as HP, Toshiba or anything else. Also resellers who sell Clevo notebooks don't label it as Clevo notebook.
here is a clevo guide: Clevo Guide v3.0 (http://forum.notebookreview.com/sager-clevo/592609-clevo-guide-v3-0-faq-reseller-info-read-before-posting.html)
but it seems that Clevo resellers mostly don't have any notebooks with AMD Llano nor Trinity. A German reseller is for example: mySN (http://www.mysn.de/detail.asp?userid=FAE45913D9C044899733AF910FF75044&KategorienOrder=010;040;010;015&bestellnr=XESIA_E501) or nexoc (http://www.nexoc.de/cms/front_content.php?client=1&lang=1&idcat=16&idart=616)

Some years ago I bough a notebook with Radeon Mobility 3200 from mySN for about 550 EUR. I can't complain about it. But I prefer to use my desktop computer, if I'm at home.