Best Laptops

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LoudMusic
I have several Dell 600Ms at work, and several Apple iBooks, through nearly all versions. The Dell laptop is a far superior build quality. The iBooks fall appart at an alarming rate. If you're going to go with Apple, get a PowerBook. There is a reason the iBooks are so damn cheap.
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But then again, the place you work has people who use there computers like hell right? :nervous:
 
Just got around to looking up this Toshiba Qosmio thing...
http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/cmod.to?seg=HHO&coid=-28842&sel=0&rcid=-26367&ccid=1291021

The graphics accelerator (and I use the word "accelerator" in the loosest possible sense) in that thing is a joke.

It may have 128MB of vram, but a FX5700m isn't likely to hit more than 10k in 3dmark 2001se or 2-3k in 2003. By way of comparison, my Dell hits about 17k and 6k in the same benchmarks.

For light gaming, the Toshiba would work. For running Doom 3 @ 1600x1200 with the detail settings maxed out at a playable (30fps+) frame rate... you need something with substantially more horsepower than the 5700 has got. HL2 will run at 1600x1200 with the settings maxed out on a FX5700, thanks to its adaptive graphics engine, but it won't look nearly as good as the same settings would on a decently powerful card.
 
VTGT07
DO NOT GET DELL LAPTOPS

You have been warned, grasshopper. I know many people with Dell computers and they all wish they had gotten something else other than a Dell.
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Absolutley agree. I've got (and I'm 14 :sly: ) an Inspiron 8600 with 1.4 Ghz M-Processor (equivelent to 2.38Ghz), ATI 9600 Pro Turbo, 40 GB hard drive and 512mb ram.

When I play games, any game really even if it doesn't demand alot out of the PC, a green checkered screen (or red or white) keeps appering. My Dad and me have looked EVERYWHERE on forums and havent found anything. We've updated all the drivers and still nothing. In the Catalyst centre where you change the quality setting of the graphics card, anistrophic filtering wont turn on and sometimes when you turn the quality up in goes down. Sometimes the PC is O.K and sometimes it really plays up. If I leave the computer for a while it usually doesn't play up.

There was another problem with the mouse always sticking. We found in the end it was Dell's own mouse drivers that done it so we deleted it.

All this was driving me nuts and I couldn't exactly get into a temper and throw it on the floor, it was £1k. Well we did have accedent warrenty so if I did throw it I would get a new PC. But now it's expired. :(

So buy a Dell at your own risk.
 
What is i8k, never heard of it. I'm not too good with software so I'm kind of a amature there.

My Dad's really in charge of my PC so if I install anything on it that will play up he won't be happy. My PC is unpredictable so I leave it as it is so there is no other problems. I only install stuff that my Dad recommends.

Glad to here it's equivelent to 2.6Ghz. I heard it was 2.38Ghz.

Edit: BTW, the 9600 Pro Turbo is overclocked to what it would be in a desktop PC.
The Inspiron 8600 has overall had an overheating problem so I've got a notebook cooler for it, especially after the overclocking.
 
http://www.diefer.de/i8kfan/

That's i8k. I run it on every dell laptop I get my hands on, including my own. I suggest you download and install it. Don't play around with the fan control settings, but do go into the settings and have it check for gpu, hard drive, dimm temp. sensors, etc. (I can take screenshots and post them if you like).

Please report back with the temps you're getting. And the artifacting you're getting in games is probably due to the overclocking. Back it down to the stock clockspeeds and see whether it goes away or not.
 
Geeky1
http://www.diefer.de/i8kfan/

That's i8k. I run it on every dell laptop I get my hands on, including my own. I suggest you download and install it. Don't play around with the fan control settings, but do go into the settings and have it check for gpu, hard drive, dimm temp. sensors, etc. (I can take screenshots and post them if you like).

Please report back with the temps you're getting. And the artifacting you're getting in games is probably due to the overclocking. Back it down to the stock clockspeeds and see whether it goes away or not.
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I had that screen well before the overclocking. When I first got it in fact.

Please post the screen shots.

Edit: I'm trusting you here. My Dad doesn't know about this!
 
Ok, screenshots...

Download and install i8k. It should start itself on its own as soon as the install finishes... if it doesn't, open it from the start menu.

You'll get a screen like this the first time it runs (except all the temp readouts won't yet be present):
main_screen.jpg


Press the "options" button. Do NOT play with anything else.

The options button will open up a menu. Click on the "status reading" tab; this will get you the menu pictured here, except that the checkboxes won't all be checked...

menu.jpg


Check all of the checkboxes you see checked in that screen, but leave the "Read current CPU speed" checkbox UNchecked.

Each checkbox you check will get you the following warning:
warning.jpg


Don't worry about it; it won't do anything to permanently screw up the computer. At worst it'll just freeze and you'll have to reboot. So hit "ok". IF it does freeze (which it shouldn't), make a mental note of what checkbox you checked just before it froze and don't re-check that after you reboot.

Once you have it configured, post the temps from the main screen here.
 
My Normal Toshiba seems to cope quite well with games like rallisport challenge, but that's about the only games i play.

We had a hard time choosing between p4 and centrino, but eventually went for p4.
Recently though, it's been getting very hot under the collar, but only when on the desk, not on my lap. Why? i don't understand.
 
O.K. I've installed it and will tell you know everything later because I'll be out for a while.

I certainly like programmes like this. :)
 
jreay: Most likely because it's in severe need of a cleaning (especially if it's a P4... you should've gone with the Centrino if it had similar specs) and when it's on your lap the fan has access to cooler air than it does when it's sitting <1/4" above the top of a desk. How old is it and when was the heatsink itself (not the outside casing on the laptop) cleaned?

gtfreak: great, tnx.
 
Geeky1
http://www.diefer.de/i8kfan/

That's i8k. I run it on every dell laptop I get my hands on, including my own. I suggest you download and install it. Don't play around with the fan control settings, but do go into the settings and have it check for gpu, hard drive, dimm temp. sensors, etc. (I can take screenshots and post them if you like).

Please report back with the temps you're getting. And the artifacting you're getting in games is probably due to the overclocking. Back it down to the stock clockspeeds and see whether it goes away or not.
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Does it work with Toshiba? I'd like to see what temperature i'm actually getting with normal applications going on.
Like now, i have messenger open, two internet explorers open but i'm only using 1 of them, and itunes playing music. It's got both it's fans going at full blast and the only applications i'm really using are itunes and this page on internet explorer.
 
No. I have yet to find ANY hardware monitoring software that will report CPU temps on Toshiba laptops. This is one of the reasons why I can't stand them.

Best advice I can give you is that if it seems like it's getting hotter than it used to, or if it's shutting down all the time (ESPECIALLY if it's shutting down all the time) you need to clean it out properly.

The ideal way of doing this is to disassemble the whole notebook. If you're lucky the Toshiba in question will have a CPU access panel so you can pull the heatsink (and that's almost as good). If you're not lucky, it'll have to be done the hard way. What model of Toshiba is it?
 
Geeky1
jreay: Most likely because it's in severe need of a cleaning (especially if it's a P4... you should've gone with the Centrino if it had similar specs) and when it's on your lap the fan has access to cooler air than it does when it's sitting <1/4" above the top of a desk. How old is it and when was the heatsink itself (not the outside casing on the laptop) cleaned?

gtfreak: great, tnx.
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It was new at the end of november 2004, and we haven't cleaned it since :guilty:!
 
*puts head on desk, cries*

God I hate Toshiba notebooks.

Ok, as I figured, your notebook has no provision at all for accessing the CPU without pulling the whole damn thing apart.

What you need to do is unfold a paper clip, and with the computer OFF and unplugged, turn it over and insert the paper clip into that fan grill on the bottom so it's between the blades.

Then, using a can of compressed air, blow air into the back vent on the laptop, and into the fan vent on the bottom.

Also, very gently blow out any other vents on the laptop (use very short bursts of air). While you're at it, blow out the keyboard.

That's the best you can do with that notebook unless you take it apart.
 
Geeky1
*puts head on desk, cries*

God I hate Toshiba notebooks.

Ok, as I figured, your notebook has no provision at all for accessing the CPU without pulling the whole damn thing apart.

What you need to do is unfold a paper clip, and with the computer OFF and unplugged, turn it over and insert the paper clip into that fan grill on the bottom so it's between the blades.

Then, using a can of compressed air, blow air into the back vent on the laptop, and into the fan vent on the bottom.

Also, very gently blow out any other vents on the laptop (use very short bursts of air). While you're at it, blow out the keyboard.

That's the best you can do with that notebook unless you take it apart.
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Oh god, why did i buy a toshiba.
Thanks anyway, i'm sure i can get some compressed air from somewhere, i seem to remeber cleaning my hifi out with some.

Thanks for the advice!
 
No problem. Just keep in mind that it's absolutely vital that you jam the fan with the paper clip before cleaning it out (and to jam the fan without damaging it, the notebook has to be off).

If you don't, what will happen (unless you're damn careful, and being damn careful won't do much for cleaning the heatsink) is this:

When you blow out the heatsink (from either direction) air from the canned air canister will pass over the fan. This air is at much higher pressure and at a much higher velocity than what the fan can generate on its own.

This blast of air will spin the fan to a speed far beyond what it's rated to turn at- imagine a car engine being run over the redline- the bearings in the fan will cook, and the fan will die. Then you'll need to send it in to Toshiba to replace the fan.
 
Geeky1
No problem. Just keep in mind that it's absolutely vital that you jam the fan with the paper clip before cleaning it out (and to jam the fan without damaging it, the notebook has to be off).

If you don't, what will happen (unless you're damn careful, and being damn careful won't do much for cleaning the heatsink) is this:

When you blow out the heatsink (from either direction) air from the canned air canister will pass over the fan. This air is at much higher pressure and at a much higher velocity than what the fan can generate on its own.

This blast of air will spin the fan to a speed far beyond what it's rated to turn at- imagine a car engine being run over the redline- the bearings in the fan will cook, and the fan will die. Then you'll need to send it in to Toshiba to replace the fan.
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That's not exactly true.

Nor using a car motor as an analogy, specifically. Because computer fans use ball bearings, and magnets, it's not the same as running a car engine way higher than it was meant to be run. Take, as an example, a motor. If it's off, and no electric current is applied, you could spin it as fast as you wanted for as long as you wanted (that is assuming it didn't overheat, of course), however, with electrical current applied, spinning the motor higher than it was meant to go is going to damage it.

However, I do suppose I could see somehow, perhaps damaging something, so general safe practice would be to jam the fan. Personally, the business I work for has a 60 gallon air compressor we use for cleaning the PCs we get. Keep it around 80 PSI. 👍
 
Geeky1 here you go:

Idol for 20 mins:
CPU: 31 Degrees Celcius
GPU: 46 Degrees Celcius
HD: 29 Degrees Celcius
DIMM: 36 Degrees Celcius

After gaming for around half an hour:
CPU: 46 Degrees Celcius
GPU: 92 Degrees Celcius. The fan wasn't fully on for this. Sometimes it fully turns on so it does get hotter.
HD: 37 Degrees Celcius
DIMM: 50 Degrees Celcius

This is with the mat that fan cools the laptop.

What is the DIMM by the way, I've heard of it.
 
I've killed fans myself by spinning them with canned air when they're off. The problem is that they do spin fast enough to overheat or break something in the fan. The tinier the fan, the more likely this is to happen.
 
theGTfreak
Geeky1 here you go:

Idol for 20 mins:
CPU: 31 Degrees Celcius
GPU: 46 Degrees Celcius
HD: 29 Degrees Celcius
DIMM: 36 Degrees Celcius

After gaming for around half an hour:
CPU: 46 Degrees Celcius
GPU: 92 Degrees Celcius. The fan wasn't fully on for this. Sometimes it fully turns on so it does get hotter.
HD: 37 Degrees Celcius
DIMM: 50 Degrees Celcius

This is with the mat that fan cools the laptop.

What is the DIMM by the way, I've heard of it.
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Holy mother of... Stuff!

That's hot. Are you having any stability issues? Clean it.

DIMM = Type of RAM.

Geeky1
I've killed fans myself by spinning them with canned air when they're off. The problem is that they do spin fast enough to overheat or break something in the fan. The tinier the fan, the more likely this is to happen.
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The problem here is the amount of time needed to overheat components within a fan. It's not going to happen unless you just sit there flowing the living daylights out of the fan for minutes.

However, like you said, and I agree, general safe procedure would be to stop the fan.
 
CPU temp is fine, albeit higher than I'd expect to see with a Pentium M.
GPU is too hot. Quit overclocking it, see what the temps are. 92*C is asking for problems.
HD is within operating specs
DIMM also within operating specs

DIMMs are, as Burnout said, a type of RAM. Some Dell laptops have a thermistor or thermal diode somewhere in the vicinity of the RAM slots, which is what that temperature is for.
 
Depends on the fan. I don't know exactly how they died, but judging by the sound the fans made at the time I'd guess they were spinning at >20k RPMs... (these were like 25mm fans)... 20k is about 2x the highest operating speed I've seen on a 25mm fan... I'm not sure how long it'd last at that speed.

Maybe an experiment is in order here...
 
Burnout
Holy mother of... Stuff!

That's hot. Are you having any stability issues? Clean it.

DIMM = Type of RAM.
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Inspiron 8600 is known it reach 112 Degrees Celcius, cleaning wont help as it's an overall problem. :scared:

What do you mean by stability problems? Nothing unusual happened.
 

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