Planning a new Laptop, but will it work with Gentoo?

fklama · n00b Joined: 13 Apr 2004 Posts: 33 Location: Germany

Hi,

I am currently saving for a new Laptop and will have enough for a descent machine in about two Months.
One of the most important features for me is RAM. 8GB is a minimum, but more (16GB for example) would
be preferable.
The size should be 15" or 17" and I need a fast CPU and a descent GPU that works under Linux and can be
programmed. I am planning to do a lot of Scientific Calculations on the machine and would like to speed this
up by using the GPU to help with the number crunching.
Also I would like a machine that I can actually play games made after 1998 with. But this will not be the main
usage of the machine.
I have been eyeing a Machine for a while now, and it has recently been switched to the new Sandy Bridge
Processor line. It is the DevilTech Fragbook DTX, with the following Configuration:

Mobile Core i7 2720QM
Intel HM67-Chipset
16GB RAM
NVidia GeForce GTX 460M
2x 720GB HD
BlueRay Drive
THX TruStudio Pro Audio

I am especially concerned about the integrated GPU on the Core i7 Processor together with the NVidia GPU. I
know there are issues with NVidia Optimus, is this the same problem here?
Or does someone know where I can get Laptop that will definitely run with Linux with similar Hardware for
around €2000 here in Germany?

Gusar · Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 8:52 am Post subject:

Is it actually Optimus? Or even if it is, does it has as BIOS option to switch to the Nvidia card? That's the single most important thing, if there's a BIOS option, you're set.
And damn, that's one beefy machine!

pappy_mcfae · Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 8:55 am Post subject:

Blu-Ray may be an issue as it uses a different UDF setup. As far as I know, I have not read that Linux has anything going on that front currently. Of course, if I'm wrong, I'd love to hear from someone who knows.

Cheers,
Pappy
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fklama · n00b Joined: 13 Apr 2004 Posts: 33 Location: Germany

@pappy_mcfae:
The BluRay drive ist mostly for the future. I recon that in a few years a Laptop without one is not much use anymore.

@Gusar:
It does not say Optimus anywhere. AFAIK both Graphics Chips should work on their own, but with both of them in there?
Yes it is quite a performant machine. Since I do a lot of CPU- and RAM-Intensive calculations it has to be. The Graphics Card is mainly to try using the GPU to speed up the software that I am developing for my calculations (then it would work with reasonable execution times on a regular Computer with a good GPU and does not necessarily need to run on a cluster.

Gusar · Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 9:07 am Post subject:

fklama · n00b Joined: 13 Apr 2004 Posts: 33 Location: Germany

It is a bit annoying, I have just found a nice machine, confirmed the hardware works with Linux, and then they put all the new stuff in it and suddenly I am unsure wether I can use the thing.

pappy_mcfae · Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2011 10:07 am Post subject:

DaggyStyle · Watchman Joined: 22 Mar 2006 Posts: 5941

Gusar

DaggyStyle · Watchman Joined: 22 Mar 2006 Posts: 5941