I don't normally like to post "ads" but $400 lapto

[Xzin]

compelling.

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellsto...924&oc=BQPRIBF

15.4-inch screen, 1.7 GHz dual-core Athlon64 X2, 1GB RAM, 256MB integrated ATI gfx card, 8x DVD burner (why) and 802.11g Wi-Fi card, running XP Home.

Now I can't make any specific suggestions for this system and how good it would be to box on. But - you could buy 4 of these for a low cost, low heat hardware 5 box.

Might want to slap in some extra ram but still..... and I can't speak to the graphics card specifically..... but it might be viable for those who don't want to build their own box.

Thank you Asus's Eee PC for lowering the price!

Even if the Eee isn't THAT good (I bought one and am impressed for what it is but will not be using one).

One member here even reversed his screens and "hung" them for a rather amazing 5 box effect. He did not use the above laptop though.



http://www.dual-boxing.com/forums2/viewtopic.php?t=1256

[kadaan]

That's quite impressive. I'm curious as to how well it could run WoW, but for that price I might pick one up as a gift. Nice find!

[keyclone]

it's not too bad.. i could live with the 5400rpm drive... 1G is enough.. so i called to buy one... i had one question before i plunked down the card...

o ATI Radeon® Xpress 1150 256MB HyperMemory™ (integrated)

what does 'integrated' actually mean.

the answer: shared.

cute, they changed the term to sound like its using on board graphics memory, but in reality it's just crappy shared system memory.

problem with shared memory is that it needs to use the system bus constantly to push data from the graphics memory to the video board (like directX and openGL would). complete crap.

i have an old 1.5GHz box with only 64M of dedicated graphics memory... and it performs better then my brand new 1.75GHz dual-code which uses shared memory (i really thought i had spec'd dedicated when i picked it up... *sigh*... life on the road...)

end result... i wouldn't buy one.. not even as a present (which i was about to do)

[Stealthy]

Heh - KC just beat me to it...

But yeah, be careful with denominations like TurboCache (NVIDIA) and HyperMemory (ATI). They indicate memory dynamically from RAM, i.e. shared memory...

This is still a very cheap laptop though...way cheaper than anything currently available in Australia.

Cheers,
Stealthy

[Xzin]

I know.... shared is ... not so great. And further, you can't really upgrade the memory (maybe you can but I have no idea and would doubt it).

But still.... it MIGHT run WoW well enough to make the 5 hardware only approach competeable with 1 ultra $1200 machine. Less power use and less cooling needed and no monitors to buy.

As long as the speed of the GFX is high enough.

[Gallo]

Since we're talking deals... I'd rather plunk down $400 on this: http://configure.us.dell.com/dellsto...421&lid=197378

* Vostro 200 Mini Tower Case (not slim tower)
* Intel Core 2 Duo Proc E4500 (2.20GHz, 2MB L2 Cache, 800FSB)
* Dell 19 inch Widescreen E198WFP Analog Flat Panel Monitor (w/ DVI)
* 1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz - 2DIMMs
* 160GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache
* Single Drive: 16X (DVD+/-RW) Burner Drive
* Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3100
* Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio
* 10GB for 1yr Online Backup by Dell Datasafe
* Windows XP Home or Vista Home Basic
* 1 Year Limited Hardware Warranty with Next Business Day On-Site Service

Like the laptop, it lacks a good video card... and you might want another gig of RAM, but damn... you can't build a computer for that cheap. Plus, if you already have the monitors, you can send back the monitor to Dell after its shipped and get the full retail price for it.

[Xzin]

You can send the monitor back? Who pays shipping?

Easier to upgrade a desktop than a laptops video card but still - also uses more power

For the record, I don't much care for Dells.

[laeelin]

256MB/2GB PC 700 will retail for $300 (or the PC 701 model with 512Mb of RAM and a 4GB solid-state drive is only $400)

http://www.tomsguide.com/us/2007/11/...rtable_laptop/

My understanding is that this is designed for third world countries, often in places that have power problems. (need a computer than runs on batteries or it will lose power all the time)

I work with an India web design team, and they have ~5 UPS's in the office because they loose power so often. And India isnt exactly third world.

[Xzin]

Even if the Eee isn't THAT good (I bought one and am impressed for what it is but will not be using one).

I own one. I sold it. It is NOT good enough AT ALL to play WoW on.