AROS World Exec
General => General Chat => Topic started by: nikos on November 04, 2018, 08:17:27 AM
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I always wanted a stable and good laptop for AROS.
Some years ago ClusterUK and many others got that realised with fully support for ACER aspire one. This is still a ok platform for AROS but as web-browsing, emulation and many other tasks got more demanding the need for more powerfull hardware where needed.
The DELL latitiude D520 is far from something new, but the hardware is very simelar to ACER aspire one. The big difference is that the display res. is higher and the CPU is much faster. All that is needed is a replacement of the wi-fi card. Something that is very easy to do.
Search for this wi-fi card on e-bay
Atheros AR5BXB63
Warning: Some of these wi-fi cards are not working good. If you experience crashes or freeze quite frequently it is for sure the wi-fi card. You can contact me if you like one that is tested and I send one to you for 10£ inkluded shiping to anywhere in the world.
This laptop can be found very cheap on e-bay.
I made many videos running AROS on this laptop.
I show 68k emulation and I can tell you that 060 demos with JIT enabled runs full speed on this computer.
I compared a AGA demo with A1200 060 50Hhz with this computer under emulation and this computer did some of the scenes more smooth.
You can also connect keyboard, usb joysticks, usb drives and montiors to this laptop. I use a 21" CRT monitor from VGA out on this laptop when I like to run classic Amiga 68k stuff like demos and games.
Have a look at www.aspireos.com for more info and videos.
AROS rocks!
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This laptop came with 3 different CPU configurations. From 1,6 to 2GHz.
I have 2 of these laptops. First I changed the CPU on one of them to 1,8, then on the other one I changed to 2GHz.
The 2GHz CPU is a good step up from 1,6GHz.
I will show you some pictures and results tomorrow.
It is almost insane how cheap you can find the 2GHz CPU on EBay. It is like 2$ :D
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Intel-Core-2-Duo-T7200-2-GHz-SL9SF-LF80537T7200-Dual-Core-Notebook-processor/271709373951?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649
It is also very easy to change. A small screw driver and CPU paste is all you need.
Be sure to remove the old CPU paste on CPU and GPU before you add the fresh one.
I just use kitchen paper.
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It turns out that with the change from 1,6GHz to 2GHz in GPMark tests it is around 15% faster. I also notice in 3D games and even browsing web-pages that it is faster.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/cbabAc6yxRun217Q9
The change from 1,6 to 1,8 was only nothing like that. Only a few % faster.
If you have this laptop you should go for the 2GHz CPU. It is nice :D
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Crap. It never stops, does it ;)
There is an Intel core2duo that is same socket, but slightly faster than then one I installed.
It is called Intel Core2Duo T7600 and runs 2.33GHz
Maybe one day I change again ;) For now I'm happy with the T7200.
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Great post!
I went here looking for suggestions on a good laptop for Aros. Already own the Acer Aspire ONE but want something with more speed and screensize. I guess the Dell D520 is the one? Are there other laptops that are good for Aros?
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This laptop is the best I know about. It is easy and cheap to find on e-bay.
I like the 4:3 screen too. Great for retro stuff. Mame and old Amiga games.
Remember to change wi-fi card and you have a fully supported AROS computer.
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Amazing news. Our favourite developer Neil fixed ata.device. There been some problems that show CD error icon on workbench, but no more. I huge thanks to Neil. I bring you another AspireOS version soon where it is included.
There also been problems loading Poseidon Prefs. at startup. Neil found out why and it is also solved :)
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I will have to look for one at the end of the month. :) Hope it is possible to find one with Swedish/Nordic keyboard. And of course I will have to get a T7600!
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Cool :)
If you look in e-bay they sell keyboards for this laptop with all kind of languages.
It is also good to replace the battery. It is this standard 3V battery you can find almost anywhere. Very easy to change too. In the same place as the wi-fi card, under the laptop :)
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After googling it I noticed that the thread title has a typo. It should be "latitude" not "latitiude".
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Thx BSzili :) Fixed.
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I got one of those for exactly this reason but never got around to it.
One extra convenient thing about the Dell D520 AND D530 is that you can plug it into a docking port for plugging to a different monitor.
The best CPU the D520 can take is the fastest 667Mhz FSB Socket M 2.33Ghz T7600
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Intel_Core_2_microprocessors#%22Merom%22,_%22Merom-2M%22_(standard-voltage,_65_nm)
The best CPU the D530 can take is the 800Mhz FSB Socket P 4M cache 2.6Ghz T7800
Unfortunately due to BIOS crippling, it cannot take the larger 6M cache 2.6Ghz T9500
If you got the BIOS hacked then it could take the better CPU. But on the BIOS Modding forums where you can pay someone $30 to do the job for you, people have tried and given up on the D530 modding. It is possible, but noone has persisted to do it.
Additionally the D520 can be hardware modded to overclock the FSB to 800Mhz to make a T7300 run at 2.93Ghz.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/pll-pinmod-overclocking-methods-and-examples.393027/
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Here is a video of how to connect this laptop to external Screen.
https://youtu.be/YZIemJ92kKg
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Nikos, have you tried any of the cheap China refurb CPU offerings such as the t7600?
In regards to the Atheros AR5BXB63 wifi card, is there a visual notifier we could use to determine the good ones from the bad?
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I have not tried T7600. I'm using the 2GHz Core2Duo and very happy with it.
What you mean with refurb? Even if they are cheap and sold from china they are original Intel CPUs.
About the Atheros cards it is a little hit and miss unfortunatly. At least they can be found very cheap and most of the time ok. If you don't like to gamble buying it I can sell you one very cheap that is tested.
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Some say they are refurbished, some sat used. I grabbed one for $20, should have it by the end of month.
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Some say they are refurbished, some sat used. I grabbed one for $20, should have it by the end of month.
I'm unsure what that means. The one I bought for less than 20$ but 2GHz said new. Used I would stay away from as there are plenty of new ones :)
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Refurbished means repaired, so I assume they just meant that they cleaned them.
Anyhow, the new ones are over twice as much, so I went used.
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I would be willing to buy a laptop with Aros installed and all components working from some one in the U.S.
It may be a few months before I could get it.
I did see D520 for sale on ebay at low prices.
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Trekiey:
That might be hard to find someone in the US do to this for you.
If you find a laptop I could send you a SSD with everything installed together with a tested, working wi-fi card. I already made videos of how to replace internal harddisk and wi-fi card. Quite easy. If you do this everything is up and running. I guess a new Kingston SSD, 60GB and wi-fi card sent from Norway to US would cost around 75$ all together.
The laptop itself should not cost your more than around 150$
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I will keep that in mind.
I do have an Acer netbook but the WiFi is not compatible.
The screen, the case, and the keyboard is busted.
I had to take it apart to clear the bios password.
Then I hooked up a mouse, keyboard, and monitor and installed XP, I think.
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I will keep that in mind.
I do have an Acer netbook but the WiFi is not compatible.
The screen, the case, and the keyboard is busted.
I had to take it apart to clear the bios password.
Did you break everything taking it apart? 😮
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Laughing, no I got it from a friend of mine that got it from a scrap metal recycling company.
It was muddy.
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Well my 530 came in, still waiting on the 520. It boots... to a white cursor in the upper left hand corner of the screen. And stays there for infinity. Crap.
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Please people. There are a few things that are important to report if we are going to help. I neither remember what we talked about weeks ago. I remember you "XD3l" asked about CPUs for D520.
In this case I need to know.
OS version and boot medium?
If you are using AspireOS codename "Obitus" and optical drive I would try to disable the internal HDD.
Is there OS on the internal HDD from before and does it boot and work fine?
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XD: Thinking more about it could you remove the WiFi card from the laptop and try again.
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Removing the wifi card did not help, but Icaros installed without issue, though...
....my network doesn't work. (Not wifi)
Tested under Linux it did, so I will continue testing after work
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OK, my 520 came in the mail and Aspireos installed on it instantly. So the issues with the 530 can probably be fixed using more mature hardware prepping software as featured in Linux or Haiku. Easy fix.
That aside, all seems well now, except I can not seem to find the correct driver to use for my wired lan. Which driver should I use?
Thank you!
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There is no driver for LAN only for WiFi. Did you change the WiFi card to the right kind?
https://sites.google.com/site/arosaspireone/about-aspire-one
If you have not changed it, the only possible way to get online is if you have a Android cell phone and connect with USB cable.
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The other WiFi option is a Netgear WG111v3 USB dongle.
Cheers,
Nigel.
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Oh, I was under the impression that everything was supported but the default wifi. I must have misread.
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Oh, I was under the impression that everything was supported but the default wifi. I must have misread.
Do you want one that is tested and for sure working? I have a few. 10$ included shipping if you like.
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Thank you for the offer, though I have one on the way via Ebay. Going to see how that goes 1st.
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If your system will freeze in few sec. after going online. You know what is wrong.
It is a good chance you be ok.
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I see networks now, but when I try to connect to mine, nothing happens. (works fine under Linux)
I also reset router.
CPU upgrade went well.
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Have you looked at this:
https://youtu.be/pVwppm5ukOk
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Nikos to the rescue!!! Works now! :)
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Nice ;D Gratz :)
What CPU did you change to?
Happy about the system?
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T7600 for the 520, and I got a T7800 on the way for the 530.
So far I am happy as Odamex does work well as does EasyRPG, both of which I'm still developing for.
Other than that, I've only tested Odyssey, Dark Places, and ZSNES. ZSNES aside, performance was very acceptable. I've still to set up ScummVM (assuming it's up to date), and UAE, but ya, I don't regret buying these lap tops at all. It's about what you would expect from supported hardware that lacks a graphics card with the dedicated memory required to run Jedi Outcast and the like correctly.