Virtualization requirements

[docmccoy]

Hello

Sorry, if this question was posted. I have no time

I want to buy laptop and use on it virtualization - VirtualBox with guest OS - Windows. Parent OS - would be Fedora 11. What requirements the laptop need to satisfy? Is it will be fine with 2 Gh frequency of processor? I don't want to observe slow performance - awaiting long for VirtualBox is loading. Also I will use 4Gb of RAM.

Thanks, Kostya

[ShivaS]

You need a 64bit CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo, AMD X2 64 and a 64bit Fedora distro.
A multi-core processor at 2GHz frequency and 4Gb RAM should be fine. Picking up la laptop with distinct video card (not onboard) would also leave more RAM for the VM

[docmccoy]

Thanks alot for your reply, now i'm standing on the ground with confidence.

And one another question: i see Intel Core 2 Duo T5xxx, T7xxx, T8xxx series. Larger serie number means better processor performance?

Also what difference between Intel Core 2 Duo P7350 and Intel Core 2 Duo T7500. Assuming that 7350 and 7500 numbers are too close, what difference between 'P' and 'T' letters?

Thanks again, Kostya

[ShivaS]

Take a look here (http://ark.intel.com/Compare.aspx?ids=29761,36750,)
For virtualization T7500 is better (it has Intel Virtualization Technology) but it's older and has a FSB of only 800MHz.
Seems like Intel Virtualization Technology is not a requirement for running VirtualBox (http://www.sun.com/software/products/virtualbox/specs.jsp) (it is for Xen, however) so you can pick the P7350, despite the fact that it has smaller cache and frequency.

IMHO, I would search for a newer generation of CPUs with Virtualization Technology and a newer generation of chipset on the motherboard (to make sure that the sistem will recognize and use all 4Gb of RAM).

[Dangermouse]

Picking up la laptop with distinct video card (not onboard) would also leave more RAM for the VM
Totally agree, however if possible pick nvidia graphics rather that ati as there is better driver support, there isnt a ati driver for f11 in rpmfusion yet as far as i know.

[docmccoy]

Thanks guys

Ok, if VirtualBox does not require Intel Virtualization Technology, i can take the P7350.

Do you know the prototype of VMWare in Windows? Does it exists in Linux and if so, does it require Intel Virtualization Technology?

Kostya

[ShivaS]

I've played with linux version of VMWare a couple of years ago and it was very stable. It does not require CPU virtualization.

[docmccoy]

IMHO, I would search for a newer generation of CPUs with Virtualization Technology and a newer generation of chipset on the motherboard (to make sure that the sistem will recognize and use all 4Gb of RAM).

About generation of chipset... i found Intel PM965 and Intel PM45 chipsets. What is better?

[ShivaS]

Mobile Intel® PM45 Express Chipset (http://ark.intel.com/chipset.aspx?familyID=35515) vs. Mobile Intel® PM965 Express Chipset (http://ark.intel.com/chipset.aspx?familyID=28116)

As you can notice, the PM45 is newer and can address up to 8Gb RAM. PM965 can address only 4Gb RAM which most probably means 3,3 available to your OS ( my laptop is in this situation).

[docmccoy]

Good
And what is Embedded option in Intel® Products specifications? In P7350 it is absent.
Also it does not support PPGA478 socket, only BGA479. Can you tell me about this omitted socket?

[ShivaS]

It means that the processor/ship can be used in other devices, not only in laptops.

[docmccoy]

Sorry for so many damn questions.

Lithography - 45 and 65 nm. What is the opportunity of 45 nm size? And this the size of what?

[ShivaS]

I think this article (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/wolfdale-shrinks-transistors,1773-2.html) sums it quite well.
It regards the technology and the scale of the parts used to produce the CPU.

[docmccoy]

Thanks Shivas for your help alot. Be happy!

I have one another question for anybody:

I look at compare list (http://ark.intel.com/Compare.aspx?ids=33099,33917,33916,35569,29761,367 50,):

option Max TDP... I see 35W and 25W. This means that 35W more powerful and their battery will work longer?

[marko]

Make sure you confirm the BIOS has a virtualization switch if you do want to run VT-X or AMD-V hardware extensions. I bought a Sony Vaio which had a T8100 which has the
extensions in the chip but Sony had the hardware defaulted to off in the bios and no switch to turn it on. The lesson, it's not enough to get the right chip, you need to confirm that the featurn can be turned on.

[docmccoy]

That means that i must press something like F8 while OS is loading and find virtualization option in BIOS? And about Max TDP the question is still open for me.

Ok, i've decided to buy this config:
Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor P8400 (3M Cache, 2.26 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB)
Mobile Intel® PM45 Express Chipset
NVidia GeForce 9300M GS, 256MB

As PM45 supports 1066MHz FSB with max memory 8 Mb, it would be better to install on it DDR3 type of memory, wouldn't it?
As i understood DDR = 667MHz, DDR2 = 800MHz, DDR3 = 1066MHz, or it is not true?

Thanks anyway for your help, guys.

[marko]

That means that i must press something like F8 while OS is loading and find virtualization option in BIOS? And about Max TDP the question is still open for me.


Yes, at bootup it will flash something up like:

Press Esc for BIOS Setup
or
Press DEL for BIOS Setup

.... any number of different keys might do it, just do the one it says and
look in CPU configuration and there will likely be a Virtualization section
to turn the hardware extensions on.

[docmccoy]

Ok, i'll check the virtualization.

And with following configs:

Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor P8400 (3M Cache, 2.26 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB)
Mobile Intel® PM45 Express Chipset

it is better to buy DDR3 or DDR2 of 4Gb memory? I assume DDR3, but why? Cause 1066MHz > 800MHz... I'm too dark in such a question :)

[docmccoy]

I find in google this one:

P's use 25W vs the T's 35W, so they don't run as hot and you get better battery life.

=> 25W is better for high laptop performance and so less probability that it will burn off)
good, then P8400 is good choice

[ShivaS]

DDR3 and DDR2 are not compatible. The supported memory type is specified in the notebook's specification file/web page.
DDR3 has higher frequencies but most of the time high latency(needed time to switch between states), as well.
For me, DDR2 with low latency sounds better but also depends on the motherboard FSB and if it supports dual channel or not.

TDP is the maximum power used by the processor. Lower means lower consumption which means longer battery life and lower temperatures inside the notebook case (you must know that high temperature is the biggest enemy of a notebook).