Re: [PLUG] Replace the CPU

[John Jason Jordan]

On Thu, 13 Sep 2018 12:32:45 -0700
Tomas Kuchta  dijo:

>On mSATA - current generation of laptops/desktops use NVMe instead. It
>looks the same (except the notches), but it is much faster (2-3x) and
>it is not backwards compatible with mSATA.

My current laptop has a 512GB mSATA drive which contains / and ~/ in
separate partitions. I was hoping to get a new computer that I could
just stick it into, but apparently that is not in the cards. It is maybe
3/4 full, so a 1TB NVMe replacement drive would make sense. I know how
to create partitions on the new drive, and I can easily copy the
contents of ~/ to the new drive, but the tricky part that I do not know
how to do is to clone / to its partition on the new drive and make it
bootable. I am sure that it is doable, and probably easy, I've just
never done it before. But hold off for now on the instructions - I
haven't even committed to getting a new computer yet, and if you tell
me now I will have forgotten by the time I do.

And as for buying a new computer, my current thinking is to continue
with my current laptop for another year or so. I'm in no rush. But that
isn't going to stop me from shopping. 
___
PLUG mailing list
PLUG@pdxlinux.org
http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug

Re: [PLUG] Replace the CPU

[Tomas Kuchta]

I suspected that you will have problem with using DAS when you were looking
for that while back. Most people do. That is what NAS are meant to solve.

Given what you have - I suggest connecting your DAS permanently to your
always on desktop or Synology NAS. Export the storage over NFS or CIFS or
both. Use it over network using autofs everywhere. No more messing with USB
sticks.

Note: If you chose to do this - check and synchronize UIDs before our
start. It doesn't matter over NFS/CIFS on NAS, but it does on your DAS.

Not saying that you do not deserve new laptop every once in a while :-)
Just do not expect miracles. --- Clean Ubuntu install on your laptop after
10+ distro in place upgrades would probably speed things up considerably in
your current setup.

On mSATA - current generation of laptops/desktops use NVMe instead. It
looks the same (except the notches), but it is much faster (2-3x) and it is
not backwards compatible with mSATA.

Tomas

On Thu, Sep 13, 2018, 11:12 AM Rich Shepard 
wrote:

> On Thu, 13 Sep 2018, John Jason Jordan wrote:
>
> >> You have a newly assembled desktop which I assume has plenty of
> >> DDR4 RAM.
> >
> > No, only 16GB, although easily upgraded.
>
>And at lower cost than a new laptop.
>
> > I built the new desktop because its predecessor was 11 years old and
> > starting to have issues. And yes, I went to great lengths to ensure that
> > it had USB 3.1 Gen 2 and a fast CPU, but only to future-proof it. I do
> not
> > currently own any 3.1 Gen 2 devices, but I'm sure that someday I will.
>
>OK, the USB ports are not a concern.
>
> > As for why I do not use it for my video work, sometimes I do. But my main
> > storage is in a 16TB USB 3.0 enclosure, and I don't know how to connect
> it
> > simultaneously to two computers. When I use the desktop for video work I
> > output to USB sticks and physically move them to the laptop. I have done
> > so a few times and it takes about half the time that the task would have
> > taken on the laptop.
>
>There are solutions for this. For example, do your video work on the
> desktop and store results on the external 16T drive. Then, at your
> convenience, connect that drive to your laptop and do your laptop stuff
> this
> way. While I've not used the 'tee' command this way, it might send output
> from, for example, the desktop to both the external hard drive and the
> laptop, yet I suspect that it would.
>
>I would mount the external hard drive using samba (or NFS) so it's just
> another drive on the network and accessible everywhere.
>
>Those more expert than I can guide you to no-cost solutions using what
> you
> already have.
>
> Rich
> ___
> PLUG mailing list
> PLUG@pdxlinux.org
> http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug
>
___
PLUG mailing list
PLUG@pdxlinux.org
http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug

Re: [PLUG] Replace the CPU

[Rich Shepard]

On Thu, 13 Sep 2018, John Jason Jordan wrote:


You have a newly assembled desktop which I assume has plenty of
DDR4 RAM.


No, only 16GB, although easily upgraded.


  And at lower cost than a new laptop.


I built the new desktop because its predecessor was 11 years old and
starting to have issues. And yes, I went to great lengths to ensure that
it had USB 3.1 Gen 2 and a fast CPU, but only to future-proof it. I do not
currently own any 3.1 Gen 2 devices, but I'm sure that someday I will.


  OK, the USB ports are not a concern.


As for why I do not use it for my video work, sometimes I do. But my main
storage is in a 16TB USB 3.0 enclosure, and I don't know how to connect it
simultaneously to two computers. When I use the desktop for video work I
output to USB sticks and physically move them to the laptop. I have done
so a few times and it takes about half the time that the task would have
taken on the laptop.


  There are solutions for this. For example, do your video work on the
desktop and store results on the external 16T drive. Then, at your
convenience, connect that drive to your laptop and do your laptop stuff this
way. While I've not used the 'tee' command this way, it might send output
from, for example, the desktop to both the external hard drive and the
laptop, yet I suspect that it would.

  I would mount the external hard drive using samba (or NFS) so it's just
another drive on the network and accessible everywhere.

  Those more expert than I can guide you to no-cost solutions using what you
already have.

Rich
___
PLUG mailing list
PLUG@pdxlinux.org
http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug

Re: [PLUG] Replace the CPU

[John Jason Jordan]

On Thu, 13 Sep 2018 10:16:03 -0700 (PDT)
Rich Shepard  dijo:

>You have a newly assembled desktop which I assume has plenty of
> DDR4 RAM.

No, only 16GB, although easily upgraded.

>Consider using that as was suggested earlier in this thread. Desktops
>tend to be faster than laptops because the latter are not meant for
>heavy duty work. Desktops can also be easily upgraded, both CPU and
>memory; and you have the USB3.1+ ports you want. Udderwise, why'd you
>upgrade the desktop? :-)

I built the new desktop because its predecessor was 11 years old and
starting to have issues. And yes, I went to great lengths to ensure
that it had USB 3.1 Gen 2 and a fast CPU, but only to future-proof it. I
do not currently own any 3.1 Gen 2 devices, but I'm sure that someday I
will.

As for why I do not use it for my video work, sometimes I do. But my
main storage is in a 16TB USB 3.0 enclosure, and I don't know how to
connect it simultaneously to two computers. When I use the desktop for
video work I output to USB sticks and physically move them to the
laptop. I have done so a few times and it takes about half the time
that the task would have taken on the laptop.
___
PLUG mailing list
PLUG@pdxlinux.org
http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug

Re: [PLUG] Replace the CPU

[Rich Shepard]

On Thu, 13 Sep 2018, John Jason Jordan wrote:


I'm sure that memory speed is part of what's constraining me, and that
is one reason that I am considering a new laptop. My current laptop has
DDR3 at 1600 and that's all it will take. I'm considering upgrading it
from the original 16GB to 32GB, but it will still be the same speed. A
new laptop, however, will take DDR4 at 2400, so that is one reason for
considering a new laptop.


John,

  You have a newly assembled desktop which I assume has plenty of DDR4 RAM.
Consider using that as was suggested earlier in this thread. Desktops tend
to be faster than laptops because the latter are not meant for heavy duty
work. Desktops can also be easily upgraded, both CPU and memory; and you
have the USB3.1+ ports you want. Udderwise, why'd you upgrade the desktop?
:-)

Regards,

Rich

___
PLUG mailing list
PLUG@pdxlinux.org
http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug

Re: [PLUG] Replace the CPU

[John Jason Jordan]

On Thu, 13 Sep 2018 05:45:13 -0700 (PDT)
Rich Shepard  dijo:

>On Wed, 12 Sep 2018, John Jason Jordan wrote:
>
>> So now I have a new question: Considering that I need CPU speed,
>> what is the fastest CPU currently available in laptops?  

>Are you sure you're constrained by CPU speed and not memory speed or
>amount?
>

I'm sure that memory speed is part of what's constraining me, and that
is one reason that I am considering a new laptop. My current laptop has
DDR3 at 1600 and that's all it will take. I'm considering upgrading it
from the original 16GB to 32GB, but it will still be the same speed. A
new laptop, however, will take DDR4 at 2400, so that is one reason for
considering a new laptop.

Last night I did a bit of shopping and stumbled across a Lenovo P71,
which offer several CPU options, including a Xeon instead of a Core i7.
I like almost everything about it, except that it has a shortage of USB
ports, and only 3.0 at that. Also Lenovo's site is short on
information. On the other hand, Lenovo sells a real docking station for
it, which probably has additional USB ports.

The predecessor to my current System76 Bonobo Extreme was a Lenovo
Thinkpad T61. I replaced it after five years even though it was still
working because of the need for speed, plus I worried that it might
fail at a crucial moment. After about six months my System76 developed
video problems that required replacing the motherboard (under
warranty). When I bought it I had installed an mSATA SSD for the boot
drive, so before shipping it back to System76 I removed the drive,
bought a USB to mSATA adapter, plugged it into the old Thinkpad, et
voià! I was back in business, not even a problem with the video. Slower
than the second coming, but at least my life could continue
uninterrupted. So one of the things I want to find out about the P71 is
what kind of internal drive connectors it has. If it has an mSATA port
that would be awesome.

This Sunday at the Clinic I intend to remove the bottom panel from my
System76 and poke around. At the very least it needs removal of nearly
five years of dust, but I also want to see what kind of RAM it has and
take a look at the CPU socket.
___
PLUG mailing list
PLUG@pdxlinux.org
http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug

Re: [PLUG] Replace the CPU

[Rich Shepard]

On Wed, 12 Sep 2018, John Jason Jordan wrote:


So now I have a new question: Considering that I need CPU speed, what is
the fastest CPU currently available in laptops?


John,

  Are you sure you're constrained by CPU speed and not memory speed or
amount?

  Regardless, have a looksee here:


Regards,

Rich
___
PLUG mailing list
PLUG@pdxlinux.org
http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug

Re: [PLUG] Replace the CPU

[Tomas Kuchta]

This so easy to answer:
A) get any nice laptop with Linux - VNC to your desktop for speed.
B) http://lmgtfy.com/?q=the+fastest+killer+laptop+in+the+world+ever

All laptops are slow compared to desktop, workstation or a server powered
directly from the powerplant.

Lol, Tomas

Seriously, what you have is still pretty fast as laptops go. Speed needs
power and cooling - not quite what laptops are for.

On Wed, Sep 12, 2018, 9:00 PM John Jason Jordan  wrote:

> On Wed, 12 Sep 2018 11:00:54 -0700
> John Jason Jordan  dijo:
>
> >I have recently developed a desire to increase the speed of my 4.5
> >year-old laptop. It came with a 4th generation Intel Core i7-4800 MQ
> >processor, 2.7 GHz, 6MB L3 cache, 4 cores, plus hyperthreading.
> >Assuming it's not soldered to the motherboard, are there now faster
> >CPUs that will fit in the socket? If so, recommendations?
>
> I've just discovered from System76 that the CPU for "this laptop version
> isn't in a normal socket that allows easy upgrades."
>
> Bah. Now I'm thinking of a new laptop. After all, this one will be five
> years old in November, hard as it is for me to believe that. Man, that
> Tempus dude just fugits his tail along, doesn't he?
>
> So now I have a new question: Considering that I need CPU speed, what
> is the fastest CPU currently available in laptops?
> ___
> PLUG mailing list
> PLUG@pdxlinux.org
> http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug
>
___
PLUG mailing list
PLUG@pdxlinux.org
http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug

Re: [PLUG] Replace the CPU

[John Jason Jordan]

On Wed, 12 Sep 2018 11:00:54 -0700
John Jason Jordan  dijo:

>I have recently developed a desire to increase the speed of my 4.5
>year-old laptop. It came with a 4th generation Intel Core i7-4800 MQ
>processor, 2.7 GHz, 6MB L3 cache, 4 cores, plus hyperthreading.
>Assuming it's not soldered to the motherboard, are there now faster
>CPUs that will fit in the socket? If so, recommendations?

I've just discovered from System76 that the CPU for "this laptop version
isn't in a normal socket that allows easy upgrades." 

Bah. Now I'm thinking of a new laptop. After all, this one will be five
years old in November, hard as it is for me to believe that. Man, that
Tempus dude just fugits his tail along, doesn't he?

So now I have a new question: Considering that I need CPU speed, what
is the fastest CPU currently available in laptops?
___
PLUG mailing list
PLUG@pdxlinux.org
http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug

[PLUG] Replace the CPU

[John Jason Jordan]

I have recently developed a desire to increase the speed of my 4.5
year-old laptop. It came with a 4th generation Intel Core i7-4800 MQ
processor, 2.7 GHz, 6MB L3 cache, 4 cores, plus hyperthreading.
Assuming it's not soldered to the motherboard, are there now faster
CPUs that will fit in the socket? If so, recommendations?
___
PLUG mailing list
PLUG@pdxlinux.org
http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug