[PD] GEM on Linux netbook

[chris clepper]

On Linux the Nvidia GPU is the way to go for GEM.  You could probably get
acceptable performance for basic GEM use from the Acer, but what takes most
of the CPU to do with the Intel GMA processor barely taxes a modern GPU.
For example, I have measured performance between a MacBook/Mac Mini and
MacBook Pro where the Pro was 40x faster because of the GPU!

There are netbooks with NV chips in them, but they cost a little more:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220385

cgc

On Wed, Mar 11, 2009 at 11:58 AM, Ben Baker-Smith <bbakersmith at gmail.com>wrote:

> I currently use a Macbook (OS 10.5) for all my PD patching.  However, as I
> am primarily focused on using GEM for live video performance alongside
> musical groups, I am thinking about getting a second laptop for performances
> (to keep my Macbook safe).
>
> I'm thinking of getting an Acer Aspire One netbook running linux.
>
> I'd like to know the pros and cons of this.
>
> -Will swapping patches between Mac OS and Linux be a problem (I'm guessing
> no, but I figured I'd ask)?
>
> -I've heard of some problems with VGA out on Linux laptops, is this going
> to be an issue?
>
> -Does the netbook have enough processing power for general GEM
> applications?  I'm usually not dealing with video files, but rather particle
> generation, shape manipulation, GIF texturing, and audio-response.  On my
> Macbook (2.0 GHz intel processor) the CPU meter always shows below 50% usage
> (of course, that's not to say that it doesn't freeze up and boot me out
> sometimes).
>
> -Are there any other issues that you think of given this scenario?  and if
> so, what other affordable/really-cheap laptops are there out there that I
> can run linux on?
> _______________________________________________
> Pd-list at iem.at mailing list
> UNSUBSCRIBE and account-management ->
> http://lists.puredata.info/listinfo/pd-list
>
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.puredata.info/pipermail/pd-list/attachments/20090311/e679f966/attachment-0001.htm>