Shopping for a new laptop--Logos performance questions

Hello everyone. I am new to the forums and new to Logos. I just purchased the Scholar's Library Platinum about 2 weeks ago and am disappointed in its performance on my current system. I know that this is hardware related and not simply native to Logos as I am currently running a 1.7 ghz processor with only 2gb of ram.

When I watch the tutorial videos and someone types a search from the homepage, it seems that Logos "snaps" to the main layout and runs the PG and EG almost immediately. I know that Platinum is a substantial library but currently I'm timing the search process at just under 2 minutes. Definitely not "snappy."

I'm looking to purchase a new laptop, and while I have read many of the posts that have covered this issue I am concerned about making sure I purchase enough horsepower without overpaying. I think I've got it narrowed down to 2 laptops. One is the new Sony Vaio Blue Label from BestBuy. The other is a Dell Dimension E6400. I'm no newbie to computers and if I go the E6400 route I will wind up spending about $500 more than the Sony because of all the upgrades.

I simply want to know is the specs on the Sony are enough to give Logos the kind of speed I am looking for. Here are the specs: Core i5 2.26 ghz processor, 4 mb RAM, 500GB 5400 RPM hard drive, Intel Graphics Media Accelerator, Windows 7 64 bit.

The main thing I am concerned about is the 5400 RPM hard drive. I just want to know that Logos will give me some pretty instant results when I'm running searches. Thanks for any help you can offer.

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SteveF

00GB 5400 RPM hard drive, Intel Graphics Media Accelerator,

Most (but not quite all) here would suggest a 7200 RPM.

Quite a few (but not all) would suggest having a separate/dedicated Video card rather than a built-in Motherboard graphics chip.

Some say there is not too much different between i5 and i3, BUT that there is a big jump at i7.

[But I would not yet know-see my specs below]

Ron Cook

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/104277#Comment_104277

I should have mentioned that the E6400 I am considering is only available with a Core 2 Duo but it is available with a 250 GB 7200 RPM hard drive. If the Sony came with a 7200 RPM drive and a separate video card I would have already bought it. Still hung up on those same two issues though.

TCBlack

Ron the Specs are impressive. As Steve noted, your bottlenecks are likely to be the Video card and the hard drive (in that order IMHO). Is the Intel graphics a dedicated card or an on MOBO chip?

if it's dedicated how much ram?

Ron Cook

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/104289#Comment_104289

The Intel GMA is an on board chip. No dedicated graphics. I'm just curious as to how much difference that will make on a system with these specs. 90% of all laptops sold have integrated graphics.

Darren Paul Wright

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/104293#Comment_104293

Ron, out of curiosity, what type of video card is in your current system (particularly what brand)?

Jim VanSchoonhoven

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/104298#Comment_104298

My computer has the following specs and it rocks:

1.3GHz Intel SU7300 Core 2 Duo Processor
4GB of DDR3 RAM, 2 slots, 4GB Max
500GB SATA Hard Drive (5400 RPM)
13.3" HD LED LCD Display, Intel GMA 4500MHD, Wi-Fi 802.11 bgn, 0.3M Webcam
Windows 7 Home Premium Operating System (64 bit)

I have 2200-2300 resources in it, and my times are faster than the ones listed on this forum that have I7 with fast hard drives, except some large searches are a hair faster, but they all had smaller libraries.

I have no idea what the factors are in running Logos 4 because I have also seen and heard of computers with less horsepower than mine also doing well with the program. I paid 629.00 for mine and also got a free Dvd writer.

I am completely happy with mine, even the typing is fast, I do think a core 2 Duo processor running Windows 7 64 bit was common in all the computers that were giving good preformance.

In Christ,

Jim

Jim VanSchoonhoven

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/104431#Comment_104431

My computer has the following specs and it rocks:

1.3GHz Intel SU7300 Core 2 Duo Processor
4GB of DDR3 RAM, 2 slots, 4GB Max
500GB SATA Hard Drive (5400 RPM)
13.3" HD LED LCD Display, Intel GMA 4500MHD, Wi-Fi 802.11 bgn, 0.3M Webcam
Windows 7 Home Premium Operating System (64 bit)

I am completely happy with mine, even the typing is fast, I do think a core 2 Duo processor running Windows 7 64 bit and 4 gigs of memory was common in all the computers that were giving good preformance.

In Christ,

Jim

Kevin A. Purcell

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/104433#Comment_104433

The key is actually good video card for two reasons.

1. Logos is built using WPF a technology that uses graphics engine to display. The better the graphics engine the better the over all performance. If you search for WPF you will find a lot of info about this.

2. All systems run modern windows better with a dedicated graphics. It is not always noticeable, but when you take graphics away from the Processor and the System ram, it frees those resources for crunching the data. Shared graphics will use the processor and the system ram to work. But dedicated graphics take most of this away from those two things.

Hard drive is always a help. The best option being a system with expensive SSD instead of a spinning traditional hard drive. This also has added benefit of better battery life which you will need with lowered battery life in a dedicated graphics card. The only problem is with both of these options you are talking more money.

Jim VanSchoonhoven

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/104546#Comment_104546

Kevin, I see a couple a problems with what you are saying when is comes to running Logos 4.

For example the laptop I have has neither the dedicated graphics card you have mentioned or the high speed hard drive or the SSD you have mentioned.

However, I agree with what you are saying in general terms, I don't believe those things to be the keys to running Logos 4 at a quick speed, I am not sure what is going on, but I have seen too many guys getting good preformance with out either of the things you have mentioned.

So although I agree that those things make computers faster, apparently Logos 4 is not so demanding that those things really have a big impact on preformance. Sure for those that can afford it, why not go for the best and fastest computers possible, but my experience and the experience of some others makes it appear that you can get by for much less and still have Logos run fast, this is very important for those of us on a tight budget, and it is also important for the sales of the Logos program it's self, that people get the correct idea about what level of computer it really takes to run this thing fast.

Do only those machines that cost 1000.00 and up run the program fast or do machines that start in the 500-600 dollar range run the program fast? I have a feeling it is the latter range, but from reading some of the posts on this forum it makes it look like it takes the 1000 dollar plus machine.

To be honest, I had to upgrade my laptop in order to get Logos to run well, it now runs great and I can really enjoy it, but if I would have not read all the posts carefully, I would have never had the courage to buy a 629 dollar laptop to run the program on, and I would still be waiting and waiting and waiting to buy a 1000.00 plus laptop.

For me with the way things are in my area, every penny counts and even 629.00 was hard to come up with, just the upgrade to Logos 4 was hard on my budget, and then to find out that computer could not run it well enough for me to enjoy the program was a major blow to me, and my laptop was only a couple of years old it was a duo core 2.1 processor, running windows vista 32 bit with 4 gigs of ram.

My 1.6 single core netbook running windows XP 32 bit with 2 gigs of ram did a better job of running Logos 4, it ran the program faster than the other computer!!! Go figure, I was disappointed, but not any more!

This computer is doing more than a good job!

I sure wish Logos would give us more information on what computers they are finding run the program well!

In Christ,

Jim

SteveF

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/104556#Comment_104556

I have has neither the dedicated graphics card you have mentioned or the high speed hard drive or the SSD you have mentioned.

Jim, did you happen to see another related comment? Someone has suggested that your so-called "lower-powered" system works better because it is NEWER. ie. that the recent technological changes have improved how the various components are working. (He) suggested further, that might be the reason why some , with apparently higher specs, but OLDER equipment, might be seeing poorer performance.

I am really pleased for your success. As you can see from my signature, I too need too upgrade. I am taking your advice as seriously as the others who are promoting the more expensive options.

Take care,

Ron Cook

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/104556#Comment_104556

Thanks for all of the input so far. Darren, my current Desktop PC (Dell Inspiron E520), which is the only system I'm running Logos on right now, also has an Intel Graphics Media Accelerator. This is so confusing because I want to believe that any decent new system (the Sony cost $1050 and the Dell only goes up from there) would run this program well, but I have read so many posts that seem to indicate that it will still run slow without a dedicated graphics processor. If it weren't for the restocking fee at Best Buy I would just pick up the Sony and try it out for myself.

One other thought, does anyone know if a dedicated graphics card can be bought aftermarket for a laptop to run in an express card slot?

Kevin A. Purcell

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/104573#Comment_104573

One other thought, does anyone know if a dedicated graphics card can be bought aftermarket for a laptop to run in an express card slot?

Yes. How well it works I don't know. The link is to an article at Tom's Hardware.

To answer an above response to my previous post ...

I was stating that dedicated graphics and SSD are two of the things that will make Logos run faster. I was not saying they are necessary. I am running Logos on this laptop with has Intel Graphics card (not dedicated but shared). I also have a 5400 rpm hard drive (not SSD and not the fastest traditional) and it runs adequately for my needs. I also have 4 GB of Ram with 64 bit windows. So that offsets it a little.

Ron Cook

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/104610#Comment_104610

Thanks Kevin. I always thought that would be a great way to increase the upgradeability of laptops. Unfortunately, at that price, I'd be better off buying a more expensive system up front.

I really just want to know if someone running specs similar to Core i5 2.26, 4 GB RAM, 5400RPM Hard drive, Intel GMA, and Windows 7 64 bit are experiencing the "snappy performance" I see in the video tutorials or if I would need something significantly more powerful to achieve that kind of performance.

Best Buy lists this system as having 2263 GB video memory available (i.e drawn from physical RAM)

Ron Cook

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/104673#Comment_104673

Here's a link if anyone is interested.

Jim VanSchoonhoven

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/104674#Comment_104674

No Steve, I have not seen that thread that suggest that about the new lower-powered systems, one thing that I have noticed is that several of the other lower-powered systems with lesser chips than mine ran Logos well too! In fact I considered them instead of what I got, but I went with mine for the 12 hour battery life, which I have not got yet, but I do run in the 11 plus hour battery life which is way more than I need.

In fact I am not sure that I have seen anything but the lower-powered systems running Logos well, except the expensive stuff, but like I have mentioned before my times are even faster than the expensive ones except on large searches like god, but when it comes to the guides and other features my machine in many cases are half the time mentioned by the high speed machines.

The real point that I would like to make is, I think Logos needs to share more with us, about what they have found out so far!

They are running this program on something, what are they using to get what they consider normal or good performance? I say normal in the sense of I don't want to have a noticable wait on things, except a few seconds on big searches with big libraries.

They must know what is the bottom line for good functioning and what just will not work!

I would like them to give all of those out here some help in this area, some people just can't afford expensive machines but they do want the program to run like a normal program with out delays, what is needed???

I know my machine works, but not everyone would want a small 13 in laptop with nearly 12 hours of battery life. Many folks will want a 17 in screen with around 3 hours of battery like and think that is the best laptop in the world, for them. So does it take an i3 or i5 or i7 to run this program or does it take those new low-power chips or what does it take.

I know that many people are not happy with how it runs on their current lap tops and are wanting to move up but they are on limited budgets and don't want to over spend, but they don't want to spend 5-600 dollars only to have the program still running slow, can Logos give us some help?

How many of you guys would like to see Logos comment on this issue?

In Christ,

Jim

Randy Murphy

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/104696#Comment_104696

How many of you guys would like to see Logos comment on this issue?

[Y]

SteveF

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/104696#Comment_104696

How many of you guys would like to see Logos comment on this issue?

In Christ,

Jim

I pretty much agree with all of your thoughts in this thread. Especially this one:

they do want the program to run like a normal program with out delays,

thank you

Ken Avery

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/104799#Comment_104799

This is what I use:

Review: http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=4631

Product: http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF25a/321957-321957-64295-3740645-3955549-3781677.html

Ron Cook

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/105393#Comment_105393

Thanks for the input everyone. I should have mentioned that one of the reasons this decision has been so difficult is because of the specs I'm looking for. I want a 13.3 or 14 inch screen so that I can comfortable use my laptop on a plane and I am also hung up on having a backlit keyboard for the same reasons. My primary ministry is counseling and I am trying to refocus on primarily working with missionaries which will require a fair amount of travel. I already have a trip planned to go to Moscow in June and I would really like to use my laptop on that 11 hour flight. In the past I have had great difficulty using a 15.4 on planes. There doesn't seem to be many laptops in the 13-14 inch range with dedicated graphics.

Randy O'Brien

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/105393#Comment_105393

This is what I use:

Review: http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=4631

Product: http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF25a/321957-321957-64295-3740645-3955549-3781677.html

Ken:

I've got the 8540w waiting on back-order - no real idea when it will arrive due to some long delays. Does your 8530w handle L4 well? Any thoughts about whether I should continue to wait or head another direction?

Randy

Ken Avery

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/105734#Comment_105734

Randy,

No problems running L4 on the 8530w (one of the best laptops on the market); the 8540w is a step up and has great performance!

God bless you and keep you,

Ken

Jim VanSchoonhoven

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/105715#Comment_105715

Ron a large part of my ministry involves travel from place to place showing believers how to use bible software to study the scriptures, I spend time with a lot of pastors, elders and youth group leaders, and I needed a laptop that was easy to handle, powerful and with a good battery life.

Above I listed the specs of my laptop, it runs Logos 4 very well and if you notice it is a 13.3 inch screen. There are a lot of very good reviews for this laptop, you might want to look at some of them and see if it might do what you want it to. However it does not have a dedicated graphics card.

Here is a link to details about the ASUS UL30A-X5 http://www.amazon.com/UL30A-X5-Light-13-3-Inch-Laptop-Battery/dp/B002P3KMVC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1268933805&sr=8-1

In Christ,

Jim

Ron Cook

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/105762#Comment_105762

Jim, that's a nice looking machine. I'm curious about the performance of these ULV processors. Seems like going back to a 1.3 ghz would be a step in the wrong direction. Are you finding comparable performance to say an i3 or i5?

Jim VanSchoonhoven

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/105913#Comment_105913

I do not have an i3 or an i5 so I can not compare them to this one. However I can tell you that compared with the listed times of i7's in laptops in this forum, this is a fast machine, in most cases my times in Logos 4 are faster.

I have no reason why this is true, but I don't care it works great!

My son is heavy in computers and he turned me on to this one and said there was no way that it could not run Logos 4 well, and he was right! Ihe said it is the first affordable small computer that can do the job of most full size laptops.

If you look the specs up of the chip you will see they have done things to make it faster than you would expect it to be.

What can I say, I love this thing and the battery life is great, although I have never gotten 12 hours, I often have made it into the 11 plus hours range!

Check out the reviews they are very positive and ASUS made the small computer market!

In Christ,

Jim

Aaron Knotts

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/104696#Comment_104696

can Logos give us some help?
How many of you guys would like to see Logos comment on this issue?

[Y] +1

My laptop is sloooooooow..and I am going to have t live with it like this for at least another year.

Ron Cook

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/106756#Comment_106756

It doesn't look like that laptop has a backlit keyboard or a dvd drive. Is this the case?

Jim VanSchoonhoven

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/107600#Comment_107600

I am not sure what you mean by a backlit key board, please explain.

And the answer to the second question is no, it does not have a dvd player built in, but in my case when I bought mine, it was on special and they gave me a free dvd recorder-player with it, it is slim line and at amazon sells for under 50.00 dollars so far I like mine it is easy to take it with me, but I seldom have to use it so it just stays in my case.

This is really just a big powerful netbook and like most netbooks they don't have DVD players.

In Christ,

Jim

Ron Cook

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/107658#Comment_107658

That's what I thought. A backlit keyboard means that light shines through the keys as well as around the keys which makes using the laptop in low light conditions much easier. It was one of the features I really wanted in a new laptop but I'm finding that I may have to sacrifice it to find a better deal. Thanks for showing me this laptop. It is definitely high on my list of candidates.

Ron Cook

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/107701#Comment_107701

Well, I finally bit the bullet and ordered a new laptop. I decided to go with an Asus UL80VT-A2. I chose this machine over the UL30 because it has a 14" screen rather than a 13.3 and also includes a built in optical drive. I am excited to see how the combo of ULV Core 2 Duo and switchable graphics does with Logos. Will post an update when it comes in. Thanks for all of the input everyone.