Logos 4 Video Card Requirements

I am very confused about the video card requirements for Logos 4. First off, let me say that I don't know anything about video cards. The Tech faqs say that the minimum system requirements are "128 MB DirectX 9 graphics device" and that the recommended system requirements are "512MB DirectX9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver ."

Now, I have to buy a new laptop so that I can buy Logos as it is required by my Seminary. That means I have to base what laptop I buy around Logos. Sad So, I found a computer on-line that has the following video card: "Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD with up to 1695MB shared memory." I talked to HP on the phone and they said that that would not meet the requirements of what Logos states on their site. So, they tried to get me to upgrade to a new video card. I also talked to Dell about their Inspiron 15 laptops, but they said it would not support what Logos states on their site so again they tried to get me to upgrade.

However, I talked to a rep at Logos who said that the HP computer would work. When I told him what HP and Dell said he recommended that I call Customer Service. So I tried to call and was put on hold for 20 minutes. I thought there was a problem with the phone system so I hung up. I had to call back multiple times because no one was picking up or the phone system was having problems. I finally got someone who immediately asked me to hold... almost 8 minutes later I hung up.

I am kinda frustrated and don't know what to do. Any suggestions????

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Robert Pavich

Kristina,

what do you have right now?

I have a dell studio 17 and it runs Logos just fine..

My wife has a low budget inspiron 15 (the sale dell machines) and it runs fine too...NOT GREAT...but fine.

The main thing is memory...get as much as you can in a graphics card and main computer memory.

1GB is what I have....my wife has 1GB shared (I believe)

Others will know more about it....sorry that's all I could do ...

EDITED TO ADD: I just looked at the budget dell Inspiron machines on the website and even the lowest one has 3GB shared graphic memory...it WILL run Logos....but everything is taste...for me there will never be one fast enough [:D]

Kristina Hosford

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/69822#Comment_69822

You don't want to know what I have right now, lol! I have a Gateway desktop computer from 2001 that runs Windows ME. I can't even open up Word on the computer... all I can do is go on the internet.

Kevin Becker

I just bought an HP laptop with integrated graphics capabilities.

http://www.shopping.hp.com/product/notebooks/dv4t_series/rts/4/computer_store/VM166UA%2523ABA

It has the graphics chipset that you mentioned and Logos runs well.

Ken Avery

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/69824#Comment_69824

You don't want to know what I have right now, lol! I have a Gateway desktop computer from 2001 that runs Windows ME. I can't even open up Word on the computer... all I can do is go on the internet.

The Gateway running ME probably needs to be upgraded; the hp you mentioned will work just fine.

Kristina Hosford

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/69835#Comment_69835

^ Yeah I am going to upgrade my ME to the trash.

Why did HP and Dell tell me that the existing video cards didn't work? Do you think they were just lying so they could get me to spend more money?

Robert Pavich

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/69846#Comment_69846

Or they just didn't know what they were talking about...in my experience from calling dell...that would be it...

Ken Avery

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/69847#Comment_69847

Or they just didn't know what they were talking about...in my experience from calling dell...that would be it...

[Y]

Ken Avery

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/69849#Comment_69849

BTW - The GMA 4500MHD (High Definition - HD) chip should be more than capable of running Logos 4, the hp computer will work.

PS: Disclosure - I work for hp.

Robert Pavich

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/69849#Comment_69849

I take it you don't live in India...?

Kristina Hosford

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/69847#Comment_69847

Robert,

That is why it is hard to know which computer to buy. One person tells me one thing and the next person tells me another. If I buy the computer and it doesn't work then I am out $650+.

Ken Avery

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/69852#Comment_69852

I take it you don't live in India...?

No, and hopefully my job stays here [:D]

Ken Avery

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/69853#Comment_69853

Here is a link that talks about the graphics chip you mentioned: http://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel-Graphics-Media-Accelerator-4500MHD-GMA-X4500MHD.9883.0.html

I am pretty sure a chip that is designed to run HD and BlueRay will run Logos graphics; I suspect the real need is memory and cpu, I have not seen any Logos 4 graphics that would require any special graphics need.

If you post a link to the laptop you are looking at, I will look at it and compable computers and give you and assesment.

PS: I do not work in tech support - I am a senior engineer for hp.

Alain Maashe

Kristina,

Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD with at least 512 shared memory, should do just fine. Just keep in mind that the memory shared with the video card is subtracted from what is available for your main memory. it is recommended to get at least 4 GB of memory for your operating system and use Windows 7 64 bit to take advantage of the entire 4 GB (versus around 3 GB for a 32 bit version of Windows 7 or below).

The video card aside the amount of memory does not appear to be one of the most important requirements

it is better to invest on a powerful (and recent) dual core CPU (ie. intel core 2 duo T6600 and above, stay away from ADM CPUs when it comes to laptop for now).

Having a fast hard drive (7200 rpm versus the standard 5400 rpm) will also improve the overall speed of the program

the CSR you spoke to appear to be confused which would be understandable since most request they get involving video card specs related to the ability to play games or do graphic processing where the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD just will not do because of its lack of power. Logos 4 is not so much concerned with graphic processing power (as long as the video card is DirectX 9 compatible) but with memory amount.

I have a HP laptop with the following specs

· 2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 Processor

· 4 GB RAM (8 GB max)

· 320 GB hard drive

· Intel GMA 4500MHD graphics (up to 1759 MB total)

It is giving decent performance with Logos 4 but it could be faster

If there is a bottleneck it is the CPU and the Hard drive (5400 rpm) and it is where one should look when buying a laptop .

Alain

Ken Avery

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/69853#Comment_69853

Robert,

That is why it is hard to know which computer to buy. One person tells me one thing and the next person tells me another. If I buy the computer and it doesn't work then I am out $650+.

BTW - I would look at comercial notebooks, based on the price it looks like you are looking at consumer notebooks; most people do not know about the hp enterprise notebooks, they are the best notebooks made.

I suspect you can get a better comercial notebook for around $100 less or the same price than what you are looking at; for example:

http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF25a/321957-321957-64295-3929941-3955552-3934828.html

I am trying to find out the price for: http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF04a/321957-321957-64295-3929949-3955548.html

Ken Avery

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/69879#Comment_69879

One more link: http://www.hp.com/sbso/buyguides/pg_notebooks/notebook-finder.html

You can pick and chose options to get the price/performance you want [;)]

Ken Avery

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/69881#Comment_69881

OK - I am board - is this the notebook you are looking at: HP Pavilion dv6t series?

http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/computer_series.do?storeName=computer_store&category=notebooks&series_name=dv6t_series

Working in enterprise computing I ususlly don't look at the consumer prioducts; though, this is a pretty sweet deal!

You get the Intel HD graphics, a decent processor, nice display panel, 4GB RAM free upgrade, fast HDD ... very nice for the price

Ken Avery

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/69892#Comment_69892

Ok - I am still shoping [;)]

Here is another sweet deal (4 GB): http://www.shopping.hp.com/product/rts_notebook/rts_notebook/1/storefronts/VM073UA%2523ABA

There is a reason they are out of stock [;)]

BTW - here is a good starting page: http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/store_access.do?template_type=landing&landing=notebooks#a

I hope all this helps - if you want to talk about it first, feel free to post for feedback.

Doug

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/69892#Comment_69892

Just to set the record straight, I have two laptops both with AMD Turion Ultra X2 processors and they both run L4 just fine. The one with 368 megs of dedicated graphics ram does a little better. But the shared graphics memory does okay too, with 2 gigs of system memory.

Technically, the service techs didn't mislead you. Integrated graphics doesn't exactly meet Logos's spec requirements. But they do work just fine.

Ken Avery

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/69895#Comment_69895

To be honest, I am not sure why Logos 4 has a graphics requirement, I suspect every graphic product made today will run Logos 4. I would be more concerned with memory, number of CPU cores .. etc, not graphics.

Alain Maashe

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/69892#Comment_69892

OK - I am board - is this the notebook you are looking at: HP Pavilion dv6t series?

http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/computer_series.do?storeName=computer_store&category=notebooks&series_name=dv6t_series

Working in enterprise computing I ususlly don't look at the consumer prioducts; though, this is a pretty sweet deal!

You get the Intel HD graphics, a decent processor, nice display panel, 4GB RAM free upgrade, fast HDD ... very nice for the price

I would stay away from the DV6 series

I have a DV6-1030us and the "loudness" of the fan (going on high gear for no good reason every other minute even when idle) is making me crazy. I am ashamed to have this thing in public when the place is quiet.

HP is slow coming up with a bios fix (the laptop runs very very cool because of the fan running at maximum speed but I would prefer a little more heat and much less noise).

Addtionally, when on battery, you have to run on high performance mode unless you want the everything to be sluggish, but the battery life becomes a jokes then

.Alain

Kristina Hosford

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/69894#Comment_69894

Wow, thanks everyone!! Ken, I was looking at that computer that is now out of stock and almost bought it earlier today (when I believe it was in stock). I wish I hadn't been told that it wouldn't work!!!!

Anyways, here are two HP computers that Office Depot has on sale right now:

http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/327474/HP-Pavilion-dv6-1350us-15-6/

http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/149652/HP-Pavilion-dv4-1547sb-Small-Business/

What do you think?

On a non Logos related side note, has anyone downloaded the new Microsoft Word 2010 Beta? I know that most computers are just preinstalled with Microsoft Works (inless you are lucky and it has the Word 2007 version on it). I was hoping to just download the 2010 Beta until the real thing comes out this summer. Do you think it will work or do I have to already have a previous Word version on my PC for the 2010 Beta to work??

Doug

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/69918#Comment_69918

On a non Logos related side note, has anyone downloaded the new Microsoft Word 2010 Beta? I know that most computers are just preinstalled with Microsoft Works (inless you are lucky and it has the Word 2007 version on it). I was hoping to just download the 2010 Beta until the real thing comes out this summer. Do you think it will work or do I have to already have a previous Word version on my PC for the 2010 Beta to work??

It's not necessary to have a previous installation. In fact, Microsoft wants you to uninstall your current version of Office if you install the beta. I'm building a new desktop computer this week and I'm going to give the beta a try on it. I have Office 2007 Ultimate on my laptop to fall back on if there are problems but I think 2010 beta is probably far enough along that most of the problems are worked out. Good luck to both of us.

Either of those computers should be okay. The previous poster was correct about HPs fans being kind of loud. I have a 12.1" tablet model that can be very noisy. The 17" model is not as bad.

Jon

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/69929#Comment_69929

I think 2010 beta is probably far enough along

Been using Office 2010 beta last couple of months with no issues at all...

Doug

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/69944#Comment_69944

Thanks for the word on that Jon. Do you use OneNote as well? Is the beta okay in that too?

Ken Avery

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/69918#Comment_69918

Wow, thanks everyone!! Ken, I was looking at that computer that is now out of stock and almost bought it earlier today (when I believe it was in stock). I wish I hadn't been told that it wouldn't work!!!!

Anyways, here are two HP computers that Office Depot has on sale right now:

http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/327474/HP-Pavilion-dv6-1350us-15-6/

http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/149652/HP-Pavilion-dv4-1547sb-Small-Business/

What do you think?

On a non Logos related side note, has anyone downloaded the new Microsoft Word 2010 Beta? I know that most computers are just preinstalled with Microsoft Works (inless you are lucky and it has the Word 2007 version on it). I was hoping to just download the 2010 Beta until the real thing comes out this summer. Do you think it will work or do I have to already have a previous Word version on my PC for the 2010 Beta to work??

Sorry for the late response - I was distracted by the Fiesta Bowl - go Boise

To be honest, I like the http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/327474/HP-Pavilion-dv6-1350us-15-6/

You don't get the webcam; though, you get a bigger LCD Panel - bigger is better when using Logos

I wouldn't let the fan noise bother you too much; basically, the BIOS is in charge of lowering the clock speed of the CPU and the fan speed when the computer is running on battery.

It is not uncommon to have this fixed in a BIOS upgrade after the product releases, the worst case is the fan is a little loud; though, you can usually change the performance setting to get the fan to slow down a little.