Frank Bullitt Posted January 3, 2016 Share Posted January 3, 2016 Hi. I want to pick up a cheap Windows laptop for the sole purpose of using in conjunction with my Syvecs ECU and nothing else. What is out there and what is the minimum spec I should be looking at getting? E2A I only have Apple Mac knowledge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobUK Posted January 3, 2016 Share Posted January 3, 2016 Pretty much anything with an RJ45 port will do, cheapest I found on Amazon (Dell Refurb) is £110... Dell Latitude E6400 Laptop Intel Core 2 Duo 2.40GHz 4GB Ram 160GB HDD Widescreen https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0144DPGAW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_9gzIwbZ8W0MFE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Bullitt Posted January 3, 2016 Author Share Posted January 3, 2016 Thanks, would this spec be enough to upgrade to Windows 8? E2A Has Dell's reliability improved or would I be better off with an old HP probook? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie_b Posted January 3, 2016 Share Posted January 3, 2016 Dell, HP, Lenovo: all pretty good quality in general IMO. What size screen do you need/want? I know very little about Syvecs or anything similar, but as Rob said, I imagine the laptop won't need much horsepower. I've got a Lenovo X121e: it's focus is on portability, quite small (12" screen, something like that), fairly rugged. Came with Windows 7, should be able to run Windows 10. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Bullitt Posted January 4, 2016 Author Share Posted January 4, 2016 Dell, HP, Lenovo: all pretty good quality in general IMO. What size screen do you need/want? I know very little about Syvecs or anything similar, but as Rob said, I imagine the laptop won't need much horsepower. I've got a Lenovo X121e: it's focus is on portability, quite small (12" screen, something like that), fairly rugged. Came with Windows 7, should be able to run Windows 10. Yes, something like the laptop in the link Rob popped up or like the one you mentioned seem perfect Stevie I guess PC World or Curries will be my best bet, also Window 7, 8 & 10 compatibility would be great as I could also use it for the room correction on my HT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie_b Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 what is the minimum spec I should be looking at getting? The Syvecs website should tell you what the minimum spec is for their software. It's likely to be extremely low. As a practical minimum spec, I'd go for 4GB RAM, Windows 7, 100GB hard disk, and almost any processor you want. I'd choose Windows 7 because it's got plenty of support life left in it, and has very high adoption among users therefore Syvecs are very unlikely to stop supporting it anytime soon. Go for Windows 10 if you want something more cutting edge, although at the moment you can upgrade free from Win7 to Win10 if you've got a genuine license. I would also say that good second hand computers are often better than base-spec new ones. Computers last for many years, and only become obsolete when they can't run the latest games you want to play, or if they don't support specific things like 64-bit computing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T2 MSW Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 Have you got a MAC?? Why not run Fusion and install Windows inside that, can buy a RJ45 adapter for your mac and it works perfectly with the syvecs. Thats exactly how I do mine and have no issues at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jord Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 PC World or Curries will be overpriced. Check Amazon when you know what you want, their prices usually beat everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Bullitt Posted January 4, 2016 Author Share Posted January 4, 2016 The Syvecs website should tell you what the minimum spec is for their software. It's likely to be extremely low. As a practical minimum spec, I'd go for 4GB RAM, Windows 7, 100GB hard disk, and almost any processor you want. I'd choose Windows 7 because it's got plenty of support life left in it, and has very high adoption among users therefore Syvecs are very unlikely to stop supporting it anytime soon. Go for Windows 10 if you want something more cutting edge, although at the moment you can upgrade free from Win7 to Win10 if you've got a genuine license. I would also say that good second hand computers are often better than base-spec new ones. Computers last for many years, and only become obsolete when they can't run the latest games you want to play, or if they don't support specific things like 64-bit computing. I was thinking 2nd hand would provide better spec in this case All I could find on the Syvecs website is - Our Software is designed to work in a Microsoft Windows Environment and is supported on all current Microsoft operating Systems. Have you got a MAC?? Why not run Fusion and install Windows inside that, can buy a RJ45 adapter for your mac and it works perfectly with the syvecs. Thats exactly how I do mine and have no issues at all. Thanks for the info but I don't want Windows anywhere near my Mac in any shape or form PC World or Curries will be overpriced. Check Amazon when you know what you want, their prices usually beat everyone. I'll take a look thanks, I guess eBay is another option? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jord Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 I'll take a look thanks, I guess eBay is another option? Yeah you could look on eBay, might be much cheaper if you don't mind something second hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ric Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 why not just bootcamp your current mac (assuming you have one) and use a USB>RS232 converter? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 As one who uses laptops a lot for general automotive diagnosis and reading / writing ecu's I strongly recommend you find one with a true serial port, and run XP or Windows 7 on it. SYVECS use ethernet, but if you need to read or write other ECU's a true serial port is a Godsend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
binfieldx Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 Can have my Dell inspiron i dont use anymore for 80 quid if you want, bootleg windows 7 but who cares Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Bullitt Posted January 4, 2016 Author Share Posted January 4, 2016 Thanks for the info guys. I have had a quick look on eBay, what do people think of this? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/371512291004?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie_b Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 Thanks for the info guys. I have had a quick look on eBay, what do people think of this? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/371512291004?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT Looks good. I couldn't see a serial port though, see Chris' comment. I don't know if any modern laptops have them these days, so you may need to take a view on how important it'll be to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Bullitt Posted January 4, 2016 Author Share Posted January 4, 2016 Looks good. I couldn't see a serial port though, see Chris' comment. I don't know if any modern laptops have them these days, so you may need to take a view on how important it'll be to you. I couldn't find something with a true serial port (RS232) but I could find a USB - RS232 adaptor. Would this suffice? Also I assume that is an RJ45 port on the side? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie_b Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 Yep, RJ45 is a fancy name for an ethernet port. All laptops will have one, apart from the extremely small or thin ones (or some Macbooks, because Apple love to be different). Chris indicated that a genuine serial port is handy, but I imagine they're hard to get hold of on a modern laptop. There's very little that uses them these days. If it were me, I'd buy something like the Lenovo on ebay you linked to, and if I ever needed to use a serial port, I'd figure out something at the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobUK Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 Syvecs uses RJ45 so no need for a serial port.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Bullitt Posted January 4, 2016 Author Share Posted January 4, 2016 Yep, RJ45 is a fancy name for an ethernet port. All laptops will have one, apart from the extremely small or thin ones (or some Macbooks, because Apple love to be different). Chris indicated that a genuine serial port is handy, but I imagine they're hard to get hold of on a modern laptop. There's very little that uses them these days. If it were me, I'd buy something like the Lenovo on ebay you linked to, and if I ever needed to use a serial port, I'd figure out something at the time. Sorry I mean there appears to be 2, one on either side. I have tried finding one with the RS232 but like you say due to lack of use nowadays it will be nigh on impossible to find something modern (ish) with one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobUK Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 Sorry I mean there appears to be 2, one on either side. I have tried finding one with the RS232 but like you say due to lack of use nowadays it will be nigh on impossible to find something modern (ish) with one. Nope 1 is a modem port, the other is lan/rj45 That laptop looks a bit old and beaten.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
binfieldx Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 That laptop is ancient the one I have is much newer lol... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Bullitt Posted January 5, 2016 Author Share Posted January 5, 2016 Nope 1 is a modem port, the other is lan/rj45 That laptop looks a bit old and beaten.... Oh, it seemed okay to my eyes I guess they aren't what they used to be! What about this - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/252235364512?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT That laptop is ancient the one I have is much newer lol... I'm not a Dell fan TBH but feel free to post up a few decent pictures and it's spec if you want to tempt me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 I run the Syvecs software on my MacBook using a VirtualBox VM with Win7, ethernet passthrough works without any issues. If using the Syvecs Wifi bridge adapter I havent had much success passing through to a VM, needs more testing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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