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Desktops: AMD Athlon X2 - HP a1250n PLEASE HELP...
I just got one at Fry's and loaded Linux, someday PVR
by animated - 1/6/06 1:16 PM In reply to: I just picked one up at Circuit City! by beebowI plan to use this for a PVR, and wanted to verify that I could recover from hardware or software catastrophes.
So far I almost have Linux installed as documented
here www.geocities.com/dcblaha.
Fo now, I just bought a cheap 17" monitor for 20$
off of Craig's list since I plan to use a PVR-350
with television out.
The advantage with the AMD is that it takes less
power, and can run cooler with less noisy fans. Great
for a PVR!
Ubuntu Linux
by animated - 1/14/06 11:24 AM In reply to: I just got one at Fry's and loaded Linux, someday PVR by animatedThanks to mlomker, there is an installation guide at
<a href="http://wiki.cchtml.com/index.php/Ubuntu_Installation_Guide">
wiki.cchtml.com/index.php/Ubuntu_Installation_Guide</a> that shows
how to set up the new ATI drivers for Ubuntu.
It took a lot of reading to figure out that the official guide doesn't
work.
The HP-a1250n has the following
<ul>
<li>Athlon64 x2 processor</li>
<li>Motherboard: MSI MS-7184, Socket 939, Northbridge ATI RS482,
Southbridge ATI SB400, HP name: AmethystM or AmethystM-GL6E</li>
<li>250GB SATA drive</li>
<li>ATI Radeon Xpress 200 Series integrated video</li>
</ul>
I was getting the DRIScreenInit Failed and Disabling DRI messages from the
ATI card. I also got the "libGL error: drmMap of sarea failed". But the
libdri.a fix worked for this.
I am a Linux newbie, and documented the problems I had setting up the HP-a1250n here
<a href="http://www.geocities.com/dcblaha/articles/hp-a1250nLinux.htm">
www.geocities.com/dcblaha/articles/hp-a1250nLinux.htm</a>.
a1250n $600 but freezes occasionally
by headnut - 11/21/05 4:46 AM In reply to: AMD Athlon X2 - HP a1250n PLEASE HELP... by Chip_LeaderI had been looking at this at Fry's for the past few weeks for $850 after rebate. In the MicroCenter ad they had it for $850 - $50 HP rebate - $100 MicroCenter rebate - $100 Visa rebate = $600. Too good to pass up, so I got one even though they have a 15% restocking fee policy and I don't usually buy anything at those stores. I didn't find out until reading the receipt. It sat on the rug for 2 hours until I finally decided to chance it.
It's not quite the speed demon I was expecting, but is a solid machine. However, three times now it has just frozen (even numlock doesn't toggle the light anymore).
It was in 3 different apps - Adobe Premiere, IE, Netscape 7.2. After the first time I disconnected the UPS thinking maybe it was glitching. After the third time I uninstalled the DLink pci wifi card, which was the only customization I had done to the machine. Should I either ask for a replacement or take it back and eat the restocking fee? I hate unreliable machines. This is the first one I have not built myself, but it was so much cheaper than trying to build one.
What applications will the Athlon 64 X2 show it's speed on, i.e., use both processors?
MicroCenter Rebates
by jhurewit - 11/21/05 6:30 AM In reply to: a1250n $600 but freezes occasionally by headnutI have decided I want to buy an HP a1250n, and checked the pricing at CompUSA, CircuitCity and Best Buy this weekend. All were $899, and the HP $50 rebate. I went to the Microcenter website to check it out, and saw the HP rebate and the $100 Visa rebate. What is the other $100 Microcenter rebate you mentioned?
local Dallas rebate
by headnut - 11/21/05 7:32 PM In reply to: MicroCenter Rebates by jhurewitSorry, wasn't thinking, the store manager said it was the 10th anniversary celebration of that particular store's opening. I remember working across the street then, before the layoffs 
, back when they opened. So that could be the reason for the extra $100 MicroCenter rebate, and maybe why they started at $850 before any rebates.
Still haven't figured out why it hangs. A coworker suggests it is because it has an AMD processor, and they are not 100% compatible and can lock up. I wouldn't think that's the case. Does anyone else have problems with Athlon 64 X2's locking up? Any suggestions?
Did you update all drivers.
by damasta55r - 11/21/05 10:22 PM In reply to: local Dallas rebate by headnutIt could be overheating, try run with case off. Did you scan for adware,etc. Download and run memtest. Could be bad memory. Other than that, there should be no problems with the machine, if there is it won't matter what machine you use.
Roger
updated all drives, case open, still hangs
by headnut - 11/24/05 6:00 AM In reply to: Did you update all drivers. by damasta55rI updated all the WinXP stuff, as well as the driver for the DLink wireless card. Still hangs. Am now trying a Buffalo USB wireless adapter. If it still freezes, this thing's going back. And if I have to eat the $125 restocking fee, I will NEVER set foot in MicroCenter again.
also ran memtest 86 - no bad ram
by headnut - 11/24/05 6:02 AM In reply to: updated all drives, case open, still hangs by headnutRam had no errors, although it didn't recognize the processor like it does on my Centrino-based laptops.
Did you upgrade gfx card
by damasta55r - 11/24/05 11:48 AM In reply to: also ran memtest 86 - no bad ram by headnutIf youre gaming and it crashes, i wouldn't be surprised if psu cant supply enough power.
HP a1250n best price at Amazon.com
by jhurewit - 11/23/05 7:03 PM In reply to: local Dallas rebate by headnutI discovered that Amazon.com is selling the a1250n for $899, with the HP $50 rebate and an Amazon $50 rebate bringing the price down to $799.
answers
by neezee - 11/24/05 10:48 AM In reply to: AMD Athlon X2 - HP a1250n PLEASE HELP... by Chip_Leader1. no the computer dosent have 2 processers or thats what i think your asking..
2. yea it is a single processer
3.AMD is a way better choice the archetecture is far superior to the Intel chips, however Intel is comming out with new dual core chips, which are suppose to be better than the AMD's (dont hold your breath)
all in all these dual core processors are just a SINGLE-PROCESSOR with 2 cores in it. and AMD is the better maker for dual-core chips rite now...
dual core
by animated - 1/6/06 1:22 PM In reply to: answers by neezeeDual core is much different than hyperthreading.
A dual core is mostly about packaging. It is really two processors that communicate to each other in one package, and so technically is one processor. The AMD dual core is supposed to be superior to Intel dual cores.
x2 vs. P4 D's
by georgekn3mp - 1/7/06 7:44 PM In reply to: dual core by animatedOh AMD X2 dual proc's have pretty much all tested faster AND cooler than the P4 D's, expecially for higher-end multimedia and some games...it's hard to compare apples to oranges but there are a lot of tech sites that compare the two as closely as two different chipsets aloow...almost universally the X2 3800 and 4200 beat even the P4 D 840 most of the time for a few hundred dollars less! Having an Hp A1250N myself, I love it (except the integrated graphics part LOL)
I put in a PC Express video card
by deenie - 7/9/06 3:24 AM In reply to: x2 vs. P4 D's by georgekn3mpNot being a gamer, I bought the cheapest PC Express nVidia card that had DVI output and no fan onboard (I hate fan noise). I got a good deal on Klipsch speakers (2.1) and I bought the HP 19" LCD monitor that was rated pretty good in PC World mag. The computer did crash a lot at the beginning. I just kept updating software, especially WinXP, and uninstalling the free crap that comes loaded on the HD. Now it is a really solid performer, very quiet, and super fast. It no longer crashes at all. Now I am waiting for 64 bit software, like Vista, to really give this baby something to chew on.
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