Laptop for Astrophotography

Post by **weixing** » Wed Nov 22, 2006 10:58 pm

Hi,
IMHO, just use any laptop with a large capacity hard disk will do. You just need to capture the images on the field via the toucam and most modern laptop can do that without any problem. You can then process the images when you are back at the comfort of your home. In this case, you shouldn't worry much about battery. If need more power, you can always use external battery pack.

Anyway, I don't recommend you to process the image on the field, unless your laptop is weather resistance... don't forget that dew can also form on laptop.

Have a nice day.

jermng · Post by **jermng** » Wed Nov 22, 2006 11:18 pm

Thanks guys!

Anyway, the laptop will be used in the field, but because it is also my only PC, I will be using it to process the images too. (All the other comps in my house are Mac)

In this case, what min specs should I go for?

I came up with something like this:

Intel Core 2 Duo 1.66Ghz (2mb L2 Cache, 667 FSB)
1Gb RAM
80Gb HDD
DVD Writer
And all the other common stuff .... would that be alright?
(just an OT, will I be able to play Need for Speed: Carbon on that?

Been deprived of NFS for years ... )

BTW, is it possible for the Toucam to capture images direct to a USB2.0 or firewire external HDD?

Thanks!

Post by **weixing** » Wed Nov 22, 2006 11:33 pm

Hi,

(just an OT, will I be able to play Need for Speed: Carbon on that? Smile Been deprived of NFS for years ... )

Most laptop are not design to play games, especially graphics intensive 3D games. Check out the games minium system requirement lor... take note of the graphics card memory requirement as most laptop don't have large graphics card memory.

BTW, is it possible for the Toucam to capture images direct to a USB2.0 or firewire external HDD?

I think it may still not fast enough. But you can always transfer to extern HDD once you done with processing.

For your info, I'm using only a Pentium III 700MHz to do my work and process my images... it work very well just take longer time. So I think the specification should be enough.

Have a nice day.

jermng · Post by **jermng** » Wed Nov 22, 2006 11:37 pm

Wow, cool ... how much RAM do you have?

Post by **weixing** » Thu Nov 23, 2006 12:09 am

Hi,

Wow, cool ... how much RAM do you have?

580MB RAM. Also, more RAM doesn't mean your computer will run faster... in fact, if your RAM is too large, your computer performance may drop.

By the way, operating system also affect the performace of the PC. Base on my experience, Windows 2000 is still the most efficient and stable Windows Operating System to date. If I buy a new computer, I think I'll still install windows 2000 instead of Windows XP or Windows Vista... I need maximum performance and not beautiful Windows interface...

Have a nice day.

jermng · Post by **jermng** » Thu Nov 23, 2006 12:27 am

580? That's a funny number for RAM.

Anyway, how come you say if RAM too large performance will drop? Then how do I determine how much RAM is best?

Hmmm ... Windows 2000? Most of the free Astro Progs like Cartes Du Ciel and Registax dun support that right?

Then I'll definitely go back to Mac.

hee hee ...

Post by **weixing** » Thu Nov 23, 2006 1:01 am

Hi,

580? That's a funny number for RAM.

Notebook always got funny RAM size. I think my notebook got 64MB RAM built in and I add a 512MB RAM... that's why it got this strange size...

Anyway, how come you say if RAM too large performance will drop? Then how do I determine how much RAM is best?

This will happen if your RAM is so large that the cache memory cannot effectively "cover" it, then cache "miss" will occur. If cache "miss" occur too frequently, your computer performance will drop. I forget how to calculate the optimum RAM size already... too long never used.

Anyway, if you need large RAM to run certain application, then you had to get it lor... (got said like no said... ha ha ha

) Anyway, I think the 2MB cache should be able to cover your 1GB RAM.

Hmmm ... Windows 2000? Most of the free Astro Progs like Cartes Du Ciel and Registax dun support that right?

Windows 2000 is not that old la... I think most software free or not will support it.

By the way, I don't recommend you to change the OS come with the computer unless you know what you are doing and also some manufacturer don't provide drivers of previous OS version for new computer.

Have a nice day.

anat · Post by **anat** » Thu Nov 23, 2006 7:48 am

IMHO, any currently available notebook has adequate capacity but you should focus on I/O ports. If the notebook has a DB9 serial port, it is ready for interfacing with mounts and other devices without any problem. If you want to autoguide using a relay-board or to control a modified webcam, you will need a parallel port which is hard to find now.

Anat

jermng · Post by **jermng** » Thu Nov 23, 2006 10:14 am

WX, will 2GB of RAM be overkill?

Anat, I'm thinking of using Bluetooth to interface my scope and comp. I think it;s simpler and more convenient (not so many cables). Anyway, I'll be using it as a DSC instead of GOTO.

anat · Post by **anat** » Thu Nov 23, 2006 10:39 am

The Bluetooth adapter is quite expensive. My friend ended up being able to reduce one cable while having several cables hanging around

Anat