Re: Re OT: source for cheap used computers

http://ark.intel.com/ProductCollection.aspx?familyId=581
	Intel lists all the capabilities of all processors. I suggest tracking 
down the exact processor model and comparing it to the list before 
buying. However looking at the Belmont machines and the above list your 
chances of finding a virtualizing P4 is pretty small.

	If you're buying on Craigslist you can ask for the service tag and plug 
it into the manufacturers site. Much simpler to get the system specs 
that way. Dell definitely has a service tag and I'd be surprised if 
other major manufacturers didn't.

	Finally I'd go figure out which system models you think you want and 
search that way. Most of the consumer modules aren't going to support 
virtualization or only partially support it while many of the corporate 
desktops will. I learned that the hardware over the summer when my 
Inspiron Core2 couldn't virtualize 64bit systems, only 32bit.

Ramin

On 4/19/2011 7:19 AM, [email protected] wrote:
> Doing research, so far it is getting uglier. Wikipedia says that intel
> is still making CPUs that don't support virtualization, so just age is
> insufficient for Intel. It also says if bios doesn't enable features in
> the chipset, it won't work even if the CPU supports it. So I guess I
> need a list of complete computer systems which support virtualization
> and I have been unable to find one so far.
>
> For linux (which I want the computer for), I was told to enter
>
> cat /proc/cpuinfo | grep flag
>
> And look for either vmx or svm. Would that flag still show even if the
> bios didn't enable the features in the chipset? I don't know.
>
> Is there an equivalent command for windows that I could type in on a
> computer to determine if it has support?
>
> Although I am beginning to suspect I won't find anything in my price
> range that supports virtualization. This box will be to run linux only.
> I have other computers that I can run winblows on when I can't avoid it.
>
> Just out of curiosity, are there any reasonably current x86 family
> computers that winblows will not install upon, other than not having a
> frame buffer (video display), or some old/strange video that windblows
> doesn't support, that is, being serial port only which at least some
> versions of linux will install on? Maybe a hardware raid that winblows
> will fail to recognize but linux or BSD will?
>
> --Carey
>
> ----- [email protected] wrote:
>
>     My desktop died, this is coming from webmail on my notebook, so
>     please reply directly to me, I am likely to miss anything on the list.
>
>     The way it died makes me think it may be dying the same as the how
>     the last one died, with the disk controller gradually degrading,
>     causing sporadic errors, before a complete failure. So maybe I
>     should get a new(er) computer. I am financially challenged
>     (unemployed) so need something under $100. I would like one that can
>     virtualize, since none of my existing computers can. At least 2 GHz
>     and upgradeable to 2GB or preferably more. Disk size not critical, I
>     have some, and I have a fileserver for non-current stuff.
>
>     Looking on craigs list seems to be high end (multi core) especially
>     game machines, and laptops. One post for a server led to this:
>     http://www.belmont-techsales.com/Used_Systems_s/37.htm
>     Does anybody have any experience with that company pro or con? I'd
>     prefer a (mini tower) case where I can install my own DVD writer
>     drive, but I can burn DVDs on my fileserver, just not as convenient.
>     The second one on the website, upgraded to 3 GB is $89. Maybe if I
>     searched for info on the computer I could determine if it will
>     virtualize, but is there an easy way to tell? Is a P4HT vs P4 VMWare
>     ready|? Or, maybe, everything new enough to be 3GHz? The only way I
>     know to tell is entering a command in a super user (root) terminal
>     window under linux and looking for features. I've ordered
>     "virtualization for dummies" from the library.
>
>     Or does somebody on this list have something appropriate, and didn't
>     feel it was worth the effort to try to sell it on Craig's list/ebay,
>     and will sell it to me cheap? Northwest suburbs preferred.
>
>

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