My near-ultimate frankenpad setup

[QWERTY Andreas]

This is a Picture of my near ultimate frankenpad setup:

Thinkpad T60p, as in signature.
AMD Radeon HD6850 as e-GPU.
500 GB USB 2.0 HDD
Advanced dock with DVD drive
LG sourround sound (some cheap 5.1 speakers, nothing in particular)
21.5" Lenovo Thinkvision L2230X (LED, TN)
18.1" Dell 1800FP (CCFL, IPS)
Thinkpad USB keyboard and bluetooth mouse



Overall im pretty satisfied, but if there are still more upgrades that can be done if i want:

RAM - from 6 to 8 GB
GFX - HD6850 to HD7750 in advanced dock (Can also be upgraded to something more powerfull outside the dock)
Speakers - to something better
Monitors - Higher res, bigger monitor and IPS all the way.
HDD - in the ultrabay in the dock - or even more HDDs
A larger SSD

But ATM i have to sell some of my other parts i have laying around before upgrading

[RealBlackStuff]

If you don't insist on 5.1 surround sound, then consider 2.1.
My all-time favorite is: Cambridge Soundworks PCWorks by HENRY KLOSS.
2 small speakers (2.5" x 2.5" x 2.5") and 1 woofer, as shown here:



That system is hooked up to my desktop.
I bought such a set last century (in 1999)!
It is far superior to any Bose or Logitech or Creative system.
I got the same setup (used, 2 years ago) in black for my daughter.

Later they also brought out a 4.1 and 5.1 set, but those don't sound half as good.

[coolcat37]

If you don't insist on 5.1 surround sound, then consider 2.1.
My all-time favorite is: Cambridge Soundworks PCWorks by HENRY KLOSS.
2 small speakers (2.5" x 2.5" x 2.5") and 1 woofer, as shown here:



That system is hooked up to my desktop.
I bought such a set last century (in 1999)!
It is far superior to any Bose or Logitech or Creative system.
I got the same setup (used, 2 years ago) in black for my daughter.

Later they also brought out a 4.1 and 5.1 set, but those don't sound half as good.

The 5.1 set was indeed nothing to write home about.

Other people's near-ultimate frankenpad setup are welcome here as well, no?

[dr_st]

Cambridge Soundworks manufactures some of the high-end Creative sets, don't they?

If music is the primary goal, then a good 2.0 is probably even better than 2.1, provided that both speakers are full-range (making the separate sub unnecessary).

[600X]

If you want proper speakers, there is no way around studio monitors. For my college accommodation I use the Samson MediaOne 4a, which are basically one of the cheapest "studio monitors" you can buy. You don't usually expect much for 90€ but they sound better than any of those "PC speakers" or similar junk. I'd recommend getting something in the 200€+ range if you want decent sound.

Thomann is an excellent store which I have visited in person many times for all kind of musical equipment, including my guitars.

http://www.thomann.de/dk/aktive_nearfie ... -last=2000

[QWERTY Andreas]

I migth be able to get some B&O beovox S120 - they will give me quite a quality boost
But i do agree that good monitos don't come cheap.

Other people's near-ultimate frankenpad setup are welcome here as well, no?

Show us!

[coolcat37]

The KW122, which is available at Thomann, is a nice and durable loudspeaker. 2 of those on the ground and you won't be needing a sub. Fun and listening pleasure guaranteed.

When my ultimate FrankenPad setup will be finished I'll post a picture here. I still need a couple of upgrades in the mean time.

[RMSMajestic]

Is it Sennheiser HD650 in the picture?

[Shredder11]

I waited about seven years after looking at much cheaper brands and models, e.g. Tannoy and then in 2005 I bought a pair of Quested S7 active studio monitors; handmade and British and used in places like Abbey Road! As mentioned in a previous post, mine also do not require a sub although one is available to buy.

[Shredder11]

This is a Picture of my near ultimate frankenpad setup:

Thinkpad T60p, as in signature.
AMD Radeon HD6850 as e-GPU.
500 GB USB 2.0 HDD
Advanced dock with DVD drive
LG sourround sound (some cheap 5.1 speakers, nothing in particular)
21.5" Lenovo Thinkvision L2230X (LED, TN)
18.1" Dell 1800FP (CCFL, IPS)
Thinkpad USB keyboard and bluetooth mouse

Overall im pretty satisfied, but if there are still more upgrades that can be done if i want:

RAM - from 6 to 8 GB
GFX - HD6850 to HD7750 in advanced dock (Can also be upgraded to something more powerfull outside the dock)
Speakers - to something better
Monitors - Higher res, bigger monitor and IPS all the way.
HDD - in the ultrabay in the dock - or even more HDDs
A larger SSD

But ATM i have to sell some of my other parts i have laying around before upgrading

I would love to know how you got your Advanced Dock working! I bought one nearly two years ago, along with two graphics cards to try in it. A few details of this are in my post here http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... 34#p749134

[QWERTY Andreas]

Is it Sennheiser HD650 in the picture?

HD201

[br abp="670"><br abp="671"><br abp="672">I would love to know how you got your Advanced Dock working! I bought one nearly two years ago, along with two graphics cards to try in it. A few details of this are in my post here http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... 34#p749134

The graphics card is connected through the Expresscard port. When i have the expresscard inserted i cannot boot. I simply boot, and then plug in the expresscard.
I think it will be the same with the advanced dock: Boot, then put the laptop in the dock

[Shredder11]

Think I may have already tried that but I will do it again to make sure. Are there any particular drivers and applications that need to be installed for this to work? Any version of the graphics drivers that work and some that do not? Also at the moment I only have a VGA external monitor, so hopefully that is ok to use.

[micrex22]

If you don't insist on 5.1 surround sound, then consider 2.1.
My all-time favorite is: Cambridge Soundworks PCWorks by HENRY KLOSS.
2 small speakers (2.5" x 2.5" x 2.5") and 1 woofer, as shown here:



That system is hooked up to my desktop.
I bought such a set last century (in 1999)!
It is far superior to any Bose or Logitech or Creative system.
I got the same setup (used, 2 years ago) in black for my daughter.

Later they also brought out a 4.1 and 5.1 set, but those don't sound half as good.

Oh wow, good taste RBS. I'll have to back those speakers up as well.

[sysiphus]

I migth be able to get some B&O beovox S120 - they will give me quite a quality boost
But i do agree that good monitos don't come cheap.

Hej Andreas,

Nice setup! And a swap for B&O sounds nice, though I wince at what their products cost!
I'm curious--on your keyboards, are they dual-printed for DK/NO layouts (æ & ø printed on both keys) or is it a unique model for Denmark? My HP model I imported is Danish-only (ask me how much fun it was to get that ordered to the US!), but my impression was that one sees a mix?

[tudoranadi]

Hi,

What type of eGPU solution you adopted? EXP GDC or P4EH?

Thanks!

[QWERTY Andreas]

Hi,

What type of eGPU solution you adopted? EXP GDC or P4EH?

Thanks!

On the picture im using a PE4H - but i moved over to the advanced dock 2503, which im currently using with a HD7750