what laptop for dsmlink

ok got my dsmlink back now im stuck, i have no clue what laptop to buy and if i get the right one , and i know dsmlink explains a little but i am lost. so if sombody can tell me what they use if they have dsmlink thas be great

The IBM Thinkpad 380 XD P233 comes with everything needed for dsmlink, plus a little extra memory (which is always a plus). They go for about $100 on ebay. It's the laptop I've bought to use with dsmlink very soon.

i plan to be running DSM Link when i get the GS-T on a compaq persario 1245. if i need some serious power i'll use my sony vaio grv670.

kool thanks alot

A laptop is a laptop. Get something with the minimum requirements. Won't cost much.

well i just cant seem to find a laptop besides the think pad with an r232 db9 serial interface port , and dsmlink said that you can use a usb to rs232 adaptor but its female and the cable that thet dsmlink looks female to so im gonna go to a computer fair this weeken with cable in hand and im just gonna start plugging it into to stuff see if it will fit

No modern laptops come with serial ports it seems. You end up with said USB to serial adapter. The DSMlink forums give some examples of ones known to work and how to use them. I've perosnaly used some old POS laptops, one was about 200 mhz. Works perfectly. DSMlink doesnt require much to run at all. The ECU is doing all the work, the laptop is just listening in.

No modern laptops come with serial ports it seems. You end up with said USB to serial adapter. The DSMlink forums give some examples of ones known to work and how to use them. I've perosnaly used some old POS laptops, one was about 200 mhz. Works perfectly. DSMlink doesnt require much to run at all. The ECU is doing all the work, the laptop is just listening in.
well thats what im going to look for at the pc fair an old laptop like 95 maybe lower

you want 98 or higher. if you want to use alot of stuff. microsoft windows 95 and 98 first edition won't even support usb devices. so i would suggest a laptop thats say 3 or 4 years old has the serial ports. if not a laptop running windows 98 second edition with usb will work. the pcimia slot for say wireless networking cards will have a card to serial poet as well. i don't know if they have an rj-45 to serial tho. just get say a laptop from like 1998- 2000. my persario 1245 came out like 4 or 5 years ago and it has a db9 connector. try a search for a compaq persaio 1245 on ebay. that will work plus if you need more ram it has an upgrade bay for it

The laptop I suggested sells on ebay for ~$100, and it has everything DSMlink needs, INCLUDING windows 98 already on the computer if you buy from the seller kjo3 - he sells computers PERFECT for dsmlink. Here's a link... http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=42203&item=6725453747&rd=1

nice PC , i have built acouple computers and i was thinking of building like a black box with dsmlink on it to put under the seat...then buy alittle monitor to put in the glove box or somthing...and have dsm link in car at all times...

There are two poeple locally that have in car PCs. Both have gutted the factory radio and put the PC components in that. One has a 15" LCD flatscreen, the other has a 7" touch screen, both mounted right on the dash. There are threads with pics and info on www.racingknowledge.com.

would this have a db9 serial port? http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=31548&item=6725079647&rd=1

yea its the same laptop i have

Really the OS should not be a factor when buying yourself a laptop. Just find one with the port your looking for, and just look at the specs. I am sure that you could find something that can do the job for about $150.

i believe that i read on dsm link's site that you need windows 98 or higher to run the application

Im not really sure if you can run dsmlink on any OS lower than 98, but once you get a laptop you can throw any OS that you want on it.

According to their website, a few people have run succesfully on windows 95, but 98 is recommended. I was just pointing out the fact that that specific computer had everything needed for dsmlink including windows 98 for only $60-100.

Im not really sure if you can run dsmlink on any OS lower than 98, but once you get a laptop you can throw any OS that you want on it.


not really. depends on the size of the hard drive, processor speeds, amount of ram.....

not really. depends on the size of the hard drive, processor speeds, amount of ram.....

Ya that too, but i assume you will buy a laptop that atleast has 5 gigs of space. Well i guess i am making too many assumptions; my bad!

i wasn't attacking you or anything just stating a fact. sorry if it seemed like that.

Oh, Dont worry man; Were cool! :thumbsup: