[Buug959]

Hi Guys and Gals,

I'm looking for advice on what would be a good tablet/laptop to buy to dedicate to my car. I want to install and use inpa, NCSexpert, JB4, MHD and whatever other software I might need to take care of my '08 335xi e90. I will be going FBO as time and budget allows. Bear in mind that it will be for the car only and will probably get knocked around and dirty so I'm looking for something reasonably economical.
TIA for the suggestions.

[sdbmwcoding]

Kdcan cable. That cable will allow you to code and flash the car and modules as long as you are not flashing MOST modules like a CIC headunit. I recommend the Bimmergeeks cable or the topgearsolutions one

[Buug959]

Originally Posted by sd*********

Kdcan cable. That cable will allow you to code and flash the car and modules as long as you are not flashing MOST modules like a CIC headunit. I recommend the Bimmergeeks cable or the topgearsolutions one

Thanks for the response. I am aware of the K+Dcan cable and actually have one ordered. My question was probably not worded very well. I am a MacBook user and I'm looking to buy a laptop or tablet to use in the garage so I don't have to risk damage to my $3500 MacBook. I would like to know how much working and storage memory I should be looking for in a PC so I can run all of the software I need to properly diagnose, repair, code and modify my car. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated as I am NOT a PC person or particularly computer savvy if you know what I mean.

[bluewater328]

If you're buying a PC, you're buying something from Win7 forward. Whatever the specs for that is usually good enough for INPA/ISTA with a modern processor i5 or greater. Have at least 8GB RAM for giggles. I can say that I used to run INPA/NCSExpert/WinKFP off a WinXP laptop with 8GB RAM and it still functions -- took longer to program DME but it did it. Anything you buy with Win10 is probably more than fast enough-- your car's ecu modules will be the thing slowing your processing down at that point. It doesn't take much to run basic programs for troubleshooting.

[Buug959]

Originally Posted by bluewater328

If you're buying a PC, you're buying something from Win7 forward. Whatever the specs for that is usually good enough for INPA/ISTA with a modern processor i5 or greater. Have at least 8GB RAM for giggles. I can say that I used to run INPA/NCSExpert/WinKFP off a WinXP laptop with 8GB RAM and it still functions -- took longer to program DME but it did it. Anything you buy with Win10 is probably more than fast enough-- your car's ecu modules will be the thing slowing your processing down at that point. It doesn't take much to run basic programs for troubleshooting.

Thanks, that's exactly the kind of info I was looking for.

[bluewater328]

Originally Posted by LemansE90335xi

Thanks, that's exactly the kind of info I was looking for.

Yeah, just don't buy a chromebook. An older laptop would be better than that.

[ctuna]

You could use a virtual machine if you don't want to buy a pc.

[Buug959]

Originally Posted by ctuna

You could use a virtual machine if you don't want to buy a pc.

I thought about that, briefly, but have decided against it. The idea is to have a separate device so I don't have to take my MacBook anywhere near the chaos that I create when I'm working on a vehicle. No matter how hard I try to keep things neat and organized I inevitably end up with a disaster of tools and parts everywhere when working on a project. I have also been know to launch a string of expletives and/or the occasional tool from time to time when things don't go quite the way I think they should. I would much rather risk damage to a $200-$300 PC than my $3500 MacBook.
It's actually funny that I work the way I do (ie. tools and parts in a jumble on the bench) because I am VERY organized. I can tell anyone EXACTLY where to find any tool I own, even over the phone ( x wrench is at the back left of the third drawer from the top on the right side of the upper tool box) but I can't locate my 10mm Etorx socket on the bench when I just had it 3 minutes ago.