Anyone here using nVidia Quadro 3000M for gaming?

[Blue_Max]

I've been looking at laptop graphics a LOT lately and trying to make every cent count for buying/trading for something.

One laptop I have my eye on is a giant >17" workstation-class machine with an IPS screen, 2nd-gen i7 processor, 4 RAM slots and 2HDD bays (3 w/ CD adaptor) and good sound to boot... but it's got Quadro 3000M video and poorer WEI scores than my Intel HD 4000.

What's the deal? Will they be pretty good gamers or not?

EDIT: 3DMark gives it a score of 1600, just below the Geforce 640 Mobile. That's not THAT bad now is it?

I wish I could afford a $1200-2000 gaming monster, but the above machine is only ~$450.

 

[bystander36]

No, they are not good gaming cards. Those are professional cards, for professional apps, not games.

 

[Blue_Max]

Passmark gives the Quadro 3000M triple the score of Intel HD 4000... notebookcheck game scores are ~15% lower than a GTX 470M -- I know it wasn't designed specifically for it, but it surely can't be BAD for gaming... right?

 

[bystander36]

Well, let's say that it is hard to say for certain, but benchmarks such as these, show they aren't exactly great: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-workstation-graphics-card,3493-15.html

And those are about as Quadro friendly as you can find, as they use OpenGL. In DirectX, Quadro is going to suffer much more, as Quadro drivers are designed around OpenCL and OpenGL, while Geforce cards are designed for DirectX and DirectCompute.

The drivers for Quadro cards are tweaked for running professional apps, like CAD, but never get updates for games. You'll run into a lot more crashing, a lot of inconsistent performance, and a subpar gaming experience. It's a mobile card to top it off, which get even less attention than desktop counterparts.

If the laptop is primarily for professional use, with limited gaming, then go for it. If it is for gaming, with limited professional use, then you probably should get a gaming card, as they can be used on professional apps too, but like professional cards used in gaming, they aren't great at professional apps instead.

If the professional apps have to be accurate due to being used in real world situations, then just get the professional card regardless, as they are less prone to create errors.

 

[bystander36]

Here is a better review on the gaming aspects of professional cards: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/workstation-graphics-card-gaming,3425-14.html

It would seem, if gaming on a professional card is your thing, you really should go with an AMD Firepro card. They seem to do much better at gaming than Quadro's.

 

[Blue_Max]

OUCH!!! I had no idea it'd be that bad!

That's too bad... the off-lease professional laptops I had my eye on had fantastic-quality IPS screens on them and under $500... but if I can't enjoy gaming, what's the point?

*sigh* Not what I was hoping to hear... but thanks for setting me straight.

 

[Blue_Max]

I just updated the OP, since 3D Mark doesn't paint as bleak of a picture...

http://www.futuremark.com/hardware/gpu/NVIDIA+Quadro+3000M/review?_ga=1.31597310.1769441852.1415429736

Just below a Geforce 640M. That's not terrible... is it?

 

[bystander36]

I'd say it is: http://www.futuremark.com/hardware/gpu/NVIDIA+GeForce+GT+640M/review

 

[Blue_Max]

Well I wish I had the $1000 to spend for a high-end gamer instead of only $400 for a used workstation I can load with tons of spare sodimms and 3 hard drives...

I just find it odd that something that gets 3x the score of my current Intel HD 4000 would have lower WEI scores.

 

[bystander36]

WEI is a crappy benchmark. Most people ignore it.

 

[Blue_Max]

Any new thoughts?
The gaming benchmarks are still so much better than my HD 4000 I've tempted to go for it anyway - but I highly value the opinion of someone with experience!

 

[bystander36]

Can't you find something better? The card is not meant for gaming, and generally carries a premium for what it does do. Surely there are better options out there.

 

[Blue_Max]

So.... you have experience with it, then?

 

[Cerb]

Either go for it for reasons other than gaming, and if gaming works out well, awesome; or wait for something better, if just for gaming, because you don't have the budget to do it well (frankly, I find the costs of good mobile gaming to be absurd, especially given that it will still be a poor experience, with the best hardware available). No one is going to go out of their way to buy a Quadro-equipped machine for gaming, so you're going to be among a very few trying. Performance will vary, because the drivers don't have all the game engine tweaks that the Forcewares get. Plus, it's a pretty low-end GPU to begin with.

Well I wish I had the $1000 to spend for a high-end gamer [notebook.]

$1000 will not get you a high-end gaming notebook. It will get you a so-so gaming notebook, with performance almost equal to a midrange desktop PC from ~4 years ago. You greatly underestimate the amount of money people will spend to try to look cool at the coffee shop.

 

[Blue_Max]

Thanks, Cerb. dang... if only this unit was using the FirePro which tends to game better (but also have a higher chance of not working AT ALL.)

Save my cash and keep using my Travelmate P643... at least until I can find a buyer for it! I want the big screen too... the big 17" IPS was very, very tempting...

 

[Blue_Max]

No, they are not good gaming cards. Those are professional cards, for professional apps, not games.

Just revisiting this since I ended up getting a great deal on this amazing laptop. Screen is 1080P and freakin' gorgeous... and guess what?

I was right. The Quadro 3000M does gaming quite well - at least as well as any GeForce with the same number of shaders, etc.

It's triple the speed of what I was used to and plays Skyrim (med+) like a champ! No complaints! Best of all, this workstation is built in such a way I'll be able to replace the MXM module myself quite easily and upgrade to something down the road if I ever see a great ebay deal.

 

[bystander36]

I guess it depends on your definition is good. Medium settings on Skyrim isn't exactly a great gaming setup, but if that is what you want, awesome.

 

[Blue_Max]

I guess it depends on your definition is good. Medium settings on Skyrim isn't exactly a great gaming setup, but if that is what you want, awesome.

Good point. Bumped it to high @ 1080P and it's still smooth as butter. Ultra will be a stretch, but hey... not bad, eh? STEAL of a deal and I can't stress how gorgeous the screen is even after hours of usage.

[EDIT] Bumped it to the highest level... still plays around 25-30 FPS with AA off. Hey, 1080P looks so good I don't need AA!

I couldn't be freakin' happier! Glad I didn't pass up on this amazing piece of hardware! Don't let the Quadro line fool you, it WILL perform about as well as a geforce of the same specifications.