Buying a laptop, fps question

[mjmetal]

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/ol...oduct&id=1218012612475

I play a couple FPS's here and there.

My desktop I built with:
Nvidia 8600GT 512MB
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400
2GB DDR2 Ram

I'm happy with my computers performance in games like World of Warcraft (most often played obviously), Bioshock, Left 4 Dead, Fallout 3.

Am I gonna be looking at a downgrade or an upgrade?
I'm going from an 8600gt to a 9600m gs. I know the mobile cards aren't as powerful as the desktop versions but is it going to be able to hold its own against my desktop?

I'm buying it so I can leave my desktop at home so I don't have to carry it back and forth from college, fullsize towers for the loss.

 

[ArchAngel777]

Originally posted by: mjmetal
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/ol...oduct&id=1218012612475

I play a couple FPS's here and there.

My desktop I built with:
Nvidia 8600GT 512MB
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400
2GB DDR2 Ram

I'm happy with my computers performance in games like World of Warcraft (most often played obviously), Bioshock, Left 4 Dead, Fallout 3.

Am I gonna be looking at a downgrade or an upgrade?
I'm going from an 8600gt to a 9600m gs. I know the mobile cards aren't as powerful as the desktop versions but is it going to be able to hold its own against my desktop?

I'm buying it so I can leave my desktop at home so I don't have to carry it back and forth from college, fullsize towers for the loss.

The model that you linked to is the DDR2 version of the 9600M GS. This will hold the card back heavily compared to a desktop 8600GT card. The clock speed of that 9600M GS is 430 core, 1075 shader and 400 memory. This is roughly equivalent to an 8600M GT DDR2. Maybe 10% better... Let me link you to a good review of the 8600M GT DDR2. Just add 10% to the numbers to account for the mild difference in core/shader speeds.

8600M GT DDR2 Review

Our game tests show that the GeForce 8600M GT with 400 MHz DDR2 memory is a lot slower than its desktop counterpart, the GeForce 8600 GT. In fact, it's much slower than the older and slower GeForce 7600 GT desktop graphics card which had a lower fillrate but much higher memory bandwidth. Oddly enough, it was closest to the GeForce 7600 GT's performance level in Company Of Heroes at the higher resolutions, but otherwise, it was generally about 40-60 % slower than the GeForce 7600 GT and 60-140 % slower than the GeForce 8600 GT.

After you read the article, I am sure you will come to the conclusion that you probably need to pick a different laptop. Look for one with a 9600M GS that has DDR3, or a 9600M GT that has DDR3. Avoid DDR2 at all costs when it comes to graphics memory.

 

[ArchAngel777]

I have done a lot of notebook research these past two years and I think you will need consider moving up to the 15.4" range of laptops. If I were in your position, I would heavily consider the following laptop - MSI GX630

Now, there are a lot variables when dealing with laptops. There are size requirements, battery life, performance, durability and the list goes on... So I am not entirely sure what you need it for, but the MSI gets my vote unless you plan to be unplugged most of the time. If that is the case, I don't know of any laptops that will really do the trick and playing games unplugged will grant you an hour, maybe 2 of battery life depending on the system and game. Just some things to consider.

 

[mjmetal]

Are you sure that its the DDR2 version? The best buy page says that it is in fact DDR3. But being a best buy employee I do know the potential for there to be a mix-up.

 

[mjmetal]

And is there any way I can check because I'm going to work (I work at Best Buy) and I can just check it when I get there in between customers. I do know a lot about computers but the performance difference between the M series of these cards and the desktop versions I'm not familiar with, this will be my first laptop

 

[ArchAngel777]

Download a program called GPUZ and copy it to a flash drive. You can find it here.

This will give you all the information. If the memory speed is 400/500 then you know it is DDR2. If it is DDR3 it will likely be 700/800.

 

[xCxStylex]

@OP - Buy this instead!!!!!

ITS CHEAPER TOO because its on sale!!!! A 9600m GS is pretty crappy. A 9800 GS is much much better.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/ol...oduct&id=1218012519873

The MAIN negative concern that most people have about the laptop is that the native resolution is 1366 x 768, which can be kind of small for some people used to huge monitors. For someone like me, I'd rather have it smaller so that I get a better framerate anyway! The one you linked is a 14 inch anyway, which doesn't have the best resolution itself.

Oh, and if you're in the southern california area, could you hook me up and buy me one of those also as thanks for letting you know about that laptop?

Check these link for an approximate reference, I know notebookcheck.net doesn't have the best information, but it's not bad.

http://www.notebookcheck.net/N...e-9600M-GS.9450.0.html
http://www.notebookcheck.net/N...-9800M-GS.12932.0.html


RE: DDR2 vs DDR3, Bestbuy has mislabeled other laptops before, e.g. like they did with some gateway 7811fx? before. It was another model I was looking at.

 

[mjmetal]

lol i'm actually posting from that exact laptop right now. I got it on Saturday =p.

Speaking of mislabeled I actually looked at the hardware profiles and its a 9800m GT not a GS so thats another huge difference right there.


thanks tho lol. you should pick one up. theyre nice as hell

 

[xCxStylex]

I would buy that right there for $1000, but I'm trying to get a refurb 17 for cheaper.

Yeah, supposedly there is going to be another shipment of these for $750

http://www.tigerdirect.com/ind...E.b3eU2cQG2Et44KC8dbaA

They were first 650 then 700 last week on Friday, where I got royally screwed by idiots at Tiger. (long story). They're supposed to have a shipment on 12/26, but they had one TODAY that I missed out on >_<

 

[ShockwaveVT]

I recently picked up an ASUS N80vN-A1 for $790 (after $200 Live.com rebate) which has a 9650M GT with 1GB of DDR2. Combined with a T5800 2.0 GHz CPU & 4GB of DDR2 system memory it gives a 4034 score in 3D Mark06 @ 1280x800, and I get 50-90 FPS in TF2 with medium/high settings. It also seems to handle Warhammer: Age of Reckoning pretty well, though I haven't had a chance to check FPS #'s in that game. On my desktop E6300 @ 2.8 GHz / 2GB DDR2 / 8800GTS 512MB @ 1680x1050 I get about the same TF2 frame rates, except the graphics are all cranked up, so you might actually see an improvement over your desktop #'s depending on you monitor's resolution.

http://usa.asus.com/products.a...model=2576&modelmenu=1
There's a few different models available in the US, the -A1 that I picked up is the weaker of the 2 common models, if you want more CPU horsepower the -GPC011C sports a P8600 CPU.