Cheapest dedicated video Notebook

imported_ToySoldier · Oct 19, 2006

Is there a half way decent Notebook or barebones that can be built for around $1000-$1100? A Turion x 2 or Intel equivalent is fine... so long as there are 2 cores.

I would like 128MB video. The other components can be upgraded later.. Ram... faster hard drive etc...

HP dv9000t comes pretty close.
http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopp...s&catLevel=3&tab_switch=true&tab=specs

lodmdma · Oct 19, 2006

dell e1505

intel core2 duo 1 gig 128meg video for under 1000 15.4 widescreen

Brainonska511 · Oct 19, 2006

HP nx9420: 17" WXGA+, MR X1600 $1150

Acer Aspire 5672WLMI: 15.4" WXGA, MR X1600

You could also try the E1705 (see if you can get a deal and get a 7900GS)
or go for the E1505 (with a MR X1400).

To go with a basic card like the MR X1300 or 7200/7300 Go is a complete waste and you would be better off with integrated graphics due to the extra battery life.

imported_ToySoldier · Oct 19, 2006

Originally posted by: Brainonska511

Acer Aspire 5672WLMI: 15.4" WXGA, MR X1600

The Acer looks like a great buy. So long as I can play NeverWinter Nights 1 with some eye candy and Age of Mythology... WarCraft III comfortably... this looks like it will work.

I have a strong loathing for shared video. Isnt "Hyper Memory" like the E1505 uses a "hybrid" shared video type?

Brainonska511 · Oct 19, 2006

Originally posted by: ToySoldier

Originally posted by: Brainonska511

Acer Aspire 5672WLMI: 15.4" WXGA, MR X1600

Click to expand...

The Acer looks like a great buy. So long as I can play NeverWinter Nights 1 with some eye candy and Age of Mythology... WarCraft III comfortably... this looks like it will work.

I have a strong loathing for shared video. Isnt "Hyper Memory" like the E1505 uses a "hybrid" shared video type?

Sort of. The video card (at least with the X1400) has 128MB of onboard RAM and shares another 128MB with system RAM. The MR X1600 does the same thing (256MB dedicated, 256MB shared). HyperMemory does help a little in some cases, and it can't hurt to have it if the video card has at least 128MB (preferably 256MB) dedicated RAM.

imported_ToySoldier · Oct 19, 2006

I'm being a little stubborn on my dedicated video. <g>

I guess in order to have "true" dedicated video... I'm looking at $1300 - 1400 ???

han405 · Oct 19, 2006

Originally posted by: ToySoldier
I'm being a little stubborn on my dedicated video. <g>

I guess in order to have "true" dedicated video... I'm looking at $1300 - 1400 ???

right...
how about a lappy with a nVidia GeForce Go 7600 512MB Dedicated Video RAM?

A8JM

pkme2 · Oct 19, 2006

I just figured out from scratch, Dell E1505 with 256MB card and 2.0 Duo Core for about $1100 w/ XP Pro. Got one of those 20% discount coupons.
You can take the MCE and up the HDD to 7200RPM. Dell's got free shipping anywhere in continental USA.

Check this out @ Dell Home.

JBDan · Oct 20, 2006

I just got an E1505 C2D 1.66, WMCE, 1G RAM, X1400 ATI, 60G HD, 1680x1050 brightview screen for $975 to my door. $903 before tax and shipping. I do some gaming on it and its surprisingly fast @ 1024 res's and below.

imported_ToySoldier · Oct 20, 2006

Yea but is it dedicated or some hybrid shared video?

JBDan · Oct 21, 2006

128MB ded 128MB shared. What game/s apps are you going to be running on it?

imported_ToySoldier · Oct 21, 2006

NeverWinter Nights 1 and the soon to be released NeverWinter Nights 2 http://www.atari.com/nwn2/US/index.php

I will also do some PhotoShop College homework type problems.

I will also play WarCraft III... not WoW... and Age of Mythology. I just have a loathing for any type of "shared" video or Hybrid like Hypermemory.

Does such a new Laptop exist for under $1100?

Chapbass · Oct 21, 2006

neverwinter nights 2 excluded...will you really notice that much of a difference between dedicated and shared? IMO its not worth the extra couple hundred just to say youre using dedicated...

yeah, itd be a little better, but man...you could run neverwinter nights 1 on integrated graphics just fine... :\

IEC · Oct 22, 2006

Originally posted by: Chapbass
neverwinter nights 2 excluded...will you really notice that much of a difference between dedicated and shared? IMO its not worth the extra couple hundred just to say youre using dedicated...

yeah, itd be a little better, but man...you could run neverwinter nights 1 on integrated graphics just fine... :\

Integrated is crap. Even my MR X300 in my laptop is crap, and that's 128MB dedicated. I wouldn't recommend less than 7600 level for nVidia and less than MR 1600 on the ATI side. OR you can do what I did and build a budget ATX gaming rig and buy a solid used laptop. Get the best of both worlds - good gaming (PC) and good portability (notebook).

Edit: I should mention that $600-$700 will get you a pretty good gaming comp and $300-$400 will get you a used IBM or Dell with sufficient oomph.

imported_ToySoldier · Oct 22, 2006

I'm headed off to a 3 month Army school for the National Guard (Staff Sergeant Position - E6)... wanted something to kill time besides going to the club and burning money.

atybimf · Oct 22, 2006

A lot of people like the E1505. Personally I like the HP nx9420 better.

Rockinacoustic · Oct 22, 2006

I was able to play Far-Cry decently on my e1505 with a MR x1400. You wont get all the eye candy, but you'll be able to play at decent settings and resolutions.

I also mildly overclocked the card (through ati tray tools). Nothing extreme, but enought to smoothen out the gameplay.

arkcom · Oct 22, 2006

If you dont mind a used lappy, you could always get my e1705 with a geforce 7800 for $900....

imported_ToySoldier · Oct 22, 2006

Originally posted by: arkcom
If you dont mind a used lappy, you could always get my e1705 with a geforce 7800 for $900....

That's a fair offer but I think I'm gonna just assemble an ASUS barebones notebook. I found an interesting article on their website about dedicated graphics for laptops. Here's the link for anyone interested in checking it out:
http://usa.asus.com/news_show.aspx?id=4273

The freedom of building one is the way to go I think... get a cheap single core and dedicated graphics module.... then upgrade to something more powerful 6mo to a year from now on the cheap without dealing with proprietary manufacturing issues.

andrewbabcock · Oct 22, 2006

The e1505 is a fine machine and i would reccomend it...

imported_ToySoldier · Oct 23, 2006

Originally posted by: andrewbabcock
The e1505 is a fine machine and i would reccomend it...

Yea... but again... it uses "hybrid" shared video. I'm set on "true" dedicated video...

Hmmm I think I found something.... according to the website... I could upgrade the Video to a 256MB NVidia® GeForce? Go 7600 down the road. I dont see why I could upgrate the video to something even faster assuming MXM (Mobile PCI Express Module)
http://www.alienware.com/Configurator_P...-LT-AREA51M5550-R3&SubCode=SKU-DEFAULT

Alienware Area-51® m5550

$1,099.00

Processor: Intel® Core? 2 Duo Processor T5500 1.66GHz 2MB Cache 667MHz FSB
Operating System (Office software not included): Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition with Service Pack 2
Display: Alienware® m5550 15.4" WideXGA 1280 x 800 LCD - Saucer Silver
Motherboard: Alienware® Intel® 945PM + ICH7 Chipset
Memory: 512MB Single Channel DDR2 SO-DIMM at 667MHz - 1 x 512MB
System Drive: 60GB Serial ATA 1.5Gb/s 5,400 RPM w/ NCQ & 8MB Cache
Primary CD ROM/DVD ROM: 24x10x24 CD-RW / 8X DVD Combo
Video/Graphics Card: 256MB Nvidia GeForce Go 6600
Sound Card: Intel® 7.1 High-Definition Audio

Warranty: 1-Year AlienCare Toll-Free 24/7 Phone Support w/ Onsite Service

VooDooAddict · Oct 24, 2006

Originally posted by: ToySoldier

Originally posted by: andrewbabcock
The e1505 is a fine machine and i would reccomend it...

Click to expand...

Yea... but again... it uses "hybrid" shared video. I'm set on "true" dedicated video...

Hmmm I think I found something.... according to the website... I could upgrade the Video to a 256MB NVidia® GeForce? Go 7600 down the road. I dont see why I could upgrate the video to something even faster assuming MXM (Mobile PCI Express Module)
http://www.alienware.com/Configurator_P...-LT-AREA51M5550-R3&SubCode=SKU-DEFAULT

Alienware Area-51® m5550

$1,099.00

Processor: Intel® Core? 2 Duo Processor T5500 1.66GHz 2MB Cache 667MHz FSB
Operating System (Office software not included): Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition with Service Pack 2
Display: Alienware® m5550 15.4" WideXGA 1280 x 800 LCD - Saucer Silver
Motherboard: Alienware® Intel® 945PM + ICH7 Chipset
Memory: 512MB Single Channel DDR2 SO-DIMM at 667MHz - 1 x 512MB
System Drive: 60GB Serial ATA 1.5Gb/s 5,400 RPM w/ NCQ & 8MB Cache
Primary CD ROM/DVD ROM: 24x10x24 CD-RW / 8X DVD Combo
Video/Graphics Card: 256MB Nvidia GeForce Go 6600
Sound Card: Intel® 7.1 High-Definition Audio

Warranty: 1-Year AlienCare Toll-Free 24/7 Phone Support w/ Onsite Service

Go with the 7600 from the start and you've got a great setup for $1,199

Just add another 512 stick when you get a chance or memory prices drop a little and you've got a hot gaming laptop.

pkme2 · Oct 24, 2006

One recommendation I suggest to get better video work results is to up harddrive to 7200RPM 8MB cache.
I would use the 5400RPM 8MB hdd for storage of video files, but never to render video.

Cheapest dedicated video Notebook

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