Gaming ultra portable

[Amanu]

I am looking for a 13.3 (12" in a imperfect world) that is a decent gaming rig. The Asus W7J seems pretty decent, but the Nvidia 7400 is an "ok" card. The ATI X1600 seems like an "ok" card as well, but is seriously at the bottom end of the rig I am looking for. I am also not opposed to the Intel Macs, but the 13.3 version has a crap onboard card.

I have an Alienware uber komputer laptop, its just to big and heavy. Its hard looking for an ultraportable that has a decent card at all. Does anyone know if there is a nice list of video cards (mobile included) that is IN ORDER of relative power? Is an x1600 better than a 7400? How do they compare to "standard" Nvidia or ATI cards?

This is a work laptop, that I will use as a gamer laptop as much as work. I am not just talking about WoW, but top end FPS games as well.

BTW 13.3 is for the higher screen res, as the laptop is plugged into a big monitor or my projector most times, and the smaller footprint is far more important than a res beyond 1280. Some cards even support a higher "external" res when plugged into something that can handle it. No shuttles, as there are many times where I will have to use the screen on the actual laptop.


Any suggestions?

 

[Brainonska511]

The best video card that you can get in something that small would be either a 7600 Go or a MR X1600. I have a W3J (5.5lbs, 14" WXGA, MR X1600), but I wouldn't call it ultra-portable and I doubt you'll find anything much smaller than the W3J with gaming performance. The MacBook Pro with the X1600 won't be as good as the W3J too since the X1600 in the Macbook has only 128MB of VRAM and is also underclocked.

 

[unfalliblekrutch]

agreed. There wont be a monster gaming laptop for under 15" . The x1600 or 7600 will be your best bet. Compared to a 7400, either of those will sweep the floor with it.

EDIT: also, as far as the x1600/7600 comparing to their desktop counterparts, it really depends on each laptop. Different manufacturers clock them differently.

 

[Amanu]

http://www.itechnews.net/2006/03/30/asus-w7j-core-duo-laptop/

its my leading laptop right now, Macbook pro is a second place type thing. The sony SZ series is interesting as well. I am still confused why they do not slap a decent vid-card into a uber small laptop. Battery life be-damned, new laptops have 2 vid cards you can toggle from on-board (read battery life) to 3d for gaming. Plus, you are always near a plug in anyway =)

 

[Amanu]

The 4700 quote from the link is a typo, its a 7400, 256 meg

 

[unfalliblekrutch]

the 7400 is a piece of junk, afaik.

 

[Amanu]

Although i believe you about the 7400 being a POS, I have no imperical proof, or comparison to ANY other video card to compare too. This is my problem. No comaprison charts. Real world apps (read games as its a 3d card) against multiple laptop AND mainstream tower system cards.

 

[R3MF]

notebook review consider the 7400 as the minimum to be considered for a light gaming laptop.

the Sony SZ series have a 7400 and 13.3 inch screen.

the new dell 12.1" widescreen also has a 7400.

 

[Amanu]

I have basically given up on finding a laptop sub 14" that has a good card for gaming. I guess I will have to wait. Funny thing is, money is no object, I just need to find one. about what, 2 years till the 7800/7900 gtx hits smaller rigs =)

And I am looking for a "heavy" gaming duties, but do not want a heavy system...alas

 

[VooDooAddict]

What rez are you content at running on the ultra portable? If you don't mind running down at the equivalent widescreen rez of 800x600 (and living with some nice scaling), the x1600 should be great for ultra portable gaming with the latest FPS games. Remember most people playing things like the Xbox 360 are only using it on 480p or 720p capable screens or cables ... it still looks and plays great at high frame rates. As long as you adjust your expectations to "portable" gaming, you will be more then satisfied. I'd take 12? gaming on a x1600 over a PSP any day. (The DS Lite is in a whole separate category ? PSP tries to do FPS games. DS does its own thing. <smile>)

If money is truly no object ... you could think about getting something with a x1600, 7600, or even a 7400 for now ... and enjoy it while you are waiting for the perfect thing. Keep you eye on the hot deals forum for the occasional killer coupon deal on Dell's 12" XPS.

Edit: I'm not trying to argue or convince you that my opinion is the right one. I'm just offering another perspective.

 

[Amanu]

1024 is prob min acceptable gaming res IMHO, and a workmate of mine has a Macbook Pro and the x1600 in that thing is better than I was expecting, that said, my year old top end Alienware kicks its buttocks, course it weighs 13 LBS (notice they never include the brick in the weight, thats another few right there =) ) and I bought a Lapinator lap pad to keep if from burning my legs off. Great product by the way the Lapinator

Wish there was a aftermarket group that built laptops to spec, just like towers. MAKE it work dammit =p I did say I had given up, but I may do what you suggest and just get an Asus or something with a 512meg (well 256 with 256 turbocache, cheeky marketing folks) 7600, or a X1600 for the next 6 months - year or so , maybe then a better soloution will appear.

 

[ubercaffeinated]

afaik you can't buy the w7j in the US. not yet atleast. the w3j+, is slightly bigger, better made, and will give better performance. take a good hard look at it.

 

[HomeyFoos]

I read a few reviews about the 7400 Go and decided it wasn't for me. However, in the reviews I did read, it appears that the 7400 Go will run BF2. That seems to be the most demanding game this side of Oblivion, but at 12", I don't think you can ask for much more. That's pretty tiny.

So if you can get into a 12" XPS w/ that card and a nice coupon, it sounds like what you are looking for. For Now.

 

[Amanu]

Some really good leads, for a very demanding question. I know what I ask for is unreasonable, my agony is that it IS unreasonable =p

 

[HomeyFoos]

Well, I agree. But I guess for now the video cards are too inefficient for such a small case. Soon, though. Very soon. I think we have reached the apex of 'large' laptop/desktop replacement appliances (the dell xps 2010 - it's almost ridiculous). The next direction for them to go in seems to be small with the punch of large. The Dell 12" XPS is actually pretty darn cool, all things considered. I mean, I just got my E1705 w/ the 7900GS and it's actually lighter than my 15.4" toshiba satellite. In a side-by-side size comparison, the 17" dell is approixmately .25" taller, 1" wider, and .75" deeper. So, we are talking about 6% larger and as it happens to be, about a lb. lighter. I simply cannot IMAGINE a 12" laptop that performs like the xps while sitting here looking at my E1705. Measuring off 5" of diagonal screen-width leaves an area that my hand will cover when spread all out. That's pretty cool if you ask me.

However, if I were you, I would consider waiting on dell to offer the 7600 Go in that unit. It has already replaced the 7400 in the HP dv8000t line so I assume it has a similar footprint.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: HomeyFoos
I simply cannot IMAGINE a 12" laptop that performs like the xps while sitting here looking at my E1705. Measuring off 5" of diagonal screen-width leaves an area that my hand will cover when spread all out.

WTF are you, a gorilla? Or a piano player? Or a piano-playing gorilla?

- M4H

 

[HomeyFoos]

LOL, I see where you could get that but I have pretty averaged-sized hands. Try this...stretch your hand out, fingers as far apart as they can go. Now put your hand like that on the inside of your forearm. You'll be surprised to see taht your forearm is very close to this distance. In my case, it's about 8". So when figuring that, plus the extention of my middle finger from my palm, I'm taking up most of a 12" screen with very average sized hands.

 

[Amanu]

http://uk.zepto.com/Default.aspx?page=Configurator&configurationid=tWe4irg3n3

I keep coming to this thing through different links. Good price too. thoughts?

 

[Commodus]

Are you really willing to buy from a small brand in the UK? You'd probably have no warranty coverage on it.

 

[Amanu]

its going to be replaced in 60 mos - a year anyway =p It is something to consider, Dell just does not have this in their lineup...yet. I could wait a few weeks and see.

That and I am IN the U.K =p It also has a 1 year warrenty, can upgrade to 2.

 

[EagleEye]

here are some benchies:

http://www.kettya.com/notebook2/gpu_ranking.htm

 

[Amanu]

Did I mention you rock the funky joint? There are a lot of questions about the table ( how much ram on which cards for instance) but its a HUGE leg up on anything I have seen anywhere else.. thanks!

 

[Phobic9]

I have the M1210 and I've actually suprised at how games run. I didn't buy it to be able to run everything on MAX detail but I did want a small laptop with anything other than a crappy Intel GPU. Since I didn't have many options (aside from Sony... ewww) this was a fairly easy choice for me.

I haven't done any gaming benchmarks yet (not sure if I will) but the games I've tried run and look good enough for me to be happy. Titan Quest runs on Medium-High settings, Guild Wars runs on max settings with 2xAA, and Obvilion does run, albiet on some fairly low settings but looks good enough for me to play it. Really, what more can you expect for a laptop this size?

I almost went with the Asus W3J but I've owned a 14" before and wanted something smaller ironically. I travel a lot (military) so the extra weight is noticeable to me.

 

[Amanu]

M1210 is on my list of "possibles". Ideally, a go 7600 512 Meg in an 13.3 chassis. That would suit for mid range gaming, in an uber small chassis. Anyone know if something like this exists. Surfing around now to see what is what. The W7J with an upgraded card from the 7400 to the 7600 would be perfect, and I would plunk down the cash in an heartbeat if it actually existed =).

 

[AmdInside]

I have the Dell m1210 and can play Half Life 2 and Doom 4 at the laptops native resolution of 1280800 with smooth frame rates. Its a great lappy and much more enjoyable than my last laptop was for taking on the road due to its much smaller size, longer battery life and less weight (Dell Inpiron 9300).