Question about notebook graphics/gaming

[nmcglennon]

Guys,

I am looking at getting a new laptop in January/Febuary, probably a P-M/Centrino book like the Dell D600. My budget is around $2400. Anyways, I like to play games occasionally, like BF1942, Metal of Honor, and HalfLife. I also plan to get HL2 whenever it comes out, and would like to be able to play this and the others on the notebook computer I am getting. Does anyone know what notebook graphics cards can play these? and what can't? I am sorta confused in the mobile graphics cards since there seems to be such a mixed bag of cards...

Here are all the graphics cards I have recently run across in the mobile sector:

ATI Mobility Radeon 7500 32 MB
ATI Mobility Radeon 9000 32 MB
ATI Mobility Radeon 9000 64 MB
ATI Mobility Radeon 9200 64 MB
ATI Mobility Radeon 9600 64 MB
ATI Mobility Radeon 9600 128 MB
ATI Mobility Radeon 9600 128 MB TURBO

NVIDIA GeForce 4 Go 4200 32 MB
NVIDIA GeForce 4 Go 4200 64 MB
NVIDIA GeForceFX Go 5100 64 MB
NVIDIA GeForceFX Go 5200 64 MB
NVIDIA GeForceFX Go 5200 128 MB
NVIDIA GeForceFX Go 5600 128 MB
NVIDIA GeForceFX Go 5650 128 MB
NVIDIA GeForceFX Go 5700 128 MB

Integrated Intel Extreme Graphics
Integrated Intel Extreme Graphics 2
Intel 855GM UMA IGP 64 MB
Intel 830M UMA IGP 48 MB

See why I'm confused?

 

[eriqesque]

I think if you are a serious gamer then you'll nee to probably
get something with the Radeon 9600 and nothing less.
On the other hand I have a T40 with the Radeon 9000 32Mb
And I have had no problems playing anything I have tried to play.
I guess it just depends on whether you can tell a diffenecne in every frame per second gain.

 

[nmcglennon]

Think you could play HL2 with the 9000?

 

[BargainSeeker]

Originally posted by: nmcglennon
Think you could play HL2 with the 9000?

No, not well. The only currently available mobile GPU capable of playing HL2 well is the ATI 9600. See this review.

 

[Pandaren]

I am looking at getting a new laptop in January/Febuary, probably a P-M/Centrino book like the Dell D600. My budget is around $2400

That would put the IBM T41p and R50p out of your range, but HP has a really slick looking system with a Radeon 9600 that might suit you.

HP Compaq nc6000

Same weight class as the Dell D600, but has 32 or 64 MB Radeon 9600, and IMO a much cleaner looking design. Someone posted pics awhile ago, and this machine looks like it gives the IBM T4x series a serious run for its money.

Edit: Should also add that like the IBM T4x and Dell D600, the HP system uses a magnesium and composite case.

 

[BargainSeeker]

The HP nc6000 is a good option. However, be sure to get one with 64MB of video RAM. The 32MB model has serious performance issues.

 

[nmcglennon]

Anyone know if Dell will be coming out with a D600 like notebook with a 9600?

 

[nmcglennon]

Ya that nc6000 does look pretty sweet... do they have any more pictures of the case at all?

 

[Frightcrawler]

i still dont know how the
"128 MB ATI Mobility Radeon 9600 Pro Turbo"
differs from the ATI Mobility Radeon 9600 128 MB Pro.

has to do with shipping, me thinks?

 

[rainypickles]

pentium M 1.4ghz, 256mb ram, and radeon 9200 with 32mb gets ~5500 in 3dmark2k1. interpret that however you would like.

amd athlon xp 2200+ with 320mb, radeon 7000 64mb shared scores ~1500. celeron 2.4 gets the same.

all machines can play battlefield 1942 tolerably for me.

 

[DaemonJ]

I'm not sure how good it is with games yet (I just got it a few days ago), but my Sony PCG-GRT260G has 64mb of dedicated video with an nVidia FX Go5600.

It has a P4 2.8, 512MB, 80GB, DVD+-RW, and a 16" SXGA screen all for $2400. The list price was $2600 but Sony is giving $100 back and the store gave another $100. With Christmas coming close you can probably work another $100 from a store.

I am sure that some of the experts here will be able to remark on the gaming performance of this system for you.

 

[nmcglennon]

I have a friend who works at Dell and he can get me 10% off, plus a student discount, so I am a little biased to lean toward Dell. Not to mention their Dxxx series are pretty solid, and look awesome to boot.

However, due to alot of the articles I have read about mobille gfx, I think I should stick with ATI's mobility radeon series. I'd probably stick with the 9000, unless there is an option to upgrade the D600 to the 9600 (in the future).

I don't mind playing HL2 on a lower codepath, as long as I can play it. So that is part of my reasoning chosing the 9000.

That HP-Compaq nc6000 looks pretty sweet also, but I want to know more about the notebook than they tell me on their website. Do any retailers carry this line? Are there any full-size pictures available anywhere online?

What do you guys think?

 

[Frightcrawler]

you should test it out first, before you get a 9000.
hl2 might play really bad.