Does the 1600MHz RAM really matter?

Does the 1600MHz RAM really matter at all with your system especially if you're using an i7-2630QM? What benefit does it give over 1333MHz?

 

More memory bandwidth.

Depending on what you're doing, it may or may not make a difference. For most people, the difference is negligible.

 

Well I guess can you overclock the CPU in the M14x, and the 2630QM in particular, and does that push the FSB so 1600MHz RAM is required?

 

nope, you cant use the FSB like that anymore

 

You can set the RAM to 1600Mhz in the BIOS even if you have the 2630QM though.

 

I didn't think so, but from some of the posts here that's what it sounded like, so was scratching my head.

Ok, so you can use 1600MHz at 1600MHz, but what performance difference is there? I guess IGP might get a slight boost, even that's probably more or less minimal, otherwise negligible.

 

Actually the IGP performance increase is pretty substantial. I saw a benchmark somewhere but can't remember where (wasn't a mobile processor but it was still Intel HD 3000). It would be even greater with the 1866Mhz sticks or the 2133Mhz ones (they're coming...).

Other than that, you're right, the difference will be negligible in almost all use scenarios.

 

But you'd probably need an i7-2720QM at least to use the 1866MHz or higher ones I assume? Also, whats the GDDR3 speed of the GT 555m?

 

The IGP performance benefit is substantial, especially noticeable in gaming (inc fps), but otherwise (ie. if you don't game or have a discrete GPU), then the difference is not noticeable in real life usage.

 

I wouldn't think so, but admittedly I haven't tried it.

The IGP will never come close to the performance of the 555m, so it's pretty irrelevant. However, with fast enough RAM, gaming on the IGP is a pretty decent way of gaming on battery power. But if you plan on gaming on the IGP, yes, you would want the 2720QM as the IGP turbos higher.

 

Well you can game with the 555m as well on battery right? Obviously with much less battery life.

 

Much less battery life and at reduced performance levels. I'm not sure how the performance on the 555m on battery power would compare to the IGP on a 2720QM with 1866Mhz RAM. The battery life on the IGP would be much better though.

 

Do you own an M14x? If so can you run 3DMark06 or Vantage or 3DMark11 on battery with 555m and IGP and let me know results? Thanks!

 

I ran Left 4 Dead 2 on my m14x last night on the IGP. Always trying things for fun

With CPU underclocked to 1.5ghz, ram @ 1600mhz (Oc, have the 2630QM), and everything on low with models and textures on medium @ 1366x768, I was getting about 30-40fps outside and 50fps inside


And thats on the IGP

 

Thanks GearsGuy, good news then!

Man I wish my Sager would sell, then I'll be on this laptop in a heartbeat. I may have to invest in 1600MHz RAM then, but not the $200 that Dell charges...

 

Imagine the 2720QM with 2133Mhz RAM

I had the m14x but I returned it. Had a couple small issues but mainly returned it because I wanted to get a different configuration. Haven't ordered my new one yet. But I think I got around 4074 in 3DMark06 on battery on the 555m.

 

Out of curiosity how was battery life

 

Didnt really check, was just playing with it on battery before I went off to bed.

My guess is with the same exact config as I said, maybe 2.5-3 hours of gaming?

 

4074, ouch. I guess it doesn't perform as well as I'd hoped. My M11x can get over 7500! But my Sager with 2720qm and gtx 485m gets about 3600, and HD 3000 supposedly gets about 3800, so almost better to go with the IGP and save most battery. It would be nice to get an actual confirmation on the 555m score on battery.

Making me rethink my purchase again, and possibly go with NP8130.

 

That's @ stock (555m downclocked to 250Mhz). It runs fine on battery if you manually set it to 450Mhz, which would theoretically get 7000+. Not sure if it does in actuality.

 

The problem is the 555m gets stupid clocks on battery (200/400 I think) instead of the 590/900 clocks. Mine hasnt arrived yet but other users have had success adjusting the low power 3d clocks on battery with afterburner and have been getting good performance. Also the original BIOS allowed you to game at full 3d clocks but had power supply issues (the laptop would shut off). If you cap the cpu at 1.6ghz to reduce the wattage I am sure you could game fine without it shutting down.

I will do some testing when mine arrives later this week.

Edit - FlipBack beat me to it

 

Can someone run a benchmark to see if it helps and any info on resulting battery life? Thanks. Or will just wait for your results ninja2000! Thanks.

Looks like my laptop is going to sell, so gotta make a decision soon. At this point it's either the M14x or Sager NP8130. If I can't get decent battery life, and can't do any reasonable gaming on battery, then might as well go with a machine with full HD display (matte too), blu-ray, and GTX 560m for about same price.

 

by default if u got the 1600mhz one does it start with that? Or do u have to go into the BIOS and set it to that? If so how do i do this?