m14x 3gb gt555???

Of course, but as they say, if you're using CUDA that intensively, you wouldn't be looking at a 555M anyways. At the end of the day, the 3GB is a gimmick

 

I 100% agree. I wasn't really looking at the 555 for this purpose. it was more that i had decided on this machine for the total package. for sure its a marketing gimmick that wont affect the VAST majority of m14x owners ever. heck, i would have to combine some wordlists to even need it for the purposes i stated, lol. I never bought the m14x to do this and the majority of the time, its so time consuming that it rarely works in the field. generally its easier to just capture some packets and bring em home to a CUDA cruncher machine. it doesnt make the crunching go any faster either. it really just lets it run for longer without more input.

 

What about for overclocking purposes? Will the 3GB model clock higher than 1.5GB? I know probably not, but just wanna cover all the angles here..

 

Nobody knows at this point. Everybody that buys one will have to test it and find their max overclock. I think that we will find each card will hit a different max overclock therefore some 1.5gb cards will clock higher than some 3gb cards and some 3gb cards will clock higher than some 1.5gb cards.

Having said that it is possible that one card consistently clocks higher than the other and there are a few ways I know of that could cause it, but we will just have to wait and see. Early adopters are always taking risks, its half the fun (I know it was when I had to choose between my cpu in the original m11x, turns out I could've saved my money...)

Its possible that they use the exact same memory units but the 3gb card has twice as many so they overclock very closely. Its possible that the 3gb has the same amount of memory chips but they are twice as dense and maybe they consistently overclock higher or lower (2 Gb chips versus 1 Gb chips or something similar). And its also even possible that the manufacturer of the memory chips for the 1.5gb card is different than the manufacturer for the 3gb card and one consistently overclocks higher than the other (this is highly unlikely). Its also possible that one card draws more power and reaches its thermal limits more quickly and is not able to clock as high.

 

Ah..So many things to consider..Hmm,I guess the 3GB is still not worth $100 in the end since no real performance would be gained anyway yes? Maybe I'll be going for the base unit..

 

What Peter said.

I'll also add that if the 3GB card uses chips that are twice as dense as the 1.5GB card, its memory will probably be worse for OCing, because of the higher latancies.

 

I think it's important to point out that I believe in 2 different overclocking settings.

1. Is max overclock for synthetic benching only.
2. Stable OC for gameplay. These settings are stable for hours and can be used for gaming or high productivity.

 

I would almost never use option 1. If I can't hold it indefinitely, I don't bother with it. I've done it a couple of times, when I was first on water, to see what it would do. (1GHz core on a 580, anyone? ) Usually I go as high as the card is stable, then back off 10MHz or so.

 

What i try to do is find a good gameplay setting, and then bench my favorite games. I will continue to back off the clocks until I find the minimum clock that provides max FPS.

Example clock speeds 800/1100. I bench battlefield bad company 2. I get 110 fps on a blank MP map. I back down the clocks to 780/1100. I get same fps. I back down to 760/1100 and I get 108fps. So I will try 770/1000.
If I get 110 I will leave it there. No reason to have it higher for extra heat.

I know I can't do this for every game I just choose my absolute favorite and go from that point.

 

I can't remember what thread this youtube video was posted with the GT 555M. People wanted to know if he had overclocked the 555M in his video's so I asked him in the comments and he said no.

YouTube - Dell XPS 17 (L702x) - Gaming Test - Nvidia 555m

It's a Dell XPS 17 (L702X). My spec is:
i5-2410m (2.3-2.9 GHz)
4GB RAM
3GB Nvidia 555m
1600x900 screen

Crysis (Max settings): About 20 FPS.
- If I turn few things to high (like Physx), then I can get 25/30 ish, with it still looking amazing.

Call of duty 4 (Max settings): 70-150 FPS.
- No problem with this.

Metro 2033 (Max settings): About 25 FPS (in dx11) - 25-30 in dx9/10
- In the vid i'm running it in dx9, just to make look as smooth as it usually does (fraps took away a few FPS). dx9 looks exactly the same as dx11, but It's about 5-10 FPS faster.

Starcraft (Max settings): 30 FPS.
It's about 30 FPS in campaign. About 45 FPS on 1v1 maps (against the computer).

 

@Rev- he is running at 900p?

I bet we can get crysis running max at much better fps than that. yes I am talking crysis 1 and warhead. Several updates exist that optimize performance WITHOUT compromising the look at all. Meaning you set the graphics at highest and then tweak a few items.

My guess is that we will be playing at close to 31fps when done or higher. (you heard it here first)


Thanks,

StevenX

 

I wondered that as well. That is his native resolution. I actually left a comment earlier today asking that so we should find out within a day or so.

Also: Steven go answer my SSD question in this M14x sub section lol I posted it in the HDD question thread someone had. Thx

 

there are a few things that would benefit from having more than 1.5 gigs
-high textures
- high AA
-a higher res screen
-overclocking being the main reason to get 3 gigs(i wish they had a 2 gig version instead)
-and i hear this card is one hell of an overclocker
-granted the most i could ever see it using is 2 gigs maybe down the road 2.5 gigs

 

Nvidia had no part in this.

They just sell the chips, sure the chip supports having the higher density ram attached, but this is likely by request of the OEMs.

Alienware commissioned these boards to be made and chose what memory chips would be attached. They are not on a board bought from MSI or straight from Nvidia, they bought the BGA graphics chip, it was up to them to attach the type and size of ram they wanted.

 

-high textures

Wont go over 1GB, any larger amount of textures will saturate the 192bit GDDR3 anyway.

-high AA

Only 144 shaders, no where near powerful enough to power the massive resolutions and AA processing needed to get much over 1GB let alone 1.5GB.

-higher res screen

See above

-overclocking

Higher density ram modules will clock lower than lower density ones and use more power at the same frequency, this hurts overclocking.

-overclocking 2

Will only hurt it as above

- Ram for the future

If this card has to move 2GB of data over its memory bus you already passed going down to 5FPS anyway as your memory bus is saturated and your GPU does not have the shaders to process it all.

----------------------

Seriously guys this is like those 1GB Geforce FX 5200 cards, so completely pointless and JUST to GRAB YOUR MONEY FOR NO BENEFIT.

 

so in the end you think this may actually lower overall fps?.... thats a lil depressing

i would think that the higher the clock the more memory would be used

 

To be able to use over 1.5GB of ram the chip would need to be 4-5x faster. Quite an ask for overclocking lol.

Now since the stock clocks are the same the stock performance will be identical. On average its likely that the maximum overclock on the gfx ram will be less, but every sample is different ofc.

Now say the GTX485m had a 384bit mem bus and had 1.5GB of ram (its actually 256bit and 2GB). If you were buying a pair of those for SLI then going for 3GB of ram WOULD be future proofing. That's the sort of performance level you would have to be at.

 

Yes, the 5850m has 1GB GDDR5 and on most games it still doesn't utilize all the video mem. I think we will have a hard time maxing the 1.5 on the 555.

But hey, I will ask the captain to give her all she's got.

StevenX

 

I watched the videos again and he shows his settings and it is in fact at 1600x900 at those framerates. That should mean that I will be able to Max out whatever I want with a little OC

 

Some people are just predisposed to being bamboozled, no matter what evidence you present to them. I've given up.

I'll bet that over half of the M14x section buys the 3GB version.

 

Keep in mind that some people will use the card for more than gaming.

 

Its tempting to buy the 3gb version even though theres little to no benefit. I cancelled my order and downgraded to 1.5gb and instead got bluetooth, wirelessHD and the neoprene sleeve for that $150.

 

Then they are silly and should have gone with a workstation setup

 

The only way to 100% sure is if 2 people (or 1 rich guy who gets a 1.5gb model and 3gb model) with the same processor and RAM plays the same game and posts fps..So I really look forward to a kind someone to post his/her findings..

 

For what it's worth, I don't think Kevin meant the 555M isn't capable..i think he just meant it isn't capable of running the 3GB vram upgrade and that 1.5GB is more than enough for what the GT555M is capable of..Well at least that's what I believe he meant..I believe in the GT555M, especially because of the Optimus function..Though I still prefer graphics switching..

 

He is saying that it wont use over 1GB lol.

 

Oh..Then i agree, he is overly underestimating the GT555M lol. But I agree 100% that getting the 3GB won't help whatsoever in any situation.

 

Meh, I don't think it will use over 1GB either tbh but 1.5GB is a fine amount, you are completely covered for the future.

Options should have been:

1.5GB DDR3 + 1366x768 standard

1.5GB GDDR5 + 1600x900 screen = $200

 

Geeze ! are we still talking about this lol !

How about if your Unsure or you think it will make a difference just wait until we have them in are hands to compare.... thats the only way to know and everyone to agree, Until then its all speculations ( sort of )

 

I will stand by and clarify what I said, which is that it won't ever user over 1GB. That's not because it's a necessarily weak GPU, but because the GPU core itself isn't strong enough to run games at the settings and resolution necessary to push past 1GB of usage. I'm talking 1920x1200 w/ 4xAA. The GT 555M will die long before it crosses that line.

Crysis @ 1600x900, High Preset and 4xAA won't even use 600MB of VRAM.

I don't consider that a knock on the card. It's just the science of how things work. No single GPU (dual GPU i.e. 6990 doesn't count) in existence will use 2GB RAM. To even consider the usage of 3GB is unfathomable.

 

I was told the 3gb card was more future proof for upcoming games and stability allowing the card to function better in games that will be coming out in the future that will take advantage of the extra memory. That is the sales pitch I got when asking about why I should upgrade. I dont know if I believe that.

 

By Customer Service, right?

They are lying to you. Or, maybe that's what they've been told, and they don't know any better. But, either way, telling you the truth would put their job at risk.

What Dell CS Rep knows more about mobile GPUs and gaming, than the posters on this forum? Listen to us, not them.

 

Oh I know better then to trust a sales person, especially a dell sales person, I like dell, but they will tell you some crazy things.

When I went to order my m17 r3, I asked if the r3 was made of ano alum and the guy said, of course, all the alienwares were made from anodized aluminum.

I also asked about graphics switching on the r3 3d, and had five plus different sales people swear up and down that the r3 3d allowed you to switch to the IGP and could use widi.

After I ordered my r3 in January, I heard about the recall in Feb, called Dell and emailed them asking if it would mess with my order, they said, on several different replies and calls, No, my order would be fixed before shipping and I was still getting it feb 16th. On Feb 16th, I got a call from an indian guy saying that because of the recall that there was an issue with my laptop and I had a few choices on how to proceed. ( Cancel, Hold on to Order and they would knock off 100 bucks, or order a different machine ) I called my sales person who had left sales by then to go to the epp program and she said, yes, that she was mistaken and should have told me it would effect my laptop.

Dont get me started on the various sales people and their lies about widi, wireless hd and the differences and what was included and what wasnt.

I take it, by default that the sales people are going to lie to you to get that sale. Just need to know that going in.

 

I got the 3GB gpu for $75 after the farmers discount. Should i cancel and reorder with the 1.5GB?

 

Knowing that the 3GB means nothing? Yeah, cancel and upgrade something that matters.

 

Yeah, there is however common sense.

In the same way that people are going to test if a single helium party balloon can lift a one tonne weight.

Now we can't have absolute certainty it wont until we try but the odds are stacked massively that it wont.

 

Its always been that long time myth that the higher the memory available the better the card. Which is clearly not true. The more memory the card the more data can be put on to it during gaming. However you do need a GPU that will process all the data or else you just got yourself a bottle neck.

 

Wait. Is the GT555 DDR3 or DDR5 ram? My buddy is considering this lappy so he can play games with me

Thx y'all

 

DDR3 memory

 

Going to get one of these. Not a big gamer but I can see myself getting into SWTOR when it comes out.

You think this machine could play this at max settings withought an issue? I would imagine as much but not sure. Also I would prefer to be able to play it at 1080p on my TV if the 14x can handle that?

 

Probably not maxing any 2011+ game at 1080p, with the GT 555M.

It'll handle a more modest resolution though.

 

Cloak engaged

 

Like lemmings, walking off of the cliff....

 

I am torn between the M14X or the XPS15...
the price as I have them specd is nearly the same...

I am mainly looking at the machine for Gaming and running multiple virtual machines for running tests...

looking for a solid machine.. good amount of muscle that can be used for work as well as for fun... but at the same time needs to be small and compact for frequent long trips on mass public transportation...

while the XPS is a little larger... it will have 8Gigs of Ram, a 2Gig GT540M Optimus, 750Gig HDD and the 2.0 Ghz CPU along with the 900p Res...

the M14x I am looking at is smaller and more compact but will be with 6Gigs of Ram, Onboard Graphics, 2.0Ghz CPU, 750 Gig HDD, The 720p Screen.

All things considered... I am having problems deciding which laptop I should go for...

Thanks in advance for flaming my Noobness at this laptop game... and even more thanks in advance for any guidance or suggestions that might result from this query...

 

buying an XPS 15 without the rbg screen is just a waste in my opinion. I was torn between the two machines as well.

For me it was the Alienware design and build quality. I had an xps before and it was great and served me well, other then heating up to the point of burning me and requiring a new hdd and motherboard and repaste by a dell tech.

The screen to me is the biggest draw on the XPS 15, followed by the amazing JBL speakers and the fact ya can get a blu ray player and burner.

However for gaming, its alienware for me, with the xps I see it as more as a peformance machine for doing work on, with the ability to play blu rays on an amazing rbg led screen.

The XPS you can find a ton of discounts on to max it out, they are continually running specials on it, since the Alienware 14x is new, finding discounts is a bit hard.

I made the decision to go with the 14x.

 

Comrade Ynot... Thank you so very much for your honest Opinion... I myself have been leaning very hard towards the Alienware... but just want the reassurance that my Opinion is not skewed... Or off is some way.. I can see perks to them both... in muscle, performance, umm prettyness of the screen...

might say I am 75% Alienware...
I may very well go alienware... unless there is some unthought of reason or opinion to not...

is there any Not so complex way to deal with the heat issues???

I myself had an XPS before and the heat issues were crazy... even with the XPS sitting on one of those USB cooling fan unit things the heat was crazy and itw as very prone to shutting down due to heat... Where I live sumers are long and hot... 35C or better for several months... and I am quite concerend about the pending heat issues that I know will arise...

Thanks again for all the advice and help...

networking geek myself work on routers and switches for a living... so I am not going to pretend that I know what I am talking about when it comes to this stuff...
thanks again...~~

 

With the same hardware in it, the XPS and alienware machines will perform the same, no matter how you bias the two lines in your mind.

 

In a stock world yeah. But when it comes down to overclocking XPS hasn't had as good of a reputation because of over overheating issues.

 

So is the consensus to just get the 1.5gb cuz it's ddr3 and not ddr5?

 

Ok... I need to chime in here.

Xps15 (L502) - ONLY HAS 540M GB ram. Is lesser power than 555.
If you are having to push a 900p screen or 1080p screen you will be playing at much lower resolution with a 540m. I wouldn't even play on 1080p with the 555.

The M14x - not as high as quality screen, but higher quality game play. If you find someone who has a xps15 and wants to compare performance please tell them to shoot me pm. If they are willing to set their screen to a rez we can both play at and same settings I will be happy to convince you.

StevenX