The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    260 SLI or 280 SLI

    Discussion in 'Alienware' started by coldcase, Sep 2, 2009.

  1. coldcase

    coldcase Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    39
    Messages:
    216
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    With these terms in the search alomst every thread comes up and none really clearly say what I need to know.

    I'm ordering a M17X and now I just need to know how much more performance the 280 SLI cards will provide over the 260 SLI cards. It's a $370 cost here in Canada to go from 260 SLI to 280 SLI, so for that price I need to know that it will be a noticeable improvement. If not, I'll get the 260 SLI.

    Thanks!
     
    coldcase, Sep 2, 2009
    #1
  2. Quadzilla

    Quadzilla The eye is watching you

    Reputations:
    7,074
    Messages:
    8,376
    Likes Received:
    94
    Trophy Points:
    216
    Save the cash and the get 260SLI unless your sole purpose is to benchmark the machine . The difference in actual gaming will be less then 10% on average so you have to ask yourself is that worth the extra $370.00.
     
    Quadzilla, Sep 2, 2009
    #2
  3. Megacharge

    Megacharge Custom User Title

    Reputations:
    2,230
    Messages:
    2,418
    Likes Received:
    14
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Yeah go with the SLI 260's, best bang for the buck IMO, that's what I went with and I'm very happy with it, not only did I save 370 bucks, but it's very close to dual 280M's in terms of in game performance as Quad said.
     
    Megacharge, Sep 2, 2009
    #3
  4. coldcase

    coldcase Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    39
    Messages:
    216
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Nope. So 260 SLI it is. Thanks Quad and Crylo. ;)
     
    coldcase, Sep 2, 2009
    #4
  5. Ethrem

    Ethrem Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    1,404
    Messages:
    6,706
    Likes Received:
    4,735
    Trophy Points:
    431
    You can always overclock the 260s to 280 speed anyway. The shader difference will have a minimal impact in gaming...
     
    Ethrem, Sep 2, 2009
    #5
  6. Prodigy-man

    Prodigy-man Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    10
    Messages:
    96
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15

    I got the 260m SLIs... All i did is OCed them to the level where benchmarks are the same as stock 280m SLIs in Vantage and Crysis (and still very stable) and there 370 CAD + 13% tax saved. :D

    And as for the CPU, cooling in this lappy is unbelievable. Save yourself some cash initially and get base P8600, they OC very stable to 3 GHz (My Temps jumped +4C ohh no...) and wait till you can get ES qx9300 or something else...
     
    Prodigy-man, Sep 2, 2009
    #6
  7. sleey0

    sleey0 R.I.P. AW Side Topics

    Reputations:
    1,870
    Messages:
    7,976
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    260's for the informed buyer;

    280's for the e-peen buyer :)
     
    sleey0, Sep 2, 2009
    #7
  8. coldcase

    coldcase Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    39
    Messages:
    216
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    good feedback. 260SLI it is and I will definitely get an ES quad.

    + Rep to all you guys for the help! :D
     
    coldcase, Sep 2, 2009
    #8
  9. Xeneize

    Xeneize Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    824
    Messages:
    1,263
    Likes Received:
    9
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Hmm.. wow meanie...

    How about this:

    260 SLI Poor man's All Powerful
    280 SLI True All Powerful

    After all it is 10-15% faster :D
     
    Xeneize, Sep 2, 2009
    #9
  10. sleey0

    sleey0 R.I.P. AW Side Topics

    Reputations:
    1,870
    Messages:
    7,976
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    I was half-joking. lol

    But the difference between $300 and $600 is quite a bit for 10%.......
     
    sleey0, Sep 2, 2009
    #10
  11. Worgen

    Worgen Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    54
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    lol so true.
     
    Worgen, Sep 2, 2009
    #11
  12. Xeneize

    Xeneize Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    824
    Messages:
    1,263
    Likes Received:
    9
    Trophy Points:
    56
    I know you were joking (half-joking) so was I :) I could say the same thing between an Asus and an Alienware the fastest Asus may only be 10-15% slower than the Alienware on single GPU and probably 40% cheaper, but there are still folks buying the AW... it's all relevant to the buyer

    What I will say is that I still think a 280 has more OC potential and that's why I wnt 280, I may be wrong but there was only one way to find out :D
     
    Xeneize, Sep 2, 2009
    #12
  13. coldcase

    coldcase Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    39
    Messages:
    216
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    :nah: I'm not poor...I'm just wise and can buy other goodies...:tongue:
     
    coldcase, Sep 2, 2009
    #13
  14. Ethrem

    Ethrem Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    1,404
    Messages:
    6,706
    Likes Received:
    4,735
    Trophy Points:
    431
    Why would you think the 280 would have more OC potential? Just out of curiosity. They are both the same chip, just one is downclocked and has less shaders.

    My experience has always been that a chip that is a downclocked version of another chip is that the lower-clocked chip overclocks better.

    We'll see what happens when I get my M17x tomorrow and start tweaking it.
     
    Ethrem, Sep 2, 2009
    #14
  15. Xeneize

    Xeneize Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    824
    Messages:
    1,263
    Likes Received:
    9
    Trophy Points:
    56
    I think there's a lot more than down clocking...
     
    Xeneize, Sep 2, 2009
    #15
  16. Ethrem

    Ethrem Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    1,404
    Messages:
    6,706
    Likes Received:
    4,735
    Trophy Points:
    431
    They lopped off some shaders. Big deal. The chip is exactly the same.
     
    Ethrem, Sep 2, 2009
    #16
  17. cpt_jr

    cpt_jr Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    32
    Messages:
    253
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    wont the 280 run alot hotter OC'd though?
     
    cpt_jr, Sep 2, 2009
    #17
  18. Ethrem

    Ethrem Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    1,404
    Messages:
    6,706
    Likes Received:
    4,735
    Trophy Points:
    431
    The heat difference should be negligible if both of the chips are overclocked to the same speed.

    Besides, the chips in these laptops run ridiculously cool. My desktop 8800 GTS 640 IDLES at 70... It can't pass a single pass even 10 minutes of OCCT because it hits 90 in no time.
     
    Ethrem, Sep 2, 2009
    #18
  19. coldcase

    coldcase Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    39
    Messages:
    216
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30

    I have one GTX 7900 in an old XPS laptop and it has always been hot even at idle. With the vents the M17x have, things can only improve for me.
     
    coldcase, Sep 2, 2009
    #19
  20. coldcase

    coldcase Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    39
    Messages:
    216
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Well as you can see below, I placed my order :)

    More rep to those who helped!

    Thanks

    Oliver
     
    coldcase, Sep 4, 2009
    #20
  21. ThaDutchy

    ThaDutchy Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    93
    Messages:
    478
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    LOL, there the digital carrot comes out again! :D

    P.s Coldcase - Very nice specs, I really enjoy those Dual 260m's.
     
    ThaDutchy, Sep 4, 2009
    #21
  22. Gauthijm

    Gauthijm Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    54
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    16
    hello Cold
    Did you get any kind of discount, as it is a pet peeve of mine that US buyers are getting huge deals, i.e. better load-out, better stuff for less money than us canadians
    Ex: was a deal in july/Aug where they got twin 280's and the Q9000 chip for the cool price of like 2300 -minus other dicounts like EPP and stuff, It's very discouraging to see these deals and get nothing up here...

    Seems Dell/Alienware canada is happy to charge us full retail, vs deals in the US, so I am wondering if you managed any discounts and are willing to share the info, for me to consider it :)

    Thx
    jean

    PS btw I think you ordered the perfect config for that laptop if you ahve to pay full reatil for everything; bravo!
     
    Gauthijm, Sep 4, 2009
    #22
  23. Xeneize

    Xeneize Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    824
    Messages:
    1,263
    Likes Received:
    9
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Very nice and solid configuration!
     
    Xeneize, Sep 4, 2009
    #23
  24. coldcase

    coldcase Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    39
    Messages:
    216
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Jean,

    Use this coupon that I posted here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=5277809&postcount=56

    It's a 7% coupon on the base price but it's better than no discount at all in Canada.

    It's a US coupon but Dell lets it pass. I know my rep did and I will send you her info via PM.

    Oliver ;)
     
    coldcase, Sep 4, 2009
    #24
  25. coldcase

    coldcase Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    39
    Messages:
    216
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Thanks! :D
     
    coldcase, Sep 4, 2009
    #25
  26. Geby

    Geby Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    6
    Messages:
    155
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Cant someone sticky this info, so there isn't a new thread every week about this same topic?
     
    Geby, Sep 4, 2009
    #26
  27. Soviet Sunrise

    Soviet Sunrise Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,140
    Messages:
    6,547
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    Agreed. Twin GTX 260M's will last a very long time and deliver amazing fps.

    Yes. One can overclock to 600/1500/950 and slowly work their way up from there until they reach a certain point that offers a balance of speed and thermal stability.

    Indeed.

    GTX 260M SLi = Lance Armstrong
    GTX 280M SLi = Michael Phelps

    Oh Crylo, I found a Star Trek video featuring the M17x against the M980NU. You might like it.

    width='640' height='505'><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0xtY_k86FBU&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0xtY_k86FBU&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width='640' height='505'></embed></object>
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 6, 2015
    Soviet Sunrise, Sep 4, 2009
    #27
  28. Megacharge

    Megacharge Custom User Title

    Reputations:
    2,230
    Messages:
    2,418
    Likes Received:
    14
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Yeah that's the same one I posted a couple months back, I'm glad you ended up getting the discount from it Coldcase, I wasn't sure if she would let another one slide, she is an awesome rep!
     
    Megacharge, Sep 4, 2009
    #28
  29. Megacharge

    Megacharge Custom User Title

    Reputations:
    2,230
    Messages:
    2,418
    Likes Received:
    14
    Trophy Points:
    56
    lol That was a good one.
     
    Megacharge, Sep 4, 2009
    #29
  30. goalieman077

    goalieman077 Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    52
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Hey guys, looking to order a m17x. Been back and forth with 260 vs 280. Just wondering if i was to get 2 260s and overclock them using the nvidia tool. Is it permanent? As in if i shutdown the computer and restart are they still overclocked?
     
    goalieman077, Sep 4, 2009
    #30
  31. Soviet Sunrise

    Soviet Sunrise Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,140
    Messages:
    6,547
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    Software overclocking is not permanent.
     
    Soviet Sunrise, Sep 4, 2009
    #31
  32. Xeneize

    Xeneize Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    824
    Messages:
    1,263
    Likes Received:
    9
    Trophy Points:
    56
    No, it will reset after a reboot but it can be scripted
     
    Xeneize, Sep 4, 2009
    #32
  33. sleey0

    sleey0 R.I.P. AW Side Topics

    Reputations:
    1,870
    Messages:
    7,976
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    You can have the clocks set upon boot.
     
    sleey0, Sep 4, 2009
    #33