For those who build notebooks, one question (C90 thread)

Is it feasible for the C90 to fit an 8800M (based on what we know of each right now) into it's 15.4" chassis. Considering the thermal and electrical envelopes as well, then, would it fit? I think it is a low probability that the 8800M will fit into any laptop smaller than 17" (like the 7900 GS/7950GTX etc.) and many people have high hopes for this capability and may be investing a lot of money into something they will never see happen. I personally believe the MXMType2 card in the C90 is made to upgrade to the next generation midrange card (probably the 9600M GT) in about a year and a half or so, but not to the high-end cards of any generation. However I want to set the hypothetical record straight between my views and theirs, any input?

 

It all depends on how well Nvidia's 65nm die shrink goes. No one knows what the heat output of the new 8m 256-bit cards (e.g. 8700m, 8800m) will be. I think it's likely that within 2 years, you will see a 256-bit card in a 15.4" chassis.

 

nVidia's high end graphics card will certainly output a fair bt of heat, and its probably too much for the C90 to efficiently handle. The Type II MXM platform isn't a very good basis for higher end cards either. Most high end graphics cads either have their own modular/proprietary slot, or use Type III MXM technology.

 

Well we can say this for fact:

> Nvida has said the 8800m card will be within 22w
> The Asus C90 comes with a 25w MXMII slot.

So that means yes it fits IF

> Its a MXMII format
> It may be the lowest level 8800 like a 8800gs or somthing, everybody seems to think when they say 8800m they mean the GTX. Im sure its the lower end of the card tier and that the top dog will be much more demanding.

 

it is literally the size of the higher end cards more than anything. Heat output-disputable, Within 2 years (probably) the mid-range cards will have 256-bit buses de riguer, however it seems as though even as the die process shrinks, the cards retain the same large size because even though the transistors take up less space, there are thousands more in each generation. Lastly, wattage is not the only thing that determines the slot that is used, there are is, like before, physical size, heat and alignment issues that make MXM3 better for the first two and propreitary slots for the last one. It IS possible, I am not saying it couldn't happen, but before deciding (I kind of want a C90, too) it is better to have realistic expectations of what the technology can accomplish. (Which even upgrading to the next generation of midrange cards would be awesome, to me).

 

I think it really depends on asus more then anyone else. they may decide to allow one upgrade for the c90s and then drop the whole line only to refresh the whole notebook. that would be the ideal situation for them not the end user.

 

Well, I am debating whether or not it is even feasible, supposing Asus really did want it to happen, for those cards to be supported.

But you are right, as another hit against the possibility, Asus may make it such that it certainly can't.

 

You also need to see that Asus also has plans for C80P and C80S which will be released quiet a bit later. Those will be 17inch version instead of C90S which is 15.4inch. It is possible that Asus will only release NB8E-GTX, NB8E-GT and NB8E-SE for that model vs the NB8M for C90 now.

Asus could release the next generation 9 series of Nvidia Mobile (NB9M) for C90 next year and (NB9E [power hungry]) for C80 thus providing the upgrade video card option they promised.

Nvidia is already stated to their investor of upcoming new generation cycle to start taping out in Q407. Thus making is likely for next highend 9 series card to be ready by end of Q108. followed by Mainstream in Q208.

 

I would have to disagree with you guys. First of all why make the card only 22-25 watts when mxm 3 tops out at 35 watts? Unless they are making a large gap in performance in which the gtx uses 30-35 watts I see no reason why they would do this.
Secondly, I think Asus has discussed this with nvidia and maybe the reason why they are so hyped about the c90. Why would they go through all the trouble of declaring this "the worlds first fully upgradeable laptop" only to go, sorry guys the upgrade for the video card you want will be released in a year and a half. I go along with vicious's idea that the gs and hopefully the gt will be mxm 2 and perhaps the gtx will be mxm 3. It just seems fishy that the nvidia would shrink it enough to have it be 22 watts and then go oh no sure its 22 watts but its not mxm 2.

 

Making a card MXMII or not has nothing to do with Nvidia. Nvidia doesn't actually manufacture these cards. And yes, I do think there will eventually be a 22 watt 256-bit 8m enthusiast card, but whether it will be the 8800mGTX, the 8800mGS, or the 8700mG is all in the air, as is when it will be released and how soon Asus can get it in the C90s.

 

nVidia will push the Wattage as low as possible to improve effieciency, both in terms of heat and battery life. If the performance gain was minimal between the 22-35 Watts then chances are they pushed it as low as it could go without nerfing it. Also, nVidia could have said "Our mainstream cards from now on will be designed to fit into MXMII slots, making GPUs truly upgradable from generation to generation." That would certainly satisfy the conditions you put. It is the same as a desktop, some just can not handle top-end cards because the case does not have watercooling or a large enough power supply. If anything it should be more restrictive in a notebook, no?

 

Do you think there will be a 15.4" Laptop with a 8800M GPU? Is 22 watt low compared to current-gen GPUs?

 

No and yes, in that order =P. The desktop counterpart for the 8800 uses 100 Watts, and a 78 percent decrease in wattage is the largest I have seen from nVidia before. Even with this the sheer size of the card will probably restrict it to larger laptops.

 

I don't want something huge but I want something powerful! If that is the case, might just get a G1S than wait for a C90 or something with a 8800M GPU then.

 

You have to remeber that the card will be on a 65nm process. That's tiny. While there might not be an 8800m in a 15.4", I bet there will be a 8700m (also a 256-bit card) or something similar before too long.

 

If I remember correctly, the go7700 came out after the 7800 and the 7900(?). I hope it's not the case with the 8M series!

 

I claim all that I said based upon milestone's thread:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=116951

Also have read in other threads that asus confirmed c90 is upgradeable to all 8m.

 

Two things you guys may have missed...

* A 22W 8800 does not mean a 22W MXM card. There's also the memory, power conversion etc. to be considered.
* Battery life is another thing everyone forgets. You simply can't put enough battery bulk in a 15 inch to support such a power guzzler for long.

 

Good News/Bad News:

Bad News: I talked about that stuff about three or four posts ago.

Good News: I totally agree! =P

It does sound a lot better coming from someone as experienced as you are.

 

sheesh...
i'm expecting that there will be only 1 version of C90,and not extreme,or ultra,or super,or something else..

 

Just as a personal aside, I think they will make it a series, like the G-series, with a 17, 15.4 flagship, and a 14.1.

 

There will be several versions of the C90, one with fans, and one without. Also there will be the C80 (i think it's called) which will be the 17" version.

 

The list of available GPUs will be:

*
NVIDIA 8600 GT 128/256MB
*
NVIDIA 8500 GT 256MB
*
AMD M71x (is this mobile 2400/2600?)






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