M70 vs. I9300

Just a quick question on the video cards...

Is the M70's Quadro 1400 basically equivalent to the 9300's 6800 Go? I know the Q1400 is optimized for engineering apps, and I've read elsewhere that the Q1400 is an underclocked 6800 Go. I'm asking because if the Q1400 = 6800 Go, then I'll get the M70 and say bye-bye to my desktop.

Thanks!!

 

no...i don't think so..i think that the 9300's 6800 Go is far more superior that the Q1400..but i could be wrong

 

I hope you're wrong, Luck. There are a couple of people over at NotebookForums.com who claim the Quadro 1400 is the same chip as the 6800 Go, but clocked lower. I'm trying to find out if that's true. If it is, I'd take the M70 over the z70va, despite its slightly heavier weight. The video card is really the only advantage I see in the M70 over the z70va, but that's enough to make it a better desktop replacement for me.

 

Check out this comparison: http://www.leadtek.com.tw/eng/support/faq.asp?faqlineid=44.

 

Wow!! Thanks for the link, Antskip! Great info. It makes me feel a lot better about the m70.

 

The 9300's 6800 Go card is superior to the M70's quadro card, since both cards are Nvidia cards and good for openGL programs,I dont see why you couldnt do cad/cam with it, ive seen posts on this at notebookforums.com. The m70 costs ALOT more than the 9300, twice the price as it is marketed as a professional workstation, although with a 9300 you get a larger 17 inch screen and a more powerful nvidia graphics card, plus better battery life with the 6800 than with the quadro card, for half the price of an M70, I would think that this would make it ideal for such 3d applications.

 

the quadro and 6800 go cards are not identical chips, the 6800 go will perform better, but the quadro card isnt all that far behind it in performance. they are two different animals all together, again the purpose of the quadro card is more specialized focusing on open gl where the 6800 go card can also do the open GL but more rounded card overall. If you aboslutgely must have an m70, I would suggest looking for one at dell outlet to get a better price.

 

My biggest problem with the 9300/XPS2 is the size. A 17", 9-10 pound notebook is just too much hardware to carry around on a daily basis. I actually ordered an XPS2, but cancelled after thinking about how I really want to use a notebook. I'm getting more involved in developing computer-based training and simulations, and the Quadro is unmatched for handling apps like Maya and AutoCAD.

I'm not a ravenous gamer, playing mainly the latest FPS games. I've even found myself getting a little bored with gaming (am I finally growing up? YIKES!!). I loved Doom 3, but Half-Life 2 was a major disappointment to me. After playing the lackluster FEAR demo, I kinda had an "awakening" and realized there are better ways to spend my free time than having my eyeballs glued to a computer screen. That's what I do all day at work, anyway. The one upcoming game I'll definitely play is Quake 4 and it'll look just about as good on the Quadro as the 6800.

I keep checking Dell's Outlet, but all I've seen are two or three M60s. If an M70 pops in, it doesn't stay unclaimed very long. That also gives me some comfort. It shows me that people who buy an M60/M70 end up keeping them. Dell's Outlet is jam-packed with Inspirons and Latitudes. Yes, those models sell more than the workstations, but the sheer volume of returns is something to consider. I just have to keep scouring the web for the rare 35% off Small Business coupon.

 

NO, NO, SAY IT AIN'T SO!!!!!!!!!!!!

After all my glowing praise of the M70, I just found out that it doesn't have a DVI port!! How could such a fantastic mobile workstation not have DVI??? The thought of connecting my beautiful 2405FPW LCD to an M70 through a <cough, cough> VGA port is an obscenity of the highest order.

Okay, okay... it's not like continental famine or an asteroid impact on Earth, but no DVI on the M70 really blows.

 

yea...lol...and the 9300 doesn't weigh 9-10 lbs...lol...at least mine doesn't ..it's actually pretty light for a 17" laptop

 

I just read your 9300 review. I thought the 9300 was as big as the XPS2. Looks like I was mistaken. Hmmm... me gots some mo' thinkin' to do before I buy anything. If the 9300 had a WSXGA+ screen, like the Gateway M680XL or HP ZD8000, then I jump on it.

 

yea...mine weighs b/w 7 and 8 lbs...why don't u get the WUXGA with Trulife??..btw what is that "S" in the middle of W_XGA+??..if the WSXGA+ is the glossy screen..then u should get the WUXGA with trulife from dell..b/c that is the glossy screen too

 

Yeah, the WSXGA+ is midway between WXGA and WUXGA. I saw an HP ZD8000 and its WSXGA+ screen was beautiful, even though it had the glossy finish. I've read all kinds of complaints about the XPS2/9300 WUXGA screen (sparkles, dull whites, etc.) and WXGA is usually too big a resolution for my tastes. I've seen the 15.4" WSXGA+ and WUXGA Dell screens and they were very bright, vivid and responsive. I've found the WSXGA+ to be the best resolution for my eye's comfort level. My Dell 2405 is WUXGA, but that resolution is perfect for a big 24" LCD.

 

oooo...but the thing is that you have read all the complaints...and not the appraisals for the WUXGA with trulife screen..and you can adjust the resolution of the screen as well

 

Thats right, only the 9300 has a DVI port, its also not that much heavier than an M70, a pound at most, and half the price of an M70.

 

Running an lcd panel at lower than native resolution is never a good idea, you take hits on quality when you do this, besides, why pay extra for WUXGA just for the privilege of tweaking text so its readable and using it in non native resolution for every day purposes?????