13 inch light laptop with best video card.

Is there a 13 inch laptop out there with a more powerful GPU than the Vaio Z? The Vaio Z has an Nvidia GT330m. Is there anything, besides the alienware m11x that has a more powerful card?

 

More powerful than the M11x in the same form factor? I don't believe there is, but I've been wrong before.

 

the m11x is about as good as it is going to get...now if you go up to 12in theres actually quite a few options

 

Cramming in a powerful GPU in a small computer is only a mad thing like Alienware would do.
They do got that new 14" version soon, maybe you can look into that?

 

Acer TimelineX 3820TG: i5-480m, HD 6550, 13.3 inch.

The M11x is the same size as most 13" notebooks and heavier too. Acer is about to release the 3830TG with Sandy Bridge CPU (not confirmed yet, but most likely dual core i5/i7) and GT 540m. Probably similar price point to the M11x but doesn't have all the bling.

 

I'm not comparing what I'm looking for to the m11x. I'm comparing it more to the Vaio Z. How much better is the HD 6550 than the GT330M? 13 inches is about as small as I'm willing to go. Its the perfect size for a portable laptop. The vaio Z has the best form factor as well. When is the acer with sandy bridge supposed to come out?

Edit: Notebook check says the acer has an HD 5470: http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Acer-Aspire-3820TG-Timeline-X-Notebook.30294.0.html

Edit 2: Plus, as I recall, I was looking into buying this in the past and its only sold in asia. Not something I'm willing to deal with. Maybe if it had a 6550, but even the cnet asia site says it has a 5650. Odd because the other sits says 5470!

 

3830TG not 3820TG

The 3820TG came with either a 5470 or a 5650.

5650 and 6550 are both a nice step up from the 330m.

 

how about vaio sb with amd 6630

 

^^This beats all before

 

I would love to see a comparrison between the Sony Vaio SB(6630m) and M11x R3 across benchmarks, heat, battery and games performance.


It's weird we have reached a point where people are saying that 3dmark 06 can't be used anymore. It's like we have to start over with 3dmark 11.. all over again.

 

The reason is that 3DMark06 seems to heavily count in its score CPU, which can skew dramatically the raw performance of the GPU. Furthermore, the tests themselves are running on DirectX 9.0c, which despite many games are still taking advantage of, many games are also adding in elements of DX10/11 alongside it. Therefore, many GPU's also needs to be tested of their DX10/11 elements. 3DMark11 takes out the CPU bias and the some of the nVidia bias and solely tests if requested the power of the GPU on its own under 720p conditions as the benchmark. Therefore, you get a score that is less skewed and more relfected on the GPU on its own.

 

Understood.


Like the OP, and probably many others, it's difficult to find out what the most powerful Subnotebook is. There seems to be a gamer segment, who is interested in having their gaming in portable package(-13'', light, good battery). This means more expenssive and less power than the bigger ones, but it's a trade off that people are willing to take(some people, incl. myself).

3820 is a long time favorite, but it's more of a standard notebook were Sony Vaio SB and M11X are more premium, and where Sony Vaio SA will probably be a 4000 USD priced monster like the good old Z!

 

Yeah 06' is old news for mid to high end hardware. It would probably still work fine for the low end.

I'd still like to have a M11X just to have one, I would use it for media & emulation more than anything so its really overkill, but I am not happy with the resolution of other netbook screens and the cpu power.

So I just need a netbook with better screen & cpu, thus never paid for the looks/gpu/name of the M11X

Im so broke these days I couldn't afford a M1X (if it existed) (Watch alienware rip me off and in a week have a computer watch called the M1X, the worlds first 1" computer powered watch with color changing leds)

 

3820TG now comes with the 6550.

NCIX.com - Buy Acer Aspire AS3820TG-6829 Intel Core i5 480 4GB 500GB 13.3IN Radeon 6550 802.11N BT WIN7 HP Notebook - Acer - LX.RAC02.041 - in Canada

Excellent step up from GT 335m or 330m.

3830TG will have GT 540m along with a SB dual core CPU.

The new Vaio Z is supposed to get a SB makeover soon, but speculation it will use integrated GPU with an external discrete GPU dock.

 

Yea, that's pretty hot. I think my vaio Z with the 330 is okay for now, though. I was mainly curious. I've only had my vaio for about 6 months and it works really well. Its fast, light, great battery and the video card is decent. Of course I'd like a better card, but the size of this thing is really nice. I'm sure you guys can agree its not a bad machine.

Also, why aren't these acers sold in the US? And how are they so cheap? Also, would the keyboard be different since its canadian? Any differences?

 

Yes it will have a Canadian keyboard so you will have to take into account that cost, but most people have found American ones for ~$25. NCIX ships to USA and is the only place I've found that will unless you go to some Hong Kong site that is quite questionable to me.

 

Thanks a bunch. Just curious about it. Also, the site ( NCIX.com - Buy Acer Aspire AS3820TG-6829 Intel Core i5 480 4GB 500GB 13.3IN Radeon 6550 802.11N BT WIN7 HP Notebook - Acer - LX.RAC02.041 - in Canada) says its the 3820. I thought the 3830 had the 6550, but the 3820 does?! I'm so confused!

Here is the real 3838: http://forum.notebookreview.com/acer/553306-acer-timelinex-3830-4830-5830-t-g.html

My question now is: is the Nvidia GT540M better than the 6550?

 

3820TG went from 4750 to 5650 to 6550. The 3830TG is supposed to have the GT 540m (going from AMD to nVidia - opposite of all other vendors. ). 3830TG isn't released yet as far as I know.

 

They really want optimus.

 

Prime? get it?

 

^^thats the only optimus that I want

 

According to notebookcheck, on Starcraft medium settings, it's 53 fps for GT540M vs 39 fps for 5650. It's all that matters to me!
The 3830TG is the best 13" gaming laptop. In the 14" category, I'd go with the Lenovo Y470.

 

Yea. All I really play is SC2, as well. Where do you live? Where are you going to be able to get the 3830TG with an american keyboard? I already have a vaio Z that I've only had for 6 months or so. I OC the GPU and get about 60 FPS on medium so it works just fine. I wouldn't mind something better, but I really shouldn't buy a brand new laptop unless I can sell mine for a good price. That, and nothing can beat the weight of the vaio z and the SSD is so nice! I could put an SSD in the timeline though, since its probably a standard size.

 

fyi, the 6550M is just a rebranded 5650M.

 

I haven't read the whole thread but Has anyone mentioned the M14x? I mean I know you are after 13 inches but with the extra inch you can get the gt 555m which is definitely no slouch. Be sure you choose the DDR3 version instead of the GDDR5 one. The DDR3 version has slower memory but more shader cores which should translate into a quicker system.

 

I agree. The GT 555M can even possibly be better than the GTX 460M when the former is nicely overclocked and the latter is on stock settings.

Mr. Mysterious

 

Thing is, even though the m14x screen is only 1 inch bigger, the system as a whole is much bigger compared to laptops like the 3820tg.

 

Yes, the caveat reveals itself....it's bigger than most 14" systems as well.

It's a tradeoff.

Mr. Mysterious

 

The M14x is about the same size as most gaming 15" laptops. The M14x is 1" less wide than the Sager NP8130/8150, otherwise other dimensions/weight are pretty much identical except in NP8130/8150 you get 15" 1080p screen, GTX 460m (option for 485m or 6970m in 8150), Blu-Ray option, 4 RAM slots. However the M14x comes with a lit keyboard and switchable graphics (Optimus).

 

I'd say with those dimensions, the M14x pretty much will take itself out of the running with it's weight too...

Still a fantastic machine though.

Mr. Mysterious

 

well the op wants a LIGHT machine so any alienware machine is out. and I completely disagree with the statement that the m14x is a good machine, the NP8150, is about the same SIZE and WEIGHT, packing CONSIDERABLY MORE POWER.

I would still go for the VAIO SA or the SB. The acer 3830tg is a good choice too

 

SA or SB doesn't fit the requirement of the OP either which is "Best video card".

SA has 6630M which is not better than 6550M, which means even the 3820TG can beat it.
SB has 6470M which just sucks hard.

I dont see any better 13"3 than 3830TG. If there's one, I'd love to hear about it before I buy my 3830TG when I get back home in 2 weeks. If it wasn't for the graphic card, I'd go for a thinkpad.

 

the SB comes with a 6630m, you just have to configure it. And where have you got that info, that the 6550m (aka 5650m) is better than the 6630m? Im betting notebookcheck

 

My bad. Just checked on notebookcheck, it's even better than GT540M according to the only 2 available samples. But some laptops with GT540M have the same results.

I think I wont have enough money to spend on a SA. SB definitely not an option.

 

You can configure an SB with a 6630M. That's what I just purchased.

 

And what sorts of numbers are you getting from 3DMark 11 and in games?

 

Pricing wise 3830TG has more value than the SB.
Specs wise GT 540M > Radeon 6630HD
If you take the data from notebookcheck,

Vostro

2520M

4096 MB

485 / 800MHz

1024MB DDR3 8.811.1.0

985

Compare it with a Similar Sandy Bridge.

Aspire 4830TG

2410M

4096 MB

672 / 900MHz

2048MB GF108 nVIDIA ForceWare 67.21

989

Even with the inferior CPU the GT 540M triumphs.