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.

    8400GT - 128MB vs 256MB

    Discussion in 'Gaming (Software and Graphics Cards)' started by jam12, Aug 14, 2007.

  1. jam12

    jam12 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    105
    Messages:
    1,202
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Is there a big difference between the 128MB and 256MB dedicated 8400GT? Will the 256MB enable me to play games at higher quality etc?

    Thanks.
    ------
    Jam.
     
    jam12, Aug 14, 2007
    #1
  2. HavoK

    HavoK Registered User

    Reputations:
    706
    Messages:
    1,719
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Yes, go for the 256mb model if possible. Even on todays low end cards, it helps performance considerably, an 8400GT would definitely be crippled by having only 128mb.
     
    HavoK, Aug 14, 2007
    #2
  3. usapatriot

    usapatriot Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    3,266
    Messages:
    7,360
    Likes Received:
    14
    Trophy Points:
    206
    Agreed, the 256mb will help performance.
     
    usapatriot, Aug 14, 2007
    #3
  4. jam12

    jam12 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    105
    Messages:
    1,202
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Ah right, I see then.

    Trouble is, I'm looking at the Sony FZ's and in the UK, the top model FZ11z, contain's an 8400GT 256mb, 2.0GHz proccessor and a blu ray drive for £1145. The second model contains an 8400GT 128mb, 1.8GHz and no blueray drive for only £790. = £355 difference.

    Is it worth it?
     
    jam12, Aug 14, 2007
    #4
  5. scriccs

    scriccs Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    4
    Messages:
    213
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    If you cant spend the money, then notebook with the 128mb card will still be fine. In your case, Im not sure the 355 justifies the price unless you want a BluRay drive.
     
    scriccs, Aug 14, 2007
    #5
  6. HavoK

    HavoK Registered User

    Reputations:
    706
    Messages:
    1,719
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Yeah I'd agree with that, while it's undoubtedly better it's definitely not worth 355 for those extras. The 128mb one will still be an 'ok' card, so don't worry too much unless you're a really serious laptop gamer.
     
    HavoK, Aug 14, 2007
    #6
  7. JCMS

    JCMS Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    455
    Messages:
    4,674
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    If you are on vista and have 2GB+ RAM 128MB will be okay, if you have XP/1GB ram go for the 256MB since most recent games requiere 256MB if you want to play over 640x480.


    There is a new feature of DX10 that allows the card to use system's RAM when overloaded (like Hyper Memory, TurboCache...) but it works while using DX9.0C too, you just need to be on vista
     
    JCMS, Aug 14, 2007
    #7
  8. m4tt

    m4tt Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    22
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Jam: Just incase you are still deciding on the FZ11S (128MB 8400GT)...i got mine a month ago, im not really a gamer but have put a few demos on it. World in conflict runs on low setting and is unplayable on medium. FSX runs quite well on medium, C&C3 run well on medium/high. Even tho im not a huge gamer i still like the best looking graphics when i do want to play a game and you wont get that with this laptop. The Vaios do look very nice but for games with the nice eye candy I would look elsewhere if i where you. Im still using the default driver so not sure what performance increase an update to this would have.
     
    m4tt, Sep 19, 2007
    #8
  9. Charles P. Jefferies

    Charles P. Jefferies Lead Moderator Super Moderator

    Reputations:
    22,339
    Messages:
    36,639
    Likes Received:
    5,087
    Trophy Points:
    931
    Are you sure that there are two versions of the 8400M-GT? I was only aware of one version, the 128MB dedicated one. The SonyStyle US site only shows one card is available.
     
    Charles P. Jefferies, Sep 19, 2007
    #9
  10. jam12

    jam12 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    105
    Messages:
    1,202
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Yeh, in the US there is only one - probs the 256mb I think. In the Uk there are 64,128 and 256 available on different models of the vaio fz's. You lucky US residents :D
     
    jam12, Sep 20, 2007
    #10
  11. agh2415

    agh2415 Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    59
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    don't waste your money on a blu-ray drive. If you really want one get a PS3 or something
     
    agh2415, Sep 20, 2007
    #11
  12. Woodgypsy

    Woodgypsy Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    75
    Messages:
    527
    Likes Received:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Sonystyle Japan CTO has options for 128mb and 256mb RAM, so I assume there are both. I got 256MB one. :)
     
    Woodgypsy, Sep 20, 2007
    #12
  13. jam12

    jam12 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    105
    Messages:
    1,202
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Nah, I'm not going for a Sony Vaio - just got my new toshiba notebook (see sig)
     
    jam12, Sep 20, 2007
    #13