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.

    9600m GT quadro equivalent drivers

    Discussion in 'Gaming (Software and Graphics Cards)' started by paperkut, Dec 31, 2008.

  1. paperkut

    paperkut Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    56
    Messages:
    175
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Hi guys,

    So I'm thinking of picking up a Sager NP2096 laptop (uses 9600m GT), but since I'm planning on using it for CAD and other modeling applications I was wondering if I could softmod the graphics card into the Quadro 770M (which I think is the equivalent).

    I was wondering if something like this would be feasible. Are the two graphics cards completely equivalent at the hardware level? Would the programs be stable after a mod?

    If anyone has a tutorial I would sincerely appreciate that.
     
    paperkut, Dec 31, 2008
    #1
  2. afhstingray

    afhstingray Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    351
    Messages:
    4,662
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    105
    no you cant. you can softmod that quadro to a geforce but not vice versa.
     
    afhstingray, Dec 31, 2008
    #2
  3. I♥RAM

    I♥RAM Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    233
    Messages:
    1,596
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    I♥RAM, Dec 31, 2008
    #3
  4. afhstingray

    afhstingray Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    351
    Messages:
    4,662
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    105
    for some models, especially in the past, it was possible, however i was referring to the 9600 specifically
     
    afhstingray, Dec 31, 2008
    #4
  5. Johnny T

    Johnny T Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    6,092
    Messages:
    12,975
    Likes Received:
    201
    Trophy Points:
    481
    Referring to the 9600 and the recent Geforce 8 series, the Quadro functions has been disabled physically in the Geforce cards meaning it will e impossible to softmod them to their Quadro equivalent.
     
    Johnny T, Dec 31, 2008
    #5
  6. paperkut

    paperkut Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    56
    Messages:
    175
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Ditto.

    Man, that's a real shame. I had my heart set on the NP2096, especially now since theres such a sweet deal going.

    I know the Quadro cards are optimized for OpenGL and such, but if I use a stock 9600m GT, can you state a Quadro card I can compare performance-wise? The FX 570M maybe?

    How wide is the performance gap exactly (9600M vs FX770)?I won't mind too much if it's just a 5% performance difference or so..
     
    paperkut, Dec 31, 2008
    #6
  7. Micaiah

    Micaiah Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    1,333
    Messages:
    1,915
    Likes Received:
    41
    Trophy Points:
    66
    They're the same cards. Any performance difference between the two would be the resultant of the drivers.
     
    Micaiah, Dec 31, 2008
    #7
  8. afhstingray

    afhstingray Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    351
    Messages:
    4,662
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    105
    the FX770 is equivalent to the 9600GT. im not sure why you're bringing the FX570M into the picture....its not the same.

    for gaming (dell m4400) the FX770 actually performs better than most stock 9600GT's, even with the stock drivers optimized for stability and openGL.

    for rendering detail in openGL and some software applications have features that will not be available unless you have a workstation gfx card. depends on ur usage really
     
    afhstingray, Dec 31, 2008
    #8
  9. afhstingray

    afhstingray Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    351
    Messages:
    4,662
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    105
    i think he's referring to the openGL performance. the quadro's have hardware optimized for openGL in addition to the normal D3D stuff
     
    afhstingray, Dec 31, 2008
    #9
  10. Johnny T

    Johnny T Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    6,092
    Messages:
    12,975
    Likes Received:
    201
    Trophy Points:
    481
    Just an example, I have a HD2600 which is softmodded to a FireGL V5600. Inn the specviewperf Pro/E test (only one I did) I got an average of around 10fps, with the V5600, I got around 30. But unless you are dealing with complex models, I wouldn't worry too much about it.

    What softwares will you be using?
     
    Johnny T, Dec 31, 2008
    #10
  11. paperkut

    paperkut Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    56
    Messages:
    175
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Ohh I see, so the 9600GT just completely lacks some features that the 770M has. I thought the difference would manifest in slower renderings and other performance issues.. I'm guessing it'll be program instability instead?

    I really have to consider that W500 now :/

    EDIT: Ok, Johnny T has got me confused again.. which is it? I'll be using Autocad, Rhino, Maya, 3ds max and maybe Revvit.
     
    paperkut, Dec 31, 2008
    #11
  12. Johnny T

    Johnny T Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    6,092
    Messages:
    12,975
    Likes Received:
    201
    Trophy Points:
    481
    The CPU does the actual rendering. Where as the GPU deals with view point performance.
     
    Johnny T, Dec 31, 2008
    #12
  13. afhstingray

    afhstingray Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    351
    Messages:
    4,662
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    105
    those programs should be able to take advantage of the additional features.

    also, check out the hp elitebook 8530 and the dell precision m4400 (dont be put off by the prices, you can get huge discounts if you call or find a coupon, i got $722 off mine, specs in sig)
     
    afhstingray, Dec 31, 2008
    #13
  14. Micaiah

    Micaiah Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    1,333
    Messages:
    1,915
    Likes Received:
    41
    Trophy Points:
    66
    ...Yes, which both the mainstream and professional cards have physically, but pending on the BIOS, are or are not available. I'm not sure how mobile Quadro works, but I've been able to convert a mainstream Geforce card to its Quadro equivalent by flashing the BIOS; same thing for the Radeons and FireGLs.
     
    Micaiah, Dec 31, 2008
    #14
  15. afhstingray

    afhstingray Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    351
    Messages:
    4,662
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    105
    yes it will manifest in slower renderings. because it lacks the features
     
    afhstingray, Dec 31, 2008
    #15
  16. Johnny T

    Johnny T Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    6,092
    Messages:
    12,975
    Likes Received:
    201
    Trophy Points:
    481
    As I mentioned above, in the recent generations of Geforce cards, the Quadro features have been physically disabled by Nvidia unlike Mobility Radeon cards.

    There are also always discounts on customised 8530w models. :) And 3dsmax actually works better in D3D.

    While you are at it, read this...

    http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=80145
     
    Johnny T, Dec 31, 2008
    #16
  17. afhstingray

    afhstingray Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    351
    Messages:
    4,662
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    105
    refer to johnny t's post. thats why....same reason why you cant mod a pentium dual core into a core2duo
     
    afhstingray, Dec 31, 2008
    #17
  18. Micaiah

    Micaiah Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    1,333
    Messages:
    1,915
    Likes Received:
    41
    Trophy Points:
    66
    Okay thank you, that's good information. Of the two, ATi was easier since they can be softmodded. I had success with the X600 and X1700.
     
    Micaiah, Dec 31, 2008
    #18
  19. Johnny T

    Johnny T Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    6,092
    Messages:
    12,975
    Likes Received:
    201
    Trophy Points:
    481
    The problem now is that ATi has made modifications to their latest drivers and no one has found a way round modding the latest cards yet...

    (Information from the great man schoko who made modded V5600 drivers :))
     
    Johnny T, Dec 31, 2008
    #19
  20. paperkut

    paperkut Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    56
    Messages:
    175
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Ok, I think I understand now. So basically the more complex the render, the longer it'll take (relatively speaking) due to a lack of these special features. I'm a first year grad student so I'm not exactly sure how "complex" my renderings will be.

    I still haven't decided whether I should abandon this deal, the laptop is performance powerhouse! It blows everything else out of the water for the price.

    afhstingray: Where did you find this precision coupon? I haven't been able to find any for their precision line. I'm also kind of wary of Dell notebooks, my current xps needs heavy repairs and my brother's m1530 is also falling apart (poor construction).

    Thanks for your replies so far guys!
     
    paperkut, Dec 31, 2008
    #20
  21. afhstingray

    afhstingray Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    351
    Messages:
    4,662
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    105
    they have 30% off coupons for precision once in a while, but i dint use a coupon, i just called up my sales rep and spoke to him.

    the new latitudes and precisions are a world apart frm the xps'es and studios etc.

    they've reached parity with the thinkpads. the problems are mainly to do with bios and system software still being a bit buggy. but these issues should be ironed out as updates get released (although it is a bit annoying)
     
    afhstingray, Dec 31, 2008
    #21
  22. afhstingray

    afhstingray Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    351
    Messages:
    4,662
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    105
    afhstingray, Dec 31, 2008
    #22
  23. kidicarus

    kidicarus Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    4
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    So from what you have said it is not possible at the moment to soft mod an fx770 Laptop GPU into its GeForce equivilant?

    Trying to get HL2 to run on an hp 8530w but it crashes after game starts.
     
    kidicarus, Mar 3, 2009
    #23
  24. NJoy

    NJoy Няшka

    Reputations:
    379
    Messages:
    857
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    31
    i have tried that, no luck.. no luck in both XP and Vista. Tried different drivers from stock 175.xx to 185.xx with different versions of RivaTuner to no avail.. I'm working in Alias StudioTools and had to roll back to 176.31, with the newer drivers StudioTools dont work at all in Vista. Still, even with those it's quite unstable, the program crashes quite often for no obvious reasons. Probably it's down to Vista drivers since it's working fine in XP. The funny thing is that it works better in XP than on a Mac Pro with Quadro FX4600 in Vista.
     
    NJoy, Mar 4, 2009
    #24