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    Best video card in laptop of 13" or less?

    Discussion in 'Gaming (Software and Graphics Cards)' started by Petrov, Feb 12, 2008.

  1. Petrov

    Petrov Notebook Deity

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    I understand there are a number of 14" laptops with 8600GT cards in them (Asus F8, Zept, etc). What is the most powerful video card in notebooks of 13" or less?

    I know the Dell XPS 1330 has an 8400GS, but was wondering if there is anything either currently available, or "around the corner" (ie within a couple of months), which packs more gaming punch than the 8400GS in a 13" laptop or less?

    Many thanks,

    Petrov.
     
  2. MYK

    MYK Newbie NBR Reviewer

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    Haven't heard of any, I'm actually in the same boat. Hunting for a 13.3" gaming machine. I'm torn between the XPS1330 and the Vaio SZ. XPS for the keyboard and Vaio for the dual graphics (I hate its keyboard).
     
  3. Petrov

    Petrov Notebook Deity

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    Yeah, the XPS1330 has 128Mb VRAM, whereas the Vaio SZ has only 64Mb I think. Neither have HDMI-out, which would be handy for me (EDIT: apparently the 1330 does - my mistake, thanks rachuk).

    Are there any 12" laptops (or less) then, that also have an 8400GS?

    Petrov.
     
  4. The_Punisher

    The_Punisher Notebook Evangelist

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    Most small laptops use a IGP because they're expected to be used on the go and not for gaming. Hence small laptops with GPU's are rare. I'd say the XPS M1330 is your best bet.

    The next best thing is always around the corner. There's no sense in waiting if you need a laptop now. Eventually there will be a 9400 GS and eventually a 10400 GS if you wait long enough.
     
  5. Petrov

    Petrov Notebook Deity

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    Yeah, generally I'd agree with the sentiment, although I was more curious as to whether a specific sub-14" laptop had been actually announced (and specs released) which contained something more powerful than an 8400GS.

    Many thanks,

    Petrov.
     
  6. The_Punisher

    The_Punisher Notebook Evangelist

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    You're welcome.
     
  7. Rachel

    Rachel Busy Bee

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    The Dell XPS M1330 does have an HDMI port.

    You may wish to check out LG 12 inch L200 laptop as well. They don't offer the 8400GS card in this laptop but they do offer ATI 2400 dedicated graphics.
     
  8. moon angel

    moon angel Notebook Virtuoso NBR Reviewer

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    You can get the 12.1" Samsung Q45 with an Nvidia 8400M GS (I think it's a GS, might be a G)
     
  9. adinu

    adinu I pwn teh n00bs.

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    It's already a stretch putting the 8600GT in 14.1" laptops considering this type of gpu is usually found in the 15"+. So as of right now no there isn't anything better than the 8400GS.

    But hopefully with the release of the Nvidia 9xxx series we'll see that change. The 9500 card seems to be around or slightly better than the 8600GT, while being more power efficient so who knows we might see that in <14" laptops.
     
  10. The_Punisher

    The_Punisher Notebook Evangelist

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    Small notebooks are usually designed for travel and business use and not gaming. Hence most end up with IGP's. Another problem with fitting a GPU in a small laptop is heat. GPU's run hot under stress and you can't put a lot of fans and coolingports on a small laptop.
     
  11. havoc531

    havoc531 Notebook Evangelist

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    LG P300 has an 8600gs in a 13" chassis.
     
  12. Petrov

    Petrov Notebook Deity

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    LG P300 looks really sweet. Anyone heard of availability for this little beast?

    Petrov.
     
  13. havoc531

    havoc531 Notebook Evangelist

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    I think a trip to Korea is in order if you want one
     
  14. Rachel

    Rachel Busy Bee

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  15. Petrov

    Petrov Notebook Deity

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    Thanks agani rachuk - I'm in the UK... just noticed its only an external DVD drive, which is a bit povo...

    Petrov.
     
  16. Jayayess1190

    Jayayess1190 Waiting on Intel Cannonlake

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    When will the P300 be upgraded to a 9500GS?
     
  17. havoc531

    havoc531 Notebook Evangelist

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    Jeez man! They just released the laptop only a few months ago.
     
  18. Lite

    Lite Notebook Deity

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    Isnt the 9500 a heavily downclocked version of the 9600?? supposedly the desktop version of the 9600 is around 80% of the 8800gt , that would put it in the range of 8-9k 3dmark 06

    Notebook version prob = more like 6-7k 3dmark
    Downclocked 9500 = 5-6k perhaps??
     
  19. Petrov

    Petrov Notebook Deity

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  20. Jayayess1190

    Jayayess1190 Waiting on Intel Cannonlake

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  21. reedte

    reedte Notebook Enthusiast

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    This thread is kind of old, but does anyone have any updates? I'm looking for a 12", 13" aptop with something better than the NVIDIA 8400. The only thing I can find (smaller than a 15") is the HP dv4t which is a 14" with a NVIDIA 9200.

    Anyone have any other options?
     
  22. dtwn

    dtwn C'thulhu fhtagn

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    LG P300 8600M GS

    BenQ JoyBook X31 8600M GT GDDR3 but with LV processors

    Both of them are unavailable in the United States. The LG is available in Canada.
     
  23. link1313

    link1313 Notebook Virtuoso

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    LG P300 is nice but reviews say it gets quite warm (go figure :p)
    But the Lid Design is very nice on it as well. Also I like that it comes with a good quality external dvd-drive (Take note macbook air?). When does one ever use their dvd-drive on the go?
     
  24. mkarwin

    mkarwin Notebook Evangelist

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    i happened to use mine about 10 times since i bought the compal in april... :p all at work/university.
     
  25. cathy

    cathy Notebook Evangelist

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    There's a 8600M GT in the BenQ X31. It's a 13.3" notebook. It uses a low voltage processor though so it may throttle the GPU.
     
  26. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Actually, the 9200 is a low end card...probably the same or worse as the 8400.
     
  27. xyz001

    xyz001 Notebook Guru

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    the new Sony vaio SR 13" has a ATI 3470. 128 MB

    I think its more powerfull than nvidia 9300M
     
  28. Amranu

    Amranu Notebook Consultant

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    Lg P300, 13.3" 8600gs