Better CS:S performance on lesser video card

This may be entirely due to the processor and memory, but I'm getting what I consider substantially better performance in counterstrike:source out of my dv8280us than I did out of my old v4000t. New machine has a GeForce Go 7400 (see sig) while my v4000t had a ATI x700... both have 128mb dedicated ram.

My v4000t had a Pentium M 740 and my new machine has a t2400 core duo. New machine also has about 700mb more ram...but I can run CS:S at a higher resolution at higher settings and get 10-12 more fps than I could on my Compaq...not to mention my new machine runs drastically cooler. Is it all due to the processor or does the Go 7400 handle some games better than the x700?

 

The X700 is faster than the Go7400 easily at CS:S, but the fact that your processor is faster would account for the difference most likely. You're also probably using newer drivers on the dv8000t than you were on the V4000T.

If you had 1GB of RAM already in your V4000T, and now 2GB in the new one, that won't make a big difference.

 

Thanks Chaz. Kinda figured that might be it. I have been surprised at how well the go 7400 has performed so far...better than I expected. Scored a 2000 in 3dmark05 and that was fresh out of the box with all the bloatware and default HP-loaded video driver. I installed coolbits and let the auto-overclocker recommend optimal frequencies. It suggested a 51mhz bump on the core and 107mhz bump on memory (551 core/807 memory) which bumped my score into the 2180's. Cool & stable since.

 

l know what you mean about the heat in the V4000T; l returned mine 3 days after l recieved it because it was nearly burning hot to the touch on the bottom of it.

Next laptop: E1405/Macbook 13.3"/XPS M1210 (Can't make up my mind).

 

wintertymix - did you ever play any of the HDR-enabled CS:S maps on your X700 when you had it? I'd be interested to know how the Go7400 handles that in comparsion.

de_dust and cs_militia have HDR rendering - be sure to set it to full in the video options. You can always turn it down to increase performance.

Chaz

 

I'm sure I did Chaz. I'll have to pop into a server and play dust and see what kind of difference it makes. I'll make sure HDR is fully enabled.

 

Bleh, HDR makes quite the difference. At 1280x800 (high settings) I got mid 20's - low 30's fps which is playable, but not how I like CS to feel. On the non-HDR maps I get 40-60fps at the same settings. To be honest, there are a lot of places where I think HDR makes the scene look washed out...almost too bright. Other places it's brilliant..but I can live without it

 

Yeah, it definitely makes a big impact on the frames. Still, the scores for your card aren't bad. Newer cards are better at HDR than the previous-generation ones by a good amount (in the same class, naturally).

Running OC'ed, I run at 1280x1024 and get about 27-42 FPS in cs_militia. Still looks great, but I like CS:S at 45-60 FPS. Most maps I get 65 or higher with 8X AF and 1280x1024.

Chaz