Cards:Go 7400 vs. 8400M GS vs. 8600M GS

I'm about to purchase a new laptop, and I want to be able to play newer games and maybe some of the newest games, but I also don't need insane framerates and perfect performance at the highest settings. Which of these 3 Nvidia GeForce cards would be best for functionality and price? From lowest price to highest price :256MB Go 7400, 383MB 8400M GS, or 511MB 8600M GS? Does anyone have a chart on performance comparisons of these cards? I saw an old chart, but not a newer one. Thanks.

 

each is a pretty significant step up.

 

7400: not DX10 capable and only has 64MB of actual vram

8400: DX10 capable, still similar in terms of performance to the 7400.

8600: DX10 capable and similar to the ATI X1600Pro. It's a big step up from the other two

 

Obviously each is better in the order you've posted, but in terms of playing the latest games the Go7400 and the 8400GS are both automatically ruled out; the Go7400 cannot even play Vegas, GRAW 2 or DIRT at lowest settings without some hiccups, the 8400Gs is an improvement but not much.

However newer games, such as Half Life 2, Company of Heroes, BF2142, that sort of thing, will run decently on even Go7400, so it really boils down to what it is you specifically want to play. But for someone specifically looking for something to run the latest games, even at lower settings, the 8600GS is a minimum, and I'd recommend at least the 8600GT, which is dirt cheap in the Dell Vostros right now.

 

If you could, get the 8600M GT and not the GS, as the GT has twice the stream processors. This makes the GT a lot more powerful of a card than the GS.

Also, what's DIRT?

 

I want a 8600m GT but other than dell, all other laptops with it cost like 1700+.

 

Compal IFL90 at your service. $1400 or less could get you a GT.

 

So...why not just get a Dell? It makes sense....