Difference between Inspiron 1520 and XPS M1530 Graphics Cards

Hi, I've been looking at the Dell inspiron 1520, and Dell XPS M1530...

And configuring both machines to the exact same specs, the XPS comes out £230 more expensive. (better design etc ^_^)

Question 1:

I chose an 8600M GT 256mb graphics card in both systems, and I was told that the 8600M GT in the inspiron has ddr2 memory, whereas the 8600M GT in the XPS has GDDR3 memory... Is this true?

Does anyone know for sure?
Are there any inspiron 1520 or XPS M1530 owners here that could post the type of memory they have in the their graphics cards, please!

Question 2:

Does the 8600M GT support some form of turbocaching/hypermemory.. If so, what is it's limit?

Thanks in advance guys

 

What you have been told is correct.
The Inspiron uses the DDR2 version, while the XPS uses the GDDR3 version. That is definite, and absolute.

 

The Dell website (uk) doesn't say anything about the memory types in each Gcard.. even the cost of both the Gcards is the same (+£40)

Thanks for the info

But I dont think Ill be paying the extra money just for the better Gcard and better design

(I just hope Inspiron doesnt have any heating issues )

 

really depends on what you want to use your GPU for... if you plan to play few games might as well spend few extra bucks for XPS... GDDR3 has better clock speed etc, and may handle some game in better.

turbocashe works the same way for both laptops regardless of the VRAM type... and depends on how much may RAM you have.

end of the day all depends on your requirement... GDDR3 is more future proof that GDDR2

 

Also another factor to think about is support.

XPS line support is far superior to their Inspiron line tech suppot.

But yea, the XPS does have gddr3 compared to dd2 with the Inspiron.

Both support hypermemory, and both amounts of hypermemory depend completely on total system ram.

 

I'll put things in perspective - if the 8600M-GT DDR2 can't run a game, then the 8600M-GT GDDR3 won't be able to either. The GDDR3 version does give a healthy performance boost but it's not worth 230 pounds . . . as noted though, with the XPS you get better support, a nicer design, and a thinner/slimmer chassis. So, it's up to you. From a performance standpoint, it is not worth it in the slightest.

 

Exactly how much of a boost is there between DDR2 and GDDR3, and why?

 

The performance difference is about 30%, because the gddr3 version has almost double of bandwidth(12.8GB/s in ddr2 and 22.4 in the gddr3). It is almost like the ddr2 version was 64bit gddr3, from performance perspective.

 

Not that I doubt what you are saying but where did you get those memory bandwidth numbers from?

GDDR3 is more efficient (less power consumption/less heat) than DDR2 at the same speed because it is made on a smaller process. For the same reason it is also able to be clocked higher. At the same frequency, DDR2 will have the same performance as GDDR3.

 

nVidia 8600M GT

Core: 475mhz
Memory:
DDR2:400mhz / 800mhz effective
GDDR3:700mhz / 1400mhz effective

Reference memory bandwidth for GDDR3 is 22.4GB/s.
Reference memory bandwidth for DDR2 is 12.8GB/s

Why does this make sense?
(22.4GB/s)/(1400mhz) = (12.8GB/s)/(800mhz)

The relationship between memory bandwidth and memory speed is constant.
Every 1 mhz increase in effective memory speed (for either DDR2 or GDDR3) will result in an increase of 0.016GB/s in memory bandwidth.

The only reason why GDDR3 is used for this card (and other cards) is because DDR2 simply cannot provide 700mhz of speed (for cheap anyways). GDDR3 is basically DDR2 with minor power and performance improvents.

 

nVIDIA link for 8600M GT numbers - it uses the GDDR3 of course to make it look better. The 475/400 was the default settings on my DDR2 Inspiron.

I haven't had any heating issues in my Inspiron 1520, nor have I heard of any design flaws in the cooling. Even overclocked to 550/450 (GPU) I'm not having heating issues, and some people have overclocked close to 600/500 (core/memory clocks).

The XPS 1530 does have higher production costs, being made in Texas rather than Malaysia. Not that place of manufacture has anything to do with quality, Dell just makes their more expensive line where they started out.

I wouldn't pay $230 for the difference, all other things being equal, let alone £230. It's an improvement, but not nearly enough to warrant half that price difference.

 

except that i dont think theres any game out right now (maybe crysis) that the 8600 GT will really just perform terribly in...

 

Two points:
I am able to get 5310 3dmark06 (1280x800) with my 1530 OC'd to 600/750. could get ~4100 on my 1520 OC'd to 565/440.
The 1530's box says "Computer made in Malaysia" so, they're not made in Texas (unfortunately).

N

 

Heh seriously guys, Thanks for all your replies and information

The inspiron 1520 is cheaper, but I think I'll go with the M1530 because I want the laptop to be light, strong and to last a long time (Im student who travels 10 miles to uni everyday), and I dont mind paying £230 extra just for that

BTW, I researched both laptops heavily and both have different chipsets: the bus speed for the inspiron is 800mhz and for the xps is 1000 mhz.

 

Good idea I guess, but the 230 is equivalent to nearly 400 dollars is it not? Consider that the 8800 is coming out with penryn processors so maybe the 1520 would be good for the next year when you can do a FULL upgrade, rather then buy your xps now and have to revamp again next year or a little bit after. Just some food for thought.

 

Do you know the Uk release date of the penryn and 8800M ?
I have to get a laptop by september 2008... so if its later than that.....

and also, someone before mentioned that the 8600GT does support turbocache/hypermemory and so should I get more than 2gb ram?

thanks everyone (I've run out of rep, so I'll rep everyone else later XD)

 

Hey Apollo,

I have a Inspiron 1520 but I can't find drivers newer than 156.83, and I saw you have 162.09. Where can I find those, please?

Thanks

CADJunkie.

 

hey CAD go here:
http://support.euro.dell.com/support/index.aspx?c=uk&cs=ukdhs1&l=en&s=dhs

and select your laptop (I think)