Duo Core or better graphics?

Hi!

I am going to buy a laptop and I have got two options:

AMD Turion ML30 (1.6GHz, 1MB cache) RAM 512Mb DDR333
+
ATI Mobility Radeon X700 128MB dedicated

or

Intel Centrino Duo T2300 1.66 GHz (2 MB cache) RAM 2GB DDR2 533MHz
+
ATI Mobility Radeon X1400 128MB dedicated

I would go right now for the latter option but I am scared of that x1400 thing.
I know that x700 would be enough for gaming for me and x1400 is
like half of the power or maybe even less. But there is still duo core.

Will the duo core make up for less powerful graphic card?

 

definitely definitely definitely definitely definitely definitely definitely........ not. No amout of cpu power would make up 4 the GPU power loss. Sorry. If u want 2 game, get the 1 wit the X700 Gpu.

Good luck!!

 

Without a doubt, the x700 over the x1400. Both machines handle basic applications (word processing, net browsing etc) fine but if you're into gaming, then I'd jump for the x700.

 

I am doing that too! exactly the same. What are your two laptops? mine are in my post, here

 

it depends on what the laptop is for, if its for heavy gaming, I would go for at least a geforce 7800, you can sometimes find a dell e1705 with the 7900 gs and a core duo processer at dell outlet for under $1200, if its not going to get much gaming use, the 1400 will give you much better battery life and output less heat, I kind of regret getting an x1300 in my laptop, I wish I had just gotten the intergrated intel gma950 for the longer battery life, as I wont be doing hardly any gaming on it, I use my desktop for that,

 

erm if you have a look the x700 and x1400 score quite similarly in benchmarks the x1400 outperforming in some areas.

 

The computers are (UK based):

1st:
Acer Ferrari 4002WLMi
# AMD Turion ML30 (1.6GHz, 1MB cache) Processor
# 512MB DDR SDRAM
# ATI Mobility™ Radeon® X700 128MB Graphics

2nd:
Acer Aspire 5672WLMi
# IntelŽ CentrinoŽ Duo Mobile Technology
# Intel® Core™ Duo Processor T2300E (1.66GHz)
# Intel® 945PM Express chipset
# 2048MB DDR II RAM

But here it is a very common thing ~x1400 video card mixed with
duo core processor and ~x700 mixed with oridinary one. That is why
I am asking.

I do not care about battery life and I like gaming from time to time
with newer games too.

=====================================================

Using a test in this thread
I compared two computers in 3DMark2005:

Acer 5672WLMi -- 1.66 GHz Core Duo, ATI X1400 128MB, 1GB
Score: 1655

with tested myself:

Acer 5022WLMi -- AMD Turion ML-30 1.6 GHz, ATI X700 128MB, 1GB
Score: 1779


So the difference is not big. When u look at a chart only with graphic
cards the difference is great. But when you test the whole system
it becomes vague. Maybe better to go for DuoCore then. Games
wont suffer much and you will get more power for different tasks.

 

build-wise... go for the ferrari (i think hehe)

 

Seems like an awfully low score for the 128MB X700, it should be betting around 2400-2500.
The X700 is a better card for gaming, but the Ferrari only has 512MB of RAM; there's no way you're going to be able to play the latest games on that.

 

Chaz is, as usual, quite right. I've even seen instances of the Acer reaching 3200 in 3DMark05 when overclocked. And 512MB RAM isnt enough, push it up to a gig! (or more )

Benchmarks dont mean anything. Real world performance is determined by clocks and the number of pipelines and shaders. The x700 has more pipes and shaders than the x1400.

Edit: Who made that chart you uploaded, Godzilla?

 

X1400 runs on DirectX9c, Shader 3.0 while X700 runs on 9b and shader2.0 (support wise)
Which do u think will run better in the future? For me is the x1400 although the pipeline is lower than the x700.

 

Acer 5022 with x700 in full test received 1779. In standard game and
cpu test it received 1900. Slightly better but still far below that 2500.

I havent got catalyst drivers yet because they cannot be installed on
that 5022 bt I am working on it right now. Maybe that will change the
score. And if it does that will maybe change the point of view which
system to choice.

And the chart has been found somwhere here. I have posted a piece of
it. Here comes the full one with the signature.


Ok. Here comes updated score with catalyst drivers installed
on 5022 machine.

DuoCore + x1400 vs Turion + x700

Acer 5672WLMi -- 1.66 GHz Core Duo, ATI X1400 128MB, 1GB
Score: 1655


Acer 5022WLMi -- AMD Turion ML-30 1.6 GHz, ATI X700 128MB, 1GB
Score: 2079 (game and cpu test)


Turion with x700 is 414 points or 20% better than DuoCore with
x1400 for gaming then. At least in accordance with 3DMark2005.
But you seem to prefer DuoCore more so far. Hmm... That will not be
an easy choice...
.

 

I have noticed that there appear to be different memory clocks in
different x700 cards which is kinda surprise for me as they are all
called x700 (although I ve seen a name x700pro somewhere).

In my card memory clock is 300MHz whereas in TwilightVampire's card
it was 660MHz before overclocking.

I have got 128MB dedicated RAM, TwilightVampire has got 256MB.
Does 256MB x700 have faster memory then? Or are there different models
of x700 I am not aware of?

 

Your memory speed is 600 in DDR.

Different companies have the liberty to clock their cards differently. My cards memory is clocked 30mhz (or 60mhz in DDR) higher than the normal clock for x700's when at default.

 

Where do you think a Pentium-M 1.73Ghz with a X700 would sit against those other two? (for gaming)

 

Those scores are too low, update the drivers. My stock x600 scores 1700 in 3dmark 05!

 

Depends on what the x700 is like.