"Future-Proof" Laptop

Hey guys! I didn't know where to put this question; but anyways:
How long do you guys think my notebook will "survive" before being "obselete"
Specs in Sig

Thanks,
-At3

 

Depending on the settings. If you are looking at Low as a future-output, like 4-5 years. To stay on High, you are looking at 2 years tops. Medium 3-4 years. The 540M isn't a very powerful card to begin with but considering from the GPU's we are getting from the years past, it is not really shabby either if you understand its limits. There are better "future-proof" options for the money you spent on the m11x-R3 though...

 

Thanks! I was looking for about 3-4 years tops so this a pretty good outlook.

-At3

 

Make sure you read my edited post. Within limits so don't expect to run it on 1080p and also you might need to take into account overclocking as an asset. Still not a bad GPU, but there are better options in the same category that does the job better like the 6770M for instance.

 

Is overclocking worth it? Because I hear rumors about it being "the death of your computer". Don't get me wrong; I've overclocked my 2005 Dell Inspiron 700m and it works fine. But I don't know if I wanna risk it with a newer machine.

 

It is fine. Most GPU's nowadays has a decent tolerance to OC-ing and it is also safe thanks to fail-safe measures in-case of a bad OC and non-permanent modifications by using small software programs to do it instead times past by tinkering with the actual motherboard.

 

Just an example here:

The 5870M in my G73JH came out in February 2010. I've been able to play most every game on high, save for some recent poorly optimized games (Crysis 2). With BF3 Alpha showing good reason to believe the 5870M will run on high settings, I'm hopeful this card will last me through 2012.

So, from my experiece I am saying 3 years if you go with a high end card.

 

Probably longer if games are keeping itself stagnant due to "Console Syndrome." In all reality the GPU technology advancement has slowed a bit over the last few years.

 

I always thought that being obsolete depends on the activities (in this case, kinds of games you're planning to play). I have an m11xr2, and I expect it to last more than a year from now, playing FPS and RTS.

 

Woah! if his will last that long, how long do you think mine will last?

 

Your best bet would be to get a laptop with a upgradable GPU and CPU, like the Sager laptops with a nvidia 460m or better. That way you can always upgrade down the line to extend the lifetime of the laptop.

 

Lets put it this way, look at my sig, my GPU was never designed for gaming, yet as of 2010, I'm finally finding games I cannot run optimal frames per second even on lowest settings and resolution, but not many. The laptop is from 2008. The lower end Nvidia cards (the 500 series) according to Notebookcheck's benchmarks may not run that great on high/medium for some games, but even on low, they run really really well.

 

A bit longer than me!

In all serious it is how much expectation you want your computer to run things in the future. the higher the expectation, the lower the personal lifespan of it. However in my own deduction, as long as the next-gen consoles aren't ready, we are all ensured another 2-4 years on our current hardware to run all the upcoming games in decent resolution and graphical quality.

For me I got MXM 3.0b and proof of support that I can upgrade to a 6990M or even a 580M if I need to in a near future to keep the system running without doing a complete replacement to it. Those paths of upgrades really helps to keep your current system afloat longer. My ultimate goal though is to go desktops, where their lifespans are even more longer and more cost-efficient.

 

exactly!

my gaming desktop change graphics card roughly every 1.5-2 years so that I can play almost all available games in highest settings. on the other hand my downloading laptop is a close to 4 year dell vostro 1500 and I believe it'll serve me good for that purpose for another 1-2 years.

 

For gaming at medium-high resolutions of the latest titles I'd say it's already obsolete (weak GPU and meh CPU). For multimedia I'd say 2-3 years? For daily tasks like Web browsing, HD YouTube, etc., probably until a component dies.

 

Your GT 555M isn't that much better you know... (Just saying).

 

Hey Fred! Glad to see you rocking an Alienware now. Did the SXPS 16 die? or just get replaced?

 

With a 540?

I'd say 2 years (3 years tops).

By then, I'm guessing that you'll only be able to handle new games on the lowest settings and would have to "pass" on certain titles by the third year.

 

In a realistic sense, 2 years if you plan on gaming. 3 if you accept not being able to even run some of the more demanding games (e.g. my 3 year old 8600m fails to run Dirt 3).

 

Without even looking I can safely say 6 months to 1 year. If you're lucky, 1.5 years.

Will it still run fast? Sure. Will it still play games? Yup. Will it be even close to the new hardware out? Doubt it.

 

I think his 540M can last to four years before seeing problems. The technology boost from the 8600M era to now has been getting more staginant when in relations to the software. Remember that the 8600M came out when the X360 just started but right now the developers are still heavily focused on console hardware that the hardsware sector starts making diminishing improvements. I really think we are plateauing and extending in lifespan until the next-gen consoles are out.

Hardware might get old but he can still game decently. That is what it all matters and that is considered "future-proofing."

 

4-5 years? Are you nuts? More like two years. Mid-grade laptops of three years ago are barely able to play most of the newer games out there even at low detail and resolution. The M11x-R3 is a low end mid-grade laptop.

I had a Vostro 1500 laptop with T7500 2.2GHz Core 2 Duo and 8600m GT bought in September 2007. Netbooks have more power than that machine now. I sold it to a friend of mine two years ago and he can't play anything but older games on it. Starcraft 2 can't even play on it. Most games released in the last year can barely play on it.

 

Since I have only bought mid range things, including my last notebook, my experience was this, on low resolutions:

1- mix of high and medium
2- mix of high and medium
3- mix of medium and low settings
4- mix of medium and low settings

as everybody said, when new consoles came out, we are seeing a lesser life span

 

540m cant even play new games on high without lag.

 

Netbooks have more power than that? You got to be kidding me. Netbooks are so pathetic that even some old P4's and smartphones are better capable.

Either way, I have played quite a few games still on my old HP with a T7200 and a 8400MGS and it still works like a charm. Sure the quality isn't stellar but it still works. In the end it is still dependent on people's standards and mine sure ain't extravagant as your's when defining on "future-proofing." in my opinion on the 540M still stands and this comes from a person whp gamwd on a 8400MGS probably longer than anyone else here.

Good conclusion. The 540M is not terribly bad but not worth the money the OP paid though...

 

if you are an gaming enthusiast no laptop today is future proof, but if you just like to play the occasional game on low/medium settings 540m should last you 2 years +

my 4 year old 8800gtx is faster than the 540m by quite a bit....

 

Well the GTX 260M is equivalent to a desktop 8800 GT. However the 540M is equivalent to a desktop GT 430...

 

Just to let you know gtx 260m is still stronger against 540m by quite a bit.

 

"Future-proof" is an oxymoron. I believe the proper term (and proper title for this thread) would be "future-resistant".

 

Not sure what games you're playing? The point is they won't play AT ALL. 8600m GT just can't play most of the newer games except for slide show even at 800x600 if it's even supported, not to mention requiring newer DirectX specs.

Try playing Starcraft 2 with more than 1v1 and see how well it fares, it won't. Try Bad Company 2, Crysis 2, Dragon Age 2, Witcher 2, FEAR 3, any number of recently released games (wow, mostly sequels), they won't play or well at all.

 

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Dragon Age 2 works on 1024x768 on all low on DX9. haven't tried the others on it. Mass Effect 2 worked like a charm on 1024x768 on Medium Settings.

Then again my eyes can tolerate 20 FPS so YMMV, but if the OP are in my standards, it is not bad. Not everyone here is all money and extravagant to get the latest and greatest every year really.

 

lol on my d820 i played bfbc2 with the 7400go, i got 12 fps on low 1024x768, but it still ran and i could still play it sort of.

 

I Like Turtles :3

 

I like Turtlesoup. :3

 

I liked stewed Rabbit :3

 

Single player games maybe at a stretch with 15-20 fps, low resolution, lowest detail. But the 8400/8600m is only about four years old and can barely manage games released in the last year very well.

For multiplayer games, I'd say forget it.

My point is I think it's misleading to suggest that a laptop can game reasonably for 4-5 year. With a low mid-range laptop, two years is reasonable, three years tops.

I don't expect everyone to get the latest and greatest every year either. But if you want to play the latest games, getting an M11x and expecting it to last more than a couple years is not a wise choice, IMHO. There are much better options for the cost of the M11x at similar prices that will give you more longevity than the GT 540m and a ULV CPU.

 

I also like horse meat :3

 

I like Smalahove. :3

Ontopic:
m11x R3: Superior portable gaming

That is all.

 

I will agree with you that the OP's decision on a m11x for the money is not a good one but I still think it is up to a person's subjection on what standards of graphics they like and depending on the standards the 540M deserves than what you say. Your opinion is valid if the OP is on the standards you perceive, but if he is with mine, I say my own position. That is all.

 

Mmm yes, sheep head :3
I also like Pizza

 

12 fps? By the time you are able to aim at them you're already dead!

 

Hmm i could use some Gorbys *looking at DEagle* :3

 

You will be surprised that with skill I can still do decently at 12 FPS!

*Glares at my Battlefield 2 days gaming on a X600 Pro Radeon*

 

lol dont ask me how but i managed to take down a few tanks in the helo. i guess im just that pro. also i had to use a modded inf when i did the driver so it would work, because graphics card was actually an nvs 120m, which is the same as the 7400 go, but it has higher clocks and more RAM. plus i overclocked it a bit to get 15fp

i had a shuttle mini desktop that had integrated graphics, not nvidia or ati, but it was just enough to run the screen at 1024x768, and i used to play bf 1942 on it.

 

Have anyone else tried eating real grilled rabbit :3 That is some good stuff!

 

I guess that rabbit was not future-proof, it got eaten.

Trust me I'd love to not have to buy a new laptop and/or update my computer every 18-24 months to satisfy my gaming needs, but it's the nature of the business. I played lots of games on my Vostro 1500, Crysis and Bioshock included. I am fine with somewhat slow framerates, as long as the framerates are consistent and not bouncing around all over the place. But it gets to the point where it's not gaming, it's tolerating. In that case I'd revert back to an older game because just not worth it.

 

Ohh trust me, it wasent future proof fore delish
Anyone else want some delish Spaghetti Carbonara? D:

 

When did this become TRT?

 

Nono dont get me wrong, the carbonara described the future proofness of the Nvidia card, like the flavors are symbolizing what Nvidia stands for. While as the other foods symbolized the over dog that AMD is right now, im sorry if i wasnet that clear, it will not happen again...

 

I really don't know but I guess it is due to people's opinions on GPU standards on "Future-Proofing" that got them irked.