Geforce GT120M

There was no thread about this card, so I created one.
I am about to buy a laptop with this GPU.

Notebookcheck states that it has either GDDR2 or GDDR3 memory, while the store where I'm buying says it has DDR2 memory (no GDDR). Is it the store that have mixed up DDR2 and GDDR2, or are notebookcheck wrong?

 

notebookcheck is wrong, gddr2 is based on the old ddr standard and is completely phased out. ddr2 is better than gddr2.

 

Really?

http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=4992 - here notebookreview states that the GT120M they review has GDDR2?

 

Might be a typo, I'm pretty sure they only use DDR2 and GDDR3 nowadays.

Take for example the 9600M GT which I'm pretty sure comes in DDR2 and GDDR3 variants.

 

Thanks.
I checked the NVIDIA website, but they don't list the GT120M there, by some reason. But the faster-clocked GT130M has either GDDR3 or DDR2.

The question is now, whether notebookreview wanted to write "GDDR3" or "DDR2". It might have been a number typo, or a letter typo.
I've checked different sites about the computer notebookreview wrote about, but can't find any conclusive evidence that it indeed has DDR2 and not GDDR3.

 

So basically, I can either buy the DDR2 laptop I'm looking at, and hope that notebookreview didn't mean GDDR3 in the review of that other well-performing laptop, or I can ask someone here how the DDR2 version is.

Does anyone have the DDR2 version of this card, and can comment on the performance?

 

it's a very common misconception. gddr2 simply doesn't exist in modern cards anymore.

 

Thanks for explaining.

Can anyone with experience of a Geforce GT120M with DDR2 tell me how it is performance-wise?

 

It's equivalent to the 9600M GT DDR2 version. Depends what games you're gonna play, but it's not the greatest card for gaming in general.

 

Is that desktop or mobile?

Anyway. I'm aiming for Oblivion and Half-Life 2 on high settings, and Street Fighter 4 and Call of Duty 4 on medium settings. Realistic?

 

The M in 9600 M GT means Mobile. What resolution? I don't play those games, so I couldn't tell you for sure. I believe you should be fine if you're playing in WXGA (1280x800).

 

WXGA is what I'm aiming for, yes.

 

What notebook are you looking at?

 

Hello.
It's the ASUS X70IO 17.3" WXGA HD+ LED (does that mean the screen is LED and not LCD?)

Pentium T4200
GeForce GT120
3GB ram
320GB HDD
DVD RW

 

the GT120M is not equal to 9600M GT. The GT130M is equal to 9600M GT. Don't insult 9600M users. Although notebookcheck says the 120M is near to a 9600M they're in 2 different leagues. 9600M can do physX work along with graphics work whereas u need 2 120M's to do physX and graphics work.

Remember 9600M>>>> 120M

 

it means the screen uses led BACKLIGHT as apposed to traditional ccfl backlight. the panel it self is still lcd. led back light is better than ccfl.

 

So, what can I expect from the GT120M then?
All I know is what was written in the review, which consisted of two games played at high settings. Not entirely conclusive.

Cool. Then the screen should last longer I guess, and not get as hot.

 

9600gt : 500/1250/800
gt 130 : 600/1500/800.
and the gt120m http://img.intozgc.com/d/2/028/in9y03ZEMPZmY.jpg sorry it's in chinese but it shows my point.

 

Does the GT 120M have 32 shaders? Also, does intozgc.com have any 3DMark06 benches for the 120M?

 

How much is it? That's a really crappy CPU, and there may be better deals out there.

 

I think the CPU is enough for my needs.

 

There isn't much else to say.

- If you're playing old games, the 120M should be fine.

- In modern games at high settings, expect mid to low 20s

- The T4200 will hold it back even more.

- DDR2 sucks.

- Overall it's mediocre by current standards

- The notebook sucks

- That is all. Have a nice day sir.

 

I can buy a HP Pavilion that has HD 4350 (DDR2).

Would that card be worse or better than the GT120M? I get the impression that GT120M is better than other DDR2 cards, and that HD 4350 would perform worse.

 

Ya the 4350 is barely half of the 120M's performance.

 

Thanks. I was almost about to buy the 4350 one.

 

There's one other option in my price range.
The ATI HD4530 (DDR2).

Better (how much) or worse?
This is my last question.

 

A lot worse.

 

Basically all ur choices are not good. You need a laptop with a minimum of T6500/P7350 processor and a NVDIA GT130M or above or ATI 4570 GDDR3 or above to have a good GPU.

 

The HD 4570 is far from good. It still is a 64-bit card. If you game the minimum you should consider from ATI is a 4 6xx level card.

 

Thanks guys. Now you've saved me twice.

 

Dude, how about Posting in the What Notebook should I buy, so we can help you out there better, what is your budget and things like that found on the FAQ. Thanks!

And give us a link to the thread so we can help. I piece of advice, dont buy without asking, you can almost all the time find a better deal...lol

 

Well, I'm not asking for a specific laptop. Just for details on a specific GPU (and which GPU's would be better or worse). Besides, there is such a big difference between the markets, that international laptop advice can be hard. I've tried that forum before. Thanks though.

 

Hmmm ok ok just a suggestion...lol
But why are you asking about a DDR2 GPU? Some mid range GPU with GDDR3 will eat that for breakfast...even more if it is GDDR5 (lol if only).
But seriously, something along the lines of the Force 3551 with 4650HD is quite capable of gaming on a budget...

 

I appreciate your will to help!

OT: It's a long story.
The problem is that the stores can't say whether or not the VRAM is DDR2 or GDDR3 in the ATI GPU's, and when I contact pre-sales technical support, they can't answer that either. I've asked in a separate thread here, but no one knew (probably because they are made for a regional market).

It seems according to the review that the GT120M DDR2 actually is okay for being DDR2. That way, I would know what I'm getting, instead of getting an ATI card that turns out to be DDR2 and worse than GT120M.

This is in the 900$ price range btw.

 

Well xoticpc.com which sells the Force 3551 is very respectable around here. You can even contact Justin (a xoticpc sales rep) in here or via their website.

They are very reliable and my guess is that if they say that the laptop comes with ATI 4650HD with 1GB GDDR3 then it does. The Force KHLB2 and the Sager NP2098 all come with this good GPU with GDDR3.

This page has a full review on the 4650HD http://www.atibloggo.com/2009/06/08/review-ati-radeon-hd-4650-a-brief-testing-part-1/ divided in 5 parts for the full performance. Supposedly the 4650HD is (behind the 4670HD) the most powerful in its enthusiast segment.

Hope this helps!

 

Problem is that they're a US store, and I live in Europe.
I'll see if they have models corresponding to the european ones though, just to see if they have better detailed specs.
Thx.

 

look on amazon for MSI GT725 GT729 etc. these are gaming laptops which are a bargain for the price..

 

I will check into that too, thanks. Maybe I'll order from xoticpc as an option, since they're about 200-300$ cheaper for the same stuff. That should make the shipping cost negligible. I'll just hope they don't send dead-pixel returns thinking that I wouldn't want to go through the ordeal of shipping back to the US.


Just one question regarding the topic (or close to): Would any GDDR3 card be better than GT120M? I've found a Sony Vaio that has a HD 3430 w. 256 mb GDDR3.

 

much weaker. i feel for u, stuff in europe are over priced.

 

I would not say that the 3430HD is "better" but "better suited". DDR2 is the past and it shows.
But in Europe, from AVA Direct or Rock (IIRC) offer high-end models with good prices...

Other option is xoticpc.com or amazon UK.

I know what you mean. Things in Europe are extremely pricey.