HP dv6561ee w/ 8400M

I am just about to buy a HP dv6561ee http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01131120&lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&product=3545709&lang=en# and have a few questions about its graphics card.

1. The specs pages states the notebook has 64MB of dedicated video memory with up to 319MB with TurboCache. However, the page also states that the notebook comes with 1GB of RAM. If I were to upgrade it to 2GB of RAM, will the maximum amount of video memory WITH TurboCache increase from 319MB?

2. I don't plan on gaming extensively on the notebook but do plan to play present and upcoming games at playable quality settings (i.e. not maximum or even very high settings, medium settings and lower resolutions are entirely acceptable). Is the notebook suited for this requirement?

3. I will probably use the notebook for either graphic design and/or interior design, which require image creating and editing, 3d drawing and rendering, etc. I don't believe these tasks require as much graphical power as playing a game does but rather more processing power (the notebook has a 2Ghz Core 2 Duo processor and will have 2GB of RAM), and so I believe the graphics card and the notebook overall will prove capable and satisfying in this regard. (This point is of primary importance to me and takes precedence over the notebook's capability for playing games.)

I only hesitate in my purcahse because of the slight uncertainty and minor doubt caused by notebooks 64MB of dedicated video memory -- granted it's with TurboCache (I have had no experience with TurboCache).

However, my research indicates that the 64MB of video memory with TurboCache in addition to the notebook's abovementioned system specs will prove satisfactroy for my needs and enjoyable.

Thank you in advance.

 

i don't think that the 319mb will be able to go up no matter how much ram you have.

 

1. I think the amount of shared video memory will stay the same too, although I cannot confirm. I can tell you that it would not matter if the amount increased because the 8400M-GS is not powerful enough to use all that memory anyway.

2. The 8400M-GS is a good card and has enough power to play the latest games at decent settings. Expect to play them at medium settings or so. You will probably be able to max out older games (>2005) although I cannot confirm this yet.

3. If you are doing 3D rendering such as CAD then an Nvidia Quadro card would be more suitable. I would suggest looking at a Dell Latitude D830 instead. You should complete our FAQ in the What Should I Buy forum for recommendations.

 

Thank you for your input.

I wasn't too worried about playing games on the 8400M; I knew and you all just affirmed that it will generally handle playing games at medium settings.

As for graphic design, I also wasn't worried, because I don't subscribe to the misconception that graphic design requires a powerful video card (or a Mac, for that matter).

Chaz, I have tried Dell in the past and read much praise about them, but I like and am more accustomed to HP. I am under the impression that rendering requires more processing than graphical power. Would the laptop do better with a faster processor or 64MB more of dedicated video RAM? Would the laptop perform significantly better in regards to rendering if it had an 8400M with 128MB of dedicated video RAM?

Thanks.

P.S. I have a top of the line desktop system that can handle more intensive renderings. However, I want to be able to make 3d drawings (using CAD, 3DSMax, etc.) on the laptop when I'm out. If the 3d drawings are not very detailed, I can also render them on the laptop, otherwise, I can draw then on the laptop when when I'm out and render them on the desktop. Once rendered, I would like to be able to view them on laptop. This is what I want the laptop to be able to do - make 3D drawings and view them once they are rendered. Will the dv6561ee suffice?

 

Nvidia's TurboCache shared memory technology is very good. With the Go7400 (which the 8400M replaced), there were 64MB and 128MB versions (dedicated). The 64MB version performed almost identically to the 128MB version games due to TurboCache. So no getting an extra 64MB of dedicated memory would not help much.

For 3D rendering you want a Quadro video card - they are optimized to run things like Maya and 3DSMax. The 8400M can do what you want but a Quadro - even the 8400M's Quadro version - can do it up to 2.5x faster. Check out the Mobile Professionals GPU chart here:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=80145

The HP will suffice but you can do better. I know you said you are used to HP but the Dell Latitude D830 is a big step up in all directions except for style/multimedia functionality. It is business class and very different from consumer Dell machines. I guarantee you the support will be better than HP's since it is business support and it is domestic. Take a look at our latest D830 review here:
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=3931

 

Thank you very much for the advice.

I have all but decided to make the purchase.

Since I will not be rendering detailed, demanding 3D drawings on the notebook, I believe I will be happy with it.

I would absolutely consider and likely purchase a notebook with a Quadro video card if I was to render all of my 3D drawings on the notebook and if it was the only system I had. However, I will most likely, as I stated, use the notebook mainly to make my 3D drawings while on the go, and will render them on the powerful desktop system. If the drawings are simple and not excessively detailed, then I will render them on the notebook.

Because an extra 64MB of dedicated video RAM will not significantly increase performance, as Chaz stated, it is unnecessary.

One final question however - and I believe it was answered more or less - will the 6561ee be suited for making 3D drawings and models on the go (note, they need not be rendered on the go, but simply drawn) and viewing them once rendered?