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    Is the difference between a GTX 580m and a AMD 6990m worth the price?

    Discussion in 'Gaming (Software and Graphics Cards)' started by eric.heggie, Sep 28, 2011.

  1. eric.heggie

    eric.heggie Notebook Enthusiast

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    I am purchasing a new laptop and am going with a high end one. I am looking to get a 6990m as I don't see enough of a difference between it and a 580M. BF3 is stimulating this purchase, and before you say go get a desktop, I travel a lot and am not living in one place for any significant amount of time, otherwise I would get one. Any perspective on this is appreciated. Thanks.
     
    eric.heggie, Sep 28, 2011
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  2. Mechanized Menace

    Mechanized Menace Lost in the MYST

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    Unless you are in need of using CUDA or want GPU accelerated physics really really bad get the 580m, If it's just purely gaming then the price is def not worth it at all.
     
    Mechanized Menace, Sep 28, 2011
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  3. eric.heggie

    eric.heggie Notebook Enthusiast

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    Another newbie question, is there a way to upgrade your GPU with a laptop after purchase?
     
    eric.heggie, Sep 28, 2011
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  4. Mr_Mysterious

    Mr_Mysterious Like...duuuuuude

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    Only if you have a few specific brands. Sager/Clevo, or Alienware.

    Few or no other brands can allow you to upgrade your GPU post-purchase.

    Mr. Mysterious
     
    Mr_Mysterious, Sep 28, 2011
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  5. ValkerieFire

    ValkerieFire God Follower

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    The 6990m is definitely the most bang for the buck. The 580m is nice, but only if doing 3d is it a necessity. The 6990m is all you need.
     
    ValkerieFire, Sep 28, 2011
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  6. hockeymass

    hockeymass that one guy

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    If you're looking at a notebook with a 6990, the answer is probably yes. Generally gaming notebooks and mobile workstations come with MXM video cards, which are not soldered to the motherboard and are standardized to a degree (newer MXM card revisions are not compatible with older slots).
     
    hockeymass, Sep 28, 2011
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  7. eric.heggie

    eric.heggie Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thank you for the info.
     
    eric.heggie, Sep 28, 2011
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  8. Karamazovmm

    Karamazovmm Overthinking? Always!

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    given that only sager and aw use those cards, yeah its going to be possible to upgrade in the future, would it be worth it? Dunno.
     
    Karamazovmm, Sep 28, 2011
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  9. masterchef341

    masterchef341 The guy from The Notebook

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    it might still not be possible to upgrade your card based on impracticality of cost. if selling your laptop and buying a new one of the same model line, with a new graphics card and faster processor, new screen, etc. costs the same as upgrading the graphics card, then you probably won't be able to justify upgrading the graphics card.

    Not that selling your old laptop and buying a new one would be extremely cost effective, but upgrading your GPU may be extremely expensive.

    Depends on the situation, of course.
     
    masterchef341, Sep 28, 2011
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  10. alexUW

    alexUW Notebook Virtuoso

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    You get what you pay for...

    If you can afford the GTX 580m, get that; if not, get the RADEON 6990m
     
    alexUW, Sep 28, 2011
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  11. rschauby

    rschauby Superfluously Redundant

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    This thread is new and interesting.

    Can we make it a sticky?
     
    rschauby, Sep 28, 2011
    #11
  12. eric.heggie

    eric.heggie Notebook Enthusiast

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    I don't actually see how the gtx 580m is actually better though.
     
    eric.heggie, Sep 29, 2011
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  13. alexUW

    alexUW Notebook Virtuoso

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    alexUW, Sep 29, 2011
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  14. bullet2300

    bullet2300 Notebook Consultant

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    The majority of those links show the Radeon as better and its like 250$ cheaper... o_O
     
    bullet2300, Sep 29, 2011
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  15. alexUW

    alexUW Notebook Virtuoso

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    First link.

    ^^^ Also my opinion of the GTX 580m.
     
    alexUW, Sep 29, 2011
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  16. ValkerieFire

    ValkerieFire God Follower

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    Finding a performance difference between the two is really splitting hairs. In all actuality, the frame rates for the two will be nearly identical, and considering how similar they are, any differences will be completely unnoticeable.

    I would get the 6990m, the 580m is simply too much more money for no tangible benifit, unless you are A) an Nvidia fan, B) Have a 120hz 3D screen, C) Have money to burn.

    I chose the 6990m based on price alone, HOWEVER, Dell is replacing my 6990m with a 580m for free (because my 6990m died and is on longer back order than the 580m). Since it isn't costing me more, I am taking the 580m, but I would never pay for the 580m with my own hard earned cash.
     
    ValkerieFire, Sep 29, 2011
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  17. TomJG90

    TomJG90 Notebook Evangelist

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    I would get a 6990M in a heartbeat. Its just a much better product overall and AMD GPU's are total value for money. My 5870 was like that and so is the 6990M.
     
    TomJG90, Sep 29, 2011
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  18. eric.heggie

    eric.heggie Notebook Enthusiast

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    That guy spelled out how I feel about it.
     
    eric.heggie, Sep 29, 2011
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  19. Zymphad

    Zymphad Zymphad

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    Too bad the author of that opinion is daft. HD6990M has support for 3D and has switchable graphics support. The only thing missing is PhysX which no one cares about. And contrary to belief, CUDA is not important, future is OpenCL.

    Also too bad for him as he seems to be the ONLY reviewer I've read that came to the conclusion that 580M is faster. Everyone else says HD6990M is the fastest single GPU mobile on this planet.
     
    Zymphad, Sep 29, 2011
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  20. swimmer1918

    swimmer1918 Notebook Consultant

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    6990M, I chose it because it's faster then the 580M GTX in games that I play/like.
     
    swimmer1918, Sep 29, 2011
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  21. jerg

    jerg Have fun. Stay alive.

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    NBR is pro-ATI haha, and with good reason.
     
    jerg, Sep 29, 2011
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  22. Karamazovmm

    Karamazovmm Overthinking? Always!

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    heh I always thought that NBR was always pro nvidia
     
    Karamazovmm, Sep 29, 2011
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  23. Raulm82

    Raulm82 Newbie

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    A newbie question isnt nvidia coming out with the gtx 590m
    to compete with the ati hd 6990?
     
    Raulm82, Sep 29, 2011
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  24. ARGH

    ARGH Notebook Deity

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    this should answer your question;

    BF3 beta m18x fps test - YouTube
     
    ARGH, Sep 29, 2011
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  25. Deks

    Deks Notebook Prophet

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    Unless you need CUDA tech for professional software that would use it, stick with AMD (because it will give you much better bang for buck).
    But as it was already mentioned, Nvidia's CUDA and all gimmicks don't really justify it's cost.
    The 6990m is essentially on par with 580M in games... professional software-wise, the 580M is a better choice since they were optimized for CUDA (dunno why they refuse to do the same for AMD cards).
     
    Deks, Sep 30, 2011
    #25
  26. Zymphad

    Zymphad Zymphad

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    Beccause CUDA is dead. No one cares, it never took off. It was pure hype and the only people who are talking about it are the ones who believed the hype.
     
    Zymphad, Sep 30, 2011
    #26