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    Laptop Video Cards & Desktop Video Cards ?

    Discussion in 'Gaming (Software and Graphics Cards)' started by WhiteDragon, Jun 23, 2010.

  1. WhiteDragon

    WhiteDragon Notebook Guru

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    Are laptop video cards equal to there desktop counter parts,
    or are they close ?
     
    WhiteDragon, Jun 23, 2010
    #1
  2. Lafragle

    Lafragle Notebook Guru

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    no they are not, they are usally a step below the desktop version, the mobile 5870 clocks are near the 5770 dekstop radeon card. there is a difference,
     
    Lafragle, Jun 23, 2010
    #2
  3. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    There is a huge difference. Desktop video cards are bigger, can draw more power, handle more heat, etc, etc. Laptops do not have those luxuries and performance is lower because of it.
     
    Greg, Jun 23, 2010
    #3
  4. Hobgoblinpie

    Hobgoblinpie Notebook Evangelist

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    The card in my M15x (the GTX260M) is basically a rebadged desktop 9800GT, which is two generations behind what it would leave you to believe. However, it is not exactly the most high end card. As has been mentioned, the HD Mobility 5870 is close to the desktop 5770.
     
    Hobgoblinpie, Jun 23, 2010
    #4
  5. rschauby

    rschauby Superfluously Redundant

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    The gap is closing as we move forward, but given a laptops restraints (power, heat, size) they will lag behind desktop counterparts indefinitely. However, given that current hardware is able to handle almost anything out there the average user throws at it, a good performance laptop feels like you have given up absolutely 0 in the performance department and picked up quite a bit elsewhere.
     
    rschauby, Jun 23, 2010
    #5
  6. tijo

    tijo Sacred Blame

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    Exactly that. Also, there are spacial constraints in a laptop that might nor be present in a desktop GPU in terms of heatsink and fan placement. There's also more space in desktops for overall airflow and more fans which also helps cool down the GPU. Lets not forget liquid cooling as well, though we might see those in laptops someday.
     
    tijo, Jun 23, 2010
    #6
  7. daranik

    daranik Notebook Deity

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    the day you see some sort of mini liquid cooling or some radically new cooling method implimented into a laptop is the day we will see no difference, hahah just thinking in my head how rediculous that would be. it would take more power though ......
     
    daranik, Jun 23, 2010
    #7
  8. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    We just need notebook motherboards start implementing full 8x or 16x PCIe 2.0 lanes, then DIY ViDock will really fly...
     
    sgogeta4, Jun 23, 2010
    #8
  9. G73Guy

    G73Guy Notebook Consultant

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    Notebook cards will never catch desktop cards. The power and thermal superiority of desktops are why. But having close to last years best is kick for us mobile guys.

    I like mobility and am so happy with my 5870m which is a lower clocked 5770 or more SP's than a 5750. It is mobile it rocks. It has half the SP's of the desktop.
     
    G73Guy, Jun 23, 2010
    #9
  10. WhiteDragon

    WhiteDragon Notebook Guru

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    I did read somewhere that Laptops Video cards are a step down from there desktop counterparts. As as one reader had posted I agree that laptop video cards won't be on par with Desktops for a very long time.

    I suppose they categorize them and laptop video cards are in there own league and that league is laptops. At least I know my laptop video card is a 9600GT in the Laptop World and a 8800 GT as a desktop equivalent which is IMO very good :)
     
    WhiteDragon, Jun 23, 2010
    #10
  11. lozanogo

    lozanogo Notebook Deity

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    That's not possible if you are talking about a single card, or did you try to say something different?
     
    lozanogo, Jun 24, 2010
    #11
  12. WhiteDragon

    WhiteDragon Notebook Guru

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    I don't understand your question Lozan.
     
    WhiteDragon, Jun 24, 2010
    #12