Lenovo W500 gaming performance Question

What kind of gaming performance can I expect to see in a ThinkPad W500 configured:

- Core 2 Duo processor T9600 (2.8GHz 1066MHz 6MBL2)
- 4 GB DDR3 RAM (1067MHz)
- 200 GB 7200rpm HDD w/ Disk Encryption
- ATI Mobility FireGL V5700 with 512MB VRAM (GDDR3)
- 15.4" WUXGA TFT LCD screen

I know that the ATI Mobility FireGL is mainly a CAD/workstation GPU, but can it be configured to be a powerful gaming GPU (does it have a gaming equivalent)?

 

i would say it will perform like a bit faster than 2600 xt in games.

 

It's gaming equivalent is the ATI Mobility HD 3650, which is in the T500.

 

According to Wikipedia the Mobility FireGL V5700 is based on the Mobility Radeon HD 3650, is that true. If so, how will it perform in games. Will I need to do something to the V5700 (download software, change BIOS, etc) to make it a better gaming GPU?

 

That should be good for 3900-4400 points in 3dmark. Most games should be playable at medium-high settings. Very nice config.

 

So the V5700 is indeed equivalent to the Mobility Radeon HD 3650?

 

According to NotebookCheck.com ( http://www.notebookcheck.net/ATI-Mobility-Radeon-HD-3650.8839.0.html) the HD 3650 averages 3410 points in 3D Mark 06. Does that mean that the V5700 is infact more powerful than the HD 3650, or that the 3900-4400 points you predict will come from the fast processor and RAM in the W500 (2.8Ghz and 4GB DDR3)?

 

Keep in mind that Notebook Check's average 3DMark scores are from a number of configurations and resolutions. Clicking the More Details link under a benchmark will reveal what specs it's been run on.

 

So if I change the drivers, software, etc; will the V5700 be a powerful gaming card, or not?

 

Yup, its all about the Centrino 2 platform. Fast CPU and 1066 DDR3 will make a nice difference. I think the Toshiba A300 I recently reviewed was 3800 points using a slower CPU and 800 MHz DDR2.

The one I had used DDR2 VRAM which is sort of low end now. If the Lenovo uses newer VRAM technology it could boost performance further.

The notebookcheck chart results are only useful for a rough idea of performance. Their actual reviews are very good, but the chart data is aggregated and normalized.

 

No. It won't be powerful. It will be comparable to other discrete video options such as the NVIDIA 8600m, 9500m, 9600m and AMD 2600 or 3650. Much weaker than powerful mobile GPUs such as the 9700m GTS, 8800m and 9800m.

It's as good as you will get without buying a 15" Clevo, Alienware or Asus G50.

If you are after a gaming centric notebook invest in one designed for just that.

 

If gaming is that important to you, I would skip on the WUXGA and take the WSXGA+ instead.

 

Yeah, very good point. That way your video system will not be strained filling the LCD panel's native resolution.

OP: Here are a few I would look at if I were you:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=pcmcat150700050002&type=category

The Asus G50 is a good 15" choice. The Gateway P-6860FX and P-7811FX are legendary but bigger.

 

I understand that the V5700 is not as powerful as the high end cards such as the 8800M and 9800M, but will it still be able to run games like Crysis and COD4 on medium-high settings? The 9600M (DDR3) that you compared it to is a very capable GPU.

 

BUMP

I really need to know, because I will be buying a new computer soon.

 

The V5700 is the same as the 3650 and both are weaker than the 9600M GT.

 

If overclock the V5700 (to a fast, but safe speed), what kind of 3D Mark 06 scores and gaming performance - in Crysis, COD4, Warhammer Online, etc - can I expect (assuming that I have the 2.8Ghz Centrino 2 and 1066Mhz RAM).

 

Still probably can't match the 9600M GT. Notebook cards aren't really meant to overclock, unless you mod your case (ie. copper mod and/or AS5)

 

This is a big "if" statement. You need to check in with the Thinkpad community to see if this is possible. This is something I have seen discussed many time in that community as Thinkpad owners have been working with the ATI FireGL cards for several years now.

From my memory, some have been successful in convincing their ATI card that it was the gaming equivalent, and others had less luck.

Check out the community here down below, also check in with the folks at thinkpads.com

 

HEY just do you guys know you can vary easily and safely overclock thinkpad laptops.

i myself thought about buying a W500 but from what ive read my T61P dose better gaming then the w500 dose. and yes its really easy to over clock.

on normal setting if i run say crysis warhead with 1280X1024 with medium settings i get about 20 to 30 FPS. but and my temp of my laptop gets up to around 185 degrees F. some times even higher. feels a little hot but dosen't hurt anything. now when i overclock my gpu from 475/702 (gpu speed/ram speed) to 650/1000 i get about 45 to 60 FPS and when you use TPFancontrol you over clock your fans. well now really. you see in thinkpads they wanted to make the fan less noisy but still as powerful. tpfancontrol just gives it full power. takes my fan speeds from 3000 rpm to almost 5000 and my temp says at 156 degrees F. highest ive seen is 159.

ive never had a prolem doing this and ive had my t61p for more then a hear. ive been overclocking it the hole year..

now back to your question. i do know that ATI cards are more difficult to over clock due to lack of drivers compatible with their cards and some have had a problem with them. as for nvidia cards you can find hacked drivers almost every where. thuse able to over clock vary well..

P.S. i have the quadro FX 570m based off the 8600m (256mb) by default on 3dmarsk i get a score of about 3900 with driver change and overclocking ive gotten my highest of 8491. so it is worth it.

so i would suggest you go out and buy a T61p. and sadly enough because of its performance you'll pay just as much for a t61p as you would a w500


later guys. hope this helps.