NVIDIA GT 520M 512MB vs NVIDIA GT 520M 1024MB

Hi everyone,

I'm currently considering two different laptops, the Samsung SF311 and the Asus U30SD- they both come with the same graphic card the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520M but the Asus has twice the dedicated memory of the Samsung(1024 vs 512), both laptops have the same sandy-bridge processor-the i5-2410m and 4GB of Ram.

Both are roughly the same price, but I was wondering what difference the amount of dedicated memory would make to the gaming performance of either laptop- the only benchmarks I can find for the 520m involve cards with 1024MB and I would be quite satisfied with the level of performance this provides-as I will only be using the laptop for very light gaming.

Will the difference be as simple as the card being half as powerful when supplied with 512MB? or is it as I suspect more complex than that?

Thanks in advance for any advice/answers given,

Quinn1992

 

For a chip of the 520M's speed, the difference in memory doesn't matter.

You'll see no performance difference with either configuration.

 

520m isn't very powerful.
If you're looking to do some gaming with the upcoming titles I'd consider something higher up the food chain.

 

It does depend on:
The BUS wich the gt520m has 64/128 bit
The memory type DDR3/GDDR5

I bet the Asus is better because,
It has 128Bit memory BUS and the OC ability fe. you could make a gt520m MX out of it.

 

AND it is maybe a MXM card so you could upgrade it evtl.

 

As far as the GT 520M is concerned, it isn't going to matter what bus or what memory speed it is using. It's a low end part that really isn't meant for gaming. So long as there is enough memory (512MB is almost definitely enough for this caliber of gaming) it should be fine.

For a more specific answer about how the GT 520 would handle games I think we're going to have to ask 'what games?'

If it's in the MXM format I'm going to wager that the laptop's cooling system probably is designed to handle a card of similar capability compared to the GT 520M and not much more.

 

Thanks for all the replies!

In terms of games that I would be playing it would mainly be strategy games and football manager so that won't require much graphical grunt although I would like to play Morrowind as I have never played it , I have a PS3 for handling the upcoming big releases-BBC 3,TES 5 etc.

The Asus comes with the 64 bit architecture according the Notebookcheck review, so I presume that rules out over-clocking to the 520m mx?

How would I find out if the Asus supports MXM?

 

My advice is probably unappreciated, but I encourage you to widen your laptop search to include ones with better GPU

Very often there are laptops with dramatically better GPUs that don't cost a whole lot more.

The rankings on this page are reasonable, you can quickly look up how much better a given GPU is than a 520.

Comparison of Laptop Graphics Cards - Notebookcheck.net Tech

 

Appreciate the input, and I have but a fair deal of thought into purchase of this laptop and I'm constrained by a number of factors

1)Size + Weight-looking for a 13-14" machine with a weight of <2kgs or so, for portability as i will be carrying it around all day at college

2)Battery-need a laptop that can last for 7/8hrs+ of general use again this is for use around college and also for my weekly 4hr bus journeys to and from college where I'll use it to watch dvds/avis

3)Budget-the max my budget will stretch to is 800 euro

The two laptops I have listed fulfill these criteria which I consider more important than gaming performance, plus me having a PS3 further negates the need for a high end gaming rig

 

It ia a low end and I'm not sure how much juice you can get out of overclocking without risking your card to failure.

For the games you mention: Morrowind should be fine, some strategy games should be ok (not sure about the lastest ones). I have no idea for the football manager.

MXM depends on each model. A good bet is to go to the Asus sub-forum here and ask the question.

Hope it helps

 

With most laptop video cards, 512 MB is about the most it'll actually use. Anything more is just a waste if you have to pay for it.

 

will the battery really last 7-8 hrs???

 

It all depends on the amount of cells in the battery. I'd say no way for a 6 or 9 cell battery, even with the screen at its dimmest setting I'd give 6 hours top, most likely 4.5 h.

 

How about an Acer timeline-X?

If you can find one a 4830tg or a 4820tg equipped with an HD5650 or HD6550 will be much better.

 

I'd love either of the models you've mentioned there but the problem is their availability or lack thereof, in the UK and Ireland they can't be found anywhere online and places that used to stock them are now sold out with no restocking dates given

Both the models I've listed will reach 7-7.5 hours easily enough- this is from asking people who own the laptops not the manufactures claims

 

Ok, if people corroborate it then it should. I don't trust battery times claimed by manufacturers.

 

it actually depends on the wattage hour of the battery. i can have a 56wh 8 cell battery, and a 56wh 6 cell battery, both are going to be the same