Needing help on laptop workstation graphic card choices for a workstation for gaming.

Hello everyone,

I'm looking to get a workstation computer, for one reason and one reason only the touch stick/dualpointer. I've already basically decided on which one. However the graphic cards in them have been slightly confusing me. I'm looking at the graphic cards for gaming, hopefully being able to use the gaming driver on the, eh professional card?

I'm looking for something able to run SC2, and hopefully D3 when its released and with good settings. Maybe even the Starwars mmorpg. Hopefully at least on high? Any chance of any of these cards below being able to put it off? Also have a slight headache on the choices.

The 1.0GB ATI® FirePro® M7820 Graphics appears to be better than the 1.0GB NVIDIA Quadro® FX 2800M and 512MB NVIDIA® NVS 3100M? Or am I missing something here? Not to mention the Firepro graphic card is cheaper than the FX 2800??

1.0GB ATI® FirePro® M7820 Graphics = ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5870

512MB NVIDIA® NVS 3100M = GeForce G210M

1.0GB NVIDIA Quadro® FX 2800M = ????? Not sure on. (Can't seem to find a chart on it? Or I'm looking at the correct one.) If anyone knows can you please post the chart link. Thanks!


I've been looking on notebookcheck for graphic card charts. Says you can upgrade the drivers to their gaming version drivers. Anyone have any ideas on these graphic card choices? Had been looking at NVIDIA Quadro FX 880M for a smaller laptop , 15 inch but I'm pretty sure that would be worse than the above ones?

Anyway, thanks in advance for any help!

-LaptopsRule102

 

Yes the M7820 is the best.. followed by FX2800M ( which is about a 9800M GS i think) and then the NVS 3100M is the worsrt...

 

WOW!! You are looking to get the HP EliteBook 8740w? That's definitely the ultimate laptop right now, nothing beats that.

An NBR user has one and posted benchmarks. His benchmarks match the HD5870M and game performance is also on par. So it should be great as a workstation and be great for gaming.

 

I'd like to first thank the server for deleting my reply I had just wrote out, by asking me to login again after I clicked submit! Now, lets try this again.


Thank you Sean473 and Ziddy123 for replying.

I actually didn't know about the HP EliteBook 8740w until you mentioned it Ziddy123. I had been actually looking at the Dell Precision M6500, and the Lenovo W701. However, just like with the Lenovo W701, and the HP I just looked at you mention, there is about a 700 dollar price tag difference between the Dell Precision.


I wouldn't mind just getting a 15" this would help lower the price a good amount, but when trying with that option it reduces the graphic card to a NVIDIA® Quadro FX 880M/1800. Which I believe is worse than the M7820? And also the fact I believe none of these can be upgraded with your own choice of a graphic card later, it presents a problem. So, basically there is no other choice than the 17" versions.

With the 1.0GB ATI® FirePro® M7820, would this be able to handle Starcraft 2 and the future D3, and SW mmorpg with high settings or above?

Thanks in advance again!


Oh and quick links for the laptops I'm looking at is

Lenovo - Laptop computers - ThinkPad W701


and

Dell Precision M6500 & M6500 Covet Mobile Workstation | Dell


The Dell one is currently winning.

 

You don't need a HD5870M to play SC2 to high. Most HD5870M owners play SC2 on Ultra...

The HP EliteBook is the best workstation notebook I believe. The IPS display on that notebook alone destroys, annihilates all competition.

I can't imagine using a 15" for workstation laptop, that just seems WRONG!!! If you just want to play SC2, then just get a gaming machine. If you want to do work, buy a 17" workstation with IPS display. IPS display should be a MUST if you do graphics work, laptop or desktop.

Dell's RGB LED has nothing on HP's Professional IPS display. No contest. HP has better contrast, better color and better viewing angles. It wins in every concievable way.

Also the HP is built like a tank. It's not just a magnesium casing... should look up the specs, believe it is military spec.

 

If you plan on gaming, the Dell option is by far the best. Its RGBLED display is the same one used in the M17x and is wonderful for games. I think the Thinkpad uses the same one (?). The panel is accurate, seems to target 1.8 gamma though, instead of the more common 2.2

The Elitebook's Dreamcolor display is eminently suited to graphic work, so if you're getting into that there's no beating that display. It's not so great for gaming.

Though. I'll be completely honest. None of these things matter very much. If you're enough into color-sensitive work that you're getting an Elitebook, you should already have a monitor sitting prettily (and calibrated) on a desktop somewhere you can control the ambient light. And if you're heavily into gaming you probably want to sit at a desk, again, and can probably afford a nice gaming panel.

So in the end it's up to you. Brand allegiance is more important here. I like Dell's business support. I'd save money on the Dell and max out the warranty.

 

M6500 can get the 920XM stock, which is then covered under the warranty. HP you can do it aftermarket.

HP options include the Quadro 5000M which is somewhat faster than the 7820 but costs quite a bit more too. I don't think Dell is offering the 5000M yet but you could give them a call and see where they stand on that.

I don't think the cooling nor the accessability is as good on the HP as the Dell. But you may not care much about the access. You should care about the cooling however. I'm also not as confident in HP's warranty service, but only by a small margin.

If the 7820 becomes your choice, which can be had in either, then I'd go with the Dell if given the choice myself. I wouldn't call the HP a bad choice, just the Dell slightly better. If the 5000M is your preference, and HP is the only one offering it, then HP. If they both offer it, the Dell.

$.02