Nvidia 9600M GT vs GT 130M

I've been reading up on these 2 cards, and it seems that some people think that the 130M has considerably better performance and others say that there's little noticable difference. My question is this:

Is the 1GB 130M worth the $100 upgrade from the 512MB 9600M?

 

As far as I know, if both are using the same type of memory than the GT 130M is slightly better. Not $100 worth of performance better, though

 

You need to know what Memory type of these GPUs.
If both are DDR3, not worth upgrade.
If 9600M GT is DDR3 while 130M is DDR2, 100% worthless and you got scammed.
If 9600M GT is DDR2 while 130M is DDR3, worth upgrade but $100(sould be lesser) is too much.
If both are DDR2, not worth upgrade.

I can't give my vote because you didn't give the Memory type of the GPUs yet.

 

in short, no. they are in the same ball park. even if it's 9600m gt ddr2 vs 130m gddr3.

 

Well the 130M runs at lower temperatures and on less power, so who knows how much it could save in the long run. But still probably not worth it. For anybody considering it though, my laptop runs extremely cool with the 130M in an HP.

 

The HP site actually doesn't even list what type of memory either one is, but it sounds like it isn't worth it even if the upgrade's from DDR2 to DDR3.

 

This is a definite no. There shouldn't even be an argument. If you're going to pay an extra $100 over ANY version of the 9600M GT, it better be at least an HD3870 or 9700M GTS.

 

If you get a DX18 instead of DX16 Laptop(its the same price if you config it the same way) the 130 is DDR3(9600 is ddr2)

 

Ah, I found it. It's listed under the RAM selection. I didn't realize that if the graphics memory was DDR2 then the RAM had to be DDR2. Both (9600 and 130) are DDR2 with the HX16. Knowing this, is it now out of the question for a easonable price of the upgrade?

 

There isn't any direct link between VRAM and system RAM AFAIK. They're separate entities since one is reserved for the raphics controller and the other accommodates the rest of the system.

For example, I have DDR2 RAM in my PC, yet a GDDR3 graphics component.

Regardless, I'd still personally think it's not worth the upgrade. The GT130M is more or less an overclocked 9600M GT on a smaller die(its stats make it resemble a 9650M GT IRRC).

 

GT 130M is just an slightly overclocked 9600M GT with a smaller die and a bit lower power consumption, there ain't any reason to upgrade to a GT130M as everybody suggested.

 

Not with Hp they require your ram to be ddr3 is your gpu is ddr3, and vise versa for ddr2

 

I dont understand why you dont just customize a HX18 instead of HX16, like I said you can get a great laptop from that series for 1300, and its card Is DDR3, + its reso is so much better and screen

 

HDX16 or 18 are not worth it.. they're overpriced etc and for the same price you can get a great MSI GT729 or ASUS G71 which own the HDX 16 or 18...

 

I don't think there are any laptops out that have 1080p screens that can be under $1,000 (speaking of the 16 inch version anyway, with the free upgrade).

Nothing I can find anyway.

 

The DDR3 GT130M runs the memory at 1024mhz right? Compared with the 800mhz stock DDR3 9600M GT it should be 15-20% faster especially when you factor in the 50mhz faster core clock and faster shader clock.

The DDR2 version will come a little bit short in performance vs the DDR3 9600M GT just like the 9650M GT 1GB DDR2 card does(Once OCed the 9600M GT will completely destroy the DDR2 card even if that card is OCed too).

Never get a DDR2 card these days they are simply used to fool less technically aware people into believing that more memory is better than faster memory (bit of a scam if you ask me).

 

Not true at all. HP has been offering the free upgrade to Full HD on both for a while and they have tons of coupons for the HDX16 especially. Right now there is a coupon in the deals section that will get you an HDX16 with a Full HD screen for $799.

 

Well ok then.

Maybe they use proprietary pins or something because I haven't read about there being any actual link between the 2 types of memory?

 

There is no link btw system memory and GPU memory. That information is incorrect.

 

Well most likely explanation is that HP wants a chance to charge you fancy DDR3 RAM if you want the better GPU(just as Sony USA forces you to buy the 1Gb HD4650 t get the FullHD screen).

 

+$400 for 8GB DDR3 RAM with GT 130M???
This is crazy! Way too expensive. Don't you guys think so?

 

If you look at the design of the chipset and GPU, there is no relation. HP is probably doing it to get more money from you.

 

That's HP's way to milk more $$$ from the poor consumers.

 

Thats what I said, its a hp thing I didint say it Had to be that way...there the only company thats ive ever seen do that

 

That's why i'm nver buying a Hp laptop ever again.. maybe i'll buy their CULV notebook but not gaming and entertainment laptops...

 

LOL! Why so many laptop manufacturers give lousy specifications to their customers?
1stly, I thought HP is a great PC manufacturers. Now, it sucks.
Acer, again. I won't buy it. LOL. Dell, too.

 

Because they're aware that we don't know that much about the computers we're buying.