Quadro for gaming? (Dell D820)

Okay, I'm looking at buying one of these. Pretty sure it's what I'm going to get. Right now, the one I have configured is as follows:

2.0 GHz Intel Core Duo
2.0 GB DDR2 Ram
100 GB 7200 RPM HDD
15.4" SWXGA+ (I think the resolution on the WUXGA would be too small)
512 MB nVidia Quadro NVS 120M
Windows XP Pro

So, here comes my honest question. I know there's been a lot of talk about wheter or not this notebook is good for gaming. I realize that the Quadro was never designed for gaming, but I just want to feel comfortable that this purchase will allow me to play a few games with some pretty nice (~high end PS2 quality) graphics. For instance, I want to know some people's personal performance experiences. I've read a lot on these boards that say that it's not good for gaming, but I'm not expecting to play F.E.A.R. all the way up here. I'm looking at like Doom 3, medium settings, just nice and crisp. Like I said, I'm coming from a PS2 and my current laptop has a 3-year old 32 MB Mobility Radeon 7500, so I'm not expecting the world here. And all these benchmark scores don't do anything for me, cause that doesn't take into consideration an actually every day use computer.

I've looked around at a lot of laptops, including the e1705, Acer TravelMate 8200, Asus s96J and Gateway NX850. I just feel that as an Engineering student, the D820 fits me well, I just want to know that if I feel like kicking back and playing some Far Cry everyonce in a while, I can without worrying about only getting 10-20 fps. Any input would be helpful.

 

I'm in a similar position as you...debating between the Thinkpad T60 and this one though...I can't answer your questions about performance but I think I am safe in advising you to de-option some of that RAM and buy it after-market and install it yourself. The manufacturer options are usually overpriced.

 

I've considered that, but I've read where the RAM is on the D820. You have to take out the keyboard. It's not that I'm scared to mess with computers or anything, but I just don't wanna go fishing around with stuff like that on a brand new computer just to save 30 or 40 bucks. Besides, my parents are buying this for me as one of my last presents ever, so they want to get something good for me. Therefore, I'm just gonna go with it. Actually, my dad has upgraded things (such as the hard drive) that I wasn't even gonna do.

 

bump. If no one answers this, I may have to move it to the gaming section.

 

I will move this to the Gaming section, you will get more responses there.

 

Dell precision M90 is the way to go.
Just make a call and you will get a great deal.

 

Quadro's are not gaming cards. They're for 3D artists and renderings. They're designed for workstations and professional jobs. Its best not to use them for gaming. But it will work.

 

The Precision M90 is very nice, but a little out of the price range. I can't go above 2500, and right now the D820 is sitting at 2300 and some change. An M90 with lower specs sits at around 2900. That's all with a 12% student discount.

 

Where are you buying your laptop?
If you're in the states you can configure M90 for less than 2500.
Just choose 1.83 core duo instead of 2ghz, 512mb instead of 2GB(upgrade later), 80GB instead of 100GB.
You can also ask him http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=53902 if he can give you a good deal for Lattitudes and precisions.

 

I'm ordering it through the Dell website. It's the only way I can get the student discout. And even with that, the M90 at a 1.83 Duo, 1 GB RAM and 80 GB hard drive was still over 2900. One of the other reasons I'm leaning toward the D820. I think it's a pretty good deal and I've heard very good things about them.

 

This is the configuration page I'm talking about; http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=53902
If Dell D820 suits your need it's fine. It is a very nice machine and I always recommend it to non-gamers and light gamers who are under budget.
You can find 3dmarkscores in these links; http://www.notebookforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=151672
http://www.notebookforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=147307

 

Wow, those scores pretty much own the D820. This website http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&u=http://kettya.com/notebook2/3dmark05.htm&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dprecision%2Bm65%2B3dmark05%2Bscores%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-USfficial%26sa%3DG shows the Precision M90 has one of the best scores around. I really want one, but unfortunately I can't get the price below 2700, and that's with a 1.83 GHz processor and 512 MB of RAM. That just won't do it for me. It's gotta be under 2500. I'm quite upset.

 

do you have to get the quadro?
Have you looked at asus laptops?
You could get a laptop more suited to gaming which would also be able to handle business applications "pretty well".

 

Yeah, the quadro nvs is the only thing the D820 comes with. The M90 comes with a Quadro FX though. I looked at an Asus, and I really liked it for the price. I just really didn't trust not buying it through the company. Does anyone have any suggestions of a good, secure site to buy one through? I'm still open to the Asus option, as I've heard really good things about them.

I've also been working on pricing an M90 trying to get it under 2500, and I got one to a little over 2400, but I had to drop the processer down to a 1.83 GHz, the RAM to 512 (which I will replace to 2 gigs within a few weeks myself), a 5400 RPM HDD, and an 8x DVD-ROM (which is okay cause I currently have an external DVD burner for my current laptop). I'm going to a Dell store tomorrow to see if I can get any better of a deal so that I can upgrade the processer and hard drive back up and I'll take care of the rest myself as I go along. But we'll see what happens.

P.S. Thanks for all the input guys.

 

have you considered something like the hp nw8440? its card isn't as good as the m90's but it is much better than the card in the dell d820. however....it only comes with 1 gig (533mhz) and a 5400 rpm hd.

 

Not to offend anyone on here, but I'm not a fan of HP. My parents currently have an HPCompaq, and have had tons of trouble with it. My roommate last year also had a Compaq laptop, and he had a bunch of problems with it too. Not to say that the HP's are all bad, but I just don't think it would be for me. Thanks for the advice though, and I still may look into it. I would really love to have an M90 though.
Speaking of, I think this is a pretty good deal: http://www.journeyed.com/itemDetail.asp?T1=90118553.
Only one problem: the 1500M Quadro FX. I was really hoping for the 2500M Quadro. Still, what do you guys think? Is the 1500M that much worse? Does anyone have any 3dmark05 scores for it?

 

For asus products in the US- check out Agearnotebooks or Proportable or Geared2Play.
For Canada- Check out MilestonePC or CanadaComputers. They are all very secure.

Not to bash dell too much cuz I think they are alright computers, but asus is apparently a lot better quality. (Not saying that dells are bad!) I have done a lot of research on laptops and that is what people say quite a bit. I am getting a new asus w3j on monday so I hope this is true!

Ordering thru MilestonePC was a breeze and they do orders to US aswell-I would recommend them for sure. Otherwise Proportable. I was a little apprehensive about ordering thru a smaller company but I'm actually a lot happier with the ordering process so far- I just email Danny at MilestonePC and he pretty much gets back to me with whatever I need. You can even customize the asus ones.

Oh yah I meant by asking if you need the quadro- do you need to have a computer that is going to handle business applications very well (CAD etc.) -cuz that is what those are for pretty much. Or do you just like the D820 for other reasons? If you need the quadro card then you might want to get the dell but otherwise go for asus. But asus will handle CAD apps pretty well too! haha.

Anyways I know my recommondation prolly isnt helping your descision at all but I would look at the asus laptops before making the final descision. Ask any computer geek out there and he/she will prolly tell you to look at the asus ones.

Dan

 

Yeah, the Asus are pretty nice. Microsoft has been using them in their Windows Vista tech demos lately. I've heard a lot of good things. Right now, I'm using a Latitude C640, 2.0 GHz P-4m, 512 MB DDR SDRAM, 30 GB HDD (yeah, sucks), 32 MB ATI Mobility Radeon 7500. So to answer your question, it will handle CAD and Solid Edge in some form, as I had both programs on here before I reformatted last week. They just run really slowly and I can't get into any of the intense modeling things. Pretty much just basic modeling and so forth, otherwise things get quite slow.

I'm gonna either call Dell or go to a Dell Store today, and see what I can get done. I'd really like an M90. Not only is it fantastic for engineering applications, but it's 3dmark05 scores are near 10,000 (9,766 if I'm not mistaken). I read a review where the guy said they tested it running F.E.A.R. with most of the settings on high and were getting a consistent 59 fps.

 

I've got a Precision M90 priced right now for like 2519 shipped. I decided to see what would happen if I priced it without using my student discount, so I actually get $150 more off the system and free shipping by ordering it through the Dell Small Business site rather than through my university's discount program. Using these extra savings, I was able to squeeze the following specs out. What do you guys think?

2 GHz Core Duo
17" WSXGA+ (I think the WUXGA would be too hard to read for every day use)
512 MB RAM (I'm upgrading as soon as I get it)
CD-ROM (try to upgrade at some point)
512 MB Quadro FX 2500M
Windows XP Pro

Speaking of the DVD Burner upgrade, does anyone know what brand/model the DVD Burner is in the M90? I'm pretty sure it's an LG, just wondering if anyone knows the model # so that I can start pricing an upgrade. The two LG slim-line DVD burners on newegg that I found only cost about $80, which makes me pretty happy.

 

Asus build quality is way better than any inspirons but bot precision M90.
I heard FX 1500is based on go 7900 gs so I think the 3dmark05 score will be around 6000.

 

I looked it up last night, and the 1500M has scores in the mid to high 3's, so I'm assuming it's based on the 7600 or somewhere around there. But anyhow, I called Dell today, and they upgraded me to a 100 GB 7200 RPM and I think a DVD Burner for less than $100 more delivered. (The previous config was an 80 GB HDD btw). I think it's a pretty good deal, and I'm trying to get my parents on board for the rest, but I'll have to wait to see what happens. And I'll order it with 512 RAM and upgrade ASAP. Basically I'm getting this config for about $600-700 less than what it should cost.