The best possible graphics in a 15.4'' Notebook?

Hi guys,

My question is short and sweet, I'm looking for the most powerful graphics card in a 15.4'' notebook. What's the current one and are the any more upgrades planned? I know cards are limited by the size of a notebook and how efficient the cooling system can be.

I've currently got a Vostro 1500 with 8600M GT heavily O/C'd to 639/539. Is there anything I could get for a _considerable_ increase in performance? I don't want to change to 8600M GT DDR3, that would cost too much and may not O/c as much, which would make the change pointless and expensive. I'm looking for a decent increase in FPS.

THanks!

 

Alienware m15x carries an option of two (usually found in 17" lappies) powerful cards, the 8700M GT and the 8800GTX.

The 8800GTX is currently the best single card solution for any size laptop

 

You cannot upgrade the Vostro any further, sorry.

 

i'm afraid that changing the vostro gpu is quite hard and expensive... and switching to alienware products who's i think the only 8800gtx in 15.4" producer would mean even more price diff... but basically it's as phritz said.

 

8800M GTX is the way to go, but I doubt you could get it to fit in a Vostro or work.

 

Thanks for all the replies, sorry if anyone misread my post - I'm not going to do anything to my Vostro ;-) other than change it to a more powerful 15.4'' lappy.

So are you saying there is a 15.4'' Alienware laptop with an 8800M? I've looked on their website and there's only 2 lappies there, big 17'' and a 15.4'' with go7600...am I missing something?

 

you might be living somewhere where alienware still has not presented the freshest offer... that's more than a month old right now to be honest

look for alienware's m15x. that's the one you want

 

Spot on, I live in the UK and the bloody site only has two notebooks (both useless to me!)

Any1 knows if it's possible to purchase in the US and get them shipped here by ALienware? Not the best option but....

Hopefully the new ones will be introduced in the UK soon though?

 

The new models should be introduced to the UK before TOO long. I'm not sure if anyone knows when though...

 

i think there was some info that they are planning to get you those rigs, but can't recall any exact date, probably by the end of feb...

about dispatching the unit, usa alienware site had no option i believe of sending the rigs here... maybe they placed it eventually, but still that would mean somewhere near 400$ probably... at least that's what i was told by hp usa when i asked about their products (basically i was into 8510w + ultra capacity battery not sold here in poland) ;-/

 

Alienware is hard to come by, they sell mostly in the US, the UK and Germany that I know of. Be patient, or if you can shop in the US. Don't know if they ship overseas.

 

You guys don't understand. The Vostro (and all Dells) use a PROPRIETARY GPU design. So if Dell does not offer it, you cannot get it.

 

Thanks I'll just have2 sitnwait until they show up, that's checking the website daily ;-). I want to get the first one off the line hehe. Hopefully the m15x won't jump the £1,500 mark! Nice2c another Polish dude on the forums too

 

An 8800GTX m15x would set you back 2699$, which is roughly 1350£

 

stand in line friend... you're not alone... many europeans are awaiting m15x arrival to the old continent either to buy it or to get lower prices on other rigs losing the crown of power of the 15.4" market (that group somewhat included me ).

 

I thnik the m15x would pwn every 15.4" laptop out there. Most 15,4" laptops come with a 8600M at best. I've yet to see another 15,4" laptop with a 8800M GTX.

 

Yea. Other than the Alienware laptops, the best that 15.4" laptops have would be the 8600M GT.

Asus seems to be coming out with 14.1" & 15.4" laptops with the 9500M GS and Mobility HD3650 though. But I'm not exactly sure how the 9500M performs; heard it's a die-shrink of the 8600M GT but others say that it's the exact same card.

 

It's not related but i would say get a 17" 8800GTX and an Asus EEE. It might = to the price of the 15" AW that you are getting in the end.

 

I think if you're looking for something with a powerful GPU mobility isn't a primary concern anymore. Neither is batterylife.
It's sad how underpowered most desktop replacements are. I've seen 17" laptops in stores with a 1680*1050 screen powered by a GMA950 or X3100 with a sticker on it claiming how great it is for gaming. Thats just wrong IMO.

 

does HP even offer ANY notebook with 8800(xx)??? even 17" will do

 

Couldn't quite get you but HP HDX is offered with 8800, but it's 20inch thou.

 

Doubt if that one is put on display in any electronics store. Lol, 20" that isn't a laptop anymore but a disguised desktop.

 

for a price tag like $2700 dollars, why don't you just get an 8600m gt dell vostro machine for about $1000, sell it for $500 when the 9x series comes out, then buy a new machine with the new gpu (which might match or come close to an 8800m)

repeat. repeat?

you could be riding a geforce 11 or 12 series midrange gpu by the time its out, or an 8800m, for the same long term price.

 

That all depends on finding a good buyer for your old system. I found that selling old laptops/desktops isn't always that easy. Sometimes saying goodbye to your old system can be hard too .
Mostly I keep old system around for spare parts or lagacy gaming. Heck, I'v still got a Pentium II 333Mhz with a Voodoo 2 up and running if I want to play some MechWarrior 2 or Duke Nukem.

 

I've seen Acer's 20-inch model in the store. It is rather large, but it fits. Still takes up a bit less space on the shelf than a desktop. My question would be where you do get a carrying case for a 20-inch laptop? I can take a 17-incher with me on flights easily enough, but 20 might be another story.

The m15x is what you're looking for. It could be awhile for the UK, though.

 

I thought if you bought one you got a carrying case for it from Acer. But I doubt you want to be carrying that thing around.
Maybe you should try to buy a m15x in the US? Don't know if Alienware US ships abroad or the sell them over the counter in certain stores.

 

The M15x is on Alienware's UK site today. Not cheap, though.

 

Indeed. Stripped pretty bare, you're still looking at £1.5k.

 

Nobody ever said that Alienware was cheap.
Maybe if you shop around you can find a notebook that offers the same performance for a lesser price. Or just splurge on the GPU and upgrade the rest later.