Thinkpad T61 vs. Dell XPS M1210 for light gaming

At first I figured that the Dell XPS M1210 would be better at gaming because that's what it's for, but then I looked at the 3dMark06 scores. The scores for the T61 from http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2127459,00.asp show a 3dMark06 score of 1826, and the scores for the M1210 from http://www.notebookforums.com/thread158266.html were in the 900s. Am I reading this wrong?

 

i'm guessing it depends on the graphics card for the T61. assuming you're willing to go for 14"/15" and that you're indifferent between business class and multimedia laptop, why not go for 14" gaming?

 

The M1210, although Dell XPS, isn't really for gaming. If it had a Go 7600, then i'd be all over getting that mess, but it doesn't - so i am probably going to go for something that does. Apart from the lacking in graphics, it's a good laptop.

But you probably want a screen bigger than 12" to play games though anyways

 

The Thinkpad T61 has an Nvidia Quadro NVS 140M card, whereas the XPS M1210 comes maximum with a Geforce Go 7400 card. It's true the NVS 140M scores better than the Go 7400. In fact, the NVS 140M approaches Radeon X1600/Go 7600 speeds (2,000 in 3DMark06) from the previous generation of DX9 cards.

 

i;ve had the m1210 for a while and returned it. i didn't really like gaming on a 12inch screen, the 7400go is capable of running oblivion on low settings with very low resoultions. i have heard that the nvidia quadro m140 card is a better card than the 7400go

 

Do you guys think the Thinkpad T61 could run Oblivion on low settings, then?

 

Definitely

 

Awesome, I do like the durability and price of the T61. I was highly considering the M1210 until I saw how small the screen was. Do you guys have any alternate suggestions?

 

I vote for the Lenovo Thinkpad T61 because I do not like 12.1" laptops.

 

Unfortunately, currently the T61 is one of the only 14.1" or smaller laptop out there with dedicated DX10 graphics. If you don't mind the DX9/DX10 divide, you could try some of the following laptops:

Sony SZ (13.3", Geforce Go 7400)
Compal HGL-30 (14.1", Geforce Go 7600)
Asus V2Je (14.1", Radeon X1450)
Asus A8Js (14.1", Geforce Go 7700)

If you can wait a month or so, Compal is releasing two new notebooks - the IFL90 and IFT00. The IFL90 is a 15.4" barebones notebook that features the new 8600M GT graphics card, which is pretty similar in power to the Geforce Go 7900GS only found in 17"+ notebooks. The IFT00 is a 14.1" notebook that's supposed to come with an 8600M GS, a weaker version of the 8600M GT.

Asus also has several things lined up, such as a barebones 13.1" Z37 laptop with a Geforce Go 7700. Also expect Santa Rosa refreshes to its line up laptops by July or august.

HP's dv2500t and dv6500t are 14.1" and 15.4" notebooks, respectively, that will carry the Geforce 8400M video cards in about a month, which are slightly more powerful than the Quadro NVS 140M.

 

How much more power is "slightly more powerful"?

 

Keep in mind there are 3 versions of the 8400M: the G, the GS, and the GT. The G and GS will definitely be weaker than the 8400M GT, and the 8400M GT benches slightly higher than a Quadro NVS 140M. So, to answer your question: not very much at all.

 

so the quadro in the t61 would be able to run the occasional game of quake 3 arena and MAYBE doom? i'm running a 128mb geforxe fx 5200, and from what people say, it sucks. but i'm able to play anything i throw at it. if i'm satisfied with my current level of graphics card, would the t61's quadro be enough for me?

 

Yes Quake and Doom 3 will not be a problem. Only games that came out this year or late last year will cause it to have to run on low settings: Oblivion, Supreme Commander, Medieval Total War 2, older games are no problem.

 

The Quadro NVS 140M will be able to run anything the Geforce Go 7600 could run.

 

oh ok. i'm set then. i was under the inpression that the 140m wasn't any good, but if it's better than my fx 5200 128mb, then i'll be completely satisfied. all these people who have extremely intense gaming needs were getting me discouraged, but thanks for your help.

 

You will notice a significant improvement over your FX 5200

That's like comparing a Radeon 9800 to a Radeon X1800