This should help for peolple deciding on making a sacrifice

I Hear people say that the GPU is often the “Bottleneck” of a system. This makes sense. However, what I would like to know is what the other components should be besides tHe GPU. So a person doesn’t waste money.

For example: Having a quad core processor and 4GB of RAM in a computer with a nvidia 6400 is just plain dumb…

In other words, How good should the CPU or RAM be with a given GPU?

To make it more clear pick from the following. Assume that the notebook will be used for everyday computing and mid to high level gaming.

Which system MAKES THE MOST SENSE FOR THE GIVEN GPU:

System Type 1-A (CPU dependent):
Screen: 15.4”
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo T5500 @1.66GHz, 2MB L2 cache
GPU: Nvidia geforce 7600 go w/256 dedicated
RAM: 1 GB

System Type 1-B (CPU dependent):
Screen: 15.4”
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo T5600 @1.83GHz, 2MB L2 cache
GPU: Nvidia geforce 7600 go w/256 dedicated
RAM: 1 GB

System Type 1-C (CPU dependent):
Screen: 15.4”
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo T7200 @2.00GHz, 4MB L2 cache
GPU: Nvidia geforce 7600 go w/256 dedicated
RAM: 1 GB

System Type 1-D (CPU dependent):
Screen: 15.4”
CPU: Intel Core Duo T2400 @1.83GHz, 2MB L2 cache
GPU: Nvidia geforce 7600 go w/256 dedicated
RAM: 1 GB

System Type 1-E (CPU dependent):
Screen: 15.4”
CPU: Intel Core Duo T2500 @2.00GHz, 2MB L2 cache
GPU: Nvidia geforce 7600 go w/256 dedicated
RAM: 1 GB

System Type 2-A+ (RAM dependent):
Screen: 15.4”
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo T7200 @2.00GHz, 4MB L2 cache
GPU: Nvidia geforce 7600 go w/256 dedicated
RAM: 2 GB

System Type 2-A (RAM dependent):
Screen: 15.4”
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo T5600 @1.83GHz, 2MB L2 cache
GPU: Nvidia geforce 7600 go w/256 dedicated
RAM: 2 GB

System Type 2-B (RAM dependent):
Screen: 15.4”
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo T5500 @1.66GHz, 2MB L2 cache
GPU: Nvidia geforce 7600 go w/256 dedicated
RAM: 2 GB

System Type 2-C (RAM dependent):
Screen: 15.4”
CPU: Intel Core Duo T2500 @2.00 GHz, 2MB L2 cache
GPU: Nvidia geforce 7600 go w/256 dedicated
RAM: 2 GB

System Type 2-D (RAM dependent):
Screen: 15.4”
CPU: Intel Core Duo T2400 @1.83GHz, 2MB L2 cache
GPU: Nvidia geforce 7600 go w/256 dedicated
RAM: 2 GB

So in the end, which of these systems makes the most sense for a computer with a 7600??

Obviously the System Type 2-A+ is the most powerful, but is it overkill?

Thanks

 

It all matters what the system will be used for.....
typically the GPU is the bottleneck when people will be using it for gaming and such, however if the machine will only be crunching numbers the GPU is totally irrevelant. So it's not always the case that mixmatched components will lead to system bottlenecks..

 

Good idea, but there are just too many variables.

Some people need a faster CPU for video encoding and some need more RAM because they do large 3d models. It just varies too much.

 

Indeed, so Chimera.....are you looking to purchase a laptop? If so please fill out the FAQ so people can assist you based on your specs/price range/ and needs, that is why the FAQ exists.

 

No it's not that, I already purchased a laptop. I just know that when I was first looking for a laptop I had this same question. I was just trying to help other people in my same situation out. It is hard to know what is too much or too little in a notebook.

 

I suppose, but using the FAQ is really the only way for NBR users to figure out what most people need for certain.

 

The best graphics performance will be given by 2GB ram and any cpu you can afford (the 3DMark score of an ASUS W3J with 1.66 Core Duo and one gigs of ram is equal to on with a Core 2 Duo T7200 with 1Gigs of ram)

 

Agreed. Every CPU listed is plenty powerful.

Gaming in general really wants 2GB of RAM these days.

 

I remember reading something interesting about Oblivion performance and CPU power. I think in games that have lots of physics and AI and stuff the CPU can have a significant effect on performance.

Ah, it were this, I think. The third page.

 

Games like SupCom really use the 2 cores.

 

This thread is strange. Depending on the applications you run and games you play, the ram, cpu or gpu could all be bottlenecks. This has been said previously. With dual core cpu's and unoptimized games like Rogue Spear: Vegas, the cpu will be the bottleneck as the game needs a 3ghz cpu to run properly.

As for all the choices and the statement about mid-high level gaming. I would choose the System Type 2-A+. There is no such thing as overkill when it comes to gaming is there? What is overkill now is underpowered next week.

 

This is very true. You spend $3k on a gaming beast and in 6-8 months the same system could have been constructed around $2200.

 

The people at the very top of the curve pay for the rest of us to have games The 8800GTX costs NVIDIA pretty close to the same to manufacture as the 7900, the 7600, etc. But it's priced higher, and people pay for it to subsidize those of us who don't need the absolute top of the line. And we get the best bang for our buck.

 

wait. so an E6600 in pentium term is actually 2 x 2.4 which is 4.8 GHz?

 

Pretty much.

Chimera, I think that in a system with 1.83 cpu and 2gb ram is probably better than 2.00 cpu and 1gb simply because 2 gb of ram is the norm nowadays, and there is a negligible difference in everyday use between the 1.83 and the 2.00 cpu while there is a pretty noticeable between 1 and 2 gb of ram. For games, the difference between the 1.83 and 2.00 may be 2-4 fps, while load times and fps can go up a lot in games from 1 to 2gb of ram. I notice MUCH faster play in Company of Heroes now that I have 2gb of ram versus the 1 I used to have.

And when you purchase a machine from a store you can always skimp out on the RAM a bit and just get your preferred CPU. The upgrade at times can be pretty cheap (I saw ram prices last year at Newegg for 85$!, although now its around $100), and easy, while a manual upgrade of CPU can be upwards of $300 and is not as easy.

 

This is not correct.

An E6600 can't be described in Pentium terms, largely because Pentium D's never even scraped the Core 2 Duo's performance.

Additional cores also do NOT mean a linear performance boost. Two 2.4 GHz is two 2.4 GHz, and a game/application needs to be written in such a way that it splits the workload between the two cores. Dual core systems aren't better because they're faster, they're better because they're smoother and more efficient.

 

Also a dual core will generally never get a 100% boast because of the drawback of a it( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual_core).

however the c2d are much faster processors than the pentium d desipe the clock speed ratings.