UPDATED - The Mobile Graphics Card Info Page - Most GPU Qs answered

What sort of budget do you have? You might want to complete the FAQ in the What Should I Buy Forum so we can recommend something to you. There may be a better video card available for your price range.

I'm inclined to say the Mobility 9200 is the more powerful, but it depends . . . The X200M would probably be better in the long run because it supports DirectX 9, while the 9200 only supports DX8.1. Overall, I think the X200M is better.

 

wheres the x1700 in this chart?

 

Well the X1700 is a bit better then the X1600, so it should be after the X1600. X1700 has around 4500 3dmark05 points. It is not the power but the technology that makes the X1700 so interesting. Something like strained silicons or something.

Charlie

 

I do not put in cards before I have a solid set of benchmarks to judge it on.

 

Don't you trust the Chinese review?

I know that is Chinese but it's very comprehensive too...

I'm just joking

 

I have read your info page and found it very interesting. One question though, the Geforce 7600 can be found in different versions. As I have understood it the card comes with 128 MB or 256 MB dedicated memory, with the ability to use another 128 MB and 256 MB of the CPU RAM memory, respectively. Is the 128 MB version ok for games like WOW or is it more for games like CIV3?

All the best!

 

I'm sure that the author of this page will answer you but since he is not here...

So Go 7600 is powerful enough for the lastest games... you won't have any problems with that. Also more memory won't hurt you but 128 is still enough for gaming.

 

Thanks Dreamer for your answer. I ask since it usually is hard to know which card people refer to when they describe the usefullness of the Geforce Go 7600. Do they mean the card with 256 MB or the 128 MB memory. To complicate matters further I've read that the 128 MB version comes with a 128 bit memory bus OR with a 64 bit memory bus. The lower bandwith gives apparently poor performance. And then there is also the NVIDIA GeForce Go 7600 GT which has 12 pixelpiplines instead of 8.

So my question is if the Geforce Go 7600 with 128 MB and with a 128 bit memory bus is good for playing WOW?

 

As far as I know there is only one version of 7600 which has 128-bit Memory Bus (64x2).
As I said even 128 Mb version of 7600 is enough for everythig. (for now)

 

It's difficult to find review comparing 128 vs 256 Mb version of go 7600...

Of course, if you can it's better to get the 256Mb version, there are enough games which will be "happy" to use these 128Mb extra memory

 

Thanx Dreamer, I appreciate your comments! It would be intresting to hear comments from anyone who uses the Geforce go 7600 128 MB for gaming.

About getting the Geforce go 7600 with 256 MB: The problem with laptops is that they all come with pretty much fixed configurations. To get a laptop with both a Intel core 2 duo processor and a Geforce go 7600 256 MB gpu cost money. For me the processor is the main priority since the reason for buying the laptop is related to crunching numbers, but I would also like to have decent gaming options as well.

 

Thanks a lot for this exhaustive information.. it just made deciding so easy.. it has kind of become a standard information available on notebookreview.com

 

This was very helpful. Thank you.

 

Thanks for the compliments guys. Remember, if anyone thinks the post needs something/something needs changing/something needs revising/anything, let me know. Also, I am always more willing to add questions to the FAQ (I added #6 last night).

Chaz

 

Hi there NetUser

I just saw your sig, and that you have the F3Ja. I am considering that exact notebook now myself, and I am wondering what you think of it when it comes to gaming.

Do you feel that it can handle the very latest games? I am an avid gamer and are going from desktop to laptop. As it is, the notebooks with X1700 and Go7700 are too expensive here in sweden (they have not really turned up yet, but have prices). So I'm wondering if I should wait for the newer cards to drop in price or buy an F3Ja now and be happy (?).

Anone else with thoughts on the newer generation of laptop graphics, worth the wait/price?

Cheers //Patrik

 

**** it,

Sorry for posting this specific question to netuser about the F3J, should have been a PM and I'm sure it has been answered like 50 times already some where in this thread.

But the other question is quite interesting, right? As Chaz commented, as long as there is no real world benches on the Go7700 and the X1700, there is not much to be said on these cards. But somewhere it's stated that the 7700 could be up to 50% faster than the 7600 in some aspects.

Anyway, my theory is that during next year, there will be some heavy duty games released. And for those it won't matter if your notebook has an 7700 or an 7600 in it, those graphics cards will surely be in trouble anyway. Since it's the game software industry that drives the development of new graphics cards / technologies, the games of 2007 will maybe consider even desktop cards like the 7800GT or 7900GT/GTX not to be top-of-the-line anymore, but midrange products! And the new cards, GeForce 8800 series and the like, will be the new top-of-the-line.

Where does that leave our Go7600/7700 and X1600/1700 notebooks? Maybe in a terrible place - the dust .

If this is the case, which we really don't know anything bout yet, then it won't matter if we wait on notebooks with the old Go7600 in them, or the new Go7700. THAT is my point. Over and out!

Cheers //Patrik

 

Well the Go7700 is not 50% faster. But if you are a real fanatic gamer, why not wait for Q1 2007 for Santa Rose-platform. Dual core, 64-bit, 800 MHz FSB, DX10 support, new WLAN (812.n).
I am going to upgrade when Santa rose notebooks come.

Charlie

 

Probably not worth the wait for the Go7700/X1700 if you need a laptop right now. They are updates to the Go7600 and X1600 respectively - they are not able to do anything that the previous cards couldn't do. The X1700 shows very little performance improvement over the X1600 as that was not the purpose of the upgrade, and considering that the Go7700 now scores upwards of 4000 marks theoretical 3DMark05 benchmarks, I would say the performance of both cards should be roughly similar.

 

If we're talking about "numbers"...

If we're talking about "essays"...

I will skip commenting on the incredible results... but everyone is free to interpret them in whatever way they like

 

The X1600 has around 3500 3dmark05 points? I think that is more something like 3800. Or is this the result of the "cheapest" X1600?

Charlie

 

Well thanks for that, I was just thinking that these "new" cards can't be worth the extra wait, price or headache over choosing a new laptop.

Oh why have'nt they implemented and embraced MXM, that would make our lives sooo much easier... But alas, it wouldn't be good for notebook sales i guess.

Thanks //Patrik

 

how much better is the radeon?

In the nc8430 i hear that it can play oblivion beautifully (at least for a 15.4 inch laptop).. where as the Geforce go.. I have no idea... I assume the radeon is more powerful because its in a business class computer.. vs a home computer..

 

the X1600 is about twice as powerful as the 7400

 

Here is the deal.

ATI X1600 = GeForce 7600 = Twice (GeForce 7400) = Twice (ATI X1400)

If you want to compare with higher end cards,

ATI X1800 = GeForce 7900 GS = Twice (ATI X1600) = Twice (GeForce 7600)

 

I merged your thread into here because it deals with the same topic.

The GeForce Go7400 does not play Oblivion that well, although it can run it at respectable settings. I would advise the Go7600/X1600 for gaming, they are about twice as powerful as stated.

 

My review of the nc8430 has specs posted, as well as gaming benchmarks on Oblivion. You might find them useful. 1280x800 with fairly good eye-candy.

If only they could make a 7900GS fit in a 15.4" notebook...Dell did it with a 12" and the 7400!

 

Oh, it'll fit. They'd just have to make the notebook out of milled copper, and you wouldn't be able to touch it

 

I've just bought myself a brand new RockDirect Xtreme CTX Pro and it should be arriving any day now. I was just wondering if anyone knew where to get Rock drivers for the graphic card, or if I can use generic ones, where i can get those from?

I know it might not need updating as soon as i get it out of the box but it's primarily a games machine so want it to be as update as possible.


------------------
Rock Xtreme CTX Pro
2.00GHZ Core 2 Duo T7200
NVIDIA GeForce 7900 Go GTX 512MB
2GB DDR2 667MHz
17in Widescreen WSXGA
120 BG HD 5400rpm

 

You can probably find the graphic drivers on the NVIDIA site. Also it's possible that rockdirect has a download place for all the drivers that you need.

 

Actually, laptopvideo2go is a better place for notebook GPU drivers as nVidia.

 

Your thread has been merged with this one because it deals with the same topic.

Driver updates can be found on the first page; as Ice-Tea said the LaptopVideo2Go drivers are generally viewed as the best.

 

Updated with Go7950GTX; read our coverage here:
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=3266

 

Chaz just one question, when do you expect DirectX 10 cards. I heard Nvidia is going to introduce 8800GTX for desktops after 1 month, but how long will it take for notebooks? I just can't wait to upgrade.

Charlie

 

heh.. you can "enjoy" DirectX 10 right now by "upgrading" to the Graphics Media Accelerator X3000

Kinda pointless question anyway.

 

Thank you for posting this guide.
It's awesome and really helpful.

 

Hehe I would also like to play Crysis, I dont think I can do that on a X3000, or can I?

Charlie

 

heh Charlie you know I'm just joking....

However, you know that first you have to have a 'working' Vista and enough DX10 games and then you can think about DX10... so probable in the middle of the next year you'll 'see' DX10 on your notebook screen you just don't need that right now...

 

Right, I would not expect DirectX 10 to hit notebooks before Santa Rosa. Even if DirectX 10 were available before then, it wouldn't do you any good because DirectX 10 is Vista-only, so without Vista, no DX10.

 

Ok thanks for the reply Chaz and Dreamer...

Another question: how long will it take before we see some real DX10 like Crysis? And how fast will these DX10 games be made? If game producers get their hands on DX10 cards now, I think it will take a while before DX10 games can be made. Or do I make a mistake here?

Charlie

 

The developers don't need DirectX 10 cards to produce DirectX 10 games - ATI released its DirectX 10 SDK back on April 19th, 2006:
http://tgdaily.com/2006/04/19/ati_dx10_sdk/
DirectX 10 can be emulated on non-DX10 hardware.

Games using DX10 should be available right from the launch date (otherwise it wouldn't be much of a launch now would it?), and I think Microsoft is going to put a lot of emphasis on DX10 try and spur game developers to get DX10 games out the door as fast as possible. Right now, sit tight because you won't see any DirectX 10 notebook chips for a couple of months. Desktop DX10 chips aren't out yet.

 

I know that some game manufactures work with DX10's SDK right now so I'm sure that you will see some DX10 games on the same day when Vista is launched. Especially when the manufactures have had enough time due to vista delaying

 

heh Chaz beat me because he is 'mod' and his posts are processed with priority

 

Ok that explains a lot for me, thanks Chaz and Dreamer. Well I guess this means that I have to wait for the X2700

Charlie

 

I would like to say thanks to Chaz for his work here. Excellent job. I've read from about page 50 to the end of this tread and I'm still left with a few questions. I'm looking very seriously at the HP Pavillion DV9035NR featured in Best Buy this weekend. Priced at 1349 no rebates. http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...t&productCategoryId=cat15107&id=1158317339247

I have a few questions I'll list below here.

1. Is the T5500 (1.66) going to be fast enough for gaming? How does it compare to say a P4 3.0?

2. I can only get the GeForce Go 7600 with 256 MB at Best Buy. If I go to HP's site I can get it with 512MB. Is there going to be a noticeable difference?

3. It appears from the ad you get the worst of the screens 1440X900 resolution. How is this going to be for gaming? Personally my old HP I'm typing this on has the 15.4 1680X1040 and I loved it. Back light died though! HP wants 200 - 300 to fix it. Can't see spending that kind of money on an older machine. It's hooked to a monitor at the moment. If anyone knows where I could get this fixed at a decent price I would really appreciate it? Anyway.....

4.Hd space is 2 80 Gig hd's spinning at 5400. Any thoughts?

I'm really torn between buying this thing at Best Buy or directly from HP. I can pretty much configure it at their site any way I want it. With Best Buy I get what I get. The biggest issue though for me at least is to get a screen without any defects. I can't stand stuck pixels! Which one is going to give me the least amount of trouble returning it if I have any? As for the games, I play mostly First Person Shooters. Any thoughts on any of the above questions I'd love to hear.

Thanks,

 

The CPU is fast enough, as has been said many times, the clock speed is not so important nowadays.

T5500 (1.66) ~ Pentium 4HT 3.2GHz

Anyway, I would go for at least 1.83

I doubt that you would see any difference

However, when you're buying a 17" notebook, there are so much better options if we're talking about video card. (Go 7600 is rather a good option for 15.4")

A 7200rpm drive would be noticeably faster when you access the hard drive (booting, starting apps)


I suggest filling the FAQ

 

1.6 GHz is more then enough, Core 2 Duo is fast enough for all the games. So your CPU will not be the bottleneck.

The 7600GO is very good these days. You will be able to play all of the games of today.

And 2 80 GB 5400 rpm drivers are great, running in RAID0 can give you superb performance.

Charlie

 

You might want to fill in the FAQ in the What Should I Buy forum as stated. The 512MB of dedicated VRAM on the Go7600 is not worth paying for.

 

i cant play cstrike source on my 945gm mobile graphic card. please if someone has information about a patch ..

 

Hmm CS should play good on a 945GM. Can you post at which settings you play? Have you updated your drivers? What FPS does the stress test show?

If you would post more info we would be able to help you better.

Charlie

 

The only hope you have for playing Counter-Strike: Source on an integrated Intel GMA950 graphics card is by running it under DirectX 7 mode. Google search for instructions on how to do so.