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    Which card should I upgrade to (675mx vs 7970M vs 680m) on my Clevo p150em

    Discussion in 'Gaming (Software and Graphics Cards)' started by dna2008, Feb 2, 2013.

  1. dna2008

    dna2008 Notebook Consultant

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    Hi,

    I'm going to make a purchase of a Clevo p150em over the next few days, and I'm wondering which GPU I should upgrade to.

    The base configuration comes with a GTX 670mx but I can upgrade to:

    - GTX 675mx (4GB DDR5) for $150
    - AMD Radeon HD 7970 (2GB DDR5) for $190
    - GTX 680m (4GB DDR5) for $500

    What will give me the best performance increase for the price?
     
    dna2008, Feb 2, 2013
    #1
  2. HTWingNut

    HTWingNut Potato

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    If the AMD Enduro driver and GPU utilitzation issues have been truly fixed, then the 7970m is the best bang for the buck.

    Otherwise if you have the cash, the GTX 680m is the most stable and best performing with likely the most overclock headroom as well.
     
    HTWingNut, Feb 2, 2013
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  3. hfm

    hfm Notebook Prophet

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    7970M. No question.
     
    hfm, Feb 3, 2013
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  4. dna2008

    dna2008 Notebook Consultant

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    I just saw a review on youtube by xoticpc.com which states that the AMD 7970m uses up the battery completely within 56 minutes, while the 680m results in the battery lasting for an hour and 45 minutes.

    Do you think new drivers, or are there new drivers out there, that have prolonged the battery life for the AMD 7970m?
     
    dna2008, Feb 3, 2013
    #4
  5. failwheeldrive

    failwheeldrive Notebook Deity

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    Not sure, but you won't be gaming on battery anyway. It'll last longer if you're just browsing the web or doing other light tasks on battery.

    Personally, I'd go with the 680m if you have the cash. It's more powerful, more reliable, runs cooler, and overclocks like crazy. If you don't have the cash, get the 7970m. I've owned and loved both cards, but I'd pay the extra $250 for the 680m any day.
     
    failwheeldrive, Feb 3, 2013
    #5
  6. HTWingNut

    HTWingNut Potato

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    Both 7970m and 680m have switchable graphics in the Clevo, so the dedicated card is powered down while on battery and only uses the GPU integrated in the CPU (HD 4000) so the dedicated card really shouldn't matter on battery drain. I can get 3:00-3:30 minutes run time on battery.
     
    HTWingNut, Feb 3, 2013
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  7. Saodexan

    Saodexan Notebook Consultant

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    I use mine at school every day and on battery saving mode i get 3h20m battery life.
     
    Saodexan, Feb 4, 2013
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  8. imglidinhere

    imglidinhere Notebook Deity

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    You can't go for an ultra high end GPU and expect incredible battery life. That's just silly. :p It's like hooking up your desktop to a UPS and complaining at how you don't get more than 30 minutes with it. XD
     
    imglidinhere, Feb 4, 2013
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  9. Ajfountains

    Ajfountains Notebook Deity

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    I have the 675mx and I love it. I do plan on upgrading to the 680 when prices drop. I play all my games on the highest settings, and only the most demanding games require i drop a notch off AA, etc (Metro 2033)

    While the enduro issues have been mostly solved, for me it is a non-starter. I simply don't have the time to mess around with drivers; my free time is for gaming. However, if you can handle doing some troubleshooting and tinkering, the 7970 clearly beats the 675mx and trades blows with the 680.

    Do you absolutely need the best performance with 0 issues? 680

    Do you want the best performance value and are willing to do some troubleshooting? 7970

    Do you just want to game on very high settings with no issues and not break the bank? 675mx.
     
    Ajfountains, Feb 4, 2013
    #9