X1600 vs. 7900GS

Is there really a big gap between the MR x1600 and the 7900GS? Is it worth over $250? How about OC for both cards, how do they compare? Thanks.

 

it depends on how much power you need, how much money you are willing to spend, and how much mobility you want. the x1600 will score around a 3700-4000 in 3d mark 05, and the 7900gs wll score somthing like a 6100.

 

Not sure about the OC'ing potential of an x1600, but the 7900gs is an overclocking powerhouse. Raising from the stock 375/1000 to 575/1100 gives a nice 3dmark05 score of almost 8500 for me. I would say, just like tangent, it comes down to power v. portability. If you are willing to get a 17" powerhouse DTR, and want high framerates in modern games on max settings, then go for the 7900gs. The x1600 is still a very powerful card and will give excellent performance, and also allows for a 15.4" form factor, which is more portable and battery friendly. The x1600 can run any game you throw at it, although in some games like Oblivion you will need to tone back some of the settings.

 

I agree with the above posts. If you are going 17" and lust after graphical splendor, I wouldn't go x1600. But if you are thinking 15.4" or 14.1" are the right size for you--don't worry too much about the x1600 being inadequate. It is after all, the most powerful GPU available below 17".

 

theres a huge difference between the 2..but 7900GS is essentially made for DTRs only since the heat produced will not allow it in anything smaller than 17...however..you can get x1600 in a 14" which allows for midrange gaming in a portable size..really depends on how you will use the laptop or if it is replacing a desktop

 

I think the gap will notice only in the more demanding games, but if you're going to keep the notebook for a while it's better to go for a 7900, it's more future proof.

 

What wrong with 17" notebook that has x1600? Im planning on buying Asus
A7J which is 17" and has ati x1600. Are guys saying i shoudnt buy? If i buy it what will be negative things with x1600 and 17" together?

Thanx in advance

 

paul1122,

I'm not saying anything about the x1600 in particular. I was merely saying that if you want maximum graphical goodness AND you are OK with 17", that the x1600 is not the most powerful option. The x1600 is fine for a 17" laptop. It's not an issue in 15.4" and smaller because the x1600/go7600 is the most powerful you can get below 17". Don't worry about it. BTW, I really like the ASUS A7J.

 

if you're spending close to 2k for a system..and if you want to future proof..the 250 is worth it

 

The x1600 is by no way a weak card. It's the best all around mid-range card right now. But the way I look at it, if you're already going for a 17", why not try to get a 7900GS? The benefits of having an x1600 in a 17" are that you can make the notebook thinner (MacBook Pro is a great example) and it will be better on battery life and heat. I don't know all about the A7J, but it's probably thinner than say an Inspiron E1705 or XPS M1710.

 

What are some 17" notebooks that have 7900GS??? Except for dell. And do u guys know where i can get a 17" notebook with 7900GS in Canada? I've been looking around it and i cant find it.

Thanx in advance

 

There's the Toshiba Satellite P105, costs around $2000 USD. Not sure how much that is going for in Canada.

 

Hmmm? Lame speakers, 2x512 RAM, only a T2400 and a 4200RPM hard drive? That P105 seems a little lopsided for a gaming rig. The x1600 may not be as fast as a 7900 GPU but I'd still recommend the Asus W2J to anyone looking for a 17" rig. What it lacks in FPS, it surely makes up in design, battery life, sound and overall full-functionality as a multimedia machine for all.

 

I'd say the T2400 isn't something to complain about - however, the 4200RPM drive is. Since it is a 160GB model, it shouldn't be that bad, considering the platters will be very dense, but obviously a cost cutting measure. There are 5400RPM drives out there with the same capacity.

 

What about Asus A7J? Do u think thats a good notebook?

 

Paul,

Consider filling out an FAQ in the "What to buy" forum. You'll get a lot of recommendations that way based on your specific needs.