X1600 vs. Go7700

Specifically how much better would the Asus G1 (with the Go7700) be compared to the HP NC8430 (X1600) be (with the same amount of ram) at gaming?

The stickies state list the 7700 as a high/medium, while the 1600 is consired a medium/high card. The only differences listed is that the 7700 has 8 ROPS vs the 4 of the ATI (what ever that really means), as everything else seems to be similar? Thanks

 

They're pretty similar but the go7700 does just edge it out. Whether this difference is noticable, we'll only be able to know once there is feedback from those with go770's. I've got a nc8430 with 256VRAM and 1GB RAM, so if anyone has a G1, they can compare it with mine.

 

nc8430 256VRAM and 2GB RAM = My Review Link

Feel free to compare.

 

I agree with Best Foot Foward. The Go 7700 will robably be a little faster, but both are very good, medium to high end cards, capcble of playing the latest games on pretty good settings.

 

Another thing to consider though is that the Asus G1, with the 7700 has 512mb of VRAM

 

You'll find the Go 7700 offers superior performance (albeit not very much). The G1 is also, what, $1800? As far as I know, that's cheaper than the $2000+ you may have to purchase a good NC8430 computer for.

 

Actually the nc8430 with T7200 is more around the $1600 range. Check with www.pricegrabber.com

 

Actually, all the nc8430's that are at a lower price than the G1 have 1 GB of RAM on pricegrabber.

I just customized an nc8430 on HP's website; it's well over $2000

 

Check out the GPU Guide.

Memory doesn't matter as much as the core parts. I think the 7700 can only use about 256MB effectively, so anything else is a marketing sham.

 

Jace88,

Does the G1 have 512MB of dedicated (discrete) memory?
The nc8430 has 256MB of dedicated and 256MB of Hypermemory totaling 512MB (I think, at least my Acer has an X1600 with this hypermemory thing).

 

The Asus website says that it has "512 MB Physical VRAM", which I assume means it has no turbocahced memory. Its quite pointless to have that much RAM, as the GPU can't make effective use of it.

 

Even if the 7700 GPU could control 512 discrete ram, isn't the memory bus still on 128-bit? Doesn't even catch up with a 7900GS with 256-bit bus.

 

Yes, you are right, TehStranger. The memory bus is still at 128-bit. Its difficult and quite expensive to build a card with a 256-bit bus like the Go 7900 GS. Thats a very powerful card, and that sort of power in a 15.4" notebook, while desirable, isn't practical. The Go 7700 is still a very powerful card, and it satifies almost everyone whos looking for power in a 15.4" notebook.

 

The Asus G1P's Go7700 does in fact have 512MB of dedicated memory with a 128-bit bus. It can only use up to about 256MB as posted.

Something to consider is this - if a game is not playable on the X1600 (let's assume a game came out that the X1600 cannot play because it is not powerful enough), then it isn't going to be playable on the Go7700. That is just putting the two cards into perspective. There is not a huge difference between them, but it is a noticeable one.

 

The nc8430 only has 256 dedicated. There is no hyper memory for that machine.

But yes, there is no earth shattering difference in performance. I'd personally recommend what gets your better price, build quality, and better features.

 

If you look at some benchmarks scores, it further supports what Chaz and Greg have said above. The cards are basically on the same level, but the go 7700 will have the superior performance.

Asus G1 3DMark05 (From Justin@XoticPC's G1 review):

3DMark '05

Using stock nVidia Driver

Score (Stock) - 4256 (450 Core / 400 Memory)

Score (Overclocked) - 4743 (474 Core /
458 Memory)

HP nc8430 3DMark05 from Greg's Review:

3,991 3D Marks (Stock settings, I presume)

 

So in terms of real-world gaming, is having the 7700 over the 7600 even a practical difference? As in if I'm considering two laptops, and one has a 7700 and one has 7600, how important of a difference is that. (Assume I play FPS like CoD2, FEAR, etc.)

 

If you are cponsidering two noteooks with a Go 7600 and Go 7700, then don't let the GPU hinder your decidion in which to get. The difference is quite small, and it won't amount to a mssive speed difference. So, just get the notebook, in which all the other specifications match the ones you want, and which ever one suits you better.

 

As is said above, the Go 7700 is undoubtably faster than the Go 7600, but by a very small margin.

 

The 7700 is 10-20% faster then the X1600 and 7600. I think one of the main differences is the number of pixel pipelines. The 7700 has 12, while the X1600 and 7600 only have 8 I believe. The amount of dedicated memory also - 256MB's vs. 512, as previously stated.

 

7600 comes with the occasional 512MB's of dedicated memory too, even if it's probably more of a marketing leverage than of any real use. Mine's running 512.

 

I would let the overall system make that decision for me rather than limit myself to the two go 7700 systems available right now. It's more powerful, but not so much that I'd base my buying decision on it--unless squeezing every last drop of GPU power were the main priority. But the G1p and A8Js are very nice systems in their own right.

Well said.

This is true, neither 7600 or 7700 can effectively use the extra 256 MB of VRAM.

 

Thanks for all the great responces. It certainly helps trying once more to get off the fence..

The Graphic card sticky has the 7600 at 8 pixel pipelines but the x1600 and 7700 at 12.

Is there a review anywhere of a G1' gaming frame rates with some of the above mentioned games that could be compared to some of the NC8430 reviews ( like this one)?

Thanks

 

There are a couple of reviews here on NBR. Justin@XoticPC's review has some benchmarks on it, but he didn't do any FPS reporting.

There's also supposedly another review floating around, so I'd check the Asus forums for that one. Found it, it's under G1 owner's lounge.

 

Thanks for the link. I read it but sadly no game stats listed. Maybe soon. I"ll keep my eyes open...

 

The 7700 is the most powerful mobile GPU for laptops 15.4" and under right now.

 

Is that statemant supposed to be news?

 

If the 7700 can't use the extra 256mb efficiently, does it mean it can't use them at all or just not as well as it should be able to? Why did Nvidia make a card with 512mb if half of it is useless? Just for marketing?

 

it can use it. If its using a texture that large its not fast enough for game play purposes but still faster than a card running from system ram...

you can look at my 3dmark scores and um, well a8jm 3dmark scores.

3dmark 06, highest overclock for the a8jm was 2600 my highest overclock is 3170

It is essentially 150% the speed. 7700 is also made in a lower nm which rarely gets brought up so it could run cooler.
It is just like the nvidia model naming order, its between the 7600 and the 7800 in the middle.
7800 go is very slow 256 bit card 7700 is a very fast 128 bit card

It does consume more power though even though its made in a lower process.

I think the difference is significant, I think its huge.
You will notice the difference in games absolutely.

 

You mentioned the two key words: "efficiently" and "marketing"...

The truth is out there, as usually.

 

I was having a moment there, like in the movie Independence Day when the president says "Today, we celebrate Independence Day!" on July 4th...

 

7700 go can use more than 256 mb ram. The only reason I bring it up again though is to point out one thing definitely.

If they made the same card 256 mb but put in ddr3 , i mean if they just used the same card nothing different 256 mb ddr3, it would be significantly faster.

the 512 mb does so little but just making the ram go to 550 mhz would make the card like so much faster like 10% 20% something.
the 512 mb is going to come into play in far fewer situations.

and thats all the 7600 gt card is its using 256 mb ddr 3. The speed of the ram is more important than the amount absolutely.

Im not going to say 512 is extremely powerful addition because its not but it is good....