New Gateway 7508GX AMD Athlon 64 notebook at BestBuy!

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...CategoryId=pcmcat22300050001&id=1122653491611

Nice price, 64MB VRAM is not so nice though but probably still enough, maybe it's even a typo like they had on the original 7510GX which was listed w/ 64MB VRAM at first. Also I don't see anything about hypermemory. But still probably a good entry level gaming notebook.

 

I think it's a lower spec'd out version of the 7510GX.

 

It is, it has 64MB less VRAM, an Athlon 64 3400+ instead of 3700+, and the hard disk is 20GB smaller.

But the price is still very nice for the machine, which still features a decent GPU, an Athlon 64, and a gig of RAM standard.

EDIT: But it lists the system memory as expandable to 2GB! And for what it's worth, HyperMemory can be enabled on it.

 

So when it is on sale in a few weeks it should be $999, to bad it doesn't have 128MB VRAM. Still I wonder if hypermemory can or can not be enabled. According to the specs it doesn't seam to have hypermemory. I'm really not sure what determains this feature. But I don't think I have seen any 64MB X600/X700 w/ hypermemory and they are the ones that could really bennefit from it. Weird...

Also about the 2GB RAM. Did they make both memory slots user accessible? Or are the specs not final. I remembered when the 7510gx was released the specs "fluxuated" for few weeks. First it had 64MB VRAM then it got 128, and finally 256 w/ hypermem enabled.

 

The most recent Catalysts enable HyperMemory for virtually every card...ever. Definitely all recent models.

HyperMemory is done in software, so the X600 in the 7508GX will be able to use it.

 

Oh? Are you sure? If so then the Acer 4402WLMi is better than the 7508GX hands down! for $1250 you get the X700, Turion 64, 100GB 5400rpm HD, DL DVDRW, tax/shipping included! Does it require Mobile Catalyst 5.8 drivers to get hypermem enabled on the X700? What software could test and prove if a system has hypermem enabled, just to be sure?

 

I'm sure. I don't know if you're supposed to use Mobile Catalysts or what, I just know that Catalyst 5.8 enables HyperMemory on almost all GPUs across the board.

As for what software can confirm it, I'm not sure. I do know that my HyperMemory just lists my GPU memory as being 256MB when I know it's only 128MB.

 

so the x700 card in the Acer 4402 (with 64 mbs dedicated) can be set to use hypermemory???

mmmm that makes it a **** good computer to get.. just slap a gig of ram or more into it.

im still waitin on bestbuy to get some more 7510gx's in stock.. anyone know anythin bout that? or anywhere else to get em?

 

Yes, you can enable hypermemory on the 64MB card. Just download the modded Catalyst drivers from www.omegadrivers.net (5.7 or later), and hypermemory is enabled by default. Have fun!

 

ChazMan421 go to start - run then type dxdiag and press enter. Then go to display tab in DX diag and post a screen shot! That would be awesome...

Anyone with a 7508GX or 7510GX please do the same!

 

7510gx.

 

Cool! Just what I was hoping for, 256MB. This means that anyone with Windows can see their amount of total video ram to know if they got hypermemory. The 4402WLMi showed 64MB. I wonder what the 7508GX would show, something tells me they inactivated hypermem on it for some reason. The 7510GX looks good! Now if I could only get it for $1250 again...

 

One more time...

HyperMemory is almost entirely software.

It can be enabled on virtually any ATI GPU.

It can be enabled on the 64MB X600 in the 7508GX. There's no reason it can't be.

 

I need to see it. That's just me. I would love to be able to enable it on X700/128MB. Ferrari 4000 or MSI MS-1029.

 

Yeah cause if that's the case, the 8510 is the way to go when the sell comes around.

 

how many hours of battery life are you looking at running on full power ? how bout on say something like word processing settings?

 

I just ran dxdiag on my new 7508GX. It shows the "Approx. Total Memory" as 128.0 MB. The machine has 64MB of physical VRAM, so it would appear that it's using HyperMemory.

 

That's weird, I thought hypermem always use 128MB when activated. Maybe it has 128MB dedicated and the info is wrong (again) on bestbuys website. Please show us a screen shot!

 

I'd thought that HyperMemory by default would grab a memory block equal in size to the amount of dedicated VRAM. But I haven't looked into it much. I've attached a capture of the dxdiag 'Display' tab.

 

Great, do you use an external monitor?

 

Yes -- a Dell 2005FPW was attached when I created that screen capture. It's a 20-inch widescreen LCD with a resolution of 1680x1050.

 

mmm its 999 right now.. **** its a nice deal!

worth getting methinks.

 

You'll like it. Runs fast, pretty cool, screen is awesome.

 

Can anyone tell me how I can confirm for myself that my 7508gx really has up to 128MB of video memory?

 

Go to Start menu, then Run, type dxdiag and click ok. Then in dxdiag chose display tab and it should say the total amount of VRAM there.

Let us know what you get!

 

Thanks. I actually figured that out right before your post. It shows 128mb so I'm happy.

 

First just wanted to say hey as this is my first post to these forums.....I was real interested in the 7508GX and searching for it online I came across this site. Second, after reading about the Omega drivers and installing it on my new 7508GX, the video ram did jump from 128 to 256.....I'll take a screen shot later tonight to show everyone. So it sounds like from the factory it has a 64mb GPU and 64mb of hyper memory. Then once the omega is installed the Hyper memory jumps from 64 to 192 making the total 256.

 

Chaddy,

Please post a screenshot, and let us know what Omega driver you downloaded. (Was it an easy installation?) I was researching the Catalyst 5.8 at ATI's site and it did not say it was compatible with the X600.

I bought the 7508GX on Sunday, and I am very impressed, although this is my first notebook. It is running MOHAA at higher framerates than my desktop!

 

Ya, I will def. post a pic later on. As for install...it was fairly simple, just run the setup program. It was the release 5.7 on omegadrivers.net

 

Here ya go, here is a pic of my video memory after I installed the omega driver on my 7508GX....

 

Hi All,

So glad I found this forum as I purchased a 7508 a few days ago...but was alomost persuaded to return it to best buy for a competing Toshiba M45-355 product. After reading the messages here I fee alot more comfortable sticking with the Gateway. I've located the driver download described here..bust just want o be sure I don't screw up the installation. Please correct or advise if I've go it wrong.
1 - Delete existing driver from within the ati program
2 - point to the new driver file
viola?
PS _I'm running an old Ati All-in Wonder 7500 on an old desktop with 64mg video mem. Is there a better driver out there for this?

Thanks to all!
Jonzo

 

Ya, I am interested in seeing a response to ozzer22's questions regarding set-up too.

Also, can the Omega software be uninstalled and will the original ATI software still be there in case something bad happens? (Or am I just being too nervous).

Thanks Chaddy for getting me this far.

 

I got the Omega drivers also, and when I reached the point where I got the big Microsoft warning concerning the drivers not being tested by Microsoft, I decided to wait and ask more questions before installing, so I cancelled the install. I would also like to know if they are uninstalled easily and if any problems have been found with them so far.

 

I'm soooo happy I found this forum. I just bought this laptop yesterday and I was wondering if I picked the wrong one. This thread has added a great deal of security that I made the right decision. If I am interested in playing games, would downloading the new driver enable me to play games like BF2?

 

I'm able to play BF2 now without the drivers, but I'm wondering how much improvement I get by installing them. I'm still concerned about installing something that isn't directly from ATI, but it looks like I have no choice.

 

I am using the drivers that came with the recovery disk/drivers. Memory shows 128meg. Are the Omegadrivers better?

Should I uninstall the old drivers first, or can I just install these new drivers over the default ones?

 

Looks like this thread has died. I'm still very happy with my 7508, after owning it for about 3 weeks now. I still haven't updated any video drivers yet but I think I may try the tool from driverheaven.

 

If the 4402WLMi is able to use hypermemory then I sure have not been able to see it. I have tried a few different drivers and it always still showed 64MB.

 

Any doubts I had are gone now. I got the new OFFICIAL 5.9 CCC from ATI at driverheaven.net, and everything went very smoothly. You can install without having to do any mods and everything works great. Be sure to fill out the survey provided so ATI will keep working quickly on future drivers. I ran the dxdiag after installing and my video memory now shows 256mb.

 

Cool!!! Thanks for the update. I have a quick n00b question

Can I use this laptop as a standalone DVD recorder? If I wanted to record something from my tivo or VCR and transfer it on a DVD...would I be able to do it with this or any laptop. Sorry for the off topic question.

 

I just installed the Omegadrivers, running great and video memory shows 256 meg. This screen is awesome. Very happy with my new 7508gx purchase.

May have to try the official 5.9's..the thread above says no mods needed........

 

The 7508GX, like the 7510GX before it, is a great notebook. I actually work at Best Buy and my coworker was remarking on how nice Gateways are. Apparently, there are few returns or problems with them at the store, and they're just amazing computers for the price. I got mine for $1,250. The specs below...for $1,250. You can't beat that with a stick.

Sidenote: Can someone run 3DMark05? I'm curious to see how crippling the 64MB of Video RAM is from 128MB. We always talk about what a difference Video Memory is, but I'd like to see some numbers.

 

That's correct Xmedic. I installed the official 5.9's and had to do no mods whatsoever. It works just like it always did on a desktop. I did notice when running dxdiag that I've now jumped from 128 to 256mb of video memory.

 

It's great to hear the 5.9's worked. I may have to try them because I am trying to run Pinnacle's Studio 10 and it says I need to get the latest ATI drivers or else it will run in simulation mode, not full 3D.

So has anyone tried the Catalyst 5.10 on the 7508gx? Please let me know. I saw that some had trouble on the 7515gx's.

Joe