What is the difference between P-7811 FX and 6831 FX?

Hello everyone.

I'm deciding between these 2 models, but not sure where the $500 cost justification is, besides a different screen resolution, and also the CPU, and misc. harddrive space, ram, etc.

Is one based on the older santa-rosa platform, or are they the same Montevina platform?

I"m looking for a 45nm capable framework to conserve power and lower heat, and will upgrade the CPU of 6831 FX myself, in the future when I really need the processing power (which I doubt).

Hence besides those 2 difference, am I missing out any distinctive difference between these 2 models?

Also I've noticed on craigslist a trend, that a lot are selling away their 68XX models. Is there something wrong with it? Gateway 68XX have more listings than alienware or Asus gaming lappy lately.

 

I got mines for 1149.
Lowest price i saw online for 7811 was 1249.
thats best buy.

soo umm.... yeah i was selling mine on CL too. but now im like forget it, when it breaks ill get it replaced for free.
there was a dude that sold his 6831 for 900 http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/sys/893047858.html
looks like everyone cares about having high specs or a bigger e-peni$
idk man its up to u. go with the 7811 cuz its more future proof then the 6831.

 

Both are great laptops, the 68XX's have a really good background of reliability and performance. Anandtech, a website that publishes highly respected reviews, put out an article a few months ago that called the 6831 the "best midrange gaming notebook ever": click. The 7811 had a very shaky start, or at least that was the feel on NBR. Anyone who didn't get scared off by that start seems to live by it, like me. Here is the P7811 review from anandtech which compares specs with the 6831 - click

Here are the differences:
6831 pros vs 7811:
-The 6831 has internal bluetooth, where the 7811 does not.
-More HDD space on stock hard drive (250GB)
-$500 less (from what you said)
-Background of reliability

7811 pros vs 6831:
-Centrino 2 with PM45 chipset, and yes, Montevina platform (6831 is santa rose) - this alone would be worth the $500 to me
-Better screen resolution (1920x1200 vs 1440x900)
-9800GTS GPU vs 6831's 8800GTS (only slight improvement)
-5100 Wifilink vs 4965 in 6831
-P8400 processor which is 2.26ghz, 3MB cache, and 1066FSB (vs 1.67, 2MB cache, and 667FSB) and 25watt vs 35watt (more powerful, uses less wattage = more battery life, creates less heat)
-higher RPM HDD (7200RPM vs 5400RPM)
-4GB DDR3-1066 ram vs 3GB DDR2-667 RAM in 6831
-your choice of 32 or 64-bit operating system (to some this isn't an advantage)

other than those things, there are no real differences

 

You guys, these are really helpful comparison posts here. So that's where the $500 is, because the 7811 is Montevina.

And you're absolutely right, that alone is worth the $500 futureproofing.

Yes during this time, there are a lot of folks selling their 6000 series through craigs, from $750 to 1100. Currently a tigerdirect refurb is $799, which is why I have to make that solid decision, whether if the difference is worth $500

 

well ill just throw my opinion in the hat even though its biased since i own a 7811 not a 6831. but id say its worth it.

 

I'm kinda still not convinced. Difference in DDR2 and DDR3 ram are kinda miniscule, with the current games. Sure, within these 5 years, there will probably be about 10 games along the same demand as Crysis, but I don't think MMORPG and RTS games will get so advanced, that the card and DDR2 mem on the 6831 won't handle (medium or low settings).

It's just the thing between Montevina and Santa Rosa now.

But I was wondering, yet again, can the Santa Rosa platform of the 6831 be able to put in the 45nm chipset? Or perhaps 2 years down in the future, the X chipset?

 

the santa rosa platform can handle the 1st generation Penryn processors such as the T8100, T8300, T9300, T9500, and X9000.. all of those are 45nm processors. it also supports the X7800/X7900 processors, but those are 65nm processors.

it does NOT support the P8400/P8600/P9500/T9400/T9600/X9100/Q9100/QX9300 45nm processors due to the difference in the front side bus speed. Santa Rosa caps the FSB @ 800 mhz. Montevina is a 1066 mhz FSB.

 

what he said ^

 

Go Montevina with 1920x1200!

 

7811FX all the way. Many folks upgraded to the 7811 that DIDNT have the 6000 series FX. Also, many folks with the 6000 serires did NOT upgrade to the 7811. Only cause it would have cost them a lot of time, and a bit of money to have similar performance. But, the 7811 will provide much better performance in gaming, video decoding/encoding, and upgradability. The 7200RPM HDD is nice, the 1066MHz FSB/RAM, the higher res screen, newer 9800m GTS video card that performs about 18% better than 8800m GTS. I didnt care bout the Bluetooth at the time, and now that I have bluetooth, I can't find a good btooth mouse! Im still using my RF mouse with dongle. So, unless you're linking your phone or PDA to your computer.. who cares? If you purchase the 7811 and dislike it, or feel like you made a bad decision.. I assure you that it will sell on EBay in less than a week, and you will recoupe your costs from the purchase.

 

man where did you pulled that 18% from ?

 

I think I heard of that 18% from a discussion thread below some where as well..

And thanks very much for the advice everyone. I was originally firmly settled on waiting for the best deal on Tigerdirect or craigslist, as the 500 bucks difference is huge (adding 200 dollars more, you can get another 6831!).

So I really need to ponder if I should opt for the 7811, and if I do opt for the 7811, I'll have to choose if I want Gateway, or the newer MSI that's bound to be out soon.

 

Yeah, they keyboards are pretty much identical

 

yeah 18% better with an X9100

you can purchase a 6831FX or the equivalent on tigerdirect or compUSA for $799 refurbished right now. There is no reason to waste $400 or so more on..

1. a bit cooler and quicker CPU, will not effect gaming performance in the slightest
2. DDR3 RAM doesnt effect anything at all, maybe 5mins more battery life, OH NO!
3. the 9800m GTS is an OCed 8800m GTS, thats it, nothing special.
4. 1440x900 is my preference because it is a good res for long term gaming, less strain on the GPU, your choice though

 

I made it up.. actually, I compared the stock 7500-7600 3dmark06 of the 6000 series vs. the 8800-8900 stock of the 7811. And yea..the CPU does have something to do with it in this case.. But, numbers can be manipulated to prove points. And my point is, there's good reason to go for the 7811FX

Oh, and the 9800m GTS is not and OC'd 8800m GTS.. Completely different series of GPUs. Dont insult the 9800m

 

you are a tricky little *****
anyway if you match the clocks on the 9800 and the 8800 the difference is non existent. moreover, i have downclocked my cpu to p8400 clocks, oc gpu to 9800m gts clocks and guess what ? 8500 on 3dmark06

so if a 68xx with a t8300 upgrade leaves some desired money in your pocket, go for it ; performance wise you lose next to nothing.

 

In a lot of cases the resolution can be the deal breaker. For me, I need as much room as possible for development work. I game but generally the titles I play will not be the most demanding (ie crysis).