Predictions for the next few months

I'm planning on getting a new gaming laptop around September/October. And I have no idea what to expect. I don't think any new processor besides Sandy Bridge will be out by then, but maybe a drop in price? What about newer graphic cards?

Any thoughts?

 

AMD's Llano chips will be out -- it's the same idea as Sandy Bridge (CPU and GPU on the same die), but with a more powerful GPU and a weaker CPU. Depending on the games you play and the final parameters of the chip, that might be worth a look. At the very least, if this is half-way decent, Intel will lower their prices a bit.

Regarding graphics cards: there are rumors that 28nm GPU production is finally going somewhere, but nothing certain so far. It's just barely possible that you will see something in October, but I would not count on it.

 

At the very least, I do hope more high-end laptops have switchable graphic card options. This really bothers me.

 

Switchable a graphics is a good idea in theory but most implementations (Optimus) fails. Many laptops have an option in BIOS or have a physical switch to disable 1 GPU then it is fine.

Llano is rumored to be shipping early July so you might start seeing mass availability 2-3 months after that time, but the initial launch might drive you nuts as many manufacturers will be offering all sorts of configurations.

GPU wise, Llano beats up HD 3000 GPU and takes it lunch money, though the Sandy Bridge CPU thrashes around Llano but gaming wise you would be better off with Llano.

 

Alas, I'm not going to be using the laptop just for gaming. I will need the i7 for video editing and what not.

 

I mean it will also boil down to which games do you plan on playing.

My friend bought a brand new Macbook Pro 13" with the HD 3000 GPU and he can play WoW and Source games at native resolution nicely with medium detail.

Don't expect to run the latest and greatest games at high detail with the HD 3000 GPU.

If you render then the Sandy Bridge i7 might be a better investment but you should start deciding when it is time to buy notebooks as the market changes very rapidly.

 

It does. But I think the thread was meant to be more speculative than about deciding what laptop I'll be buying (that was simply a pretext, sorry for the mix-up).

Thanks for the suggestion. No doubt market changes quickly as it comes. And I have no doubt the best would be to wait and see. But just checking if there's anything new coming up that's under the radar.

 

your best bet for gaming and video editing is whether intel will come out with a mobile version of the z68 which will be the high end cougar point motherboard.
it should provide better gpu switching and maybe by that time, you will have an intel software solution for quicksync similar to what virtu is doing on the desktop side.
also the 580m from nvidia is rumored to be out in a few months and it should be equal to a 485m (384 cores) with higher clocks and hopefully a more aggressive downclock than the 485m. however, the 485m itself downlcocks very well for a highend gpu

 

GTX 560M will be out around June-August from what i have heard

 

I'm a little bit of an AW fanboy, but my sig rig works very well and as far as the switchable graphics-haven't had a problem. Had some issues on the R1-R2 was unavailable-but they got it right on the R3. I know the WEI score mean nothing to most, but my 6970 scores 7.6 (I think) and the integrated GPU score 6.4. Just letting you know. PLus you know the M18x is coming out soon?

 

@pmassey
what battery life do you get on igp?

 

He isn't gaming and I don't believe there are any plans for a mobile version of the Z68 since the main benefit in desktops is integrated graphics use while having overclocking options (the latter is not supported on their laptop chipset). The current H67M chipset has switchable graphics capability but whether or not the notebook company will implement it depends on how they view the maturity of the software drivers.

 

Any idea of the TDP of the 580M or comparable NVIDIA cards?

Mr. Mysterious

 

Turn off the LED's (AlienFX) and dim the screen, with wireless I have gotten 3.25-3.5 hours. W/O wireless-about 4.5

 

read back on his posts, he said he will use the laptop NOT ONLY for gaming but also some video editing. regarding switchable graphics on high-end cards on the p67? check my post below.

 

im getting a lil less than 3 hours on battery with my 485m and the screen not dimmed. come users are getting a lil more than 3 with screen dimmed. and the sager doesnt support igp switching.
the r3 should be getting something like 5-6hours considering it has a 90plus watt battery (and the sagers have a 77 watt battery). makes me think whether igp is indeed implemented. have you tried testing the functionality of widi or quicksync?

 

I cap my battery at 80% so I lose a lot of life. But this is a desktop replacement.

 

Ivy Bridge won't be out until Q1 2012, so Sandy Bridge is it until then. GTX 560m will be out, not sure about AMD offerings. I doubt anything before end of year from AMD or nVidia will outperform the GTX 485m or 6970m.

 

Don't have either of them.

 

so there isnt a single laptop in the market with a high-end gpu and full igp functionality. if clevo and aw cant do it, i wonder if any other manufacturer can.
as my post on the z68 above suggested, im beginning to think its a limitation of the chipset.