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    What is taking up hard drive space!?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by X360proGamer, Aug 17, 2008.

  1. unknown555525

    unknown555525 rawr

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    You could expect about 30-40% improvement in most games, some other games may run even better depending on the game. That is a very worthwhile upgrade though, you'll notice a nice improvement in every game you play.
     
  2. X360proGamer

    X360proGamer Notebook Consultant

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    That is great news, I'm pretty sure it goes down to like $1,050 on weekends so I will probably pick it up. Will Best Buy transfer my 2 years extended warranty from my Gateway to my ASUS?

    Also is there a site where I can check the NVIDIA GeForce G9700M GT 512MB DDR3 3DMark06 score?

    How does the res. 1366x768 compare with 1280x800?
     
  3. StormEffect

    StormEffect Lazer. *pew pew*

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  4. ront75

    ront75 Notebook Enthusiast

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    something bigger and better is always gonna come every week or two.

    obviously if you have the budget then definitely go for it ;)

    but if you are on a "budget" then i would definitely think twice about it unless gaming is the sole purpose for your laptop purchase.
     
  5. X360proGamer

    X360proGamer Notebook Consultant

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  6. X360proGamer

    X360proGamer Notebook Consultant

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    I'm gonna wait til it goes on sale again but I'm thinking of upgrading my Gateway M-6864 FX to this ASUS G50Vm-X1. Most of the specs are the same except the ASUS G50Vm-X1 has a way better graphics card and a 15.6" screen with 1366x768 native resolution screen.

    How much better is the NVIDIA GeForce G9700M GT to the ATI Mobility Radeon 2600 HD?

    Which is better 1280x800 or the 1366x768?

    Also if there is any ASUS G50Vm-X1 owners out there could you please show me some pictures of yours because the ones on Best Buy.com suck, I'm really interested to see gaming sidelights in action.

    Thank you!
     
  7. timd8988

    timd8988 Notebook Guru

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    you do know they charge you 15% restocking fee dont u????? i was thinking about returning my laptop also but am not going to pay an extra 112 dollars to return it. unless of course they do not charge a restocking fee if you exchange, but im pretty sure they still do, especially if your not exchanging for the same laptop. also i would just suggest saving some money waiting awhile, like towards christmas, and buying a good desktop. i personally already have a monitor so all i need to do is buy a decent gaming tower and will still be able to play a decent amount of games with this laptop.
     
  8. WileyCoyote

    WileyCoyote Notebook Evangelist

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    you should get 60-70% increase in performce with the 9700m gt
     
  9. mb92

    mb92 Notebook Enthusiast

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    There's like a full review on youtube by some mexican guy lol

    anyways why not get the G50V-A1

    Its alot awesomer with the better screen and processor :D
     
  10. X360proGamer

    X360proGamer Notebook Consultant

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    Wow really? Just because I'm taking it back and buying a more expensive laptop?
     
  11. timd8988

    timd8988 Notebook Guru

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    look on the back of your receipt
     
  12. X360proGamer

    X360proGamer Notebook Consultant

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    Because it is more $$$ and I do not want to buy online.
     
  13. timd8988

    timd8988 Notebook Guru

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    also, your talking about a 400 dollar difference and the only difference in those comps is the graphics card..i would just wait for driver updates and mess with configs, i mean look at that guy getting 35fps in crysis with the same comp....although i wish he would mess with other games configs *cough* cod4 *cough*.
     
  14. unknown555525

    unknown555525 rawr

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    It depends on the game, but this might be more realistic. Games Bioshock might even run up to 90% better.

    Notebookcheck puts the 3dmark06 score around 6500 though I don't believe much of anything that site says.

    I know that the notebook with the 9800m GTS would be a HUGE!!! improvement. If the purpose of the notebook was for gaming, then oh yea, it's definately worth paying a few hundred more for purely a better video card.
     
  15. ryane0840

    ryane0840 Notebook Consultant

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    dude i also have a way of getting your laptop for free at bestbuy...since your in the states and im from canada...I could tell you some way of getting stuff from them...its a nifty trick.. I have done it many times even while i was being investigated lol..theres nothing they can do...ill tell you in a email but not online..

    I woulda done it again to get my laptop but there are no bestbuys where i moved
     
  16. Mikelx215

    Mikelx215 Notebook Evangelist

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    You too? Five finger discount, right?

    Man, that geek-squadron sure puts up a good chase.
     
  17. timd8988

    timd8988 Notebook Guru

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    ryane if your not bs'ing then i would be interested, email me
     
  18. Satyrion

    Satyrion Notebook Deity

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    I bet he got it for free cuz he stole it and as he said now he is being investigated hehe :D

    just kidding :)
     
  19. Mikelx215

    Mikelx215 Notebook Evangelist

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    Ten bucks* says Ryane'll sign you up for spam-vertisements.

    *Not valid inside of, or outside of Quebec, New Mexico or Finland.
     
  20. ryane0840

    ryane0840 Notebook Consultant

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    lmao no guys im for real not like u need to know my history, but i never been to jail ill put it that way ...lol i came up with the idea 2 years back...i was smart enough to get other people to do it for me though...lol no advetisement..

    haha i bet half the people in here would try and 99 percent would succeed in doing it...but i dont want very much attention anymore

    lmao no its not a five finger discount...
     
  21. ryane0840

    ryane0840 Notebook Consultant

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    in fact i just like helping people out on odd occasions..usually im a jerk but after moving back home to get off the drugs i seem to be getting nicer to people..or maybe its the videogames i started playing that have just lowered my self esteem..whatever it is i like being a dork for the time being...but for the last 4 or so years i was pretty **** bad...done just about every crime in the book ( almost) and i have a clean record...this idea of mine isnt stealing(technically its like trading stocks)
     
  22. ryane0840

    ryane0840 Notebook Consultant

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    id have to email u the idea that worked for me..but like i said i wont post it in a public forum..u never know it could get publicity or something
     
  23. E.B.E.

    E.B.E. NBR Procrastinator

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    Be aware of the warranty disadvantages when you get the bestbuy version though. (1 year less warranty, and no accidental damage warranty)
     
  24. X360proGamer

    X360proGamer Notebook Consultant

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    Which is the better resolution?
     
  25. X2P

    X2P COOLING | NBR Super Mod

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    that is asking which is better a long and skinny banana or a regular and stubby banana its personal preference.
     
  26. X360proGamer

    X360proGamer Notebook Consultant

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    Well I'm thinking of spending some more $$$ on the laptop in my signature the ASUS which has a way better graphics card but I keep hearing bad things about 1366x768.
     
  27. Phritz

    Phritz Space Artist

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    what bad things?

    as X2P said - it's a matter of personal preferences...
     
  28. adyingwren

    adyingwren Notebook Evangelist

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    It's an awkward ratio that is lacking when it comes to actual work. Pages are meant to be VERTICAL. This new ratio means you can see less of the page you're working on.

    The plus side is you can hold two pages next to each other on the same screen easier. And that you can watch movies without the black bars.

    IMO the new ratio isn't that great but apparently its cheaper to manufacture so we're headed that way whether we like it or not.

    Edit: The laptop in particular has much better cousins, the G50V-A1 and B1. The A1 is just under 1600 dollars with a much better monitor, proc, ram. It looks kinda weird, the 1366*768 resolution on that laptop. I recommend you check it out in real life first.
     
  29. masterchef341

    masterchef341 The guy from The Notebook

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    i don't understand, is it 16:9 or 16:10?

    just get the 1280x800, if you want the extra resolution, go for 1440x900, the next legitimate step up.

    at least with 1280x800, you can play 720p content natively full horizontal screen. 1366x768 will have to scale all content to play full screen and doesn't give you any more vertical resolution, either. its kind of weird. and it might be 16:9, which doesn't help you either.
     
  30. HTWingNut

    HTWingNut Potato

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    1366x768 is a 16:9 aspect.

    Most games support 4:3 (i.e. 1024x768), 5:4 (i.e. 1280x1024), and 16:10 (i.e. 1280x800) resolutions. 16:9 isn't so commonly supported, although newer games are likely to. 16:9 is the movie widescreen ratio.
     
  31. X360proGamer

    X360proGamer Notebook Consultant

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    I bought the Gateway M-6864 FX and love it but the graphics card in it is not as good as I had heard. My Windows Index Score (WIS) is a 4.5 and my 3DMark06 Score is 3,687. I'm tired of OCing it just so I can run Crysis smoothly.

    I'm looking at the ASUS G50Vm-X1 http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8906133&type=product&id=1213046768588 everything is exactly the same as my Gateway but it has a way better graphics card that averages around a 6,500 3DMark06 score and has a 1366x768 resolution screen which is the future.

    When it goes down to $1,050 again I'm probably going to buy it or should I wait? I'm only 16 and jobless so my budget really isn't going anywhere even though I really want the Gateway P-7811FX (I hate it's small HDD).

    What should I do? Is the 9700GT worth it? Is the 1366x768 better than 1280x800 in your opinion?

    Thanks!
     
  32. eleron911

    eleron911 HighSpeedFreak

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  33. slayerfaith1982

    slayerfaith1982 Notebook Evangelist

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    Even if the Asus goes to $1050, that's still $300 more then the laptop you have currently. If you're strictly on a budget $300 is a lot typically. I think someone linked you to a tigerdirect.com deal of a refurb Gateway FX 17" notebook that had an 8800 GTS card in it, which is stronger then the 9700M GT, and it was only $800. If you're comfortable w/ that I'd go that route.

    But also keep me in mind depending on your local best buy, they might be insistant on charging you the 15% restocking fee on your laptop return, regardless if you exchange for a more expensive one through them, as they will then have to sell your returned computer at a discount. 15% of $750 is another $112.50 loss you'd incur, on top potentially of the $300 upgrade if the Asus goes on sale. That's $412 collectively pretty much.

    Just really expensive to return/switch out laptops when it comes to best buy
     
  34. X360proGamer

    X360proGamer Notebook Consultant

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    I'm not buying online and there is no way I'm buying anything refurbished.

    My Gateway M-6864 FX is already having issues so I'm returning it for a new one if I don't switch it out.
     
  35. slayerfaith1982

    slayerfaith1982 Notebook Evangelist

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    What kind of issues is it having?
     
  36. ront75

    ront75 Notebook Enthusiast

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    why don't you try returning the laptop first at Best Buy and see what they say about a possible restocking fee?

    that way you would know if you can then "seriously" consider upgrading to the Asus model you are eyeing.
     
  37. X360proGamer

    X360proGamer Notebook Consultant

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    Since I bought it less than 10 days ago it constantly freezes on me, the touch volume controller is very loose, and the hinge is severely loose out of the box, I did buy an extended 2 year warranty though.
     
  38. slayerfaith1982

    slayerfaith1982 Notebook Evangelist

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    Well I dont believe your warrenty is transferrable or refundable. As for freeze-ups, typically those extended warrenties only cover hardware defects, not software related issues. And this is just me personally, but anyone tinkering with overclocking and drivers left and right who isn't an expert is asking for software issues and crashes to occur. I know I'm not an expert and even if I saw an easy to follow guide I'd be wary cuz if you do something to mess it up, you don't know how to un-do it to the best of your abillity. Just a word of caution is all :)

    But yea w/ that warrenty I doubt they'd basically just refund you the full amount, and also for the warrenty. But try talkin to em and see what they're willing to do 1st is my recommendation
     
  39. Sgt. Hollywood

    Sgt. Hollywood Notebook Evangelist

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    Return it, and don't look back. Put up a defense about any restocking fee, especially since the product was defective/broken.
    The restocking fee should be waived since the return was due to several serious issues with the laptop, and not "just because".

    I'd fight it all and if you used a credit card I'd contact them too just in case, they might be able to help a bit.

    As for the warranty it depends what state you are in. Several states have laws regarding transfer/refunds of warranties. The logic being that the warranty is for the item and not the person, therefore it should carry over to the new owner. Mind you this is state to state and often it might be limited to bigger budget purchases.
     
  40. ronkotus

    ronkotus Notebook Evangelist

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    If Crysis is your 'thing', I highly recommend getting desktop. You get a real gaming rig with that money instead midrange "gaming" notebook which is very suboptimal for playing games like Crysis.
     
  41. slayerfaith1982

    slayerfaith1982 Notebook Evangelist

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    It is "just because" though which is the tricky part. Software lockups occurred to things he did to it software/driver-wise I'd gaurantee (unless the very 1st boot up before any tampering or adjustments froze up and locked up a bunch). and for the touch sensative volume strip are not 100% accurate on any computer.

    He basically is having buyers remorse. He thought he got a top of the line gaming rig at a great price, but what he got was a good mid-range gaming laptop at a great price.

    Hate to be a debbie downer but it seems to be the case
     
  42. X360proGamer

    X360proGamer Notebook Consultant

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    I started OCing it like a day or two ago, it has been freezing since day one. I'm having buyers remorse because I was told the ATI Mobility Radeon 2600 HD is a good card but it's really not unless you OC it to make it decent.

    The guy at Best Buy told me the warranty covers everything including if I spilled a drink on it, I could return it no questions asked, also if I did buy the ASUS or even the new FX, your telling me they wouldn't transfer my 2yr $200 warranty over to the new laptop!?

    Also I never thought for one second that I was buying a top of the line gaming rig, but I was told it was a better graphics card then it really is...
     
  43. X360proGamer

    X360proGamer Notebook Consultant

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    I'm probably going to get a job there so maybe that will help me chances lol.
     
  44. WILLY S

    WILLY S I was saying boo-urns

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    Hey X360 did you even buy crysis yet? :D As other members of the forum with the same card have told you you can run crysis on all medium settings at 1280 x 800 smoothly. You just need the right set-up, which doesn't include the demo :p The 9700m GT is a decent step up but not a big one for crysis. I wouldn't recommend throwing any more money away untill you iron out the bugs in your current set-up, just my opinion.
     
  45. X360proGamer

    X360proGamer Notebook Consultant

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    On MEDIUM settings at 1280x800 I can barely run it, if buying the retail version and updates adds like 10+ frame rate than I will keep this laptop.

    I'm taking it back no matter what because of the build issues and constant freezing.
     
  46. Infoseeker

    Infoseeker Notebook Evangelist

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    Yeah, like this guy said. At 16, unless you live in an urban neighborhood, you aren't really going to take that thing out of your room. You can always get a higher-spec desktop..........though I'm not sure if that holds true if you have to buy a new screen too.
     
  47. slayerfaith1982

    slayerfaith1982 Notebook Evangelist

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    also just for reference, Crysis isnt the norm for computer games. A good gaming card can run Bioshock, Call of Duty 4, etc under medium or high settings. The HD 2600 can I believe (unless im mistaken). Crysis is pretty much by itself as requiring a top of the line card to run at high settings
     
  48. X360proGamer

    X360proGamer Notebook Consultant

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    Actually I will be taking it out of my room a lot, I'm in college and always take it with me.
     
  49. Thaenatos

    Thaenatos Zero Cool

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  50. X360proGamer

    X360proGamer Notebook Consultant

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    I can run Call of Duty 4 on MAX settings, or close to MAX settings. Haven't tried Bioshock though...
     
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