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    What is the most powerful GPU for a Precision M6600?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by flashtee, Oct 30, 2014.

  1. flashtee

    flashtee Notebook Enthusiast

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    I CAD a lot of different programs, but I also want to game too...

    What's your opinion?

    Thanks,

    ft
     
    flashtee, Oct 30, 2014
    #1
  2. triturbo

    triturbo Long live 16:10 and MXM-B

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    You're better off to the Precision section of the forum, but I know for sure that GTX 680m works.
     
    triturbo, Oct 31, 2014
    #2
  3. RCB

    RCB Notebook Deity

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    RCB, Oct 31, 2014
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  4. TomJGX

    TomJGX I HATE BGA!

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    The best of both world would probably be a AMD Raedon GPU, the 8970M...
     
    TomJGX, Nov 4, 2014
    #4
  5. Jarhead

    Jarhead 恋の♡アカサタナ

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    Well, you do know that professional GPUs like the Quadro and FirePro lines can game, right? Their only issue is that they cost a bit more than the equivalent gaming GPU. However, you also need to keep in mind that a professional GPU will be great for CAD and decent for gaming, but a Radeon GPU will be great for gaming and okay for CAD and a GeForce (6xx and newer) will also be great for gaming but absolute garbage for CAD (because nVidia neutered the GeForce like badly).

    That said, you could take a look into one of the higher-end FirePros that will work in the M6800, though if you have money to burn the top-end Quadro for the M6800 would be a great choice to consider.
     
    Jarhead, Nov 4, 2014
    #5
  6. baii

    baii Sone

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    Quadro K5000M, period.

    GTX 7xx or quadro 51xx may work, but majority of the tries was failure and I have only seen a few(like 2) case success without much detail.

    For price/perf, then fire pro m6000 or m6100. M6100 is perfectly compatible, m6000 may need mod driver but no biggie.

    7970m works too, but not the best CAD card out there. 8970m should not work due to vbios.
     
    baii, Nov 4, 2014
    #6
    termitek12 likes this.
  7. Krane

    Krane Notebook Prophet

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    My opinion is to get the gpu that satisfies your applications needs first. A k5000 (now 5100) may be the most powerful OEM spec for the Precision line, but there are certainly faster gaming gpus.

    I don't think CAD actually requires a Quadro, so you could probably go with a less expensive and fast gaming gpu provided it would fit.
     
    Krane, Nov 8, 2014
    #7
  8. Jarhead

    Jarhead 恋の♡アカサタナ

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    For some simply 2D stuff, you could get away with just a powerful quad-core CPU. However, if a lot of the workload is 3D, then a proper GPU will help enormously. Also, I don't think AutoCAD is too picky about GPUs (iirc), but Solidworks is especially picky about what it will run on.
     
    Jarhead, Nov 8, 2014
    #8
  9. alexhawker

    alexhawker Spent Gladiator

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    I've never had problems running SolidWorks on gaming cards, and have actually seen less glitchiness on them than any Quadro cards.
     
    alexhawker, Nov 8, 2014
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  10. TomJGX

    TomJGX I HATE BGA!

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    Yup.. Seen Solidworks on a inspiron laptop and seemed to be running smooth...
     
    TomJGX, Nov 9, 2014
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  11. alexhawker

    alexhawker Spent Gladiator

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    If it helps, we have 10 Latitude 3540's (with the i5 and dedicated GPU) that seem to handle SW fine.

    We also have 40-50 workstations with the Radeon HD 7570 that have been running SW fine for 2 years (2011 version through 2014).
     
    alexhawker, Nov 9, 2014
    #11