Maybe I should buy this, from Costco? help!

here's the card it has: 1GB NVIDIA GeForce GT 525M Graphics

is that at least as fast as the 6770m? Does the Nvidia have the same awful auto-switching issue as the ATI, or can users manually select it?

here's the link to the Dell laptop... Costco - Dell XPS 15 Laptop Core i7-2620M 2.7GHz 1GB NVIDIA Graphics

about all it doesn't have is the blu ray drive and HD screen that I wanted. if anyone knows of a similar unit, but with HD and blu ray, for under $1,400, please let me know (unless the Nvidia card is slower than the 6770m and/or the driver has the same issues as ATI).

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/gaming-software-graphics-cards/580974-nvidia-525m-vs-ati-6770-hd.html

The GT 555M 192-bit version is pretty much even with the 6770M (I consider a difference which is below 10% to be negligible).

The 6770M and GT 555M will beat the 525M by at least 50%.

 

the 6770 is about 50-60% faster than the 525

OPtimus is fairly automatic .. when it works, and it has its own set of headaches.

 

sounds like not a great alternative to the DV6 (assuming for the moment that HP fixes the driver).

thanks, guys.

 

I had an ASUS with an Nvidia GPU and Optimus worked when it wanted to.

 

How about anyone with FSX and Nvidia? I also use Adobe products, which I noticed in the SG thread, have been mentioned as problematic. I use LR3, PSE9, and also Nikon Capture NX2 (that's why I need a new PC ASAP--my current lappy is too underpowered)

 

HP runs these large coupons all summer long so if you can hold out. I think this is more on AMD at this point BUT HP should be applying pressure.

 

yeah, i'd really love another DV6 once the dust settles, AND with a 33% or 30% discount like I got previously.

 

I can tell you if you run CS5/5.5 hard, Adobe premier or many Cad programs run far and fast AWAY from otpimus.

 

I have done a lot of research in the range you are looking for and if you want my own recommendations here they are. I'm buying the pavilion dv6t b/c its under 1000, but I know you want a different model so:

Newegg.com - ASUS G Series G53SW-XN1 Notebook Intel Core i7 2630QM(2.00GHz) 15.6" 6GB Memory 500GB HDD 7200rpm DVD Super Multi NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M

With a coupon code this model comes out to 1099.99. I can give you an 80% guarantee you will not find a better deal anywhere on the internet except on XoticPC.com but I'm not a huge fan of the Sager/MSI models because they don't exactly have the name/reputation of Asus nor is XoticPC quite as solid as newegg.com.

If you want any other suggestions, I have quite a few. I spent many hours doing research.

The Dell XPS 15 is not a bad choice but I do not like the design of the XPS 15 whatsoever. It is butt ugly, and bulky. The 6770M is far far far more powerful than the 540M which you will find on Dell XPSs or the 550M upgrade, it is even more powerful than the not offered 55M. Also do not buy Dell laptops from costco, dell.com will 9 times out of 10 have a better deal. Likewise for HP laptops.

The GTX 460M on the ASUS model is 25% faster than the 6770M. So compared to the 525M I think it's possibly double if not more performance.

 

My ASUS had an Nvidia GPU and I had the GPU acceleration enabled but I never saw any difference with say Photoshop. No matter what it still bogged down sometimes when I was working with large RAW photos. I think that was more due to with the 1.8Ghz Core 2 Duo I had in that laptop than the GPU.

 

Mobile Graphics Cards - Benchmark List - Notebookcheck.net Tech

 

Will HP have another 33% coupon out this summer? If so I am going to wait instead of using $375 coupon.

 

I saved $576 with a 33% coupon, but that includes the $150 discount HP gives, so that makes the coupon worth $426, so you would save a bit more.

thanks to all for the suggestions and video card comments. I've read all the comments and am considering the alternatives.

 

thanks. Radeon = #60, and the Nvidia was ranked #108. quite a difference.

 

I posted before on a 540m that FSX works fine on mine on med-high with high traffic setting.
The 6770 can do better if it works though. Marginal difference with the 540 and the 525.

We have a rather dumb way of a "manual switch" with a few clicks. Just by setting the default card to High Performance.
We do have a gadget that tells which program is using the nvidia card.
Also, we can use the normal Intel and Nvidia drivers, which can updated separately.
For clean install, it's Intel and then Nvidia.

For simple clean install for update, just uninstall Nvidia graphic driver (There are more Nvidia entries but it's a don't care) and then Intel. Install the new Intel driver. Install the Nvidia, select Clean install (that's why the others are don't care).

My default setting is Auto, which defaults to Intel HD. So far in my usage, no problem.

 

Malibal 8130, it costs a bit more but, nice 1080p matte screen better, GPU at the expense of battery life. It might be cheaper than Xotic pc for the same specs.

 

the Malibal Lotus that I just customized sounds interesting. the base video card is ranked better than the 6770m (GTX 560M). The price is over $1,600. Ever had a Malibal laptop? I've not heard of them before now. If the reviews aren't faked, it sounds as if people like them. I'll so more research tomorrow, but if anyone has comments on the Malibal line pro/con, I'd LOVE to hear them.

 

On my first DV6, on which FSX worked well, I had sliders up all the way, with light traffic and was getting 25-40+, with NO microstutters at ALL. (as soon as I switched InfinityMask to "14" or "12") I'd have to go back to the forum I got the info from, to verify which value I used, but the point is that the IM parameter gave me silky smooth flying in FSX on the first DV6. I don't want a lesser experience on my next unit.

 

If I was spending $1,600 I'd get this...

Amazon.com: ASUS G73SW-A1 Republic of Gamers 17.3-Inch Gaming Laptop (Black): Computer & Accessories

Intel Core i7-2630QM (2.0 GHz Quad-Core with Turbo Boost up to 2.8GHz); 8GB DDR3 1333MHz (4 x 2GB SODIMM Sockets, up to 16GB)
Nvidia GTX 460M Graphics with 1.5GB GDDR5; 1TB Hybrid HDD/SSD (2x 500GB 7200RPM/4GB SSD)
Blue-Ray Combo Drive; Illuminated Keyboard; 1x USB 3.0 + 3x USB 2.0 Ports; 802.11 b/g/n; Bluetooth; 8-in-1 Card Reader; Gigabit LAN
17.3-Inch Full HD (1920x1080) LED Display; 2.0M Webcam; Gaming Backpack and Mouse
1 Year Accidental Damage Warranty and 2 Year Standard Warranty Included

List Price: $1,849.00
Price: $1,632.97
You Save: $216.03 (12%)
Post-purchase rebate: $100.00
Price after rebate: $1,532.97


That's just me though. The 460M is slightly better than the 6770M.

 

Nm.

----------

 

Amazon.com: ASUS G53SW-XA1 Republic of Gamers 15.6-Inch Gaming Laptop: Electronics

List Price: $1,349.00
Price: $1,299.00

Smaller hard drive and you lose the Blu Ray but still a decent a laptop.

 

yeah, that one is pretty close.

any idea if the screen tilts way back like on the DV6? My wife's HP doesn't tilt back nearly enough (forgot the model, but it is an i5 from last year-Costco, for $800)

 

Not sure...

 

I kinda expected that response from a fellow simmer Though I don't play FSX, mostly play mil sims like AF despite their age.

Just wanted to inform you that Nvidia does not depend on Intel for their graphic drivers for their mainstream switching solution.

It's going to be hard to find something better HP dv6t at the same price range and size. The Nvidia versions are expensive as always.

 

I held off getting FSX until I ordered the first DV6, as no PC in my house could run FSX. I also have FS9 (also called FS2004), which runs decently on my wife's HP with an i5 CPU. When I loaded FSX up on the DV6, I really didn't expect it to run super well, and it didn't--at first. By asking for assistance at a sim forum, I got a couple of crucial suggestions that pushed the performance right up to the point that I was ecstatic with the results. I never expected FSX to perform without some micro-stutters, which, as you know, really take away from the immersive aspect of the experience. Happy to say that at least the earlier version of the DV6 can make FSX run great.

When I looked at the Malibal, the jump in price from one Nvidia card to the next is a whopper--$495. WOW! I'm happy with the price/performance ratio of the DV6 (other than the SG issue, of course).

 

thanks for that image--I think it doesn't tilt back very much.

 

The 460M is significantly better than the 6770M. 25%.

$1600 is way overpriced. Malibal? Never heard of them. I wouldn't go with that at all...

Newegg.com - ASUS G Series G53SW-XN1 Notebook Intel Core i7 2630QM(2.00GHz) 15.6" 6GB Memory 500GB HDD 7200rpm DVD Super Multi NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M

The amazon is the same model and it's not too badly priced at $1299

it's either that ^^ or XoticPc.com which will give u the best deal