nw9440 vs. nx9420

I'm pretty solidly between these two. From what I can tell the only difference is the video card (and if I buy refurb the nx comes with BT).

What -can't- I run well on the nx9420's x1600 256mb video card besides games?

I'm toying with a smaller 15", but since most of my time is spent in Photoshop and Illustrator I'd really like the extra real estate when I am mobile (most of the time not mobile and I have 2 monitors).

 

I answered you in the other thread...

The video card matters only if you play games or use any other 3D applications, otherwise no.

If so, even the X1600 is more than you need, go for the HP nx9420.

 

This will probably sound stupid, but what is considered 3D application...I do some video and I've considered dabble in in Lightwave (though who knows if that'll happen). I'm guessing Lightwave is considered 3D? But what about things like Premeire, After Effects?

Thanks so much.

 

Lightwave is 3D,

After Effects will benefit from the GPU too

Photoshop, Premeire - no,

Basically, the X1600 is a powerful video card and you can do anything on it, the problem is that Ati's OpenGL support isn't great and you could have issues with some of the 3D OpenGL applications (for example in After Effects you won't have OpenGL previews for anti-aliasing or 2D motion blur...)

 

That helps a lot. If I buy refurbished, the price difference is only $300...it's if I buy it brand new (if one doesn't come up soon I'll need to buy new) that the difference is $1000. Weird, but that's how it is. What's funny is that the nw doesn't come with BT in refurb but the nx does...weird.

Thanks for all your help. I'm sure the nx is fine but sounds like the nw gives me more room for growth, and I'll just have to do with BT through USB.

 

The HP nx9420 has another video card option - NVS 510M (7900 GTX), which isn't optimized/certified for 3d like the FX 1500M, but it's a Nvidia card and would work and it will be cheaper, so check that out if you don't want to spend that much money.

 

Do I give up any performance by having the better video card on the nw9440? Does it take up more resources or anything like that?

 

The replacements to those two computers are coming out soon, I hope.

8710p and 8710w

 

No, except for battery life...

Yep. July 2nd.

 

Well that throws a wrench into things....do you know any of the details of the new computers? Not sure I can wait until July (I need it for a trip on the 17th) but maybe I need to.

 

The specs are on the HP site.
http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/e...owerful&psn=notebooks_tablet_pcs/notebook_pcs

 

Thanks...I did find them through a search...do you think I'd see a big performance or even price difference?

 

Not sure about the price, but the new DX10 cards will be more powerful and the HP 8710p will have a Nvidia card, Santa Rosa isn't a big deal.

However, if you get the HP nw9440 with the Quadro FX 1500, this card is already powerful enough, pretty much overkill, so no you're not gonna see a difference.

 

Just to update...I think I'm going to go with the nx9420 ... not sure I'm going to be able to get the 8710p in time and while it has a better video card it's crippled by not offering an XP version....and I really am not confident enough to get a copy of XP and go through all that...

Besides I think the only thing that I might have any troubles with in the 9420 is After Effects and it sounds like that'll be minimal.

Thanks for all the help.