Compal IFL90 (FORCE 3297) Updated Pricing and Promotion for Pre-Orders

Im no expert on anything, but I do find it strange that the G1S scored 3460 points more than the G1 did in 3DMark05. I thought that the 8600 was simply the next generation of the 7600 card and although it would outperform it, it would still fall in the same place in the 8000 series as the 7600 did. According to the G1S review, it left it in the dust.

If I'm wrong please let me know, but I thought the G1S was a refresh of the G1, not a whole new beast. Correct?

 

From my understanding (and the general consensus as it seems right now), the G1s is indeed a refresh, however, the 8600GT performs in the range of the 7900GS (maybe even the 7900GTX depending on how accurate the scores are in the G1s review) which is about 2,000 3DMark05 points higher than the 7600GT. Heres some more information that might make it a bit clearer, http://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Graphics-Cards-Benchmark-List.844.0.html

So in other words, with these new gen card the bar has been lowered, i.e. the high-end cards of the previous generation (7800/7900) series have become the performance cards now a days in the form of the 8600, and soon when the 8800 comes out, that'll be in the high-end spectrum; which theoretically should outperform any other notebook vid card on the market.

Hope that makes sense. lol

 

How mature are the drivers for the 8600? Usually it takes a few tweaks before we see the best performace from a new generation of card.

 

Not at all mature lol And thats a good point, the Norwegian review said its was a pre-production model so they prolly were using like, alpha drivers or something lol.

But still, i wonder how much of a performance boost GDDR3 has over GDDR2, and hopefully the IFL90 has GDDR3 and its just a typo or something =/

Edit: Ahhh they've already figured out the difference between the GDDR3 and GDDR2 over at http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=125246
Quite a noticeable improvement (About 20-25% difference from a 512 GDDR2 and 256 GDDR3). Now lets just cross our fingers and hope the IFL90 has GDDR3, doesn't look good though. =/

 

If I handed you two laptops with the only difference being GDDR2 in one and GDDR3 in the other, and asked you to play them for a week but without running any synthetic benchmark or component identification programs on them...it is HIGHLY unlikely that you could tell me at the end of that week which one had the GDDR3.

 

It could be possible that since the machine reviewed had the WXGA screen, it may have possibly had the 8600gs and not gt version also? I will take the pre-production review as a bit of knowledge, and like the reviewer wont attach a grade just yet.

 

i guess we all have to wait and see...1 or 2weeks more?

 

Yeah, I did some more research into the whole GDDR3 and GDDR2 and I came up with a pretty cool site, however outdated but the concepts still apply even though they're using desktop and older GPU's.

http://www.hardocp.com/article.html?art=NjA4

Basically, it says even with GDDR3, you get pretty much the same real world performance as with GDDR2; even if you do over clock the memory. The only real advantage it seems to have is a lower voltage, and less heat so over clocking is easier, but even with over clocking, it is not necessarily better in real world performance.

 

Mirco Express Computers website says the IFL90 comes with the 8600 GT

http://www.microexpress.net/spec/product-1-IFL90.htm

way down at the bottom

 

Hum, they must have changed it or something. I think earlier someone else looked at that and one part said GT while the other said GS...

 

argh is it GT or GS?!?!?!?! =(

 

There are some pretty promising signs that its going to be a GT, but no one knows until the resellers actually get some units in stock so that they can test them.

 

Vivek is correct, until we get the first production model we do not have confirmed information supporting if it will be GS or GT. It is promising that it will be the GT but that could change.

Sorry Guys

 

It is really weird that Compal cannot tell ahead if GT or GS is gonna ship.

<confabulation>I have this picture in my head of a guy on the production floor who's responsible for installing the graphic card. He's sitting there with a GT in his left hand and a GS in the other. When the first IFL90 comes down to him to get its card, he's going to decide on the spur of the moment which card goes in.</confabulation>

 

i have to correct something that i posted earlier. According to NVIDIA the GS will have 16 stream processors compared to the GT which has 32stream processor. This makes a huge diff in performance regardless of the memory debate. http://www.nvidia.com/object/geforce_8600M.html

 

At least the Zepto model is GT - although GDDR2.

http://www.zeptoforum.com/viewtopic.php?p=4164#4164

Petrov.

 

It also has the oddest screen res ever

 

At least it's guaranteed to be readable

 

Danke sehr Petrov. Is the Zepto a modified IFL90 or a IFL90 just branded with the name Zepto?

 

WSXGA != 1280x800

 

Sorry mate, no idea! Suggest you try the Zepto forum on here - they're usually pretty responsive.

Petrov.

 

It is at least known whether both graphics cards will be the same? Or could it go as the 256MB version as the GS while the 512MB is the GT... I only ask since I'm pretty sold on this notebook with the 1280x800 resolution screen but would be mad if for some reason the higher resolution screen got the better GPU in the same chassis.

And also, I was looking online at the european model IFL90's and it appears as though the 1280x800 resolution screen models also contain 512MB of GDDR so I was wondering if the fact that your 1280x800 resolution model contains a firm 256MB of GDDR or if that is subject to change as information is gathered as well??

 

Where do you see WSXGA at this resolution?

The graphics in the WXGA model is going to be the 256MB GDDR and the WSXGA with the 512MB GDDR. The final production model has not been released yet, so there isnt much that is "firm" on the machine. We are trying nearly every day to get the final specs of the machine. We hope to update everyone here soon.

 

I was referring to the "odd" specs of the Compal IFL90 listed on the Zepto site, where they listed WSXGA as 1280x800.

 

It was probably just a typo.

 

I think he was talking in code

!= is C for is not equal to.

maybe I am wrong

*edit* not about the C, but about what he meant to say. WSXGA is definitely not 1280x800

 

I'm a computer science major. I knew what he was saying.....And its not just in C, its in general a part of boolean logic.

I know WSXGA isn't 1280 x 800, but they probably accidentally put an S in there, or put 1280 x 800 instead of 1680 x 1050.

 

yes != means "not equal to"
i.e.
WSXGA != 1280x800
WSXGA is not equal to 1280x800...

sorry was being lazy

 

Vivek, I wasn't correcting you, I was clarifying to all the people that seemed to assume that he was saying WSXGA was that res. Shame on you and taelrek for not clarifying when everyone got confused

 

Can we pre-order and then cancel if the video card is not the GT model?
Oh and is cooling going to be sufficient for maxing the computer over a decent period of time or are we going to need a speed fan utility like the I8KFANGUI for dell or a cooling pad?
And can you let me know when I should expect to get the IFT90 if I preorder now? (via PM if you have to)

 

It's been almost 2 weeks now, any news on this?

 

You can pre-order the IFL90 and can cancel at anytime before it ships for any reason and you will not be charged anything. Judging by past Compal models the cooling should be adequate for the system. A cooling pad is a nice addition just to help your new machine breathe a little better.

I am sorry we dont have any more confirmed information. The mid June anticipated release date might be a little premature.

 

Just keep us informed. I think the worst thing is being delayed and getting no information from the dealer, even an acknowledgement of the delay. We appreciate how you and PowerNotebooks participate in the forums.

 

Thank you for your kind words We will keep everyone informed as we get more information.

 

Well, I got in line... Wish I did it earlier though!
One more question: on your website, you say that you do extensive testing. If you see a screen with annoying misfunctional pixels (like the ones that glow bright and never turn off), do you still ship it to customers?

 

if i order today i get free arctic silver right? cuz im gonna place my order now

 

Free Arctic Silver - - You bet!

 

even with a check payment? =)

 

Yes sir

 

Justin,

First off, thanks for your responses. It's great to know that customer support is willing to go out and let us know what's going on. As for my question, I was wondering if you knew the dimensions of the laptop with the 9 cell battery installed? I'm trying to see if it'll fit in a bag I'm thinking of purchasing.

On the specs page for the IFL90, it says.. 14" x 10.1" x 1.4~1.5". However, from what I'm hearing the battery adds an extra 3/4" or so of an inch, so would that make it 14" x 10.85" x 1.4~1.5" or is it already included in the original calculation?

Thanks in advance. I have a feeling you might not actually know for sure until you actually see the system. If that's the case, thanks regardless.

 

Rhyick, you are correct that the 9 cell battery will make your depth dimension abount 10.85".

 

Thank you Donald.

 

I have a few questions.

I plan on ordering my IFL90 elite with no OS. Will it come with XP/vista drivers on it?

Second, I plan on installing XP home on mine and am wondering if all of the hardware will work with it such as the wireless card etc.

Thanks!

 

StoCom, By default the system does not come with a OS, just the drivers & utilities. You will have to select XP or Vista if you want it on the machine. The system will work with XP just fine

 

Great so they are the XP home drivers that come on it right?

 

You are correct, the XP Drivers are included =)

 

Good to know I'll be ordering mine within the next couple days.

 

Hmm, did the prices just go up? Should I expect more increases as the release date comes out? And when it does come out will that price be the final price?

 

Some prices went up a little bit and some of the upgrades went down =) When it comes out we expect to have a final price posted

 

Do we have a more concrete date yet?