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    Current laptops upgradeable to Kepler?

    Discussion in 'Sager and Clevo' started by firstnomad, Jul 1, 2011.

  1. firstnomad

    firstnomad Notebook Guru

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    I'm buying a Sager laptop soon and I'm wondering if I should go for the GTX485M or the 580m.

    I'm thinking if my laptop will be upgradeable to the 28nm process (kepler) when they come out, i'll go for the 485; if it's not, i'll future proof as much as possible and get the 580.
    I know Sager/Clevo uses the MXM standard but that changes pretty often, does anyone know if it will change with the introduction of Kepler?

    If it were up to me I'd just wait for ivy bridge and kepler together, but I'm starting college in the fall so I need something now. :confused:
     
    firstnomad, Jul 1, 2011
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  2. ElBlufer

    ElBlufer Notebook/NBR Addict

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    Whether or not it's upgradeable depends on whether they upgrade to the MxM 4 slot anytime soon, which I don't believe they are.

    Go with the 485m.
     
    ElBlufer, Jul 1, 2011
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  3. Anthony@MALIBAL

    Anthony@MALIBAL Company Representative

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    Unfortunately, the only ones that know that would be Nvidia and they aren't talking :D

    It very well could use MXM 4, but it's also just as likely to use MXM 3. It depends on whether they'd need to change the TDP or add anything that isn't already supported.
     
    Anthony@MALIBAL, Jul 1, 2011
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  4. firstnomad

    firstnomad Notebook Guru

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    Think I'll go with the 485m. If the 28nm comes with MXM4... well, I hope I can sell the 485m to someone on campus and get a 580m. otherwise I'll be stuck. Ah well, they're both excellent cards.
     
    firstnomad, Jul 1, 2011
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  5. ElBlufer

    ElBlufer Notebook/NBR Addict

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    It's like a 10% (if that) increase in power, anyway. Probably not worth $300 to anyone unless they have a ton of money they need to get rid of.
     
    ElBlufer, Jul 1, 2011
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  6. firstnomad

    firstnomad Notebook Guru

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    Well, it's $200. And I've seen synthetic benchmarks ranging from 8-14% increase on current WHQL drivers... wouldn't new drivers only increase that? Also isn't tesselation performance also increased dramatically in the 5xx series?
     
    firstnomad, Jul 1, 2011
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  7. physib

    physib Notebook Evangelist

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    Know that even if Kepler is MXM3, it's still going to be in the 700-800 price range. So just be sure your budget is good.
     
    physib, Jul 1, 2011
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  8. firstnomad

    firstnomad Notebook Guru

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    Yeah, I realize. Though I'm going to Virginia Tech so I'm banking on having good food and not going out and wasting my money that much, haha.
     
    firstnomad, Jul 1, 2011
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  9. ElBlufer

    ElBlufer Notebook/NBR Addict

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    Because it's the same card with just slightly more power efficient chips, you probably won't see a big increase from drivers (they've already worked out a lot of the kinks through the 485m)
     
    ElBlufer, Jul 1, 2011
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  10. aduy

    aduy Keeping it cool since 93'

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    @ElBlufer, that's what I was thinking. If its the same card, but more efficient, the driver update won't improve it much, and if it does the 485m will improve as well. +1
     
    aduy, Jul 1, 2011
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