Help with 3 final three choices

Hey guys, getting a laptop for work

(min spec to run work related software)
17 2gig +
8 gig of ram
17 inch+

(my needs for gaming as I travel abroad with this, pass time in hotel rooms) not my main gaming rig
enough to run civ5 , bloodbowl, fallout3 ....

choice are

play it safe : 9170 3630qm + 670mx
take a gamble : 9170 3630qm + 7970m
might as well : 9370 3630qm + 7970m

the price difference between the 2 with 7970m is like 50 bucks, and 9370 seems like a better chassis. And I assume, I wont have the enduro problem with 9370, is this correct ?

thanks guys

 

how about 675m? slightly better than 670mx, but more heat, no driver issues. 370em is quite heavy

 

Thought they are both 8.6 lbs

DO you mean 675mx ? or 675m ? I thought 7970 was on par with 680m.....
I think if I go with 675mx its same price as 7970m, and only available on the 170em chassis

 

i think 370em is like a bit over 1kg heavier than 150em (maybe half a kg heavier than 170em?) 675mx and 675m are completely different cards. 675m is rebadged 580m, its a bit more powerful than the 670mx, but same price. 7970m is pretty much on par with 680m ,but driver issues is really bogging it down in 150/170. pretty sure 675mx is available in 150em as well

edit: p150em is about 4.3kg, p170em is just under 5kg, p370em is 5.8kg, these weights with power supply

 

I'd suggest the 675MX as well. If you dont plan on ever adding a second GPU go with the 9170 as you'll save a few bucks.

 

Thanks guys for the advice and helpful information
Yeah looks like 670m isn't a choice on the 170em's
Which leave 675mx or the 7970m

Guess then I am down to

9170 with 675mx ~$1450
or
9370 with 7970m...~1550 which I would take over 9170 w/7970m@ ~1500 50 dollar difference for a better chassis.
Can someone just confirm for me, that 9170 w AMD uses enduro, and that 9370 w AMD doesnt not ? This would be a big factor as it would eliminate a lot of the driver issues.

 

Well, first of all, if those games are what you play the most lately, I am pretty sure any of these laptops will be able to execute them without any problems on high/maxed out settings are they are quite old (at least fallout 3).

The 7970M is indeed on par on SOME games with 680M, on some even performs better IF you manage to deal with the drivers. As for the latest drivers and a perspective for the future, ATI seem to be getting to it with their latest releases fixing more and more (if not all for some) issues with the card. A lot of hopes are with the upcoming 12.11 WQHL.

675MX (particularly the 4GB version) is a more safer choice, it is kind of a tuned down version of 680M, built on same kepler platform resulting in lower temps (also lower than 7970M). However, the performance, at least in benchmarks is significantly lower than a performing 7970M.

As for the mobility, of course 17" are heavier and possibly more difficult to carry (as a standard 15,6 first in pretty much any bag/decent briefcase). Also, the battery life of all gaming laptops is really low and I mean REALLY. I am not sure but if I was trying to play a game on my P15xEMx I am not sure if it would last 45 minutes. But then again, if its mainly for hotel usage on an appropriate surface (not on a lap in bed - you will burn) and on AC then it doesn't make a difference.

I would say the usual - 7970M is more future - proof (as much as it can be for a laptop) than anything below 680M, but if you need it NOW and perhaps you even change laptops every few years then get something from Nvidia, at the end of the day if those are the games you play the most they will run fine on any. good luck!

 

is there a reason why you dont consider the 150em?

 

Yeah I am kinda old now, and need the real estate to see. Work is for user interface designs, and need code open on multiple windows, and since I am on 27" monitor, its hard to go back to a smaller display.

I do play newer games, but I have a xfire 6970 currently on main rig. But I have steam, so if this could play newer games, well then thats a bonus.
And I buy these things maybe every 3-4 years, company pays half as its for work, but its mine to keep.

 

well since company pays for half of it, might as well get 170em with 680m

 

Well in this case go for the 9370. As it may be slightly more expensive, you can "safely" get 7970M as it has no Enduro there Enduro is mostly there to optimize energy consumption, but I guess that's not an issue for you anyways

 

confirmed. enduro/optimus on the 91x0, no enduro/optimus on the 9370. dGPU isn't fed through the HD graphics on the 9370 so you're correct, no switchable graphics-related driver issues. (7970 is still an AMD card though. :hi2

141 vs. 127 PPI... prepare to go blinder either way.