Questions for NP8170 owners, help me decide.

I am looking to purchase a NP8170 but have a question from the owners here. I am determined to get a GTX 580m and 120Hz screen but mainly I am a non gamer. I can see there are a few different CPUs available and that is my main question regarding Turbo 2.0 and the chassis.

There is the 2670, 2760, 2860 and 2960. I know I can't overclock much but what stable clocks do you guys get on all four cores under heavy load? I understand this can have alot to do with cooling. Under say prime95 could those with the various CPU's post the core speeds they maintain consistently at all stock settings (max for cpu under windows 7)?

 

Here's a link that shows the single core/dual core/ and quad core max turbos for the first generation Sandy Bridge mobile parts. The newer parts you listed follow the same basic scaling, so it's easily estimated. On average, the quad core max frequency is about 70-75% of the max turbo. (For example if the stock clocks are 2.5Ghz and the full turbo is 3.5Ghz, you can generally assume you'll get around 3.2Ghz on all four threads).

AnandTech - Intel?s Sandy Bridge i7-2820QM: Upheaval in the Mobile Landscape

I can't seem to find the link to the newer parts, but at least you can get an idea.

Also, from the CPU's you listed, the 2960 IS unlockable on the P170HM, so there's the possibility of higher clocks.

 

Thanks, My question though is the chasis of the NP8170 is definately meant for cooling. Since there is so little differnece between the cores it doeesn't look like there is much of an adavantage to spending so much for such small boosts. If however in real life there is a difference then maybe it is worth spending extra.

Edit; going by the clocks it looks like declining returns from going above the 2760. But if the 2960 is unlockable then what are typical clocks people get with the cores loaded?

 

The cooling provided by the system in the P170HM is more than enough to get the rated clocks and keep temps below 70-80C. The CPU is not the major heat producer on these models and the GPU will tend to run quite a bit warmer under load.

Most people go with the 2670QM or 2760QM, with the latter being the sweet spot. Unless you have a specific need, there are diminishing returns for the cost of anything higher.

 

Thanks again. my concernt is if I go with say a 2860 because of cooling the CPU still only maintains under load the same speeds a 2670 would run because Turbo 2.0 trys to keep the core cool. From what it looks like though the 2760qm is the economical sweet spot.

 

Yes, going beyond the Intel® i7-2760QM for most users is just falling into the Intel® Testosterone™ Trap.

 

Thanks. The 2860 is attractive if over the 2760 it maintains real world the 0.1 GHz only becasue of the 8MB over 6MB cache. I am not sure eal what what this would achieve. I have a q9100 but the 12 MB cache is effectively only 6mb as the two cores mostly get identical data, even worse the case the data has to be double loaded to achieve this. Unlike the iCores smart cache structure.

Since I am a primarily non-gamer CPU is important but since I do use some Cuda/Open CL based apps so is the GPU. This is the reson for not saving and going with a G74, I really want the GTX 580m. I like high refresh screens so the 120 Hz is a no brainer for me.

Thanks all again.................

 

Sounds like a well reasoned choice

 

can you wait 2 months for gtx680 it will be easily 50% faster than 580m. Also Ivy should give a good 20% for the same price. If cannot wait you could look into alienware their 6990 and 580 cost the same. It will be slightly more than clevos though. Also 2.4ghz will be the sweet spot for price and performance

 

Exactly upon what do you base your conclusion that:

1. The video card will be 50% faster?
2. The IB processors will be 20% faster?
3. The pricing will be the same?

 

Actually I will be spending $3,500-$4,000. I do not have to have a new system today and do not mind waiting till say april but delays keep hitting. That being said I am torn on the new systems as they are tempting. I guess we are refering to the P170em base.

The other thing is at launch I don't think the 680m will be available but either the 670m or 675m. This isn't too much a factor as I am not a gamer but I would like, much prefer, the high end of the GPU.............

 

I agree 100 %

 

You made me cry.

His comment has made 0 logic, I think he is referring to December 2012, the price might be the same by then.. until now, I highly doubt so, unless it's the freakin end of world that is!

 

It's not too hard to deduce that they will be of the same price though.

Intel always releases similar bulk prices for its respective counterparts of the tick generation. (2820QM - 3820QM(?))

And if you consider the price point the P150HM / P170HM started with(no discounts, AMD had considerably higher price than now), it shouldn't differ too much from the newer generation P150EM / P170EM.

But yes, if you are comparing the prices of the machines now to the newer gen technology, it is definitely wrong to state that they will be similar in prices. But I can see the logic behind the similar price theory for the comparison of the first P150HM/P170HMs with the newer P150EM/P170EMs.

 

Hey Paladin44.
If you understand mathematics you will know 2.4 over 2.2 is faster. that itself gives you around 8.5% increase. since they are revamping the graphics in ivy and have promised 40% over sandy. so you could say 15% -20% is good guess!

with the graphics card! its from leaked specs and the new amd 28nm releases. If you were like me you know GTX460m is faster than gtx280m and heats up less! so you would understand it. If you dont understand nanotech , I am sorry.

Coming to price. clevo is not going to be selling a 15inch laptop with GTX660M with $500 premium! thats just plain stupid. If you think their next gen laptops will start at $1800 you should join....

 

acroedd, we don't need your flaming here...please cool your jets.

As to your assumptions, I will ignore your sarcasm and we will just wait to see if they are correct.

 

My bad, it was a lil over the top. I do believe I have some good points.

 

You do indeed have some good points acroedd, so a polite presentation would be more persuasive...let's wait to see how it really turns out.

Thanks for the apology

 

New tech is usually faster and or less power hungry. Price at the high end usually stays about level from the previous generation. That is after it levels out as sometimes there is an initial premium. Sometimes with revolutionary changes in a nw generation that premium never drops to the prevoius levels.

As Paladin44 stated we have to see where the chips fall as it looks like that corner is further down the street than initially anticipated. Hopefully people are not steering into a curve that is not there yet. Personally I am looking at a place holder.

The NP9270 would be like just getting you hands in position on the steering wheel waiting for the turn ahead IMHO..................

 

np paladin44

tanware

Yes, so my point that the next gen GTX660M laptops wont have the premium of $500 like the GTX580M is true!! so you could get almost the performance of gtx580m without paying any premium and newer tech seems like a valid case!