Quick Question about CPU-GPU Future-proofing

I'm researching what to buy for an M860TU and I'm stuck at what to configure for the CPU-GPU relationship.

Will the 2.53GHz processor be a bottleneck to the GPU in the future? Or is the 2.8GHz worth the extra $195 and decreased battery life from the greater wattage?

(~Intel® P9500 45nm "Montevina" Core™2 Duo 2.53GHz w/6MB L2 On-die cache - 1066MHz FSB 25 watt)
or
(~Intel® T9600 45nm "Montevina" Core™2 Duo 2.80GHz w/6MB L2 On-die cache - 1066MHz FSB 35 watt)

I'm trying to configure the most future-proof 15.4" I can and this part really has me stumped.

I can understand if this can't be answered because it hasn't been tested yet, but for those of you who will be testing this model, can you keep it in mind?

Thanks

 

What's the GPU? The CPU is almost always NOT the bottleneck, the GPU is almost always the bottleneck.

 

<300Mhz isn't going to make a big difference.

 

the 2.4 ghz would be enough.

 

Assuming this is a gaming notebook with the only GPU it can have lol.
(512MB PCI-Express nVidia GeForce 9800M GT DDR3 DX10)

Thanks for the responses so far, sounds like the CPU isn't going to be a problem but are there any more answers?

 

Unless your like me running an Pentium D & a high end desktop card.

To the OP: With the speed of these CPU's, your GPU will likely be the only thing holding you back in the future, far, down the line (depending on your gpu).

 

I was having the same problem deciding between those two CPUs. Does anyone know how much more battery life one can expect from the P9500 over the T9600?

 

We're looking at a 10W difference, so that's quite a lot.
Since most laptops use around 70W, you're looking at a 15% increase in battery life or so. Could be 20 minutes.

 

I wanted to chime in because I always want customers happy. For that to happen you walk a fine line between "future-proof" and "waiting for the next best thing forever".

To answer your question on GPU bottleneck, no, I do not believe th CPU is going to hold you back. What I want to bring up is that your question right now is between the P9500 and the T9600. I propose what it should be so you can be as future-proof as possible is , "can my new notebook upgrade to the quad core Penryns like the Q9100 and the QX9300's? I have read that a similarly clocked Nehalem processors are benching up to 50% faster that current CPU's. Even if it's half or a quarter of that... it's considerable.

Right now I have a M570TU, the big brother to the system you are talking about. A Q9100 will not work in this machine. Now it could be a BIOS issue, or it could be a motherboard revision issue. Either way, spending a good chunk right now on something that possibly can't take a processor that will be released in three months is bad juju. I will know next week if this QC is going to work or not in current systems after more research, trial and error and elbo grease. I can let you know if you would like.

Not exactly what you guys were talking about... but something to consider.

 

Well, since the processor isn't the bottleneck now in most games and applications, I doubt that a 2.5 or 2.4 GHz processor will become the bottleneck any time soon. So the fact that we can't upgrade to quads isn't that bad.

Unless of course you're doing heavy video editing and you absolutely want your notebook to last 4-5 years or more... I think we shouldn't worry about our notebooks not being upgradeable to quads

 

Up to you, but the reported price I've seen for the Q9100 2.33 quad core Nehalem is like $280. Let's say the Nehalem architecture is as good as they say and two of your 2.33 Ghz four cores are equivalent to a T9600; two extra cores and in top of it it's cheaper??? I'll take it.

If someone who makes money by selling notebooks is saying, "Maybe wait."... I'd give it some thought.

 

Hmm... I was told and have read that Nehalem processors won't be coming out in notebooks until Q1 2009... I don't need a laptop at the moment but I'm still debating whether or not to wait that long. Thanks KillerNotebooks, but are you sure Nehalem will be coming out in only three months?

And definitely keep us informed if you find out the answer to the question you asked in originally, that'll probably help me decide how long to wait.

 

Q1 2009? I thought it was (likely late) Q3 2009, making it > 1 year away rather than 4-5 months.

http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/cpu/di...ktops_Will_Take_Longer_for_Intel_Rumours.html

 

Oh... that's too long lol. I wouldn't bother waiting if that rumor is actually true. Thanks mike.

 

MetroMike, your link is talking about the next-next gen of quad core the Lynnfield/Clanksfield...

Ok, after testing and then talking to the head R&D person at Clevo, the quad core processors are not going to work in the 570-TU's as they are right now, so I would guess the same thing for the 860's.

In the past with the 570-RU/RUu etc. there would be motherboard revisions, and the model number would stay the same (still 570-RU), which makes it really confusing to people that own them. " Why can Jimmy's 570-RU take an 8800 and mine can't???"

As far as 1'st quarter '09 or 3'rd quarter '09 for a release date... if I have one already,

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I would say 3 months, historically speaking. At the latest January. Couple things though, "Release Date" and date you can actually get the part can vary by a few months. That's how it was with the Core 2 Duo high end chips. CPU release dates have less to do with technology and more to do with:

• Chip makers having recouped their R&D & manufacturing costs on the latest chip out.
• Inventory of the latest family of chips.
• What the competition has out, or has announced they will be releasing.
• Need and or Demmand (a distant last).

 

**The only people in the U.S. working with Clevo R&D is Sager and Pro Star.**

 

LOL - How would you know who we are in contact with, you don't even build your systems?!?

So is XoticPC through Sager guarantying current gen systems you are selling right now will take mobile quad core's?

 

Thread closed. The OP is more that welcome to create a new thread, and I'm sorry to have seen this thread boil down to another flame war.

To all: This forum is not for flaming, insults, insinuations, and negative competition. We have had to deal with problems before, and we'll deal with them again if necessary. Please keep in mind that this forum is for the MEMBERS AND GUESTS who read all this information to learn and make their own choices. Boiling down to flame wars does nothing but subtract from your respective brands and from this forum.

And I am not going to let NBR become a cesspool for flame wars.

I suggest everyone start getting along, starting now.