Satellite M50-P345

Hey guys, can't remember how often i visit this site a day just toc heck up on what's latest.

Anyways, i just bumped into this model, probably an Asian model (Satellite M50-P345). The specs are as followed:

Model Name Satellite M50-P345
Part Number PSM51L-001001
Processor Intel® Centrino[TM] Mobile Technology including Intel® Pentium® M processor 730 (1.6GHz, 533MHz Front Side Bus, 2MB L2 Cache), Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200BG network connection and Intel® 915PM Express chipset
OS Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition
Display 14.0" WXGA TFT display with Clear SuperView Technology resolution 1,280 x 768, up to 16.7 million colors
System Memory 512MB DDR SDRAM, expandable to 1536MB
HDD 60GB S.M.A.R.T. with shock absorber
Optical Drive DVD SuperMulti Double Layer Drive
Graphics Adaptor ATI Mobility Radeon X600SE 256MB HyperMemory[TM], external 128MB VRAM, PCI Expressx16
Communications 10/100Mbps Ethernet LAN, 56Kbps modem, 802.11b/g, Bluetooth[TM] V2.0
Interfaces PC Card slot for 1x Type II card, RGB, 4xUSB 2.0, S-video TV-out, 4Mbps Fast Infrared, i.LINK (IEEE 1394), 5-in-1 card reader (supports SD[TM] Card, Memory Stick®, Memory Stick Pro[TM], MultiMedia Card[TM], xD-Picture Card[TM]), External Microphone (monaural), Headphone (stereo), RJ-11, RJ-45, DC-in
Battery Type/Life Rechargeable 6-Cell Lithium-Ion battery, up to 2.5 hours of battery life
Dimensions 343 x 242 x 29.8 (front) / 38 (back) mm
Weight 2.26kg (with optical drive and battery pack)
Bundled Software Microsoft® Office OneNote[TM] 2003, Toshiba ConfigFree[TM], Toshiba utilities and drivers, Toshiba Touch and Launch program, Toshiba Zooming Utility, Microsoft® Internet Explorer, Microsoft® Media Player, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Sonic Solution RecordNow! Basic, InterVideo® WinDVD[TM], Toshiba Speech System, Toshiba PC Diagnostic Tool, Symantec[TM] Norton AntiVirus[TM] 2005 (90 day free trial version), Recovery DVD

My question is, i don't think i've heard of this x600se. I've read about the TE(Toshiba Version) on how it cools it down. So wanted to know how fast is this card? Can it go Doom3 on High at native but without AA? Thanx 4 your help.

Oh, i thought, i post the specs of this model cuz i see COUNTLESS posts on Fairly Light Semi-Gaming-Multimedia Laptop. Got almost everything, CSV,HArmon Kardon SRS Speakers, DVD DL Burner,5 in 1 reader,decentish display card (would prefer the 6600 tho)...Only bummer is the smallish hardrive and slower processor which i am told that is not so important for gaming. Saw this model in the Toshiba Singapore site if anyones interested.

Cheers

 

Here's a link I found regarding ATI's HyperMemory technology.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/09/17/ati_hypermemory/

It looks like the SE models are the cards that have both dedicated & shared video memory. This unit has 128MB of dedicated (according to the listed specs) and then an additional 128MB of system memory will be used when needed. From the provided link, it says that it will drop system performance when pulling from system ram.

-Vb-

 

Sorry bout double posting. Forot bout the rule. Anyways, anyone has a machine with the same specs or somewhat similar? Could anyone tell me if they had problems gaming with? Like how are the frame rates with Doom3 ,etc...

Thanx and sorry again.

 

I dont have a laptop with this card. But check out this (desktop based) review of the X600 (4 pixel pipes) vs a nvidia FX5900 (8 pixel pipes). Expect similar performance in Doom3 with an X600 mobile chip, even slightly less again.

http://www.rbmods.com/Articles/Sapphire/X600pro/3.php

With a Mobility Radeon X700 (8 pixel pipes) or Geforce Go 6600 (also 8 pixel pipes) based laptop, you can expect similar performance to the FX5900.

Small laptops with these GPUs include the Toshiba Tecra M3 (6600), new Acer TM 3202 (? i think, X700).

 

That review was cast last year. And the reviewer thought that the frame issues with doom were as a result of driver issues. Wouldn't you naturally assume that driver issues would be fixed a year later?

 

I'd like to piggyback on this thread and ask if anyone can tell me how much of a performance difference there is exactly between the X600SE and the X600?

Thanks

 

MaxVP,

Comparing an Nvidia to an ATI when playing Doom 3 is a bit unfair. The NVidia's are a stronger OpenGL based card, which is what Domm 3 is based on, and the ATI's are stronger in DirectX support.

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Leuco,

SE models are usually dumded down version of the actual GPU's. They have slower memory, slower core speed & sometimes less features. It's almost like a souped up version of the previous GPU (x300) even though it's not. If you're just looking for an inexpensive card, it'll do fine.

-Vb-

 

Thanks for that Venom Bite,

From your experience, would the x600se do fine for games like Pro Evolution Soccer 4 and 2D adventure type games like Syberia?

 

From the minimum system requirements for the game, the x600se should do fine. Will definitely work for older 2D games as well.

-Vb-

 

isnt the x600se 64bit memory?

 

I'm not sure, but I know it's still more than enough power to play those games. These games only require a DX 8.1 compliant card, so that like an ATI 9200 or older. I think the requirements listed a few cards including the 9000, so the x600se should be more than enough power.

-Vb-

 

took a good look at it at Best Buys earlier today. The palm rest and the lid are quite sturdy, especially the lid. the screen was pretty nice, good angles for a 14' wxga, bright too. some concerns were the keyboard.. some deal of flex everywhere (sorry Toshiba fans, I've yet to find a keyboard I liked from them).. and while the build was quite sturdy.. on two of the models there, when closing the notebook, the latch weren't very secure.