Dell 600m, which video card?

[outofgum]

I'm getting a Dell 600m - its a good compromise for me between power, mobility, and price.

The laptop comes with 2 graphics card options a radeon 9000 32 mb card and a radeon 9000 64 mb graphics card. I don't intend to game on this system, I have a desktop for that, so is there any significant difference that I would notice between the two cards?

I heard some discussion of different bandwidth with each card, that the 64mb has a bigger pipeline. I'm not sure if this is true, and even if it was, I don't think it would have an affect... but I could be wrong.

Any help on this would be much appreciated.

TK

P.S. I know that the price difference is small, but its kind of a strech for me to get this as it is.

 

[gaidin123]

If you are not going to game on it, 32MB in a discreet video card is more than enough to do dual monitors at the highest resolutions that they support. The only time I can imagine you wanting the extra video memory is possibly for Longhorn in 2 years or so since it supposedly has a 3d accelerated interface.

My fujitsu p5010D uses Intels integrated graphics and even some games play on it. I'd get the 32MB if you don't plan on gaming, especially if price is an issue.

Gaidin

 

[outofgum]

Thanks for the quick reply. I don't think I want to start preparing for Longhorn just yet.

I think I'll go with the 32 unless someone else knows of a reason why the 64 would be better.

 

[MangoTBG]

Isn't the difference like $50? I'm waiting on the damn UPS guy right now...It's 8:30 and my 600M should have been here by 7! Oh well. I'm just being impatient. Anywho, I'll let you know how the 64mb card is once I get to play with mine.

Manny

 

[preslove]

Don't buy one without a wicked deal. They feel cheap and plasticky to me... BUT with the insane coupons that float around they seem like a great deal. The best I recently saw was an ok setup for ~$850. Just lurk on hot deals and fatwallet every day.

Personally, if money is tight, spend that extra $50 on sxga.

 

[cheesehead]

I would blow the extra 50$. Even 9700 chokes on WSXGA from time to time, and it has 128 mb of RAM.

 

[Abhi]

Originally posted by: Cheesehead
I would blow the extra 50$. Even 9700 chokes on WSXGA from time to time, and it has 128 mb of RAM.

What are you doing on your computer when your 9700 *chokes* on WSXGA resolutions... ?

 

[MDE]

Originally posted by: Abhi

Originally posted by: Cheesehead
I would blow the extra 50$. Even 9700 chokes on WSXGA from time to time, and it has 128 mb of RAM.

What are you doing on your computer when your 9700 *chokes* on WSXGA resolutions... ?

Mobility 9700 = Mobility 9600XT

The Mobility 7000 doesn't have anywhere near the horsepower to make use of all 64MB, especially if it's just for 2D web\Word stuff.

 

[Abhi]

Originally posted by: MDE

Originally posted by: Abhi

Originally posted by: Cheesehead
I would blow the extra 50$. Even 9700 chokes on WSXGA from time to time, and it has 128 mb of RAM.

What are you doing on your computer when your 9700 *chokes* on WSXGA resolutions... ?

Mobility 9700 = Mobility 9600XT

The Mobility 7000 doesn't have anywhere near the horsepower to make use of all 64MB, especially if it's just for 2D web\Word stuff.

Mobility 7000 ? You mean 9700?

 

[MDE]

Originally posted by: Abhi

Originally posted by: MDE

Originally posted by: Abhi

Originally posted by: Cheesehead
I would blow the extra 50$. Even 9700 chokes on WSXGA from time to time, and it has 128 mb of RAM.

What are you doing on your computer when your 9700 *chokes* on WSXGA resolutions... ?

Mobility 9700 = Mobility 9600XT

The Mobility 7000 doesn't have anywhere near the horsepower to make use of all 64MB, especially if it's just for 2D web\Word stuff.

Mobility 7000 ? You mean 9700?

Sorry, meant 9000. I was making a point about the Mobility 9700 not actually being a 9700 part and then offering advice to the OP. My point was that the extra RAM is pointless if he isn't gaming, and if he is then a Mobility 9000 isn't what he needs.

 

[Tiamat]

32MB should be enough for non-gaming, non-3d applications. However, if you can afford to, get the SXGA+ display for nice resolution.

 

[Abhi]

Originally posted by: MDE

Originally posted by: Abhi

Originally posted by: MDE

Originally posted by: Abhi

Originally posted by: Cheesehead
I would blow the extra 50$. Even 9700 chokes on WSXGA from time to time, and it has 128 mb of RAM.

What are you doing on your computer when your 9700 *chokes* on WSXGA resolutions... ?

Mobility 9700 = Mobility 9600XT

The Mobility 7000 doesn't have anywhere near the horsepower to make use of all 64MB, especially if it's just for 2D web\Word stuff.

Mobility 7000 ? You mean 9700?

Sorry, meant 9000. I was making a point about the Mobility 9700 not actually being a 9700 part and then offering advice to the OP. My point was that the extra RAM is pointless if he isn't gaming, and if he is then a Mobility 9000 isn't what he needs.

I agree with you...

But i disagree with Cheesehead. Since gaming is not an issue here at all ... a 9700 w 128 mb will not choke at 1680X1050 ...

 

[outofgum]

Yeah, I'm going with the 32 MB card and SXGA+ screen. There's a funny thing I noticed... the FSB speed is 400mhz, but it comes with 266mhz speed memory.

I ran sandra on my friend's 600m and it lists the fsb as 4 x 100mhz (he has a 1.3 ghz so it uses a 13x multiplier). Does this mean (if I add my own memory) than all I need is pc2100 or will I benefit from having say pc3200? As far as I can tell the multiplier is fixed, so the fsb speed cannot be moved up or down. Is that right?