Laptop Video Cards Vs Processors

[chaznsc]

Im considering a laptop for my son for Christmas. Funds are tight, and he isnt a hardcore gamer, but does play Olivion, etc.This would primarily be a school type computer but I know he will want to game a little.

I do NOT have the budget for an Alienware or the like. I see a LOT of notebooks are using the Intel Integrated HD Graphics 3000 on board and wanted to know if anyone would even consider using one for gaming. The reason I ask is that nearly all the ones in my range are using this chipset. Ive even seen a few Core i7 units using this.

I'm a PC guy but not an expert on the graphics performance when it comes to games. I'd like to know what limitations we might have using something of this nature. For example, YOU COULD PLAY XX BUT NOT YY.

Any advice appreciated.

chaz_

 

[Termie]

You can get some idea of the performance of the HD3000 graphics here: http://www.anandtech.com/show/4629/toshiba-qosmio-x775-toshibas-gamer-grows-up/4

In short, the HD3000, which is also available on desktop CPUs, is actually a usable option on notebooks, where resolutions are often limited and playing the latest games probably isn't a goal. Oblivion is about 5 years old, so it shouldn't pose a big problem for the HD3000.

If you decide you want to buy a laptop with upgraded (discrete) graphics, then you need to consider two things:

(1) battery life will suffer (although nVidia's optimus system does a fairly good job of shutting off the main GPU and switching to the HD3000, which is built into the CPU anyway).

(2) you really need to aim for at least the nVidia GT540 or AMD HD6750m to get anything significantly faster than the HD3000. I see way too many notebooks offering GPU "upgrades" at significant costs where the GPU is barely any better than the HD3000. This would include weak GPUs like the nVidia GT525 and AMD HD6470m. Just be careful about that.

One laptop I can personally recommend because my brother games on it is the HP dv6t. It's available with a quad-core CPU and the HD6770m GPU. That's a potent combination, and can be had for under $800. Here is a current discounted offer for it:

http://www.shopping.hp.com/product/...computer_store/LW215UA%2523ABA?aoid=35252

Use coupon code 25TECHBARG for $25 off.

The base configuration here is almost exactly what my brother has. It is awesome. He paid about the same but didn't get the blu-ray player - that's included in the cost here. Really good deal.

 

[chaznsc]

Termie,
This is exactly what I needed to know. Thanks for taking the time to be so helpful.

 

[Termie]

Termie,
This is exactly what I needed to know. Thanks for taking the time to be so helpful.

No problem. Happy shopping! Honestly that HP is the best deal going if you want upgraded graphics. If that's out of your price range, then just aim for a laptop using the built-in HD3000 graphics and something like an i5-2410 dual-core processor, which is plenty fast.

Here's a nice Acer for $600, for instance, with that setup (actually with the upgraded i5-2430, which is 2.4GHz instead of 2.3GHz): http://www.amazon.com/Acer-TimelineX.../dp/B005J2J9TM

 

[chaznsc]

Happy shopping MY #$@!!..........LOL, there must be 500 configurations from each manufacturer. I thought Dell was bad, but everyone's doing it!

 

[Termie]

Happy shopping MY #$@!!..........LOL, there must be 500 configurations from each manufacturer. I thought Dell was bad, but everyone's doing it!

Check out that Acer I linked above. It's a pretty ideal combination of light weight and great battery life. Good for school. Just be aware that it doesn't have a DVD-rom, which could be an issue.

 

[chaznsc]

Whats the performance feel like between the i3 and i5 processors?

 

[Puppies04]

Personally I would advise staying a million miles away from any HP DV** Laptop. I have owned 3 and had nothing but problems with all 3 including wireless cards self distructing and cpus/gpus overheating to the point that gaming isn't even possible anymore and batteries that retain about 10% of their charge after less than 6 months. I admit the last one I bought was about 18 months ago but unless they really pulled their socks up on the newer models I would stay away. On a side note their screens are and always have been excellent

If you want a general Idea what HD3000 is capable of check out this anandtech review http://www.anandtech.com/show/4083/...core-i7-2600k-i5-2500k-core-i3-2100-tested/11 but be aware that the 2500k and 2600k (desktop cpus) they benchmarked will run at up to 4ghz and will outperform any cpu in your budget so the FPS you would see in a similar situation would be lower. Also pay attention to the fact all these games with the exceptionof WOW are being run at low quality settings, at that point I would really start asking myself if I would be better playing them on an xbox or ps3.

What I am really trying to say is if you want to game on a laptop you really should pick up a "gaming" laptop with a proper GPU (something like a GT540 would be about the minimum I would reccomend) and also something that has been built with adequate airflow to shift the extra heat gaming produces. Buying a laptop with integrated graphics or a office/websurfing machine that has had a GPU shoehorned into it is going to leave you disappointed.

Check out the DellXPS 15. Not sure if that is in your budget but it is a very nice piece of kit. Here is anand's review.. http://www.anandtech.com/show/4274/dell-xps-15-l502x-now-with-sandy-bridge

 

[edplayer]

I believe for mobile cpus the difference between i3 and i5 is pretty small

They are both dual core. The i5 has turbo boost which allows short term overclocking (controlled by the PC, not you).

If you want a big difference you need to get the i7 which are quad core

 

[Termie]

Whats the performance feel like between the i3 and i5 processors?

Pretty big difference actually, because the i3 processors don't have turbo boost. Basically, the i5 is much faster than the rated speed - it will perform at a minimum of about 10% faster than it's rated speed, and in single-core applications, 25% faster. The price difference is minimal. In fact, Intel specifies a $225 price for both the i3-2330 and the i5-2430. They are very different processors, though. Unless the laptop is much cheaper, go for the i5.

As context, I just setup a Toshiba ultrabook with an i3-2367m processor. It's just slightly faster than high-end laptop processors from a few years ago. The i5-2410m, however, can smoke my e8400 desktop.

 

[exar333]

Optimus + Intel is a great option too. Dell has some great options here.

 

[Puppies04]

Pretty big difference actually, because the i3 processors don't have turbo boost. Basically, the i5 is much faster than the rated speed - it will perform at a minimum of about 10% faster than it's rated speed, and in single-core applications, 25% faster. The price difference is minimal. In fact, Intel specifies a $225 price for both the i3-2330 and the i5-2430. They are very different processors, though. Unless the laptop is much cheaper, go for the i5.

As context, I just setup a Toshiba ultrabook with an i3-2367m processor. It's just slightly faster than high-end laptop processors from a few years ago. The i5-2410m, however, can smoke my e8400 desktop.

+1

The feel between an I3 and I5 can vary between a bit faster and night and day depending on what you are doing but as termie says, unless your budget is really stretched go for the I5

 

[chaznsc]

Boy, the i7 with the HD3000 sucks...shame to have all that processor and get tanked by the GPU.....Thanks for the link Termie

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4629/toshiba-qosmio-x775-toshibas-gamer-grows-up/4

 

[Termie]

Personally I would advise staying a million miles away from any HP DV** Laptop. I have owned 3 and had nothing but problems with all 3 including wireless cards self distructing and cpus/gpus overheating to the point that gaming isn't even possible anymore and batteries that retain about 10% of their charge after less than 6 months. I admit the last one I bought was about 18 months ago but unless they really pulled their socks up on the newer models I would stay away. On a side note their screens are and always have been excellent

...


Check out the DellXPS 15. Not sure if that is in your budget but it is a very nice piece of kit. Here is anand's review.. http://www.anandtech.com/show/4274/dell-xps-15-l502x-now-with-sandy-bridge

Hmmm, come to think of it, my bro was having a few problems with his dv6t wireless. I wonder if it's already starting to fry.

On the other hand, every Dell laptop I've owned or worked on has had its own problems, so whatcha gonna do?!?

 

[Termie]

Boy, the i7 with the HD3000 sucks...shame to have all that processor and get tanked by the GPU.....Thanks for the link Termie

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4629/toshiba-qosmio-x775-toshibas-gamer-grows-up/4

LOL...that only matters if you're gonna play games on it!

But yeah, an i7-2820qm is a heck of a lot of processor to shoehorn into a laptop with only an HD3000.

 

[Termie]

Chaz - there's a new article on Anandtech that should answer all your questions and point you to the right laptop for your son: http://www.anandtech.com/show/5177/holiday-2011-laptop-buyers-guide/3

There are some great budget gaming machines listed there for $600. That's cheaper than I had seen previously. Very good deals.

 

[Lonyo]

There's also the AT Bench.

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Mobile/137

You can get an idea of where particular CPU+GPU combinations will fall in gaming situations. Obviously different laptops won't be 100% the same, but they will be broadly similar given the same CPU+GPU.