Mobile GPUs - ATI vs. NVidia?

[elvarsteinn]

Hey everyone,

I'm about to buy a new laptop and my choice has narrowed to a Dell Inspiron 1520 vs. Acer Aspire 5720G.

While the Acer boasts a better CPU by far (T7100 v T5250) im not sure as to the GPU in the configurations (Rest is about the same, while the Dell is around 300$ more in price - but i guess im paying for the label there too). The Acer has a 256mb HD 2300 PCI-E mobile GPU while the Dell boasts a 256mb nVidia GeForce Go 8600M GT, which one of these 2 are a better performer?

Im hoping the GeForce is "leaps and bounds" ahead so it justifies me going for that one even if its a lesser CPU and more expensive - simply because i've had 2 Acers now in the past 4 years and the second one was a disaster from the start (defect Mobo, blown capacitors, bad case design overall ...). I'd like the Dell for the change but its quite a leap in price...

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

The GF8600M would destroy the HD2300 in games and also has DX10 support while the HD2300 is a DX9 chip, both would be equal in day to day apps, and the HD2300 might barely edge the GF8600M in some HD video playback, some feature like noise reduction and AA might be weak on the HD2300.

So overal I'd say the GF8600M is far and away better in games and in everything else I'd say they're equal when everything is +/-.

 

[lostandwandering]

The GF8600M would destroy the HD2300 in games and also has DX10 support while the HD2300 is a DX9 chip, both would be equal in day to day apps, and the HD2300 might barely edge the GF8600M in some HD video playback, some feature like noise reduction and AA might be weak on the HD2300.

So overal I'd say the GF8600M is far and away better in games and in everything else I'd say they're equal when everything is +/-.

I agree. From what I have heard the HD2300 is just a rebranded an slightly update X1450 or something like that. Not worth it IMO. In this case 8600mGT FTW.

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

Yeah it's basically an X1300/1400 with the dedicated UMD hardware, thus an HD2300 and not X2300.

 

[HardWareBoss]

When will they ever stop rebranding Vid cards??????/

 

[exarrkun]

sorry to ask another question here, but it is related to the subject

is the 8400m better than the 2300hd ?

thx in advance

 

[lostandwandering]

I would think so. The X1400 was about the same as the 7300/7400go and the HD2300 is only an X1400 with some new stuff where as the 8400 is built off a new core. The 8400 outperforms the 7300/7400 so you could assume it would beat the HD2300. Plus the 8400 is an actual DX10 card where as the 2300 is still only DX9.

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

I agree GF8400M > MHD2300.

IMO both the MHD2400 and GF8400M are in a different league.

 

[exarrkun]

allrighty

one last question
is the 2300hd enough for playing css on a 17 inch widescreen laptop?

 

[lostandwandering]

CS:S isn't that tough of a game, but I don't think the HD2300 could handle it at native res. If you ran it at a lower res it would still look good and give you better frame rates. I think you should consider a better card though.