1,024MB 9800M GTX vs SLI ENABLD DUAL (2) 512MB 9800M GT vs SLI (2) 1,024MB 9800M GTX

[Jahar]

So basically after telling myself that no I didn't need a 17" laptop, that I was okay with a 15.4" I think I've now succumbed to the dark side and am preparing to offload a ****load of cash to up my little gaming prodigy. Especially since I've been glancing at a few specs that some of my developer buddies are sending me for games coming out within the next 2 years I just don't think the NP8660 with a P9500 2.53Ghz processor and a 512MB PCI-Express nVidia GeForce 9800M GT can cut it.

So my whinging aside, what's people's recommendations for 1,024MB PCI-Express nVidia GeForce 9800M GTX vs SLI ENABLED DUAL (2) 512MB PCI-Express. Is the speed increase much? Or should I go totally bananas and get SLI ENABLED DUAL (2) 1,024MB (2,048MB TOTAL) PCI-Express nVidia 9800M GTX ? I'm looking for real world gaming, not theoretical capability.

This is going to be a gaming laptop, but I have to travel quite a lot for work (the original reason I was going to get the 15.4") so should I just suck it up and get the NP5796? Is the 10/11lb's whatever it is of the NP9262 unrealistic to travel with? It just seems as though you get better bang for your buck if you get the NP9262...

[Zatara214]

As an owner, I can honestly tell you that the only thing the NP8660 can't handle on maximum (and I have a P8600) is Crysis. Everything else runs at 60 fps on max settings at 1920 x 1200.

That aside, I've given this spiel many times before, but I am firmly against SLi. I believe that the performance gain is none to minimal, and when compared with the price, you could just as easily upgrade your hard drive, memory, or processor, and it would do you much more good. Performance gains with SLi with the 9800 series will be 0-40%, probably around 10% in real life gaming, and thats only in Crysis, considering a single 9800 GT can handle anything else on max, a GTX can handle anything on max too.

Another thing to consider is heat output, which is increased by an unbelievable amount, especially in adding another GTX to the rig. Heat will almost definitely be a problem with 2 of any of the 9800 series cards and a desktop CPU in your system.

Weight is a big issue if you travel a lot. The extra card will add some more umph to the weight of the laptop. Not saying you'll be a human question mark anytime soon, but it'll be heavier.

Battery life is another downer. Battery life will drain almost amazingly fast with 2 video cards as powerful as that in your system, again, with a desktop CPU.

All things considered, my NP8600 can handle anything I throw at it except Crysis. So heres what I'd do:

Since you seem to have the money to do so, I would get the NP9692, get a single 9800 GTX card, go with a RAID 0 setup, get 4 GB of RAM, and a high res screen. The LAST thing you want to do is pick your processor, which obviously, you're going to want the fastest one available to you. At this point in time, not a lot of applications use quad core processors, and so a faster dual core will be much better, especially in gaming. Upgrade from 3.16 Ghz to 3.33 Ghz if you can do that. Or if you really want to, and you dont care about the price, get the quad core at 3.0 Ghz, that'll obviously be more future proof.

[Jahar]

Out of curiousity does your 8660 handle Crysis at all? Or is it an epic fail kind of deal?

Mmm...on the Quad Core thing I'm not really sold right now. While yes its probably good for down the line I still do want to play games now and from what I've heard and seen it can actually slow things down...

[Zatara214]

My NP8660 (obviously if you get a better processor than me it'll work better) can't handle Crysis at 1920 x 1200 on high... obviously. But I play at 1280 x 800 on high or 1440 x 900 on medium at 60 fps just fine. Obviously there are some areas that slow it down a bit but... you know... on average it stays above 60. That being said, I still haven't tweaked any of the settings and whatnot (SSAO, Shadowmaps, etc) and so it's running a lot slower than it would after tweaks, updates, etc. So after tweaks, expect buttery smooth at 1440 x 900. You can definitely play at 1920 x 1200 on low at 60 fps... but that's just dumb lol.

[Woody]

I have to agree with Zatara214 on the issue of SLI. I picked up one of the very first 9800M equipped 9262 computers and the GTX wasnt' available at first. I got the GT version with a dual core 8500 and I've very happy with it. It runs Crysis on high settings at a reduced resolution very nicely. Since it's a single player game you can accept lower frame rates dropping below 30 occassionally unlike online high speed shooters like COD4 or UT3 where you need to maintain 50-60 FPS all the time. The 9800GT is perfect for the job here and the GTX would be even faster but possibly not needed with current games. On the other hand the new winter games lineup is almost here and the GTX will probably be fantastic.

We are in an unprecedented time of hardware outpacing software in the gaming industry and most mid range products are all you need.

I can get a full DVD out of my 9262 in this configuration and I often will run my notebook for over an hour and a half on battery because I don't feel like dragging the power brick into another room and plugging it in. To me personally that's a good compromise to not having the most powerful graphics configuration and a quad core CPU.

As far as upgradability, I will probably drop a quad core in sometime late next year after the warranty expires and maybe add a SSD. I would love to think I can upgrade the graphics card but it's really hard to know what will be out next year and if it will be possible to buy one for a reasonable price. These large gaming notebooks can get a good price on the used market after a year or two so it's usually cheaper and easier to get a new notebook.