Laptop graphics

mordeith

Maybe I'm a bit thick but I assumed gfx cards in laptops would be better the higher the number. However in researching a new machine it seems something like a Geforce GT 840m is better than a 930m. Is the GT part a higher powered version?

me_irl

Very sorry I can't give you more info (not too clued up on graphics cards), but this link might help. It's a detailed comparison of the two.

http://gpuboss.com/gpus/GeForce-930M-vs-GeForce-840M

TerrorFirmer

They're more or less the same card, both are pretty low-end, latest AAA games at lowest settings and resolution mostly.

Depends on the game of course.

mordeith

TerrorFirmer wrote: »

They're more or less the same card, both are pretty low-end, latest AAA games at lowest settings and resolution mostly.

Depends on the game of course.

I'm not looking at major gaming requirements. Some older FPS like Bioshock, Minecraft and Farming Simulator. Racers like Dirt 2.
Would I get away with the latest Intel Iris say on a 6th gen i5/7?
I could spend up to 1,000 but I'm beginning to think a dedicated card like a 940m or up would be overkill. I'd rather get a full HD screen and a SSD and compromise on full graphics settings in the few games I (and the kids) play.

MarkAnthony

8 = Generation 40 = model number M = mobile.

9 is a newer card but a lower spec (sort of).

For what you've listed I would have thought the higher end intel graphics would cover it in lower settings at 1080p.

TerrorFirmer

I suppose it depends on how much of that you're willing to spend, but you can get a laptop from PC Specialist with a full HD screen, 250GB SSD, i5-6300HQ, 8GB ram and GT940 for about €900 delivered.

The games you've mentioned aren't very intensive and most of them would run pretty OK on a decent modern intel laptop - I suppose the only thing is, if you suddenly decide you want to play X, or Y, and suddenly the Intel graphics aren't really up to the job. The 940M would max out all of those games you've mentioned, and would tackle somewhat newer titles from 2012-2013 better than Intel graphics would.

mordeith

TerrorFirmer wrote: »

I suppose it depends on how much of that you're willing to spend, but you can get a laptop from PC Specialist with a full HD screen, 250GB SSD, i5-6300HQ, 8GB ram and GT940 for about €900 delivered.

The games you've mentioned aren't very intensive and most of them would run pretty OK on a decent modern intel laptop - I suppose the only thing is, if you suddenly decide you want to play X, or Y, and suddenly the Intel graphics aren't really up to the job. The 940M would max out all of those games you've mentioned, and would tackle somewhat newer titles from 2012-2013 better than Intel graphics would.

Yeah, I'd been looking at an Asus Pcworld.ie with a 940m, 1TB hybrid SSD, 8GB Ram and i7 5xxx for 1,000. I guess I'm just concerned that laptops with dedicated Gpus might be more susceptible to overheating. It was the dedicated GPU failed in my otherwise perfect Dell. It only has a 2nd gen i7 so I don't think there are any integrated graphics in that CPU which I could switch to. Couldn't see anything in the BIOS before chip failed completely anyway.

MarkAnthony

Avoid PC World like the plague. Order from Amazon or the likes of Dabs/Komplett.

TerrorFirmer

The PC World machine is probably an i7-5xxxU - which is a ULV dual core, nowhere near as fast as a proper mobile i5 or i7. It would be a lot slower than the PC Specialist machine, for example.

You can get similar machines on Amazon for a good bit cheaper than that.

Your Dell would have had an integrated GPU also, but they cannot just be used in the event of the dedicated card failing unfortunately.

mordeith

TerrorFirmer wrote: »

The PC World machine is probably an i7-5xxxU - which is a ULV dual core, nowhere near as fast as a proper mobile i5 or i7. It would be a lot slower than the PC Specialist machine, for example.

You can get similar machines on Amazon for a good bit cheaper than that.

Your Dell would have had an integrated GPU also, but they cannot just be used in the event of the dedicated card failing unfortunately.

Yeah, it has a U on it alright. Pity about not being able to switch to integrated on the Dell. Out of curiousity do you know why? Is it a hardware or software limitation?

mordeith

TerrorFirmer wrote: »

I suppose it depends on how much of that you're willing to spend, but you can get a laptop from PC Specialist with a full HD screen, 250GB SSD, i5-6300HQ, 8GB ram and GT940 for about €900 delivered.

I'm pretty set on ordering the Cosmos IV from specialist but I was wondering does Windows come pre-installed as I was going to sacrifice the optical drive for a spare slot for an SSD down the line. I know they supply the OS on DVD but I imagine that's probably only if you need to res-install. Also, is it worth paying the dead pixel insurance (€17)?