M17x GPU Question

Hi. 

If you go with the GTX460M, you should be able to play most current games with no problems (although if you set game settings to ultra/high for some demanding games, your card will struggle). 

If you want to make your system future-proof for the next 2-3 years (in terms of games), you should go for a beefier card.  If you can afford it, the AMD HD6970M is now an option with the new M17x R3.  It is currently the best mobile GPU from AMD and shoudl handle even the most demanding games for a few years to come. In terms of performance, it sits somewhere between Nvidia's best mobile card -GTX 485M - and Nvidia's GTX 480M.  In most games benchmarks, it comes a very close second to the GTX485, but it is much cheaper. 

I hope this helps.

Thank you for responding.   I've read that the GeForce GPUs have technology to extend battery life between charges.  Do the AMD GPU have something like that?  Have you heard of  any issues with Nvidia or AMD providing updated drivers for their GPUs?   Also, how does the AMD HD 6870 rate?

Thank you again for responding.  Finding information about a GPUs has been difficult that I'm able to understand.

sms1295

Sorry if this is a little off topic Father Karras but does this mean that a single HD 6970 outperforms the HD 5870's when in SLI or are they talking about a single HD 5870 card? Dell don't offer a dual HD 6970 option with the M17x R3 however, I'm curious as to whether I can upgrade my R2 with a pair of these?

1) You are refering to NVIDIA's Optimus technology.  AMD does not have an equivalent automatic switch (that I know of), however, you can manually switch between your AMD GPU and your integrated graphics chip.  This will preserve energy for less intensive stuff.

2) I do not now much about driver issues with AMD GPUs, however, it would make sense to go directly to AMD's site for downloads: http://support.amd.com/us/Pages/AMDSupportHub.aspx

3) 6970M performance - this is an extract from an extensive review of the card, taken from notebookcheck.net:

All in all, the Radeon HD 6970M shows an impressive performance. AMD's old top model, the Radeon HD 5870, is surpassed in every benchmark by about 50%—a testament to the new model's formidable performance. Even Nvidia's rugged GeForce GTX 480M winds up a whopping 33% behind the Radeon HD 6970M. Only the GeForce GTX 485M manages to top AMD's new hard hitter. Nvidia's new crème de la crème processed data almost 12% faster. Since the GeForce GTX 485M was coupled with a speedy Sandy Bridge processor, the Radeon's shortfall here is not written in stone. Paired wit a similar CPU, the Radeon HD 6970M might actually measure up to the GeForce GTX 485M in the end.

 

Besides that, the new model's reduced energy consumption in idle mode as well as its extended list of features—compared to the older Radeon HD 5870—are praiseworthy. The Video Decoder (UVD3) relieves the CPU considerably, and HD3D even allows for the playback of 3D material.  However, the Radeon HD 6970M seems better fit for the 17" format: the 15.6" Eurocom W860CU Cougar teetered on the edge of bearable temperature, system noise and power supply during testing.

 

After completing all tests, the verdict is: demanding gamers will find the Radeon HD 6970M to be an extremely powerful graphics card that can smoothly run most games in a high resolution with maximum graphics settings.  Only when dealing with few games like Metro 2033 or Crysis, you shouldn't go too crazy with the detail settings if you want a fluid refresh rate. Expensive, energy-consuming, error-prone dual-GPU systems (e.g. GeForce GTX 460M SLI) are only worth it if for those accepting nothing less than perfection. Most gamers, however, will find themselves perfectly accommodated by a Radeon HD 6970M or a GeForce GTX 485M.

 

If you want the full review, go here: http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-AMD-Radeon-HD-6970M-Graphics-Card.44438.0.html

From what I understand, if you had a top twenty list of raw power/performance on currently available consumer GPUs (not professional cards like quadro etc), it would look like this:

1. GTX 485M SLI

2. HD 6970 Crossfire

3. GTX470M SLI

4. GTX480M SLI

5. GTX460M SLI

6. HD 5870 Crossfire

7. GTX 485M

8. GTX 285M SLI

9. HD 6970M

10. GTX 280M SLI

11. HD6950M

12. HD 4870M Crossfire

13. GTX 470M

14. GTX 480M

15. GTX 260M SLI

16. HD 5870M

17. GTX 560M

18. HD 6870M

19. GTX 9800M SLI

20. GTX 460M

As you can see, a pair of 5870Ms will outperform a single 6970M. On the other hand, you might get stability or overheating issues.  I am not familiar on how well the M17x handles dual GPUs.  Maybe someone else can advise.

Saying all this, I still think if you decide to go for a single gpu configuration, the 6970M is better value for money than the 485M

Father_Karras thank you again for taking the time to respond.   Your remarks were helpful in help me decided.  I went with  the GTX460M based on what I was going to use the laptop for.   Even though the 6970m would have been fine, but it would have been over kill and just an added cost.

Thank you again,

sms1295