E6400 graphics question

I dont' get why E6400 owners freak out about the "more heat"... I feel the laptop light warm to warm (overclock and playing game for several hours), it's never hot or anything.

500points is nothing to of great concern. The upside is to have Aero even more smoother, but in gaming environment, it's not.

Something to be mentioned is that they are more people with Intel GPU with the famous throttling problem than Nvidia's. But, true that are more Intel GPU users.

I say if you need every bit of battery life, get the Intel, else the Nvidia should be in consideration with the next question to ask yourself.

Second question: Will you be doing any CAD'ing or gaming-on-the-go (light gaming) with this laptop or not. If so, then the Nvidia solution is what to get.
Lastly, it's driver support. Nvidia will always have it's driver updated, even if the GPU is over 3 years old. And you will have in hand the latest drivers to run the latest Windows on your machine, and live with drivers design to work with everything, and not on "popular" software which require the GPU.

With these series of question you should be able to make a smart decision in selecting the correct Latitude E6400 configuration that fit your needs.

 

Please show some evidence to back up your statement that Quadro's are designed to handle more heat and for much longer periods of time over a Geforce series card.

 

There are only two graphics choices: Nvidia Quadro 160M or Intel 4500MHD. You should have no trouble finding either in the Outlet store.

A good option, although a little harder to find, is the backlit keyboard. Also, as far as I can tell, if you want colors other than black, you are stuck with Nvidia.

 

Ask Nvidia or even Quadro manufactures yourself or anyone who uses a workstation GPU.

It's quiet easy to do, all they do is: use higher quality components on the boards such as capacitors, and use a better heat dispersion heatsink (for desktop Quadro's). Similarly is done on high-end PSU's and desktop gaming motherboard:

Example 1: http://www.giga-byte.ca/FileList/WebPage/mb_090814_24/data/tech_090814_24_u-ud3.htm

Example 2: http://www.corsair.com/products/hx/default.aspx

You see, it's nothing new or special.. it's just cost more and most people are not willing to cash more money (considering the same profit margin made on each card done by the company), especially that there are no real problem in the first place for all gamers. I mean it's rare that a GPU breaks on you due to gaming. When you will run Crysis max settings and some CUDA based application for several weeks non-stop.. now we will talk.

Reasons why a Quadro's (in general) is more expensive are as follows:
- Optimized for applications.
- Extensive driver testing.
- Smaller market share.
- Added technologies over the Geforce (read documentation: http://www.nvidia.com/object/quadro_geforce.html) which games simply don't use.
- Higher quality components used on the graphic card board for maximizing reliability.

It's like comparing Dell Home and Dell Business, I mean it's for a reason why Dell business has more expensive product over Dell Home.

 

OK, so now you have changed the tune, which is progress, I guess. You are no longer saying that the Quadro chips can withstand higher temperatures or last longer at high temperatures. Correct?

For those with an open mind, Quadros are optimized for stability when running business applications, not for game play. The chips are made from the same IC processes as the GeForce, so there is no difference in reliability if temperatures are kept the same. Nvidia can charge more for the Quadro chips because they are for business applications. It is simple marketing.

 

You may want to read this article:

http://www.techarp.com/showarticle.aspx?artno=539

"But everyone knows that Quadro and GeForce graphics cards are virtually identical in hardware.

Yes, you read that right. Even with the unbelievable price tag, the NVIDIA Quadro is really no different from their desktop GeForce counterparts. "

 

True for the low-end of the Quadro's, or if you play games with a Quadro. But, not the mid and high range. If that is true then everyone would get Geforce and install Quadro drivers.

If you have a look at Nvidia website and you will see all the features provided on the Quadro that is not available on the Geforce. Like to name some out of many others: Ability to output more colors then 8-bit per channel (30-bit output (10-bit per channel)), Rotated-Grid Full-Scene Antialiasing, 1512-Bit Memory Interface, 4 GB Frame Buffer, and more. All preatty much useless for gaming.

 

You don't understand Nvidia's marketing. You cannot run Quadro drivers on GeForce without some serious mods. The ROM registers in the chips are differently programmed for Quadro than GeForce. Certain features can be enabled or disabled by settings in registers that are not programmable by the user.

You still have not shown any data that Quadro chips are more reliable. By the way, Nivdia sells the chips, so all those references to Gigabyte or Corsair on better PCB's or components are totally irrelevant. Of course, different manufacturers can design boards with different levels of quality, but there is no evidence that a Quadro can withstand high temperature longer.

In the case of the NVS160M, it is virtually identical to the lowly 9300M GS, except the core clock is very slightly higher, but the memory clock is lower for the version in the E6400. So performance may not even favor the E6400's Quadro.

 

Yes you can, without a mod. I have done it on the laptop, and I have done it on my old Quadro FX 1500.

You have yet to prove the contrary.

But, I guess you are right, all Quadros are Geforce identically, the only difference is the name and the price, and everyone on this planet except you is wrong, including the GPU manufactures (the ones that assemble, package and prove service) and Nvidia them self. Now you can sue all them and be filthy rich due to false advertising. I don't have to prove a phone call conversation. I invite you to call and ask the manufacture or anyone who actually use a Quadro (which is supposed to be common knowledge).

You are boring me to death, conversation is over.

 

I have the Nvidia card and I dont understand all the badtalks of that card. Its not a gaming card but a lot more powerful than the integrated alternative. My experience is that in a couple of years you'll always want more graphics power in your laptop. And as mentioned above, both card have had their problems. So it is just too choose how you want to use your laptop.