Geek Help Needed For Gaming Laptop

The industry software I use is becoming more dependent on the CPU for calculating the raytrace and final gather maps, while the GPU is being used to display those calculations as an image on the screen. If I understand things correctly, gaming is more about frame rate than it is about having to do millions of raytrace calculations. This is why a gaming card does not work well in a workstation, and I have had the opportunity, thankfully, to work on 2 similar systems with the main difference being the gaming card vs. the quadro. The quadro far out performed the gaming card in that situation. Fewer program crashes as well due to the gaming cards, non-certified drivers.
 
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The industry software I use is becoming more dependent on the CPU for calculating the raytrace and final gather maps, while the GPU is being used to display those calculations as an image on the screen. If I understand things correctly, gaming is more about frame rate than it is about having to do millions of raytrace calculations. This is why a gaming card does not work well in a workstation, and I have had the opportunity, thankfully, to work on 2 similar systems with the main difference being the gaming card vs. the quadro. The quadro far out performed the gaming card in that situation. Fewer program crashes as well due to the gaming cards, non-certified drivers.


Moreover, when all of those images are cast in a game and the game is optimized, decisions are made that calculate speed versus what human can detect visually. The software will sacrifice polygon count at every opportunity allowed by the software.

You already know that there's a hell of a lot more calculation (read: code) going on during render than there is during a straight play-back of visuals. All of that overhead is removed for the game because it doesn't need to be accomplished over again.
 
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17.3 inch FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS-Panel Anti-Glare 300-nits Display
or is it worth the extra $250 for:
17.3 inch UHD (3840 x 2160) IGZO IPS Anti-Glare 400-nits Display
 
Off topic, but can a computer monitor be used as a tv with the hdmi from the cable box?

I just saw a sale on a 21" monitor for $100. Haven't looked at tvs that size but it made me curious what the difference may be.


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Off topic, but can a computer monitor be used as a tv with the hdmi from the cable box?

I just saw a sale on a 21" monitor for $100. Haven't looked at tvs that size but it made me curious what the difference may be.


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From what I understand, as long as you have a cable box to tune the signal and your monitor can accept an HDMI signal, it should work.
 
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From what I understand, as long as you have a cable box to tune the signal and your monitor can accept an HDMI signal, it should work.

Thanks! It has built in speakers. My mom was interested in a small tv for her bedroom and I saw the sale on the monitor and was curious.

Not sure how volume would be controlled though since that is usually a tv function.
 
@Jinx

I look at it like this: It's a laptop, nearly impossible to upgrade the video chipset or screen. So, you buy the best that you can afford and get your hands on.

There are not many laptops available at all that have better than a 1080p display. My last gaming laptop was 1440p and shamed most desktop displays. You will definitely like the cleaner, sharper screen. Bluray and DVD upconvert looks pretty damned good too. Just make sure that the player you purchase has that capability.

Even the game consoles are capped at 1080p (not many TVs will display higher anyway). You will definitely notice and appreciate the difference. If you ever played with one after not getting it, you'd kick yourself.
 
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Not sure how volume would be controlled though since that is usually a tv function.


Monitors don't generally have speakers at all. Sometimes they have audio pass-through connections if they're HDMI ready. They will also sometimes have an HDMI output.

Either way, if you're coming from a cable box then it probably has RCA connections on the back. Shoot it through whatever set of speakers you like. The Boes Companion series are a great sounding set but the price is high. Use them though, as a comparison to less expensive sets on the market. There are plenty to choose from that are just as good.
 
This one has built in speakers, not looking to add a speaker setup. Just something basic for my moms bedroom. It's not a priority or anything, might be easier just getting a TV. Probably about the same price.




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Another derail LOL! But this is the geek thread!

I'm looking to sell an older computer I have. What would you think it might be worth?

HP pavilion m7650n desktop
Core 2 6300
4 gig ram

Added Corsair GS600 PS and nvidia 9800gt.

The bad, no cd/dvd drive. And I think I'm gonna have to remove the HD because although she powers up its not seeing the system recovery partition and I can't remember if I had personal files still on it.

So I know older machine, but worth anything?


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The on;y part of that, that is worth anything really is the video card and PS. SUPER overkill for that combo.

As for the HD, boot into a clean windows command prompt, re-initialize the drive then format it to NTFS.

Even the cheap 2nd generation i5s are more than 7 times faster than that dual core.

If you want to keep the system, I'd put a workstation video card into it (cheap/used) and load it up with drives as a media server.

The other option would be to see what (if any) quad core MBs can fit into that case.

The MB, system memory, and CPU, are pretty much paper weights.
 
The on;y part of that, that is worth anything really is the video card and PS. SUPER overkill for that combo.

As for the HD, boot into a clean windows command prompt, re-initialize the drive then format it to NTFS.

Even the cheap 2nd generation i5s are more than 7 times faster than that dual core.

If you want to keep the system, I'd put a workstation video card into it (cheap/used) and load it up with drives as a media server.

The other option would be to see what (if any) quad core MBs can fit into that case.

The MB, system memory, and CPU, are pretty much paper weights.


Thanks I kinda figured the only value was the PS and Graphics, even then not a whole lot. I really have no use for it and it just takes up space.

The command prompt boot method was the only one I didn't try. Duh. Everything else just failed.

I just thought maybe someone would buy it for like $50. Especially if I can format the HD. I know it's old and slow but so are some people LOL!
 
When I bought the core i5 I noticed a huge improvement in speed LOL! And it is a cheaper model from about 4 years ago. It does what I need it to do.


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When I bought the core i5 I noticed a huge improvement in speed LOL! And it is a cheaper model from about 4 years ago. It does what I need it to do.


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If the drive is logically FUBAR, it will need to be re-initialized (this also assures data destruction). If it's a Western Digital drive for instance, you would go to their website to download the hard Drive Utility in order to initialize the drive.

After initialization, you would reformat. Some don't understand that there's a difference between formatting and initializing. You can logically "brick" a hard drive without there being physical errors present.

You can certainly try reformatting first but I'm betting you've been down that road already.
 
I have tried every startup option such as recovery, safe mode, etc...except for boot to prompt. It shows the Windows screen at times and other times just brings up a screen full of messages saying it can't access the partition. I was hoping to recover to Windows as a selling point although it is just XP.

But since it has no cd drive I don't have the option of booting off that. I don't have any copies of Windows. I could use a usb drive possibly.

Either way I don't plan on spending too much time on it for what it may be worth. If anything maybe throw the video card and PSU for sale and use the rest for target practice in the backyard LOL!

I appreciate the help tho.


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