GeForce Go 6800 Ultra: Powering the Dell Inspirion XPS Gen 2
by Derek Wilson on February 24, 2005 3:04 PM EST- Posted in
- GPUs
Final Words
The performance of the GeForce Go 6800 Ultra is unprecedented in the mobile space. Of course, while the mobility of a DTR system is always debatable, there's no doubt that scaling down powerful systems to this size has its advantages and appeal (especially when there is no sacrifice in graphics performance).Without having a comparable comparison platform, we can't directly compare the Go 6800 Ultra and the desktop 6800 parts. It does seem clear that Go 6800 Ultra is at least as powerful as its desktop counterpart. Being limited by a less powerful CPU and still coming out on top in more than a couple tests is very impressive.
We would still like to setup a direct comparison between the Go and desktop 6800 parts in order to examine the part on a clock for clock level. We would like to better determine the impact of the power saving features in mobile part. The 50MHz speed bump from the desktop to the Go 6800 Ultra seems only possible due to power saving features. On the desktop NVIDIA tried the 6800 Ultra Extreme, but most vendors were only able to get their parts to about 425 (and this in a virtually thermally unlimited environment). Of course, performance is one of the tradeoffs in the balance, and a clock for clock comparison in the same platform would give us some good data on the GeForce Go line's efficiency compared to the desktop.
It's also useful to note that the new XPS Gen 2 did not get as hot to the touch. It seems Dell has done a better job of getting heat to move outside the system in spite of all the power packed into the chassis. We only had one night with the system, so we were unable to perform an in depth analysis of the system.
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abakshi - Friday, February 25, 2005 - link
A comparison is not quite possible given all the variables involved, so though the Go 6800U may be fast, we can't really say much about it versus ATI's current X800 mobile offerings until there's a test with identical specs -- the best case being a modular setup to accept either option.sleepeeg3 - Friday, February 25, 2005 - link
Regardless of specs, that thing would still cost nearly twice as much as my top of the line SFF and you'd sacrifice on hard drive space/speeds. There's just no point to a gaming laptop *shrug*. At least those specs are finally starting getting me to look at them! Now if only the price would come down about a grand...timmiser - Friday, February 25, 2005 - link
Exactly #35. I know the Ultra will be faster but I'd like to see exactly how much faster in a graph in order to make a decision if I think I should go out and buy a new DTR.Optimummind - Friday, February 25, 2005 - link
timmiser, I think you need to see graphs and numbers to know that this Geforce Go 6800 Ultra will totally put the 9800 Pro Mobility on its knees. :)timmiser - Friday, February 25, 2005 - link
I have to agree with #22, I am an owner of a Dell XPS system with mobiliy 9800. Until now, the 9800 (Really X800 based) is the fastest available mobile solution and it would have been nice to see some comparisons with the 9800. (Didn't AT do some benches on the 9800??)I still have no idea how my system compares with this new graphic option.
-Tim
mickyb - Friday, February 25, 2005 - link
#30 There are not too many variables to say it is fast. This test shows that it IS fast, especially for a DTR laptop.I think what you are trying to express is that there is not enough information to determine it is the fastest. It does not matter if the new drivers make the other cards go faster.
ElFenix - Friday, February 25, 2005 - link
#26what part of "Creative Audigy 2NX External USB [add $100 or $3/month1] Product details" do you not understand?
or maybe you could go here:
http://www.soundblaster.com/products/audigy2NX/
and see that yes, this really is an external unit.
L3p3rM355i4h - Friday, February 25, 2005 - link
#26, if you've seen the review that anandtech did on desktop use of the dothan core, you would know that it is actually pretty weak when it comes to gaming. It still uses the exectution core of the PIII, etc. Pairing it with DDR2 seems to break the bandwidth issue.Packing that much performance in to a >10lbs package is simply amazing. That machine pwns my A64. when I win the lottery I just might have to pick one up...
Da DvD - Friday, February 25, 2005 - link
I'm sorry to say, but IMO this test is simply invalid. There are too many variables to draw any conclusion but that this thing is quite fast.I guess the newer nVidia drivers support the new render mode in Far Cry patch 1.3 much better than the old drivers did. That would explain the Go being faster here.
Hikari - Friday, February 25, 2005 - link
#28 256MB video card.http://www1.us.dell.com/content/products/productde...
And lowest base memory for the notebook itself is 512.