Laptop with AMD APU? or Intel with geforce?

[mufaddal]

Hello,

I am planning to buy a budget gaming laptop which can give playable frame rates in games like battlefield 3, crysis 2 and upcoming ones (25 fps is playable to me) . i have done some research regarding the AMD APU based notebooks, I have found that the integrated chip on the A6 and A8 APUs actually is able run these games at low or maybe medium while the intel ones (HD 3000) are not and also compared the APU to Geforce discrete graphics (GT 540m) found them to be almost equal in performance (geforce was little better). But the APU lags in CPU performance behind I5 and i3.

Options ,

• Notebook with latest Hi end AMD APU A8 without discrete graphics that is graphically better than geforce gt 540m.
  
• Notebook with Med- High APU like A6 with a discrete graphics 6650M so that I can crossifre (HD 6720G2) ( though i have read about this causing problems and Compatibility issues)
  
• Notebook with Intel i5 or i3 with good discrete graphics ( better than Gt 540m) maybe radeon HD or other geforce..
  
• Wait for the AMD trinity 2012 APU, with promised 50 % perfomance increase in graphics from llano?
  

Basically, A laptop which can play upcoming games at medium-high setting playable frames with all essentials

All these options are within the 30 to 40k budget

Please help me out I am totally confused.

,

• What's your Budget? 30,000 to 40,000 is my budget. (e.g. >30K, not more than 50K etc.)
  
• What will be your primary usage for the notebook be? Primary usage is Gaming at medium settings of all latest games.. at about 20-30 fps. (e.g. web surfing/office apps/Casual Gaming)
  
• What size and weight considerations do you have? Size is the generic 15" portable(e.g. Do you want a 17" desktop replacement or you want an ultraportable 12" or something in between)
  
• Any brand that you prefer, or any brand that you detest? Recommended brands by friends - HP, Dell, Acer ,Gateway , anyother popular brands are also fine.(e.g some would prefer to stay away from Acer or Dell)
  
• Any other considerations? Good battery life (should last atleast 2 hours), Aesthetics may be Standard(no fuss)(e.g Battery life; Widescreen/non-widescreen; Glossy/Matte screen etc.)
  

 

[naveen chauhan]

If you are spending > 35K please go for a Laptop with Intel Core i-series 2nd Gen processor and a discreet GPU. A GT540M will outperform all APU Graphics released in the Indian market. And an 2nd Gen i5 will beat any AMD processor and still remain more energy efficient.

For example : You can get the following ASUS laptop for Rs.26000(shipped)

ASUS X53TA-SX096D

• 15.6" HD Glare
  
• "AMD Sabine
  
• A6-3400M Quad
  
• (1.4G,4M)"
  
• AMD HD 6650 1G DDR3 VRAM
  
• 2G DDR3 1333
  
• "500G
  
• 5400rpm"
  
• DVD RW 8X SM DL
  
• 802.11 b/g/n
  
• BT 3.0
  
• 0.3M
  
• 6 Cell
  
• DOS
  
• 1-Year Global
  
• On-Site
  
• USB 3.0
  
• HDMI
  

It'll be better than all similarly priced intel configurations but it wont match the performance level of an 2nd Gen i5 rig with GT540M . BTW APU configurations will heat more and might suffer from low battery life in the long run so decide accordingly.

And the following config @ Rs. 40000-/-(shipped) will beat the above model in almost everything but cost is more proportionally :

ASUS K53SM-SX010D

Colour: Brown Metal

Intel® Huron River i5-2450M (2.5GHz 3MB Cache)

2nd GENERATION

4GB RAM / 750 GB HDD

DVD RW 8X SuperMulti Drive

15.6" HD Glare

2GB Nvidia GT 630M DDR3

Web Camera 0.3M, HDMI

Wi-Fi, LAN,Bluetooth v3.0,

DOS, 6 Cell Battery

1 Year on Site Warranty



And best of all you can extend your ASUS warranty to 2 years from ASUS's website.

 

[JuGGa]

It'll be better than all similarly priced intel configurations but it wont match the performance level of an 2nd Gen i5 rig with GT540M . BTW APU configurations will heat more and might suffer from low battery life in the long run so decide accordingly.

And the following config @ Rs. 40000-/-(shipped) will beat the above model in almost everything but cost is more proportionally :

This is all rubbish. How the hell will APUs generate more heat ? And FYKI it provides much better battery life than Intel counterparts. Combined with turbo core + power gating, AMD has been able to hit the sweet spot to surpass Intel.

Also, its not losing everywhere to 540M. On average 540M is faster, but 665D takes its lead when Asymetrical cross fire is enabled, ready to leave 540M much behind.

Check this- http://www.anandtech.com/show/4444/amd-llano-notebook-review-a-series-fusion-apu-a8-3500m/1

#[member='mufaddal']

If you can wait for Trinity, I'll seriously suggest you wait. They're supposed to be game changer for mobile computing in budget and mid range. Trinity = Llano + Bulldozer architecture.

The graphics of trinity will leave 540M in dust.

And what you said about the issues about the so called Asymmetrical Crossfire, it is buggy as for now due to drivers issue. But after a BIOS update (source=AnandTech), it has resolved quite a few issues. But it still needs to mature much, and since the drivers are still in beta stage, they are expected to be alright after launch of Trinity.

Just wait for Trinity reviews to come out, if they are a fail, you always have SB, and not to forget, ivy too (launching 29 april)

 

[naveen chauhan]

Well, I'm not talking hypothetically but considering a real life scenario under Indian summer conditions. Two of my friends own the LLano A series Laptops, 1 HP and the other has the above mentioned Asus model. I've tried both and believe they do get HOT, both are around 3 months old and are already showing a battery wear of ~ 15%.

Both get hot => Hotter than their Intel counter parts, after gaming ~1hr their exhaust and area around it gets too hot to touch. More heat results in higher temperature charging conditions and this will increase battery wear exponentially.
The 2nd Gen Intel-i series Laptops have more power draw when gaming but during non GPU extensive applications the discrete GPU is OFF thus decreasing the power consumption by around 30-40W and thus increasing the battery life.

BELIEVE ME DUDE, I'm not an AMD hater but I love and adore AMD, I'm just making it more clear for the OP. But looking at the pricing I have to say GO FOR AMD

.

 

[JuGGa]

Well, I'm not talking hypothetically but considering a real life scenario under Indian summer conditions. Two of my friends own the LLano A series Laptops, 1 HP and the other has the above mentioned Asus model. I've tried both and believe they do get HOT, both are around 3 months old and are already showing a battery wear of ~ 15%.

Both get hot => Hotter than their Intel counter parts, after gaming ~1hr their exhaust and area around it gets too hot to touch. More heat results in higher temperature charging conditions and this will increase battery wear exponentially.

BELIEVE ME DUDE, I'm not an AMD hater but I love and adore AMD, I'm just making it more clear for the OP. But looking at the pricing I have to say GO FOR AMD

.

Firstly, battery wear has got no relation with laptop temps. It just has got to do with battery charge cycles. The more you complete, the more it increases.

About your experience, I can presume about HP, as HP = heating problems, but can't say what was the problem with Asus. But let the trinity launch, with more mature drivers and BIOS, everything is expected to come on right track.

The 2nd Gen Intel-i series Laptops have more power draw when gaming but during non GPU extensive applications the discrete GPU is OFF thus decreasing the power consumption by around 30-40W and thus increasing the battery life.

than ?

 

[naveen chauhan]

Firstly, battery wear has got no relation with laptop temps. It just has got to do with battery charge cycles. The more you complete, the more it increases.

About your experience, I can presume about HP, as HP = heating problems, but can't say what was the problem with Asus. But let the trinity launch, with more mature drivers and BIOS, everything is expected to come on right track.

than ?

HP=Heating Problems !!! That generalization was good only for their 1 year old gen of laptops all the new ones have ample room inside for free flow of air. It's better to keep yourself UPDATED.

Power draw was being compared to it's own peak power draw during gaming.

Any battery needs to be stored below 40C(22C actually), anything above that decreases the battery life significantly. The number of charging cycles is a defined age factor of a Battery BUT WHENEVER IT GOES BEYOND THE STATED TEMPS(which is 25C) IT'S LIFE DECREASES. I just cant comprehend the level stupidity with which you're trying to ignore the facts

.

Even the best Panasonic Li-Ion Cells that are used in good battery packs have a stated charging ambient temps range from 0C-45C . And BTW the life of a battery ,i.e, the charging cycles as you so fondly put it is rated @ 25C .

The charge cycle characteristics of a Li-ION battery changes dramatically if it is not done at the stated temps(0C - 45C), Li-ion is very sensitive to temperatures, Jugga if you have doubts please refer the Panasonic Li-ion cell charging and discharging characteristics, and I'm referring Panasonic because they are the best Li-ion cell makers. (you wont find a laptop battery but you'll only find cells since Panny sells cells to other makers who assemble the laptop batteries

) .

 

[JuGGa]

HP=Heating Problems !!! That generalization was good only for their 1 year old gen of laptops all the new ones have ample room inside for free flow of air. It's better to keep yourself UPDATED.

I am updated man. I agree that the main culprit for heating were first gen procis, and after 2nd gen HP has improved a LOT. But it still needs to improve. I have seen several users having complaints of high temps on newer DV6. A user said his laptop went to 85° while playing CS!!

Personally I find HP trustable, but ample of failure examples in my circle (local & forum) has broken my trust. Most of them experience mobo failure in 2nd or 3rd yr. If these stats lie I can't say anything.

Power draw was being compared to it's own peak power draw during gaming.

Any battery needs to be stored below 40C(22C actually), anything above that decreases the battery life significantly. The number of charging cycles is a defined age factor of a Battery BUT WHENEVER IT GOES BEYOND THE STATED TEMPS(which is 25C) IT'S LIFE DECREASES. I just cant comprehend the level stupidity with which you're trying to ignore the facts

.

Even the best Panasonic Li-Ion Cells that are used in good battery packs have a stated charging ambient temps range from 0C-45C . And BTW the life of a battery ,i.e, the charging cycles as you so fondly put it is rated @ 25C .

The charge cycle characteristics of a Li-ION battery changes dramatically if it is not done at the stated temps(0C - 45C), Li-ion is very sensitive to temperatures, Jugga if you have doubts please refer the Panasonic Li-ion cell charging and discharging characteristics, and I'm referring Panasonic because they are the best Li-ion cell makers. (you wont find a laptop battery but you'll only find cells since Panny sells cells to other makers who assemble the laptop batteries

) .

I'm not completely disagreeing with your point bro. Unusual temps of laptop decreases wear & tear of every part. Every damn thing inside and outside is risked. I just wanted to say that, charge cycles are the most important factor in deciding a battery's life. Of course if its exposed to abnormal high temps, it'll cause damage internally, which will apparently cause decrement in charge cycle or better say lead to quicker completion of charge cycle. That's why normal temps are recommended for every electronics, not only batteries. And lastly sorry If I sounded stupid

Hope this clears issues

 

[mufaddal]

Thanks alot guys. Now i have lot more clarity on laptops in this range and pros and cons of each. I am deciding to wait for trinity and also ivy bridge.

Thanks

 

[comp@ddict]

Wait for AMD trinity sire