Can a T43 with X300 support anything graphic intensive?

[BoostedA4]

I have a T43 on order with a 64MB X300. At the time of purchase, I was going to get the 2379-DXU, but could not wait the 5+ weeks. A T43 with good specs was thrown at me, with a 64MB X300 gpu.

After having done some research, it seems the X300 is quite wimpy. I've read it is 3/4 shared memory? i.e. it will use 48 MB of my sytem's RAM? Now, I don't plan on doing anything real intensive, like CAD or DoomIII, but is this X300 going to slow down my system with anything involving graphics, i.e. very simple editing of digital photos or older CPU games? Or what about displaying graphics on websites/videos?

Also, is there any basis to a rumor that X600's may be arriving in the T43's within the next month?

[Leon]

is this X300 going to slow down my system with anything involving graphics, i.e. very simple editing of digital photos or older CPU games? Or what about displaying graphics on websites/videos?

Also, is there any basis to a rumor that X600's may be arriving in the T43's within the next month?

no; it should be fine, no; it should be fine, probably not that soon.........

[K. Eng]

No, the X300 used in ThinkPads does not have a shared memory scheme. Some budget versions of the X300 in desktops are supposed to have a small RAM cache and use main memory, similar to the GeForce 6200 models using nVidia's TurboCache design.

After having done some research, it seems the X300 is quite wimpy. I've read it is 3/4 shared memory? i.e. it will use 48 MB of my sytem's RAM?

[dash7540]

I'm pretty sure the MR X300 is based off the MR 9600. Theoretically, performance should be similar to that of the 9600.

Look at this page for ATI Mobility GPU comparisons:
http://www.rojakpot.com/default.aspx?lo ... 162&var2=0

The reviews you were looking at were most likely ones of the desktop version, and I'm assuming they were the X300 SE's; those are crippled versions of the regular X300.

[aamsel]

The graphics that you are concerned with aren't 3D graphics, they are 2D. There will be no problems with the T43's 2D graphics capability. DVD playback, photo editing, etc. will all be fine, as will older games and website graphics. You would not notice any difference between the X300 and an X600 (when available) for any of the graphics that you describe.
GPU's haven't had any trouble keeping up with 2D for many, many years.

Now, for 3D...that's a different story.

Andrew
Austin, TX

I have a T43 on order with a 64MB X300. At the time of purchase, I was going to get the 2379-DXU, but could not wait the 5+ weeks. A T43 with good specs was thrown at me, with a 64MB X300 gpu.

After having done some research, it seems the X300 is quite wimpy. I've read it is 3/4 shared memory? i.e. it will use 48 MB of my sytem's RAM? Now, I don't plan on doing anything real intensive, like CAD or DoomIII, but is this X300 going to slow down my system with anything involving graphics, i.e. very simple editing of digital photos or older CPU games? Or what about displaying graphics on websites/videos?

Also, is there any basis to a rumor that X600's may be arriving in the T43's within the next month?

[dr72]

The graphics that you are concerned with aren't 3D graphics, they are 2D. There will be no problems with the T43's 2D graphics capability. DVD playback, photo editing, etc. will all be fine, as will older games and website graphics. You would not notice any difference between the X300 and an X600 (when available) for any of the graphics that you describe.
GPU's haven't had any trouble keeping up with 2D for many, many years.

Now, for 3D...that's a different story.

Andrew
Austin, TX

What's the different story - for 3D won't it be just as good as the 9600 in the T42's?

[aamsel]

It will be "as good", but perhaps a bit slower than the 9600.
The benchmarks I ran gave the edge to the 9600, however, benchmarks are benchmarks, and not "real world".
In real world they will be perhaps quite close.
No idea, since I haven't run a game or anything 3D on either, just the benchmarks.
(I posted the benchmarks earlier elsewhere on the forum.)

Andrew
Austin, TX

What's the different story - for 3D won't it be just as good as the 9600 in the T42's?

[danny_isr]

Any game i tried till now including Doom3 run just fine.

[aamsel]

It is not a matter of whether the games will run or not.
They will all run.
They may run a bit slower (slower framerate) but will probably run pretty much the same.

Should be fine.
Looks like I am staying with a T43 with X300 myself.
Too much hassle and wait time to switch.

Andrew
Austin, TX

Any game i tried till now including Doom3 run just fine.

[danny_isr]

It is not a matter of whether the games will run or not.
They will all run.
They may run a bit slower (slower framerate) but will probably run pretty much the same.

Should be fine.
Looks like I am staying with a T43 with X300 myself.
Too much hassle and wait time to switch.

Andrew
Austin, TX

Any game i tried till now including Doom3 run just fine.

that's why i wrote it run just fine...... and not "it runs"

[coconutdevil]

Hello... first post over here.

I just purchased a T43 with X300 64MB (expected for delivery on Wednesday). My previous laptop was a Vaio S-260 with Mobility Radeon 9200 32MB.

I'm mostly into online RPG games like World of Warcraft and Guild Wars. I was pretty much satisfied with game performance on my Vaio. Should I expect these games to play better on my new T43 (I would guess so)?What are my chances of running more graphic-intensive rpgs like EverQuest or The Matrix Online that would simply not run on my Vaio (minimum of 64MB video)?

Thanks... looking forward to Wednesday to try out myself.

[dash7540]

coconutdevil,

Yeah the X300 will definitely have better performance than a 9200; judging from my memory, the X300 should roughly double the performance of its predecessor. So yes, you will be able run more graphic-intense games - even games like Unreal 2K4, Half-Life 2, or Far Cry which have far higher system requirements.

Have fun with your new system!

[dr72]

Hello... first post over here.

I just purchased a T43 with X300 64MB (expected for delivery on Wednesday). My previous laptop was a Vaio S-260 with Mobility Radeon 9200 32MB.

I'm mostly into online RPG games like World of Warcraft and Guild Wars. I was pretty much satisfied with game performance on my Vaio. Should I expect these games to play better on my new T43 (I would guess so)?What are my chances of running more graphic-intensive rpgs like EverQuest or The Matrix Online that would simply not run on my Vaio (minimum of 64MB video)?

Thanks... looking forward to Wednesday to try out myself.

I'd be interested in your results for World of Warcraft. Personally I am planning on replacing a T30 (7500 chip) so I'm sure the T42 or T43 would be faster/smooth, just interested in your experiences.