13''-14'' notebook with External GPU???

[atticus182]

So, I want a new notebook.

I need to take it out often, so something light and thin is better. Also, I want to do big gaming, So I think about to buy a notebook with a nice CPU like a i5 or i7 and throw in it an external GPU by PCIe, like a radeon HD5750.

So, a 13''-14'' notebook with PCIe 2.0 and a external Gpu is my best option?

Or wait for the MSI GX640 with a HD5850?

Thanks

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General Questions

1) What is your budget?

1300$

2) What size notebook would you prefer?

c. Thin and Light; 13" - 14" screen

3) Where will you buying this notebook?

CAnada, but I can Import.

4) Are there any brands that you prefer or any you really don't like?

a. Like: Asus, MSI, Dell, Sony
b. Dislike: MAC

5) Would you consider laptops that are refurbished/redistributed?
Of course

6) What are the primary tasks will you be performing with this notebook?
Web browsing, Gaming, DVD, office..

7) Will you be taking the notebook with you to different places, leaving it on your desk or both?

Both

8) Will you be playing games on your notebook?

Bad company 2, Race driver grid, supreme commander, diablo 3..

9) How many hours of battery life do you need?

3 and more

10) Would you prefer to see the notebooks you're considering before purchasing it or buying a notebook on-line without seeing it is OK?

its ok

11) What OS do you prefer? Windows (XP or Vista or Windows 7), Mac OS, Linux, etc.

Windows 7

Screen Specifics

I don't mind, at home, it will be on a 24'' screen

13) Do you want a glossy/reflective screen or a matte/non-glossy screen?

not mind

Build Quality and Design

14) Are the notebook's looks and stylishness important to you?

Its better if it is.

15) When are you buying this laptop and how long do you want this laptop to last?

before june

Notebook Components

16) How much hard drive space do you need; 80GB to 640GB? Do you want a SSD drive?

No mind, I have a external DD

17) Do you need an optical drive? If yes, a CDRW/DVD-ROM, DVD Burner or Blu-Ray drive?

No need

[atticus182]

Also, nice build quality and a Backlight Keyboard is a plus.

I search for some ideas of 13-14'' laptop, and the Asus U30JC is what I need if it has a backlight keybord , an expresscard slot and an Intel i5 520M CPU.

[lackofcheese]

With an external graphics solution, the lack of PCI express bandwidth is a significant bottleneck, which will restrict performance. You'll be able to get reasonable gaming performance, but alternative options are worth considering.

Firstly, you could look for a laptop with a midrange switchable discrete GPU. That way, you'll be able to get good battery life, but still have gaming performance when you need it. Currently, the Sony VAIO Z and the Lenovo Y460 fit the bill. The upcoming ASUS N82Jv and Acer 3820/4820 will as well.

Secondly, you could get both a desktop and a laptop - for around $700 you can build a great gaming desktop.

[atticus182]

With an external graphics solution, the lack of PCI express bandwidth is a significant bottleneck, which will restrict performance. You'll be able to get reasonable gaming performance, but alternative options are worth considering.

Firstly, you could look for a laptop with a midrange switchable discrete GPU. That way, you'll be able to get good battery life, but still have gaming performance when you need it. Currently, the Sony VAIO Z and the Lenovo Y460 fit the bill. The upcoming ASUS N82Jv and Acer 3820/4820 will as well.

Secondly, you could get both a desktop and a laptop - for around $700 you can build a great gaming desktop.

Yeah thanks, I looked at the Asus N82Jv before, a great laptop.

But, you said that the external GPU would be not very good, but the new PCIe 2.0 x1 is very good, no? It have about 60% more power than a gpu in a PCIE 1.0 x1. So, if a hd5770 in a pcie 1.0 x1 has 10000pts in 3Dmarks 06, it should be like 15000pts with pcie 2.0?

Also, what is better for the near futur for gaming: i5-520m or i7-720q?

I don't need 8hrs or more of battery life, about 4hrs is good for me.

[lackofcheese]

The i7-720QM is slightly better than the i5-520M overall, but it'll probably be slightly weaker when using 2/1 cores. However, the i7-720QM consumes more power and is more expensive, and it doesn't come with integrated graphics - this in particular makes even 4 hours of battery life a stretch.

PCIe 2.0 should be a big improvement; enough for solid performance with an HD 5770. However, 3DMark06 barely scales at all with PCIe bandwidth; it's actually mostly dependent on the CPU - look at this scaling test on the HD 5870 - so you won't get particularly big differences with 3DMark scores. Nonetheless, PCIe bandwidth has a much greater impact on real-world performance than it does on 3DMark scores. If you look at the other benchmarks, you'll note that x1 2.0 is definitely not enough bandwidth for the HD 5870. However, this news isn't as bad for a card like the HD 5770, which has half the number of shaders.

Benchmarks here have a ViDock with an HD 5770 running RE5 at 1280x800 at 51 fps (DX10) - but it seems that this may have been with PCIe 1.0 x1. For comparison, the Lenovo Y460 managed 53fps at 1280x720. If there is indeed a 60% boost from PCIe 2.0 x1 (that seems like a reasonable figure to me), then the HD 5770 will be much better.

You'd better be sure that you can get PCIe 2.0 x1, though, or I'd say it isn't worth it to go with the external graphics card. For that, you're also going to have to find a laptop with expresscard 2.0, which might be an additional expense over one without it.

[atticus182]

The i7-720QM is slightly better than the i5-520M overall, but it'll probably be slightly weaker when using 2/1 cores. However, the i7-720QM consumes more power and is more expensive, and it doesn't come with integrated graphics - this in particular makes even 4 hours of battery life a stretch.

PCIe 2.0 should be a big improvement; enough for solid performance with an HD 5770. However, 3DMark06 barely scales at all with PCIe bandwidth; it's actually mostly dependent on the CPU - look at this scaling test on the HD 5870 - so you won't get particularly big differences with 3DMark scores. Nonetheless, PCIe bandwidth has a much greater impact on real-world performance than it does on 3DMark scores. If you look at the other benchmarks, you'll note that x1 2.0 is definitely not enough bandwidth for the HD 5870. However, this news isn't as bad for a card like the HD 5770, which has half the number of shaders.

Benchmarks here have a ViDock with an HD 5770 running RE5 at 1280x800 at 51 fps (DX10) - but it seems that this may have been with PCIe 1.0 x1. For comparison, the Lenovo Y460 managed 53fps at 1280x720. If there is indeed a 60% boost from PCIe 2.0 x1 (that seems like a reasonable figure to me), then the HD 5770 will be much better.

You'd better be sure that you can get PCIe 2.0 x1, though, or I'd say it isn't worth it to go with the external graphics card. For that, you're also going to have to find a laptop with expresscard 2.0, which might be an additional expense over one without it.

Thanks for the advices!

But, pcie 2.0 is not on every new laptops that have inetl i3-i5-i7 Cpu?

A GPU like the mobility HD5650 is not enough for me and if I want to keep it for long time. With an external gpu, I will be able to upgrade my video card in the futur, not the integrated hd5650.

I have to say that I will not play games on the laptop outside my home. So, when it is not plugged on my 24'' screen, I don't play.

[Melody]

If you're not playing games when outside the house maybe it'd be better to get a separate gaming machine then? The DIY ViDock's main bottleneck is the PCIe's x1 bandwidth. Even with 2.0 and a x2 setup(which only certain laptops are able to do), you still lose maybe 20-30% of the speed of the actual GPU on a PCIex16.

[lackofcheese]

While PCIe 2.0 is standard stuff, the issue is getting an external interface that will support the bandwidth. I haven't heard much about ExpressCard 2.0, but if you find a laptop with that you should be okay.

If you'll be playing games only at home, and upgradeability is important, a $600 laptop and a $700 desktop should be a serious consideration as well.

[atticus182]

What can I have for 700$ for a desktop?

Also, where can i find a new 13'' notebook for 600$?

[Melody]

The desktop in my sig cost me 500$ a year ago if that's any indication of what you can get. And at the time, the HD4850 cost me 200$CAD and for that price you can get a 5770 or a 5830 now.

As for a laptop, 13" are indeed more expensive than 600$ typically, but if you can save up to maybe 800$ or so you could get a UL20, that should be more than enough for your needs sans gaming.