ATI vs Nvidia laptop videocards

I am trying to decide which to go with for a laptop configuration. Bothin which company to go with and between dual ATI Mobility Radeon 3870 cards, Dual Nvidia 9800m GT's, or one Nvidia 9800m GTX. I have looked around for comparisons but am open to more suggestions should you have any. For the company I have narrowed it to cyberpowerpc, ibuypower, or digitalstormonline. The first two are cheaper than digitalstorm with same or similar configurations, but the customer service and the computer reviews seem to be better from reviews I've read.

There is no extra price, you are not getting the same exact componenets with them then the ones you are getting from DS.

cyberpowerpc and ibuypower are not even in the same level as DS to be compared with DS.

If you want your money's worth then go with DS.

OK a few things:

first off you can't say

"so please do not say there is no extra price the price may be due to different brands of same hardware or many other things but there was a difference"

lol, what do you mean? I mean you can't say there is a price difference as long as both are a PC.

ofcourse there is no price difference. ofcourse what goes in the PC is what counts and the price of those is what counts.

you can't even build a comparable PC with cyberpower and ibuypower to the DS systems.

they don't even offer what DS offers.

let me explain better:

I tried to build comparable systems but I can't, cause cyberpower and ibuypower don't offer the good stuff.

so here are the base of my systems.

ibuypower

Power Supply: 1000W Corsair

Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 2.83GHz (1333MHz FSB) (12MB Cache)

Motherboard: nVidia 780i (wanted the 790i but its not offered, what a rip)

System Memory: 4 GB [2 GB X2] DDR2-1066 PC2 8500 Memory Module

Hard Drive 1: 150GB Western Digital Raptor (10K RPM) (16MB Cache) (SATA)

Optical Drive 1: DVD±R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 20x / CD-Writer 48x)

Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260

Sound Card: Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer

Cooling: nothing decent so I went with the base fan

price for $2980

---------------------------------------------------------

cyberpower (what a crappy company):

Power Supply: 1000W Corsair

Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 2.83GHz (1333MHz FSB) (12MB Cache)

Motherboard: nVidia 780i (wanted the 790i but its not offered, what a rip)

System Memory: 4 GB [2 GB X2] DDR2-1066 PC2 8500 Memory Module

Hard Drive 1: 150GB Western Digital Raptor (10K RPM) (16MB Cache) (SATA)

Optical Drive 1: DVD±R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 20x / CD-Writer 48x)

Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260

Sound Card: Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer

Cooling: nothing decent so I went with the base fan

price for $2800


---------------------------------------------------------

Now DS:

Power Supply: 1000W Corsair HX (Dual/Triple/Quad SLI Compatible)

Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 2.83GHz (1333MHz FSB) (12MB Cache)

Motherboard: nVidia 790i Ultra Core 2 Quad (nForce 790i Ultra SLI) (DDR3 Only)

System Memory: 4GB DDR3 Corsair at 1333MHz

Hard Drive 1: 150GB Western Digital Raptor (10K RPM) (16MB Cache) (SATA) (Extreme Speed)

Optical Drive 1: DVD±R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 20x / CD-Writer 48x) (LightScribe Edition)

Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260

Sound Card: Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer

Extreme Cooling: Air Cooled Stage 3 WindTunnel (Copper Heatpipe Heatsink & Additional Case Fans)


Price: $3000

---------------------------------------------------------

The important things to note:

1. I was not able to get the latest/newest parts I wanted.

2. something are not as good quality.

3. only things that were the same is basically the power supply, processor, sound card, video card, other then that nothing is the same.

4. I can't even get a good liquid cooling system from those guys.

I have put in bold the things that are not available or offered in the other 2 companies and things that I wanted to get.

so in short there is no difference in price, you are showing me apples and comparing it to oranges in price, my answer is, there is no difference in price cause they are not compatible, one is apple the other is orange

You will find out that none of us just woke-up in the morning and decided to put our money here, we have searched up and down for both quality and price and the place we ended up was here.

No body here has done more searching on this subject as myself. there is no place like DS around for the prices they are offering.

If cyberpower and ibuypower did offere the same parts I have choosen with DS then you would see their prices go much higher then DS with the same parts


At the end of the say I can't even get what I want with cyberpower and ibuypower which is the same deal as Dell xps and allienware. With DS I get exactly what I want and not what I'm forced to buy because of lack of choices.

Edited by DST4ME - 01 Sep 2008 at 2:44pm

Not sure why you say "you", I don't word for DS, I'm a prospective customer myself, I have done my homework tho and I know the difference between each place. He said side by side comparison DS is more expensive and that is not true, you can't even do a proper side by side comparison cause the other 2 places don't offer the good stuff.

also DS does not only deal to the high-end market at all, you can choose any system from them and pound for pound you will end-up with your money best spent on DS.

There is nothing heated, I'm not sure where you are getting heat from

but that depends on the resolution he wants to use it at :)

"Value and Power" and "Best Bang for Buck" are geared toward your everyday user, so I don't see how you think its just the high-end market.


@BenevolentDictator, is this going to be used mainly for games?


Edited by DST4ME - 01 Sep 2008 at 4:48pm

I think if you ask Alex if this site/DS caters to gamers or general folks, he will say general folks, this is a place where a new person can just get a base PC or a gamer can get the high-end stuff.

with dell even people that order on-line still call and ask question, DS has no more parts to choose then dell for their basic stuff.

just because you can get a water cooled, OC-ed xps from dell, its does not mean they cater to high-end gamers, now does it?

Originally posted by Ripper And from the systems ive seen on ds the whole layout of the site and everything looks like their target market is the enthusiast at the higher end of the spectrum rather than ur everyday user

That sure sounds like you are saying DS is after gamers/power users/enthusiast at the higher end of the spectrum.


DS is not just after high-end users, they are after anybody that wants a PC, don't take my word for it, ask them



Edited by DST4ME - 01 Sep 2008 at 7:50pm

here are the configurations I'm leaning towards
Chassis: Benchmark Crusher (Model: D9262) (Weight: 11.55LBS)
Display: 17 inch WUXGA with Enhanced Glossy Surface (Resolution: 1920 x
1200)
Exterior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish
Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 2.66GHz (1333MHz FSB) (12MB Cache)
System Memory: 4GB DDR2 at 800MHz (Extreme-Performance)
Inputs: 4 USB 2.0 Ports / Gigabit Ethernet LAN / V.92 Modem / 1394
FireWire / 7-in-1 Card Reader
Main Storage: 320GB (7200 RPM) (8MB Cache) (SATA Laptop Hard Drive)
Extra Storage: 160GB (7200 RPM) (8MB Cache) (SATA Laptop Hard Drive)
(High Performance)
Raid Options: - No Thanks
Optical Drive: DVD±R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 8x / CD-Writer)
Wireless Access: 802.11 A/B/G/N Wireless LAN Module
Features: Desktop Computer Platform / Supports Up To Three Hard Drives
/ Fingerprint Reader / Bluetooth
Outputs: DVI/CRT Port / S-Video / Headphone / Microphone
Video Card(s): PRE-ORDER NOW: NVIDIA GeForce 9800M GTX 1GB (ETA: MID
AUGUST)
External TV Tuner: - No Thanks
Windows OS: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium (64-Bit Edition) (For
Enthusiasts)
Restore Kit: Digital Storm Specialized Recovery System (DVD Image Based)
Protection: - No Thanks
Office Suite: - No Thanks
Benchmarking: - No Thanks
Install/Test Game: - No Thanks
Carry Bag: Targus Grey/Black Flare Backpack
External Cooling: Antec NoteBook Cooler
External Keyboard: - No Thanks
External Mouse: Razer DeathAdder Gaming Mouse (High-Speed Gaming Grade)
External Speakers: - No Thanks
External Storage: - No Thanks
Full Warranty: 3 Year Platinum Care Labor & 1 Year Parts Warranty
i cannot decide on either one 9800m GTX or two 9800m GT cards



Chassis: PRE-ORDER NOW: Gaming Dominator (Model: DM17) (Weight: 9.5LBS)
(ETA: EARLY SEPTEMBER)
Display: 17 inch WUXGA with Enhanced Glossy Surface (Resolution: 1920 x
1200)
Exterior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo T9600 2.80GHz (1066MHz FSB) (6MB Cache)
System Memory: 4GB DDR3 at 1066MHz (Extreme-Performance)
Inputs: 3 USB 2.0 Ports / Gigabit Ethernet LAN / V.92 Modem / 1394
FireWire / 7-in-1 Card Reader / eSATA
Main Storage: 320GB (7200 RPM) (8MB Cache) (SATA Laptop Hard Drive)
Extra Storage: 160GB (7200 RPM) (8MB Cache) (SATA Laptop Hard Drive)
(High Performance)
Raid Options: - No Thanks
Optical Drive: DVD±R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 8x / CD-Writer)
Wireless Access: 802.11 A/B/G/N Wireless LAN Module
Features: Centrino 2 Montevina Platform / Integrated Video Camera /
Fingerprint Reader / Bluetooth
Outputs: HDMI 1080P / DVI Port / SPDIF Audio / Headphone / Microphone
Video Card(s): 2x CrossFire Dual (ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3870 512MB)
External TV Tuner: - No Thanks
Windows OS: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
Restore Kit: Digital Storm Specialized Recovery System (DVD Image Based)
Protection: - No Thanks
Office Suite: - No Thanks
Benchmarking: - No Thanks
Install/Test Game: - No Thanks
Carry Bag: Targus Grey/Black Flare Backpack
External Cooling: Antec NoteBook Cooler
External Keyboard: - No Thanks
External Mouse: Razer DeathAdder Gaming Mouse (High-Speed Gaming Grade)
External Speakers: - No Thanks
External Storage: - No Thanks
Full Warranty: 3 Year Platinum Care Labor & 1 Year Parts Warranty

The second was for the ATI mobility cards


This is for the desktop i would like to purchase if i choose to go with desktop... though until i find out more on the mobile video cards i really cannot make the decision

Chassis: Digital Storm 850Si
Exterior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish
Interior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish
Power Supply: 1000W Corsair HX (Dual/Triple/Quad SLI Compatible)
Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 2.66GHz (1333MHz FSB) (12MB Cache)
Motherboard: Asus P5E3 Premium WiFi-AP (Intel X48 Chipset) (Supports CrossFire)
System Memory: 4GB DDR3 Corsair at 1333MHz
Card Reader: - No Thanks
Hard Drive 1: 300GB Western Digital VelociRaptor (10K RPM) (16MB Cache) (Extreme Speed)
Hard Drive 2: 500GB Western Digital (16MB Cache) (7200 RPM) (SATA)
Raid Option: - No Thanks
Hard Drive 3: - No Thanks
Optical Drive 1: DVD±R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 20x / CD-Writer 48x) (LightScribe Edition)
Optical Drive 2: - No Thanks
Wireless Access: High Speed Network Port (Supports High-Speed Cable / DSL / Network Connections)
Video Card: ATI Radeon HD 4870X2 2GB
TV Tuner: - No Thanks
Sound Card: Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer
Extreme Cooling: Air Cooled Stage 3 WindTunnel (Copper Heatpipe Heatsink & Additional Case Fans)
Internal Lighting: Blizzard Internal Lighting (Green Edition) (Cold Cathode Tubes)
Modifications: LCD Temperature Display & Fan Controller
Boost Processor: Yes, Overclock the processor as much as possible with complete stability
Boost Video Card: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my video card(s)
Boost Memory: Yes, Overclock memory timings (Includes Memory Fan Kit Installed)
Tweak Windows: - No Thanks, Please do not tweak the services on the operating system
Windows OS: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium (64-Bit Edition) (For Enthusiasts)
Restore Kit: Digital Storm Specialized Recovery System (DVD Image Based)
Protection: - No Thanks
Office: - No Thanks
Benchmarking: 3D Mark Vantage Advanced Edition (By: Futuremark) (Pre-Install) (Vista Compatible Only)
Install/Test Game: - No Thanks
LCD Display: - No Thanks
Surge Shield: - No Thanks
Speakers: - No Thanks
Keyboard: Razer Lycosa Gaming Keyboard
Mouse: Razer DeathAdder Gaming Mouse (High-Speed Gaming Grade)
External Storage: - No Thanks
Warranty: 3 Year Platinum Care Extended Parts & Labor Warranty