AMD64/M9700 (SiS 755) - Page 3

I'm with DanW on this, Okle. I'm not exactly sure how similar desktop AMD-64s are to their DTR siblings. The differences could be minor (same chip, just binned differently based on their tested TDP) to major (actual architectural differences in the memory controller). Either way, I'm not risking a $3k system just to test your theory .

As to swapping a 35W into a DTR system, this is exactly what I'm planning on doing when the 3400+ (35W) comes out Q2 next year for socket 754. Cutting my CPU's power consumption by more than half should have an appreciable effect on battery life, maybe even approaching Dothan levels. Hopefully, the bios in the AX7 will support it (I don't see why not).

gamepc's reply

This is what gamepc replied to me. Sorry for being late.

Date: Mon, 21 Jun 2004 15:44:55 -0700
From: GamePC Sales Team <sales@gamepc.com>
Subject: Re: On the model GPN-A64B

Hi Jaydeep :

Thanks for emailing.

We use the AMD Athlon64 DTR notebook processors for the GPN-A64B
models. All of the DTR models currently support 1MB of on-die L2 cache
and do indeed support DDR-400 memory modules. The chips run off
Socket-754 and are based on AMD's Clawhammer processor design.

For a overview of these processors from AMD, please look at the URL
below.

http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/...E10249,00.html


Approximate turn around time for GPN-A64B models is between five and
seven business days.

Hope this helps!

GamePC Sales Team
http://www.gamepc.com

I also emailed gamepc about the ddr400 support and I also asked about the new 3700+. Here's the reply. Can anyone confirm that this is true?

"The GPN-A64B will indeed support DDR-400 memory at full 400 MHz speed through the SiS 755 chipset, allowing 3.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The chipset does also support DDR-266 and DDR-333 memory if needed, but DDR-400 is your best choice in terms of price/performance.

Currently, this notebook is using the Athlon64 DTR processor (which is the same Socket-754 processor in desktops, but has no heat spreader on the processor for more direct cooling), which does not come in a 3700+ speed at this time. We're only offering CPU's up to 3400+ (2.2 GHz) at the moment.

Hope this helps!

GamePC Sales Team"

i wasn't really serious spooky, i was just saying that if anyone would try it, it would most likely be you (or someone with a 6805/9) since you have an A64 notebook.

This is off-topic but since spooky is also participating in this thread, I want to ask you guys this question: why should one go for AMD 64 and not a dothan if money is not a problem?
People in other threads say that the performance difference between them is negligible yet dothan offers much better battery life. Can you guys refer me to any benchmarks comparing recent AMD 64 proc. with dothan?

I am ineterested in 64-bit proc. since eventually it will help me computing without overflow.

ok so if this notebook is an AMD64 DTR why is it advertized as a Mobil AMD64. I may just be confused but from someones post above i got the idea that the Mobil AMD64 and the AMD64 DTR are 2 different chips

Well, Athlon 64 beats Dothan in gaming benchmarks. So, if gaming is a significant part of your use of the laptop, this would be a good reason to go for Athlon 64 over dothan. Its also true that a 64 bit OS would be likely to improve the performance of an Athlon 64, while a Dothan doesn't offer the option.

DanW

Its also true that a 64 bit OS would be likely to improve the performance of an Athlon 64, while a Dothan doesn't offer the option.

yes, but also 64-bit drivers, applications, and everything else that goes with it... it will not be mainstream for awhile

Well, Athlon 64 beats Dothan in gaming benchmarks. So, if gaming is a significant part of your use of the laptop, this would be a good reason to go for Athlon 64 over dothan.

no, not always. and by how much does it beat? we did a few comparison tests with the ferrari 3200 (athlon64 notebook with 128mb 9700 gpu) and compal cl56 (pentium-m notebook with 128mb 9700 gpu)

http://notebookforums.com/showthread...783#post292783

If the other a64 notebook (Mitac 8355) can get 3 hr of life with normal usage I hope this one can.

Im looking at this or the Ferrari 3200.

I think you need to reword that sentence so it makes sense

Agree i yes, do.

In general, the big 3 CPUs (P-4, P-M, AMD-64) are all going to give fairly similar performances. Different benchmarks may highlight each CPU's strengths, but they're really just splitting hairs. All of these CPUs are damn fast; there is little to no perceivable speed difference between similarly rated systems. And as far as gaming quality goes, like Rincewind said, the GPU is a far bigger factor than the CPU.

So why'd I choose an AMD-64 system? Well, I was looking for a desktop replacement system that I could also tote along with me when necessary. Battery life was important for those occasional un-plugged runs, but not as important as CPU (yes, I'm a hair-splitter ). The AMD-64 seemed a fair compromise between the two (even moreso when the 35W AMD-64 3400+ comes out next year). As a professional systems programmer and PC enthusiast, I'm also interested in the 64-bit architecture and other cutting-edge tech, regardless of when it will become mainstream. The faster we consumers switch over to 64-bit, the quicker we'll see software that can exploit the platform. Lastly, as an iconoclast, AMD appeals to me just because they aren't Intel. They've managed to go from cheap reverse-engineered knockoff chips to industry price/performance leaders, with Intel now doing the reverse-engineering just to catch up!

All this made the AX7 the right choice for me. For 75% of the people that ask for notebook recommendations, I would typically steer them to the CL56.

I think this may be my notebook of choice, cant seem to find any downside to it, and GamePC seems to be a good company. Sweet.

Well said spooky! I am with you. You convinced me for purchasing an AMD 64 notebook.
Eagerly look forward to your review. Yes Naldo, gamepc seems to be a reasonably good company. And if you guys are on the m-tech's mailing list, you know that they haven't yet succeeded in resolving the AMD/ATI issue; so their will be more delay in releasing the D470K.

what amd/ati issue?

From mtechlaptop's website :

6/4/2004: ''The D470K has been postponed due to AMD/ATI compatibility issues. At this time we do not have an updated ETA on shipments. Please keep an eye on the M-Tech website for the latest information''.

I saw discussion on this issue in this board but right now I can not find the thread.

Thats rather old, don't you think? Since then Hypersonic has announced its product based on that same chasis, with expected ship dates in 3 to 4 weeks. Would seem odd for them to announce and start taking orders for a platform that had issues.

DanW

Yeah DanW, you are right. But yesterday I got an email from mtech telling that there is no progress in resolving the issue. I was surprised since hypersonic is already offerring AX7.
It would be interesting to see, though I am not at all an expert on this subject, at what clock speed hypersonic sets the GPU in AX7. You might have also noticed that Sager's release of NP4750 is also delayed, though I am not sure whether it is due to the same reason. Moreover, abspc also recently told me that their mayhem G3's(same Uniwill machine I think) tentative release date will be like last week of July.

I'm probably gonna get me the A64B from GamePC because it will play Tribes Vengeance best...plus it has good battery life and the bandwidth on it is really high compared to dothans. When programs start requiring crazy bandwidth, the dothan will fall pretty far behind...and I need something that will last me. Tom's Hardware had battery tests that said the A64 mobile ran for 141 minutes of 3d gaming....although his test laptop cut the cpu to 800mhz to accomplish that.

haha yeah, you have to disable the powernow thing or change the power profile to always on for games or else your going to 1) have really bad performance and/or 2) get skewed battery benchmark results. in that case, they must have been playing, like, daikatana (a.k.a. babysitting a bunch of poorly rendered tards or else they get killed by a closing door).