Just bought a Dell, not sure if I'm going to keep it - Page 3

Don't we all. hehe.

This thread and the other M60 thread have been very informative, just wanted to say thanks to those throwin up all the info. It's really starting to get me to reconsider getting the 5680 -- but I'm still curious about how much the specs on that sucker will compare to the M60 in rendering and general processor intensive things.

The M60 would be nice to run Houdini with (and other 3D apps too, but they don't require a Quadro), but my Maya scenes weren't horrible on the 8887. The debate about the $$ involved continues for me

if I was going to buy a high end centrino ($2500+) I would definately wait until the end of the year when the new chipset and processors are out... 2mb cache and speeds up to 2.0ghz. Supposedly it gets better battery life and is cheaper than the current banias centrinos. But I know its hard to wait heh

Alot of people will tell you to use Rivatuner or NhardPage, but they don't support the Go700 yet, so overclocking with them turned out to be frustrating. Got a tip from a guy on the Dell forum and am using Powerstrip and it works like a charm. Just download the coolbits hack which will open up the clock frequencies tab on your nvidia card (do a search, coolbits is well known). Then check the box for enable overclocking. Open up powerstrip 3.64 and set the sliders to whatever you want (I recommend working up the memory slider first, then the core - just remember to run benchmarks like 3DMark 2001SE and look for artifacts or freezing which indicate you've gone too high).

By default the card runs at 295 core and 590 memory. Mine turns out to be stable up to 313/717, but I wouldn't recommend keeping it overclocked all the time because you'll wear out your card faster. But it is nice to turn on every now and then

Well as for the waiting, Intel won't release the Banias 1.8Ghz until October or November. Some of my sources at Intel tell me that the processor will very likely be pin-compatible. What that means is those of us bought early may be able to swap chips in!!! The 2.0Ghz one won't be out until Q2 of next year (meaning may or june '04). You can wait if you like, but there will always be something bigger/faster/better around the corner. =)

jyoung:

Wanted to tell you thanks for all the info. We have some very useful information now on the M60 that others can located fairly easily.

This is going to sound retarded and random (yay R&R!), but I was talkin to a co-worker and he was babbling about Centrino processors being more network capable or some junk and that laptops using it are 'easier to hack into' when compared to the regular P4 enabled laptops (ie, M60 vs. Sager again). This sounds ridiculous, but I'm not a computer science major, and wanted to ask if any of you had heard this?

Your co-worker is speaking on matters he has almost zero knowledge about. Maybe the best description is when grandmother tries to convince you that the CD-ROM is really a cup holder which tucks back inside the computer.

As for Centrino being more network capable and being easier to hack into--I say BS. Hacking is also the wrong term (when you write a program, it is said that you are hacking (i.e. writting, making-it-work, etc.) the source code). I think he meant "cracking" which is the equivalent of forced entry in the computer world. Cracking cannot happen unless you have an operating system on the laptop. The chip itself, if sitting on a table, can't really be hacked. Maybe he was refering to the fact that Centrino notebooks come with wireless connections which are said to be insecure. The problem is, Centrino notebooks are not the only ones with wireless connections. Most of the sager notebooks can be had with desktop P4's and wireless so using your co-workers logic, P4's are easily hackable.

Bottom line is this, any time a computer has access to it from a modem, wired (ethernet) network card, wireless network card, infrared, bluetooth, etc. the machine has an entry point. The only secure computer system is one that is off and locked away where no one can get to it. Think about it like this, if your house has windows, then it can be burglarized easier because a theif could break them and come inside. If it doesn't have windows but a solid concrete wall, it'll be harder. But what if the theif didn't know where your house was or couldn't get to it? It's even more secure then. I hope that makes sense.

Yeah your co-worker is a little off. Most of the hacking people do is exploiting the holes within an operating system (ie Windows) I wouldnt worry about someone hacking your centrino over your dekstop P4. Honestly how often to people get hacked? I have never been and no one i know has ever been. Unless your working for a company with either sensitive information or possibly some great technology. Id be surprised if anyone does anything. I mean one of my best friends got expelled for hacking the schools computer, but the worst he ever did in regards to someones personal computer was download their music and home movies. Although one time he did print stuff off of their printer saying he was their computer asking to be set free

Dont even worry about it

I do know enough about OSes to know what I'm talking about (or what to worry about), but I'm not really into the details of hardware, and with some guy sounding official about it, I thought it was at least worth asking about, hehe.

Honestly i never thought about the effects of which processor would help security. Something my mind never considered. BUt if the procsessor was that much easier to hack im sure some of the reviews that are out there would have hinted at the possible security issues.

I'm no comp-sci major, but I think almost all hacking, especially mainstream, has more to do with software than it does with hardware.

As long as you encrypt your wireless network, you'll be just as safe with a P4 as with a P-M I think.

I think the 1mb of cache helps hackers programs hijack your computer faster.

Actually, encrypting your network could mean a hundred different things. If you use WEP, give me 45 seconds to break it and I'll be on your network. =) Maybe we should start a different thread because we are getting way off topic.

Anyway, does anyone have M60 pictures I can drool over?

Hey Jyoung, or anyone else who has the M60, do you have an problems playing on it? I know they are meant to be workstations do they play video games ok? A person on icronticforum.com brought up a point that the card might not be able to play D3d and i just want to know if you guys have had any problems?

http://www.icronticforums.com/showth...6677#post16677

Loki:

I read that post and as usual we have a person that is not too well versed in what he or she is talking trying to pass an opinion through misinformation. The Quadro line of card do OpenGL and Direct3d. Trust me, they just do. As for the contest between the ATI 9600 Pro and QuadroFX (GeForce FX 5600)--*IF* the link above with the benchmarks of the new alienware are correct, then the FX cards have the ATI M10-Pro beat. Now this is only true because the clip from the show said it was a Pro, but the article online only said ATI 9600 (no mention of pro). But since Alienware is only gonna ship the pro version, I assume the website has a typo. The FX is a better card in the long run in my opinion.

Thanks Hrana, i would have been amazed if it didnt support D3d, but i was just being paranoid. I already got all the funds together to get the lappy, now im just wating so ill be home when it gets there dont want UPS hanging on to it

My card has options to control all my OpenGL settings AND my D3d settings. Trust me, it plays games, just look at my gaming benchmarks. Currently have MOHAA, MOHAA Spearhead, Battlefield 1942, Battlefield 1942 Road to Rome, Battlefield Desert Combat Mod, Neverwinter Nights, Tom Clancy's Ravenshield, Command & Conquer Generals, Pirates of the Caribbean, Medieval Total War, Star Wars Jedi Knight II, and NOLF2 A Spy in H.A.R.M.S. Way installed on my machine. Running great!!

Thanks, i guess if i thought about it there wouldnt have been a need to post but as soon as i read that i freaked out... Damn Propaganda... sorta.... Thanks guys! Cant wait to order my M60

Hmmmm. I hadn't noticed that before, but you're probably right. Notice that the other 9600's perform on average only 83% as fast (UT2003) or 77% as fast (SeriousSam) as the Alienware "9600". That seems like right about the performance increase to expect from the Pro over the regular model 9600.

That would put the 9600 Pro at only 79% (UT2003) to 73% (SeriousSam) of the performance of the FxGo5600. Not so good. Possible reasons: drivers not ready for prime time? pre-release 9600 card from ATI not clocked at full speed? ???

Here's the URL again
http://www.techtv.com/screensavers/p...489509,00.html

Note also, the "performance tuning" that VoodooPC performs on their systems taketh and giveth away. They bump up their UT2003 score to 110% of the 9600 average, but that also drops their SeriousSam score to 59% of the 9600 average. That's a pretty hefty tradeoff -- because it probably also affects other apps besides SeriousSam.

Anyone have any other benchmark links?