New Computer Advice

Cucco Leader

I'm looking for a little advice on a computer. My last purchase was a disaster and I'd like to run it by someone first this time. This is the computer I have been looking at purchasing:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8907962&st=HP&lp=1&type=product&cp=1&id=1213046785760

It looks good, but video cards are really what get me. It's just over my head. Where does a NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT fall?

Ramen Noodle

Are you deadset on getting a laptop or would you get a desktop? I say this because you can build your own desktop for cheaper and upgrade it.

Cucco Leader

Yes, I'm definitely a laptop guy. I take my laptop out and about a lot. But, I am open to other laptop suggestions.

Ramen Noodle

Ah. If you want to drop 1.5k on a laptop a 9600GT is a pretty good card. You should probably check out some Gateway gaming laptops at BB, I have one and love it (M-6850FX, 15 inch with Radeon 2600)

Dman

This is a handy site for comparing video cards.
http://www.gpureview.com/show_cards.php?card1=557&card2=544

The pixel fill rate and texture fill rate aren't the greatest of all measurements but they lend weight to benchmarks.
http://xtreview.com/addcomment-id-4270-view-9600-GT-benchmark.html

The 9600M should be nearly identical to the 9600GT.

The 9600gt benchmarks slightly worse then the 8800gt and cost a little less. It could be better in other ways though, like power consumption/noise.

Cucco Leader

Thanks. I guess that's what I needed to hear.