AVADirect M570RU: SLI, Drivers, and 8800M GTX Performance
by Jarred Walton on March 14, 2008 6:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Laptops
AVADirect System Overview
There are a few clear differences between AVADirect and WidowPC -- and for that matter, between AVADirect and many of the other gaming notebook vendors that use rebranded Clevo notebooks. All you need to do is take a quick look at their system configurator and these differences become readily apparent.
| AVADirect M570RU System Configuration Options | |
| Processor | Core 2 Duo T7100, T7250, T7300, T7500, T7700, T8100, T8300, T9300, T9500, or X9000 (X9000 not yet shipping) |
| Memory | DDR2-800 (Runs at DDR2-667) from G.Skill, GEIL,
Kinston, or OCZ 2GB or 4GB kits available |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce 8700M GT 512MB NVIDIA Quadro FX 1600M 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTX 512MB |
| Display | 17" WUXGA (1920x1200) Glossy LG Philips LP171WP4 |
| Hard Drive | 160GB-200GB 4200RPM 40GB-250GB 5400RPM 60GB-200GB 7200RPM 32-128GB SSD |
| Optical Drive | DVDR SuperMulti Blu-ray recorder/DVDR |
| Networking / Communications | Integrated 10/100/1000 Ethernet Bluetooth v2.0 v90/v92 Modem Intel 3945AG or 4965AGN WiFi (Optional) |
| Audio | Integrated Realtek ALC883 HD Audio, Creative SB Live! USB, or E-Mu 0202 USB |
| Extras | 1.3MP Webcam 7-in-1 Flash reader Fingerprint scanner |
| Operating Systems | Windows XP, MCE, Vista (32-bit and 64-bit), Linux,
or none 18 options total, plus dual-boot |
| Warranty | 1-year standard or 3-year extended |
| Other | Optional TV tuner Various external accessories (Case, notebook cooler, battery, AC adapter, etc.) Productivity and AV Software Thermal Compound upgrade |
It's not unusual to get a variety of component options when configuring a notebook, but AVADirect definitely goes the extra mile here. Depending on your familiarity with computer hardware, that can be either a good or a bad thing. We like hardware and we like choices, so the fact that you get your choice of one of 35 (!) 2.5" hard drives means you should be able to find something to make you happy.
They offer 4200, 5400, and 7200 RPM drives from Hitachi, Seagate, Western Digital, Toshiba, and Samsung ranging in size from 40 GB all the way up to 250 GB. If you prefer something a little more exotic, they also have solid-state drives from SanDisk, OCZ, and SuperTalent with sizes from 32GB up to 128 GB. Of course, trying to stomach the $3700 price tag on the SuperTalent 128 GB drive will likely prove more than just a little difficult, though a quick look around online indicates AVADirect is only charging around a 10% markup at most.
If you prefer something a little more exotic looking, the M570RU is available in ten colors, at an up sell cost of $350. We're perfectly happy with the charcoal aluminum exterior, but for those that like to make a bit more of a fashion statement the custom paint jobs are a nice option.
Processor selections range from the older T7100 (1.8 GHz 2 MB cache 800 FSB) up through the shiny new Penryn-based T9500 (2.6 GHz 6 MB cache 800 FSB). The sweet spot is undoubtedly the T9300 (2.5 GHz 6 MB cache), which is only fractionally slower and over $250 cheaper than the T9500. Sometime in the future, AVADirect will also add the Core 2 Extreme X9000 (2.8 GHz 6 MB cache 800 FSB, with an unlocked multiplier), for an estimated price of $1000. The test system we were sent includes the X9000, but most people will probably be much happier saving $700 and only losing 300 MHz by sticking with the T9300.
This is a gaming notebook, and most people are going to want the fastest GPU they can cram in the chassis. There are three options to choose from: the relatively anemic and outdated GeForce 8700M GT, the GeForce 8800M GTX, and a workstation graphics chip, the Quadro FX 1600M. The latter is the Quadro version of the 8700M GT -- 512 MB DDR3, 128-bit memory interface, and 32 Stream Processors (SPs). Given the number of options in other areas, we would have also liked to see the GeForce 8800M GTS and the Quadro FX 3600M (the Quadro version of the 8800M GTX) added. Perhaps that will come in the future.
Memory options come in 2 GB and 4 GB flavors, with the memory coming from G.Skill, GEIL, Kingston, or OCZ. All of the memory selections are rated at DDR2-800. However, at least on the system we were shipped, the memory ends up running at DDR2-667. This may be a chipset limitation, though running at a slower clock speed also helps keep power requirements in check.
Other than some external extras, the only other components you can configure are the optical drive (DVDR and Blu-ray are offered), the wireless networking (none, Intel 3945ABG, or Intel 4965AGN), Turbo Memory, and whether or not you want a TV tuner (various USB options are offered, along with one ExpressCard and one mini-PCI option). You can also have AVADirect preconfigure a dual-boot system if you want multiple operating systems.
Perhaps the best part about all of the configuration options is that the final price is quite reasonable, at least compared to most other gaming laptop vendors. With 4 GB of RAM, a T9300 processor, 8800M GTX, 200 GB Seagate 7200 RPM hard drive, and Intel 4965AGN WiFi (plus all of the standard items in other areas) the total price comes to $2600. Obviously, it's still not cheap by any stretch of the imagination; however, similarly equipped systems from other vendors generally cost more than $3000.
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feelingshorter - Friday, March 14, 2008 - link
With these high end laptops (it gets more FPS than my desktop on gaming!), i can only imagine that the components are heating up pretty good inside such a small package.Every desktop computer I've had failed on me sooner or later (not hard drive related). So how long are these laptops expected to last?
Donkey2008 - Friday, March 14, 2008 - link
I am an AVID gamer with the Dell XPS M170 that I bought 2 1/2 years ago and I have had very few problems playing ANY games with the old stock drivers. Yes, I have tried the laptopvideo2go drivers a few times and A) I saw almost no performance increase and B) I had many more problems in games, not to mention the loss of the Powerplay function (I do use this monster on the road at times).My XPS M170 (with Go 7800GTX) uses an almost 2-year-old graphic driver from June of 2006, yet I have played CS Source, RS3:RS, COD2, COD4, Joint Ops, FEAR, BF2, BF2142, C&C Generals, WIC, Dawn of War, GTA:SA, Bioshock, Crysis (tried at least :P), etc. without almost no problems. In fact, I am staring at my shelf full of games and I cannot see a single game that didn't play just fine on my XPS with those "crappy" old stock drivers.
Exactly what games do you have problems with? I'd like to know.
Also, one thing gaming laptops need badly IMO is either the ability to move the LCD horizontally on an axis or a keyboard that can be tilted left-right/forward-back on an axis (so I can angle the keys like a split keyboard). I use a normal keyboard at an ~45 degree angle to my left hand/arm when playing games, which is MUCH more natural to the human anatomy, but playing games with my arm straight on to a laptop keyboard has practically given me carpal tunnel. That is my only complaint.
Anyway, gaming laptops RULE. I can easily bring my gaming to work, plug into the corporate network and play LAN or MP games with my co-workers (afterhours of course). Then I simply pack it up and can do the same thing at home. Let's see someone with a monster case (Antec 900-ish) and a huge LCD do that! :P
Now, I just need to win the lottery and get one of those Alienware M15x rigs :-)
FXi - Friday, March 14, 2008 - link
Well done. Lots of things that are bothering us gaming notebook owners and future customers of more include, drivers, screens, performance and power issues.Owning a 1710 the driver issue has been frustrating (liveable with laptopvideo2go.com) to say the least. I don't understand how a vendor can be so short sighted. If you frustrate the current owner, how likely are they to come back? We all know the prices of these things are in a class to themselves. And we already know we are making tradeoffs, some of which are severe enough, but are technology based. To then fail to have regular driver updates is a slap in the face, and I've seen more folks comment in the forums that this is the last gaming laptop they'll buy based on this. It's a premium product, but they don't support it like one.
It's nice to see this change, but it really should be a night and day change not a "we'll work on it" or "we can give you beta drivers, how's that?". How'd you like to go buy a Lexus and get told that they'd be happy to charge you a Lexus price but they can't repair them so at the first breakdown, you buy a new car?
Every time Dell comes out with a new laptop they offer new drivers. And much the same goes for Nvidia and the new 8800M. That's why the "beta drivers" are available only in Vista for 8 series and only XP for 7 series. They are just trying to fool the users into thinking they'll be supported by showing they have the latest drivers now. To be fair, Nvidia must know this is a problem and even Dell aren't total fools. But for me, before I'm going to shell out more $ for that fancy new mobile quad core and 1740, I'm going to want to see some very serious and regular driver updates. Once a quarter had better happen and it better be the minimum. Serious bugs should be fixed in weeks. Your not selling the mobile gpu's at some discount to the desktop ones, quite the opposite.
Have 3 year warranty? How about returning a laptop because it won't run a game? That might get their attention. Class action suits have won on less ground.
Overall it's a great article on a segment that could be even more booming. There are so many "burned" old users that it's difficult to grow when so many current owners report their experience. But that can and probably will change. Your article hits tons of the issues on scaling, cpu performance, even the OS. Might have been nice to throw in a 8800 gtx desktop reference line just to keep buyers aware of what they face.
Overall great, great job.
Inkjammer - Friday, March 14, 2008 - link
I really agree with you.I bought an SLI Alienware m9750, and I love the laptop to death, but I have the same driver issue as well. The drivers Alienware shipped with the laptop could not run Crysis, a game Alienware was demoing on the same laptop all over their website. Which was, in my view, rather false advertising.
However, given the recent news with Epic coming out and saying "computers are not for gaming, not good for gaming" and companies ditching out on the PC industry, it becomes more and more difficult to justify the cost of a $3,000+ gaming laptop.
And it still comes down to the fact that companies claim upgradability in laptops via MXM graphics components, yet still fail to provide said components. My m9750, despite promises, can not be upgraded.
Laptop gaming is definitely awesome, but highly flawed given the entry costs.