AMD PowerXPress 4.0 aka BACON vs. Nvidia Optimus

We were able to test out AMD's take on automatic graphics switching with the help of the Dell Vostro 3550.   The 15.6" office/multimedia hybrid notebook contains a dual-core processor of Intel's most recent Sandy Bridge generation (Core i7-2620M) and a mid-grade dedicated graphics card with DirectX 11 support (Radeon HD 6630M).

In short, BACON makes its presence known after not very long at all.  When starting various programs, a notification window pops up, stating: "The program XYZ uses 3D images and/or video but is not currently assigned to a particular graphics processor".  In other words: the system does not know which of the two graphics cards to use for numerous programs.  If you close the notification window, it's usually the on-board graphics card that takes over—bad for games.  If you press the "configure" button, however, you'll be redirected to the Catalyst Control Center (the settings menu for the graphics card) where you can choose the specific settings for each application on a quick, user-friendly list.  Fortunately, the Catalyst Control Center saves your settings and the next time you open up a program for which you've chosen the GPU, there's no notification window that pops up anymore.All in all, Nvidia Optimus is a notch above AMD.  For one, you don't have to bother with irritating notification windows popping up, and Optimus recognizes which GPU to use better.  The price, on the other hand, is more appealing on AMD's side.  AMD's user interface is also a bit easier to get used to (partly because of its limited options).  The Nvidia Optimus menus, however, are not incredibly user-friendly.  Whether AMD's concept will work when the laptop is connected to an external monitor depends on the particular manufacturer of the laptop at hand.  Another limitation of the AMD concept is that the user will not be able to make use of certain features of the dedicated graphics card like Eyefinity when the HDMI output is connected to the on-board GPU (HD Graphics 3000, for example)—but the system can still switch over to the dedicated graphics card.

MSI GT660 Gaming Laptop Announced with NVIDIA Graphics

MSI has announced its latest monster laptop, the new MSI GT660 Gaming laptop which is powered by Intel Quad Core i7 Processors and features NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285M graphics that is claimed to be the fastest laptop GPU on the market for extreme gamers.

The MSI GT660 gaming laptop is the first laptop in the world with MSI’s Turbo Drive Engine+ (TDE+) technology that effectively enhance processor and display performance to blazing heights. With just one touch, users can easily switch over to Turbo Drive, speeding up processor, memory, and graphic performance.

The new MSI GT660 Gaming notebook boasts an  all new stunning look with a black diamond shape with a glowing white characters ‘MSI’ in the center of the cover and comes with built-in high-end sound capabilities.

The MSI GT660 gaming laptop is powered by Intel 2010 Core i7 Quad-Core Processor with 3MB L2 cache @ 1066 MHz FSB and features up to 12-GB DDR3 1066 MHz RAM in 3 RAM slots and upto 1-TB 7200rpm SATA internal hard drive capacity.

With Windows 7 preloaded, the MSI GT660 gaming notebook features 16-inch WSVGA LED backlite display offering 720p HD resolution powered by NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285M notebook GPU with 1-GB DDR3 dedicated video memory and is equipped with MSI’s exclusive TDE+ (Turbo Drive) technology helps boost overall system performance and graphics processing capabilities with just one touch.

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285M discrete graphics card is considered to be world’s fastest graphics hardware today and it also supports nVIDIA PhysX Technology, introducing you to a whole new world of extreme playing, courtesy of super dynamic and realistic graphics. It also offers PhysX gaming effects, stereoscopic 3D, and lightning fast video and image processing all accelerated by the GPU.

Other features of MSI GT660 includes WiFi 802.11b/g/N wireless LAN, one USB 3.0 (4.8 GB/sec) port that is 10 times faster than USB 2.0, and offers 80% higher power transmission, providing ultra higher data transfer and charging speeds for external hard drives, thumb drives, and other handheld electronic devices. There is also a HDMI digital out port in addition to standard VGA video port.

MSI in association with Dynaudio has designed GT660 gaming laptop’s incredible sound system that delivers highest quality audio allowing users truly enjoy the multimedia.

The MSI GT660 gaming laptop is currently available in US market for $1,900 and is expected to be available in India in June 2010.

MSI Announces Nvidia GTX 560M-Equipped Notebooks

 

MSI Announces Nvidia GTX 560M-Equipped Notebooks

MSI has announced its new GT683R gaming notebook equipped with the new Nvidia GeForce GTX 560M graphics card and second-generation Intel Core i7 processor.

The GT683R features a 15.6-inch display, Intel Core i7-2630QM quad-core processor, dual 500GB 7200RPM hard drives, and a generous 12GB of RAM. The display has a full HD 1080p (1920x1080) resolution. The GT683R's Nvidia GTX 560M graphics card has 1.5GB of dedicated video memory for gaming. Other highlights of the notebook include Dynaudio premium sound, USB 3.0, HDMI 1.4, and a 720p webcam. The GT683R measures 12.7 x 6.1 x 17.7 inches and weighs 7.7 lbs. 

The MSI GT683R is available now for $1,499.99.