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Comparison of Graphic Cards

In the following we will briefly list all graphics cards which are available for notebooks at the market today. Additionally, we list valuations of different bench marks (3D Mark at the moment) in italic style beneath the graphics card's name. Furthermore, older cards can be greyed out.

Read more in our Benchmarklist.

Class 1

High End Graphics Cards -

These cards are compareable to enthusiasm desktop graphics cards, like the 9800M GT. The cards have a similar core, as their desktop counterparts, but are clocked lower and often have less shader processors. Modern games like Age of Conan, Race Driver Grid, Call of Duty 4, Mass Effect, or Gothic 3 should run fluently with high details (Crysis should run in medium to high details).

» NVIDIA GeForce 9800M GTX SLI large external Link






~ 78%
Two 9800M GTX paired with SLI. About 0-40% faster depending on the game / benchmark. As all SLI combinations, the 9800M GTX SLI suffers from micro stuttering with low frame rates. In SLI mode enormous energy consumption.
Core Icon 500 MHz, 224 - unified, DX10 | Memory Icon 800 MHz, 256 Bit

» NVIDIA GeForce 9800M GT SLI large






~ 100%
Two 9800M GT in SLI comination. The 9800M GT is identical like the 8800M GTX regarding the technical data. Therefore, the performance can be compared with the 8800M GTX SLI. According to the SLI support, the performance is 0-40% better than a single 9800M GT. Micro stutterings can occur like with all SLI combinations.
Core Icon 500 MHz, 192 - unified, DX10 | Memory Icon 800 MHz, 256 Bit

» NVIDIA GeForce 9800M GTS SLI large external Link






Two 9800M GTS graphics card in SLI mode. The two cards are somewhere between 0-40% faster than a single GTS and need the twice amount of current. As all SLI combinations, micro stuttering can be an issue.
Core Icon 600 MHz, 128 - unified, DX10 | Memory Icon 800 MHz, 256 Bit

» ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2 large






~ 98%
Two Mobility Radeon 3870 graphics cards (on MXM boards) combined in crossfire mode. The crossfire mode is compareable to the SLI solution by Nvidia and should perform about 20-40% better than a single 3870. As all multi GPU solutions today, the HD 3870 X2 suffers from micro stuttering (at frame rates around 30 fps).
Core Icon 660 MHz, 640 - unified, DX10.1 | Memory Icon 850 MHz, 256 Bit

» NVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTX SLI large






~ 84%
Two Nvidia GeForce 8800M GTX are combined by SLI with the purpose to offer the fastest graphic performance for laptops. DirectX 10 games should run fluently with high details. Currently the SLI is solution is only 0-9% faster than a single 8800M GTX in games (in 3DMark up to 36%).
Core Icon 500 MHz, 192 - unified, DX10 | Memory Icon 800 MHz, 256 Bit

» ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3850 X2 large






~ 91%
The X2 consists out of two Mobilty Radeon HD 3850 in Crossfire mode. According to AMD the performance should be compareable to an 8800M GTX SLI.
Core Icon 580 MHz, 640 - unified, DX10.1 | Memory Icon 750 MHz, 256 Bit

» ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4850 large *






~ 70%
The mobile HD 4850 should be announced in quartal three of 2008 and according to rumors based on the normal desktop HD 4850 (perhaps with a lower clock speed). Therefore, the chip should have 800 unified shaders (160 5D shaders compareable to Nvidia) and perform better than a 9800M GTX.
Core Icon 550 MHz, 800 - unified, DX10.1 | Memory Icon 750 MHz, 256 Bit

» NVIDIA Quadro FX 3700M large external Link






~ 77%
Professional high-end mobile workstation graphics card with certified drivers. Features even more shaders than the 9800M GTX (128 versus 112) at compareable clock speed.
Core Icon 550 MHz, 128 - unified, DX10 | Memory Icon 800 MHz, 256 Bit

» NVIDIA GeForce 9800M GTX large






~ 75%
As the 8800M GTX, the 9800M GTX is based on the G92 chip, but has more unified shaders. This provides enough performance for high details in demanding DirectX 10 games like Crysis, Bioshock, or Age of Conan. The integrated PureVideo HD engine can assist the cpu in decoding HD videos.
Core Icon 500 MHz, 112 - unified, DX10 | Memory Icon 800 MHz, 256 Bit

» NVIDIA GeForce 9800M GT large






~ 70%
Based on the G92 core, but only with 96 shaders. The performance should be similar to the 8800M GTX. PureVideo HD supports the CPU in decoding HD Videos.
Core Icon 500 MHz, 96 - unified, DX10 | Memory Icon 800 MHz, 256 Bit

» NVIDIA GeForce 9800M GTS large






~ 69%
Based on the desktop 9600 GT (G94 core), the 9800M GTS is produced either in 65 nm (512 MB) or 55 nm (1024 MB). The performance of the GTS is compareable to the GT version (due to the higher clock speed). The PureVideo HD engine supports the CPU in decoding HD videos.
Core Icon 600 MHz, 64 - unified, DX10 | Memory Icon 800 MHz, 256 Bit

» NVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTX large






~ 69%
The Nvidia GeForce 8800M GTX is based upon the desktop G92 chip and offers clearly better performance than the GeForce 8700M GT and 8800M GTS due to 256 bit memory bus.
Core Icon 500 MHz, 96 - unified, DX10 | Memory Icon 800 MHz, 256 Bit

» NVIDIA GeForce 9800M GS large






~ 59%
As the 9800M GTS, the 9800M GS is based on the G94 core but features a lower clock speed. It is manufactured in 55 nm and therefore has a lower max current consumption (60W). The integrated PureVideo HD engine is able to decode HD videos.
Core Icon 530 MHz, 64 - unified, DX10 | Memory Icon 800 MHz, 256 Bit

» NVIDIA GeForce 9700M GTS large






~ 58%
The 9700M GTS is not based on the G96 (as the GT) but on the G94 core with 48 shaders. PureVideo HD helps the CPU in decoding HD videos.
Core Icon 530 MHz, 48 - unified, DX10 | Memory Icon 800 MHz, 256 Bit

» NVIDIA Quadro FX 2700M large external Link






~ 58%
Professional mobile workstation card with certified drivers. Based on the GeForce 9700M GTS.
Core Icon 530 MHz, 48 - unified, DX10 | Memory Icon 800 MHz, 256 Bit

» NVIDIA GeForce Go 7950 GTX SLI large






~ 54%
2x by SLI combined GeForce 7950 GTX graphic cards at a chipset NVidia NForce 4 SLI. Very high DirectX 9 performance and high heat creation characterize these two cards.
Core Icon 575 MHz, 48 / 16 Pixel- / Vertexshader, DX9c | Memory Icon 700 MHz, 256 Bit

» NVIDIA GeForce Go 7900 GTX SLI large






~ 52%
Two NVIDIA GeForce Go 7900 GTX graphics cards are bounded by SLI. Depending on the SLI support of the game, the performance advantage of the 2nd card can be between 0-50%.
Core Icon 500 MHz, 48 / 16 Pixel- / Vertexshader, DX9c | Memory Icon 600 MHz, 256 Bit

» NVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTS large






~ 57%
The Nvidia GeForce 8800M GTS is based upon the Desktio G92 chip and offers a better performance than the GeForce 8700M GT due to a 256 bit memory bus and much more Shaders. The amount of shaders is lower than with the GTX version (64 versus 96).
Core Icon 500 MHz, 64 - unified, DX10 | Memory Icon 800 MHz, 256 Bit

» NVIDIA Quadro FX 3600M large






~ 69%
The professional graphic card for CAD, DCC and visualising applications is based upon the 8800M GTX (according to GPU-Z on the GTS). Therefore, the graphic card offers eminent performance values but with high current consumption. Dedicated drivers grant an errorfree and faster representation with professional applications than the GeForce models.
Core Icon 500 MHz, 96 - unified, DX10 | Memory Icon 800 MHz, 256 Bit

» NVIDIA GeForce Go 7950 GTX large






~ 50%
The NVIDIA GeForce Go 7950 GTX is top of the mobile graphic cards line from NVIDIA (of the 7000 series) and successor of the 7900 GTX graphics card. It has the same current consumption as the 7900 GTX card an still performs very good in DX9 games.
Core Icon 575 MHz, 24 / 8 Pixel- / Vertexshader, DX9c | Memory Icon 700 MHz, 256 Bit

» NVIDIA Quadro FX 3500M large






~ 40%
The Quadro FX 3500M is the fastest professional workstation graphic card for laptops frpm NVIDIA. Probably it is based upon NVIDIA GeForce Go 7950GTX. Therefore also a good gaming performance can be expected.
Core Icon 575 MHz, 24 / 8 Pixel- / Vertexshader, DX9c | Memory Icon 700 MHz, 256 Bit

» NVIDIA GeForce 8700M GT SLI large






~ 60%
2 GeForce 8700M GT graphic cards combined by SLI offer very good performance data but also a high current consumption. The SLI performance advantage may be very low (depending on the SLI support of the game).
Core Icon 625 MHz, 64 - unified, DX10 | Memory Icon 800 MHz, 2x128 Bit

» ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3870 large






~ 57%
Higher clocked Mobilty Radeon HD 3850, also manufactured in 55 nm and with DirectX 10.1 support. The Avivo HD video engine helps the cpu in decoding HD videos.
Core Icon 660 MHz, 320 - unified, DX10.1 | Memory Icon 850 MHz, 256 Bit

» ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3850 large






~ 44%
Lower clocked desktop HD 3850 manufactured in 55 nm and with DirectX 10.1 support. The performance should be somewhere between 8800 GTS and GTX and therefore it should perform quite well for games like Call of Duty 4. The Avivo HD video engine helps the cpu in decoding HD videos.
Core Icon 580 MHz, 320 - unified, DX10.1 | Memory Icon 750 MHz, 256 Bit

» NVIDIA GeForce Go 7800 GTX SLI large






~ 48%
NVIDIA GeForce Go 7800 GTX SLI are two Geforce 7800GTX video cards for notebooks combined by SLI on NVidia NForce 4 SLI mainboard. It was the top graphic card of the 7000 series from NVidia before the introduction of the 7900.
Core Icon 440 MHz, 48 / 16 Pixel- / Vertexshader, DX9c | Memory Icon 550 MHz, 256 Bit

» NVIDIA GeForce Go 7900 GS SLI large






~ 46%
Two NVIDIA GeForce Go 7900 GS graphics cards are bounded by SLI. This shows only in SLI supported games a clear performance advantage and makes it partially faster than a GTX version.

Core Icon 375 MHz, 40 / 14 Pixel- / Vertexshader, DX9c | Memory Icon 500 MHz, 256 Bit

» NVIDIA GeForce Go 7900 GTX large






~ 42%
GeForce Go 7900 GTX is the predecessor of the 7950 GTX and has still a very good DirectX 9 performance. 
Core Icon 500 MHz, 24 / 8 Pixel- / Vertexshader, DX9c | Memory Icon 600 MHz, 256 Bit

» NVIDIA Quadro FX 2500M large






~ 44%
This is a professional video card for notebooks from NVidia It is based on 7900GTX. The application performance is very good due to special professional drivers (3D rendering, CAD), but the gaming performance is weaker. With modded drivers, it should work like a 7900 GTX.
Core Icon 500 MHz, 24 / 8 Pixel- / Vertexshader, DX9c | Memory Icon 600 MHz, 256 Bit

» NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT SLI large






~ 54%
Two DirectX 10 medium class GeForce 8600M GT graphic cards combined by SLI. Due to SLI they are 0-60% faster than one single card depending on the game. The performance is sufficient for current games but not sufficient for DirectX 10 detail levels.  The graphic chip H.264 offers hardware acceleration for videos.
Core Icon 475 MHz, 64 - unified, DX10 | Memory Icon 700 MHz, 128 Bit

Class 2

Midrange Graphics Cards - These cards should be able to display all current games with fluent framerates but not all with high detail settings. Especially demanding games like Crysis, Age of Conan, or Mass Effect are only playable with lower settings. Less demanding (and older) games, like Fifa 08, Command & Conquer 3, or Battlefield 2142 can be played with higher detail levels.

» NVIDIA GeForce 9700M GT medium sized






~ 45%
Successor of the 8700M GT and technically a higher clocked 9600M GT. Improved video engine for decoding HD videos (PureVideo HD - VP2), HybridPower, CUDA, and PhysX support.
Core Icon 625 MHz, 32 - unified, DX10 | Memory Icon 800 MHz, 128 Bit

» NVIDIA GeForce 9650M GT medium sized






~ 39%
The GeForce 9650M GT is a higher clocked 9600M GT but because of the die shrink from 65nm to 55nm the current consumption stays the same. The performance of the higher clocked chip should be up to 20% faster than the 9600M GT.
Core Icon 550 MHz, 32 - unified, DX10 | Memory Icon 800 MHz, 128 Bit

» NVIDIA GeForce Go 7900 GS large






~ 35%
This is the smaller version of the 7900 GTX with less shader- and vertex-pipelines and less current consumption. Nevertheless it is not apt for small notebooks. The performance is near to the 7800 GTX, but needs clearly less energy. It was used in 17" notebooks, because of heat issues.
Core Icon 375 MHz, 20 / 7 Pixel- / Vertexshader, DX9c | Memory Icon 500 MHz, 256 Bit

» NVIDIA GeForce 9650M GS large






~ 39%
The 9650M is a higher clocked 9500M GS and the successor of the 8700M GT (same chip but other spinning). Therefore, the performance should be on par with the 8700M GT.
Core Icon 625 MHz, 32 - unified, DX10 | Memory Icon 800 MHz, 128 Bit

» NVIDIA Quadro FX 1600M large






~ 48%
This is a highend workstation graphic chip (for CAD and 3D programs optimized) with DirectX 10 and good OpenGL support - based on the GeForce 8700M GT graphic card.
Core Icon 625 MHz, 32 - unified, DX10 | Memory Icon 800 MHz, 128 Bit

» NVIDIA GeForce 8700M GT large






~ 42%
The NVIDIA GeForce 8700M GT is a DirectX 10 capable video card with 32 Stream Precessors like the 8600M GT, but the core-, shader- and memory clock is higher. Therefore the performance is somewhat above the 8600M GT.
Core Icon 625 MHz, 32 - unified, DX10 | Memory Icon 800 MHz, 128 Bit

» NVIDIA Quadro NVS 320M large






~ 44%
DirectX 10 business graphic card, which is optimized for compatibility and stability. The graphic card seems to have the same core like the 8700M series and therefore shows good performance data.
Core Icon 575 MHz, 32 - unified, DX10 | Memory Icon 700 MHz, 128 Bit

» NVIDIA Quadro FX 1500M large






~ 38%
NVIDIA Quadro FX 1500M is the version of 7900 GS video card for notebooks, which is optimized for CAD and professional 3D-applications.
Core Icon 375 MHz, 20 / 7 Pixel- / Vertexshader, DX9c | Memory Icon 500 MHz, 256 Bit

» NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT medium sized






~ 44%
Successor of the 8600M GT and because of the smaller 65nm production process the card is higher clocked (and therefore faster) with the same current consumption.Furthermore, it features an improved video processor (VP3) and HybridPower to save current (in conjunction with the 9100M G).
Core Icon 500 MHz, 32 - unified, DX10 | Memory Icon 800 MHz, 128 Bit

» NVIDIA Quadro FX 770M medium sized






~ 52%
Professional graphics card with certified drivers for professional 3D applications and CAD with a significant improved OpenGL performance. The chip is based on the 9600M GT consumer cards.
Core Icon 500 MHz, 32 - unified, DX10 | Memory Icon 800 MHz, 128 Bit

» NVIDIA GeForce Go 7800 GTX large






~ 37%
NVIDIA GeForce Go 7800 GTX was the top graphic card of the 7000 series from NVidia before the introduction of the 7900 and still provides good DirectX 9 performance.

Core Icon 440 MHz, 24 / 8 Pixel- / Vertexshader, DX9c | Memory Icon 550 MHz, 256 Bit

» ATI Mobility Radeon HD 2600 XT large






~ 38%
The 2600 XT is a higher clocked HD 2600/2700 with Avivo HD video functions. The performance lies a bit over the 9500M GS middle class graphics card. Modern DirectX 10 games are playable but not with highest details.
Core Icon 700 MHz, 120 - unified, DX10 | Memory Icon 750 MHz, 128 Bit

» ATI Mobility Radeon X1900 large






~ 27%
Fastest DirectX 9 only graphics card from ATI and as fast as an 7900 GS. Has enough performance for all DirectX 9 games.
Core Icon 400 MHz, 36 / 8 Pixel- / Vertexshader, DX9c | Memory Icon 470 MHz, 256 Bit

» ATI Mobility Radeon X1800XT large






~ 36%
More pipelines and a faster clockspeed enable the X1800XT to have more performance than the X1800 and make it therefore good for elder DirectX 9 games.
Core Icon 550 MHz, 16 / 8 Pixel- / Vertexshader, DX9c | Memory Icon 650 MHz, 256 Bit

» ATI Mobility Radeon X1800 large






~ 28%
The ATI Mobility Radeon X1800 is a reduced version of the X1800XT with still a high current consumption.
Core Icon 450 MHz, 12 / 6 Pixel- / Vertexshader, DX9c | Memory Icon 500 MHz, 256 Bit

» NVIDIA GeForce Go 6800 Ultra large






~ 30%
The mobile top video card of the 6000 series brought more desktop-comparable performance in notebooks. Nevertheless, it also has a considerable current consumption and heat development. It is a higher clocked Geforce Go 6800 (not more pipelines!) and therefore faster and hotter, too. It was replaced by 7800 GTX and 7900 GTX.
Core Icon 450 MHz, 12 / 5 Pixel- / Vertexshader, DX9c | Memory Icon 600 MHz, 256 Bit

» NVIDIA GeForce Go 7800 large






~ 25%
NVIDIA GeForce Go 7800 is the small sister (less pipelines, low clocked) of the 7800 GTX video cards for notebooks. It is a very fast graphic card and allows good gaming performance (in 2006). It was replaced by the GeForce Go 7900 GS.
Core Icon 400 MHz, 16 / 6 Pixel- / Vertexshader, DX9c | Memory Icon 550 MHz, 256 Bit

» ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3670 medium sized






~ 34%
Higher clocked HD 3650 with clock rates nearly as high as the old 2600 XT. Compared to it, the HD 3650 should be cooler (55nm process) and features DirectX 10.1 support. Avivo HD is also included to decode HD videos with the GPU.
Core Icon 680 MHz, 120 - unified, DX10.1 | Memory Icon 800 MHz, 128 Bit

» NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GS medium sized






~ 36%
Slower clocked 9600M GT and therefore a bit slower and cooler. In conjunction with an 9100M the 9600M GS is able to use HybridPower to save current.
Core Icon 430 MHz, 32 - unified, DX10 | Memory Icon 800 MHz, 128 Bit

» NVIDIA GeForce 9500M GS medium sized






~ 32%
Middle class GPU that ist about 10% faster than a similar clocked GeForce 8600M GT graphics adapter. Therefore, the card does not deliver enough performance for very high details with DirectX 10 effects of demanding games like Crysis.
Core Icon 475 MHz, 32 - unified, DX10 | Memory Icon 700 MHz, 128 Bit

» ATI Mobility Radeon HD 2700 medium sized






~ 34%
It is a higher clocked HD 2600 and intended competitor to the 8600M GT middle class graphic card. Furthermore, this video card offers some video functions (Avivo HD).
Core Icon 700 MHz, 120 - unified, DX10 | Memory Icon 700 MHz, 128 Bit

» ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3650 medium sized






~ 33%
The Hd 3650 is a middle class graphics card (in 2008) and compareable to an 8600M GT GPU from Nvidia. It is fabricated in 55nm process and due to Avivo video engine the graphic card can support the processor with several video operations (HD video too).
Core Icon 600 MHz, 120 - unified, DX10.1 | Memory Icon 700 MHz, 128 Bit

» ATI Mobility FireGL V5700 medium sized external Link