Specifications

76 PC MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 6, 2007
It’s natural to expect desktop-like performance numbers from
desktop replacement laptops, and these systems do not disap-
point. With Intel dual-core CPUs and discrete graphics, we’re
seeing performance that could have given some of last year’s
desktops a run for their money.
On SYSmark 2007 Preview tests, the Dell XPS 1730 stood
out from the rest of the pack. This pricey gaming system, with
a 2.8-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo X7900 Extreme CPU and an nVidia
GeForce 8700M GT graphics card, had SYSmark Overall scores
that were at least 20 percent faster than its closest competi-
tor, the Apple MacBook Pro 17-inch (Core 2 Duo T7700). And
because video-encoding tests rely heavily on the processor,
it’s no surprise that the Dell XPS M1730 eclipsed the rest of the
competition on the multimedia tests.
With the exception of the Toshiba Satellite P205-S6237, every
system in this lineup had at least 2GB of RAM, which plays a
huge role in SYSmark and Photoshop scores. The MacBook Pro
17-inch deserves honorable mention for fi nishing second in our
video-encoding tests with its 2.4-GHz T7700 processor.
The discrete graphics cards, increasingly common in desktop
replacement laptops, allow you to run popular 3D games, as well
as graphics-heavy software. Thanks to SLI graphics and a super
processor, the Dell M1730 reigns supreme in the gaming arena.
The Gateway M-150X, the only laptop to use an ATI graphics
chipset, didn’t fare as well as its counterparts with nVidia cards.
The nVidia GeForce 8600M GT was the graphics card of choice
among three of our desktop replacements, the Acer Aspire
5920G, the MacBook Pro 17-inch, and the Sony VAIO VGN-
AR590E. The MacBook Pro scored signifi cantly better than the
Sony and Acer laptops on 3DMark06 at 1,024-by-768 resolution,
most likely because processor and hard drive speeds come into
play at low resolutions. The HP Pavilion dv9500t, with its lower-
grade nVidia GeForce 8600M GS card, placed low on our 3D and
gaming tests. (Because Toshiba uses a weaker integrated graph-
ics chipset that couldn’t be expected to handle the gaming tests,
we didn’t run them on the P205-S6237.)
This story also introduces BAPCo’s latest battery metric:
MobileMark 2007. Desktop-replacement laptops aren’t known
for their long-lasting batteries. However, the HP Pavilion
dv9500t and the Acer Aspire 5920G managed over 3 hours of
battery life, thanks to a combination of 70+ Wh batteries and
cooler-running components.—CC
Laptop Performance: What the Numbers Mean
Dell XPS M1730
Price: $4,024 direct
llllh
What do you get when you combine
the fastest laptop parts with the
most mind-blowing LED effects?
You get the best gaming laptop
known to man. The Dell XPS M1730 is a
rare breed, integrating an Intel Core 2 Duo
Extreme processor, an Ageia physics card,
and some of the most masterfully crafted
color-shifting lights available on a laptop.
M-150X’s glossy black finish and lami-
nated imprints are in step with the latest
design trends. Gateway has also put high-
defi nition technology in the spotlight by
integrating an HD DVD-ROM, an HDMI
port, and an option for a 1,920-by-1,200
resolution screen.
Specs: 2-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300 proces-
sor; 2GB, DDR2 SDRAM; 100GB, 7,200-rpm
hard drive; 128MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD
2400XT graphics card; 15.4-inch, 1,280-by-800
screen; Windows Vista Home Premium.
This is a practical desktop replacement
whose only downside is its high price.
Specs: 2.8-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo X7900 Extreme
processor; 2GB DDR2 SDRAM; 400GB, 7,200-
rpm hard drive; 256MB nVidia GeForce 8700M
GT SLI graphics card; 17-inch, 1,920-by-1,200
screen; Windows Vista Home Premium.
Gateway M-150X
$1,926 direct
lllhm
Gateway has given its plain corporate
designs a newfound sex appeal. The
SYSMARK 2007 PREVIEW L 3D L GAMING (FPS) L MULTIMEDIA M
L
High scores are best.
M Low scores are best.
Bold type denotes fi rst place.
INTEL CORE
2 DUO
PROCESSOR GRAPHICS CHIPSET MOBILEMARK 2007 hr:min L ELECTRONIC LEARNING VIDEO CREATION OFFICE PRODUCTIVITY 3D MODELING OVERALL
3DMARK06 PREY
COMPANY
OF HEROES
WINDOWS MEDIA ENCODER min:sec PHOTOSHOP CS2 ACTION SET min:sec
RESOLUTION
Native Native † Native
AA/AF* 0X/4X 0X/4X 0X/4X
Acer Aspire 5920G
T7300
(2.0 GHz)
nVidia GeForce
8600M GT
3:21
N/A
N/A N/A N/A N/A 3,048 35.4 17.6 1:29 1:07
Apple MacBook Pro
17-inch
T7700
(2.4 GHz)
nVidia GeForce
8600M GT
2:43 123 97 112 131 115 2,829 25.1 13.3 1:20 1:07
Dell XPS M1730
X7900 Extreme
(2.8 GHz)
nVidia GeForce
8700M GT
1:26
130 117 162 147 138 6,016 50.7 28.1 1:08 0:43
Gateway M-150X
T7300
(2.0 GHz)
ATI Mobility Radeon
HD 2400XT
2:19 111 79 127 114 106 1,350 22.3 11.7 1:28 1:11
HP Pavilion dv9500t
T7500
(2.2 GHz)
nVidia GeForce
8600M GS
3:10 111 84 106 118 104 1,970 20 9.7 1:25 1:17
Sony VAIO VGN-
AR590E
T7300
(2.0 GHz)
nVidia GeForce
8600M GT
1:47 102 93 125 110 107 2,613 23.5 8.6 1:32 0:59
Toshiba Satellite
P205-S6237
T2080
(1.73 GHz)
Intel Graphics Media
Accelerator 950
2:10 53 59 52 83 61 N/A N/A N/A 2:07 2:04
RED denotes Editors' Choice. * Anti-aliasing/anisotropic fi ltering. † High quality. N/A—Not applicable: The product could not complete the test.
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