HP Envy DV6-7214tx 15.6" i7-3630QM 8GB 1TB Win8 $799 (Approx $19.95 Delivery)

Related Stores

TECH4U

• 

  CarbonTwelve on 22/08/2013 - 14:30

  NVIDIA GeForce GT 630M

  I'm still baffled at why they bother with GPUs like this. It's practically useless for gaming and unnecessary for anything else.

  • 

    Riczter on 22/08/2013 - 14:33

    +2

    Coz people have no idea what the model numbers mean and just go OMG 2GB Graphics I can play <insert latest game> on ultra high settings woo!

    It gets worse when laptop manufacturers stick in an AMD APU and a low end GPU its like what is the point, its just a waste of silicon, and added weight, the integrated graphics can do it all and the dedicated GPU is just dead weight. So Stupid.

    • 

      phamid on 22/08/2013 - 14:36

      +1

      Looking at benchmarks, most of the latest games are playable on Medium, besides Crysis 3, which is only acceptable on low.

      • 

        CarbonTwelve on 22/08/2013 - 14:45

        Not really: http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-GeForce-GT-630M.63761.0.…

        Their 'low' settings are only 1024x768, and even then it's only just above 30 fps in Sim City, Hitman: Absolution, Assassin's Creed III, Metro: Last Light, Max Payne 3, BF3, etc. And even 30 fps average really isn't playable for a lot of games anyway.

    • 

      CarbonTwelve on 22/08/2013 - 14:37

      Yeah, perhaps 'frustrated' is more accurate than 'baffled'. If I were buying a laptop like this I'd actually prefer it wasn't included at all. Would rather save the power (even when using switchable graphics to use the onboard, the dedicated still consumes some power).

    • 

      tarulov3 on 22/08/2013 - 14:53

      'Coz people have no idea what the model numbers mean and just go OMG 2GB Graphics I can play <insert latest game> on ultra high settings woo!'

      Guilty as charged…which is why when I need a laptop I run it by a tech friend…I have attempted to understand it but so far it alludes me :(

      • 

        Riczter on 22/08/2013 - 15:03

        I only got a grasp of it recently. This site was really helpful. http://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Graphics-Cards-Benchmark…

      • 

        CarbonTwelve on 22/08/2013 - 15:04

        This is where I also get frustrated at the stores for marketing the graphics RAM. Even on OzBargain they often put "2GB graphics" in the title, which is useless for determining how well a laptop (or desktop for that matter) will play games.

        To determine graphics capabilities, you look at the GPU model number (in this case, 630M). In general, the first digit tells you the generation (in this case, '6' for 6th generation; 7th is the latest), the second digit tells you how powerful it is (in this case, '3', meaning low end).

    • 

      morpheu on 22/08/2013 - 17:40

      you have no idea man!
      i spoke to a Acer sales rep earlier in the week, you know what he said? "…oh that older model XXXX has only 1gb video memory but this new replacement model YYYY has 2gb video memory so it's twice as fast…" :O

      • 

        scrimshaw on 22/08/2013 - 21:12

        All computer salespeople do that… they will lie to you with a straight face and assume you're a total technology noob.

        Actually when I applied for a job for an Acer marketing position I was told that it wasn't neccessary for the applicant to have any deep knowledge of computers (i.e. no requirement for IT degree or certificate) — kind of troubling when you realize the person selling you a laptop doesn't know any more than than the average joe.

      • 

        morpheu on 22/08/2013 - 22:21

        yeah, but i'm not sure he knew it was a lie or not, or maybe he was a real good actor…
        ps at the other end is a laptop like this http://onlinecomputer.com.au/product_info.php?products_id=11… with GT740m with not 1gb, not 2gb, but 4gb of video memory! i mean, for the internal lcd screen that's total overkill right, but even with an external monitor when are you going to use all that 4gb?! if this lappy had like 3 video outputs, maybe

  • 

    onlyletters on 22/08/2013 - 14:34

    +1

    because they're cheap and people think they're getting a good deal if the name of it sounds appealing..

  • 

    p1 ama on 22/08/2013 - 16:01

    +2

    Believe it or not, gaming is not the ONLY use for dedicated GPUs.

    What are you after though, if you're after the thinnest and lightest notebook, then yes, I do agree that this is unnecessary, however, this is clearly not for you then.

    Again, if you're a high-end gamer, this isn't the notebook for you either. So at the end of the day, it includes a low-range GPU suitable for most people to do their rendering, a bit of light CAD, some casual gaming at a pretty low cost.

    That's why they bother with GPUs like this, it's cheap and there are people out there who want dedicated graphics.

  • 

    zelda707 on 22/08/2013 - 16:28

    it's still better than intel hd

    • 

      dmtdude on 22/08/2013 - 19:17

      Having no videocard is better than the intel hd series

• 

  skeptik on 22/08/2013 - 15:38

  +1

  Don't dismiss the graphics altogether. For casual gaming its fine at the screens native resolution. On my i5 sandybridge (intel3000HD) with Radeon 6630M (which rates lower than this nvidia) the integrated vid card is ok for 2D stuff, but terrible for any 3D games from at least the last 5-10 yrs. I play TF2, BL2 & even BF3 (altho the inferiority of this card puts me at a disadvantage in multiplayer here). This on a Lenovo E420 @$550 a yr back.

• 

  COR80 on 22/08/2013 - 15:55

  OMG 2GB Graphics I can play Battlefield 4 on ultra high settings woo!

• 

  giggles on 22/08/2013 - 18:16

  what is 'settings wool'?

  • 

    phamid on 22/08/2013 - 21:19

    washing cycle perhaps?