New Mobile GeForce Go Graphics

Brent Kupras writes "NVIDIA just launched a whole bunch of GeForce Go 7xxx graphics cards for notebooks. There is a Go 7900 GTX, a Go 7900 GS, a Go 7600 and a Go 7300. The GTX version looks like just a faster copy of the old Go 7800 GTX. There are also a few benchmark results of these new chips against the older NVIDIA chips and ATI's chips."

Comments

Enough power to run Aero Glass

[Anonymous Coward]

This might just provide laptops with enough power to run Aero Glass. That is presuming that battery life and testicle health don't matter.

This is great, though. With the new Core Duo laptops and killer mobile chipsets, I'm finally seriously consider getting a laptop and dumping the desktop (more like deskunder, but whatever) all together.

Drivers

[dchaley]

Let's just hope that they support drivers for these new mobile cards better than they do the Go5200 series. Dell hasn't updated their drivers since 2004, and I used to be able to download the normal nVidia drivers; then sometime in mid-2005 the nVidia drivers stopped recognizing the Go5200 as supported hardware. Harrumph.

Re:Drivers

[Snover]

Problem solved.

Kidding? Way more than enough for Aero Glass

[MojoStan]

This might just provide laptops with enough power to run Aero Glass.

I'm pretty sure you were kidding, but for those who don't know the AC was kidding, the GeForce Go 7 Series (even the low-end 7200) has WAY more than "enough power to run Aero Glass." Low-end mobile NVIDIA GPUs from two generations ago (GeForceFX Go5100) will support Aero Glass.

Aero Glass requires a DirectX 9 class GPU that supports Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM). Low-end mobile GPUs that meet this requirement include GeForceFX Go5100, Mobility Radeon 9500/X300, and Intel GMA 950. Even GMA 900 (which a lot of current Centrino users have) should work if they write WDDM drivers for it, but I doubt they will.

Here's some links for those who want to see the Aero Glass mobile GPU requirements:

• NVIDIA GPUs "Windows Vista Ready"
• ATI Vista Ready GPUs
• Current GPU Guidelines for Windows Vista Capable PCs

BTW, the "Vista Basic user experience" (formerly known as "Aero Basic") does not look like Windows XP (the GPU requirements will be similar to XP). In fact, I think many users will prefer this interface to Aero Glass. Here's some screenshots:

Windows Vista February CTP Screenshot Gallery 8: Windows Vista Home Basic

External Graphics Cards?

[pranay]

I am not an expert, but I was wondering what is keeping the likes of nvidia and ati from offering an external graphics card for portable computers. I like my low-power, light-weight, sleek notebook. I am quite satisfied by its performance for daily tasks. But when it comes to serious gaming, it simply does not have enough oomph to take me through all the eye-candy I can immerse myself in on a proper gaming desktop PC.

My other option is to buy one of those desktop replacement mammoths (which, oddly, some people still call notebooks). But it is a completely ridiculous solution. I like the mobility, convenience, integration I get from my ultraportable notebook. It is definitely a step in the right direction. It is the future. Agreed, but I simply cannot give up PC gaming.

I have a usb hub which is connected to my external hard disk (300 gb), external dvd burner, optical mouse, and 7.1 speakers via audigy 2. I really use all that only when I am on my desk, at home. Why can't I also have an external graphics card (with its own power supply and cooling solution), that I can connect to when I am in a mood for some serious gaming?

I would happily pay $300-400 for an external graphics card (USB or otherwise), that I can upgrade at will and use with my other computers. Is it technically impossible to do something like this? Or is it one of those things where all the companies have mutually agreed upon to keep screwing the unsuspecting consumers.

Please don't tell me I need a desktop. I like the notebook mobility, and do not see a point in paying for another set of software and OS licenses for a gaming desktop.