GeForce 320M vs GeForce GT 130?


FryGuy

 

Posted

All,

I currently have an iMac with an NVIDIA GeForce GT 130. I have 4 GB of memory and the processor is a 3.06 GHz Core 2 Duo. It runs COH quite well.

I have an older PC thats got a Pentium 3.20 GHz, but straight up. No Core 2, much less Duo. Just an old crappy 3.20 GHz pentium (Windows XP) with 2 GB of RAM with an old NVIDIA GeForce 6200. It is my old multi-box PC and it is driving me BATTY with how laggy it is.

Apple just announced the new Mac Mini. They have a 2.4 Core 2 Duo processor with 2 GB (which I would upgrade to 4 GB) and the video card is an NVIDIA GeForce 320M.

What I'm wondering is this: Will the new Mac Mini (4 GM memory) be better than my old clunker PC? How will the Mac Mini compare to my iMac from last year?

I can kinda guess how the processors compare, but I'm not sure how the GeForce 320M vs GeForce GT 130 comparison is.

Thanks,

Lewis


Random AT Generation!
"I remember... the Alamo." -- Pee-wee Herman
"Oh don't worry. I always leave things to the last moment." -- The Doctor
"Telescopes are time machines." -- Carl Sagan

 

Posted

Given what I'm reading online, it appears the 320M may be a little slower than a PCI-e 130GT. But they are in the same neighborhood.

In pure clock speed, the Mac Mini CPU is at least 20% slower than the iMac. But even worse, the Mac Mini is clearly using laptop-based components where the iMac is probably using desktop-class components. Desktop class stuff uses more power and generally has more performance.

So, compared to the iMac, I'd expect the new Mac Mini to be a little slower playing at the same resolution. But it's going to be in the same ballpark, maybe 15%-20% less FPS.

However, the clunker PC is what... 5 or 6 generations back? If not more. And the GeForce 6200 wasn't even a gaming-class GPU when it was out. So compared to the PC, it's not even close. The Mac Mini will run rings around it and then some.

At least with the Mac Mini you might be able to start to touch the Ultra-mode settings. You won't get everything, but you might get the prettier water effects at least. The old PC has no hope. It doesn't even have the hardware that can do UM.

If you order the Mac Mini online for direct shipping, you can upgrade to a 2.66MHz C2D processor. If you want to eek out as much performance as possible, it's an option. On the other hand, it costs an extra $150, so it probably isn't worth it.

You can also order with extra RAM and a bigger hard drive direct. That might make more sense. The RAM is easy to upgrade later (for a cost), but the hard drive probably won't be easy to upgrade.

The new Mac Mini looks pretty sweet, but it isn't going to be a super-monster powerhouse. And I don't think it will be faster than your iMac. Close, but not quite as fast.


 

Posted

Thanks. Again, this would be a 3rd account PC and possibly a living room TV mac as well, so I probably wouldn't even turn on any ultra stuff.

Also, I wonder if my iMac is better than my main windows PC. It should be. My iMac is a followbot computer as well (for when I'm doing COH anyway). My main PC has a GeForce 9800 GTX+ with an old 3.47 GHz processor (no cores ) and only 2 gig of memory.

Basically my PCs are ancient. I should just swap the iMac and the PC and make the iMac my main machine, but psychologically I just haven't been able to yet.

I am thinking that my next actual real main computer purchase will be a Mac Pro, but these things take time. I need to let a few paychecks roll by, as much for my state of mind as for my pocketbook.

Lewis


Random AT Generation!
"I remember... the Alamo." -- Pee-wee Herman
"Oh don't worry. I always leave things to the last moment." -- The Doctor
"Telescopes are time machines." -- Carl Sagan

 

Posted

Cool.


Random AT Generation!
"I remember... the Alamo." -- Pee-wee Herman
"Oh don't worry. I always leave things to the last moment." -- The Doctor
"Telescopes are time machines." -- Carl Sagan