AVADirect's Clevo X7200 Redux: AMD 6970M CF Takes the Crown
by Dustin Sklavos on June 2, 2011 3:05 AM ESTGaming on a Pair of AMD Radeon HD 6970Ms
Spoiler alert: they're fast. The X7200 with the dual AMD Radeon HD 6970Ms is the fastest gaming notebook we've ever tested, and as you'll see it's usually by a healthy margin. We start with our "high" preset, and what's really impressive is that you'll see the top end start to actually get a little CPU-limited. This is the first time I've really seen this happen with notebook graphics and a processor this fast.
The X7200 is at the top of the charts nearly every time, and often with a very heavy lead. The only game NVIDIA still wins is Mafia II, and given the substantially improved performance of the GTX 485M over the GTX 480M it's not unreasonable to assume that game is going to be an NVIDIA stronghold for some time. In every other case, the 6970M CrossFire solution is as fast at 1080p as the GTX 480M SLI is at 1600x900. When we move to the "utlra" preset, the gap will only widen.
Once we ratchet up the quality settings and resolution, the pair of 6970Ms in CrossFire win every time, and better still, CrossFire scaling results in a near perfect doubling of performance in most of the games tested. It really is simply the fastest mobile solution we've ever tested. A pair of GeForce GTX 485Ms from AVADirect could very well be faster, but they'll cost you another $600. We think the 6970M CrossFire solution is more than adequate for high-end 1080p gaming, so unless you're buying a notebook to plug into a 30" external display, this should keep you covered for a couple years.
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Creig - Thursday, June 2, 2011 - link
No, it's not a "sign of fanboyism" on behalf of the author. It's more of a lack of reading on your part. From the very first paragraph in the article:"and while we hope to review the GTX 485M in SLI soon"
Since they haven't had a chance to review Nvidia's new 485M SLI yet, they can't say for sure that 6970M CF is currently the fastest laptop video solution available. I'm sure they'll declare a winner once they benchmark the 485M SLI.
Meaker10 - Thursday, June 2, 2011 - link
Because there are already reviews out there.The 485M is a little ahead of the 6970M in single card configs, but since Xfire is scaling better than SLI the 6970M is pretty much level pegging when you have two of each.
erple2 - Tuesday, June 7, 2011 - link
Yes, but posting definitive information about a product that has not yet been reviewed is disingenuous at best, and fraud at worst.Anandtech can't make definitive info about the performance of products until at the very least after they have reviewed said item.
While it may turn out to be true that 2x 485's are faster than 2x6970m's, there's no internally consistent data at Anandtech to back it up (yet). Given that the performance of the 6970m and the 485's are so similar (10% isn't that much of a difference - only barely statistically significant), there's no telling where the SLI vs. CF battle will fall.
So I'd support the conclusion that the CF solution is currently the fastest solution. I am, however, glad that they included a nod that they'll be reviewing the SLI configuration in the near future.
scook9 - Thursday, June 2, 2011 - link
You all need to get a loaded M18x to review. It has dual 6970m's as well and an Intel Core i7 Extreme 2920xm (even with an optional factory OC) - beast processor.It has switchable graphics and can get near 5 hours battery life on the Intel HD 3000
It is an all around awesome laptop (PROPER KEYBOARD) and very high build quality.
I had to weigh between the two and had NO reservations about getting an M18x myself, it is replacing my Core i7 965 and CF 5870 desktop
jecs - Thursday, June 2, 2011 - link
You would really need with you the extra performance the CPU on this machine could deliver over a SB 2xxx CPU, maybe around $3000, and go out very often.I know these machines are not for everyone but I mean, the CPU choice is my biggest concern in this particular system as I think it adds very little and even downgrades the gaming performance. It would be interesting to see what can be done to reduce weight and cost keeping all the other components and upgrade capacity.
Besides, with a machine like this I would also consider to have with me an ultra light laptop or a tablet for lighter work or personal use.
khimera2000 - Thursday, June 2, 2011 - link
I had one of there older models when the core 2 duo came out, it broke :( not the computers fault trust me. Its vary hard to reduce the weight on these things, the amount of copper they use for cooling is crazy, but looks like its needed. The machine got warm even with that much cooling.If they did get the weight down im sure there would be some really happy sailers out there though.
I do agree with you, when a rig gets this big it feels more like a shrunken down desktop, then it does a mobile notebook, and as fast as it was, the weight of power supply+ laptop was a pain to carry around.
After I got out though I didnt bother replacing it with another clevo, instead i took the budget and built a desktop, and got a descently fast portable that wouldent take my shoulder out.
tipoo - Thursday, June 2, 2011 - link
Just wondering if it was in the pipeline?JarredWalton - Thursday, June 2, 2011 - link
Waiting for it to arrive, along with M14x and M17x.scook9 - Thursday, June 2, 2011 - link
Got to request an M18x!The M17x R3 is an awesome single GPU laptop, but it does not support the extreme CPU. Also loses things like ExpressCard slot - but gains Optimus OR 3D
Can't have both as the HD 3000 can't work with a 120 Hz screen apparently :(
tipoo - Thursday, June 2, 2011 - link
Thanks for letting me know!