why do the specs for the nvidia GO 7800GTX look better than the GO 7900GS.?

Question

The specs on http://www.nvidia.com/page/go_7800gtx.html (laptop version card.
The go 7800's numbers are all higher than the go 7900GS. Is there something else that makes the 7900GS better than the older version. Thanks much....

so in regards to wyntre below, the 7900 is faster? with a smaller bus. is the smaller bus a big factor.

Answer 1

He is using the numbers off the desktop versions, the Go versions are different. The fact that the Go 7800GTX has a higher memory bandwidth than the Go 7900GS would indicate that in fact the 7800GTX has higher memory speed. [memory bandwidth = (memory speed * memory bits)/8] The Go 7800GTX is better than the Go 7900GS, even though it would seem logical that a 7900 would beat a 7800.

Answer 2

7800GTX = 1200mhz memory bus at 24 PixelPipelines

7900GS = 1320mhz memory bus at 20PixelPipelines


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He's right, I did pull the desktop specs by mistake. However, the same principal is in effect in the Go series for both cars as well.

Memory clock is 550mhz for the 7800 Go series and 500mhz for the 7900 Go series, with effective throughputs of 1100mhz and 1000mhz respectively.

The 7800 has 4 more pipes, essentially allowing for more information to be processed/rendeered per cycle.

However, the 7900 Go series opreates at a core clock of 375mhz and the 7800 is at 400mhz. This means that overall, the 7900 series uses less power than the 7800.

So, for a laptop, you need to ask yourself "Do I want better graphics power or longer battery life?"

Both of the cards are very good for anything these days, including most gaming. Well, the gaming really depends on what else you have in the laptop too!

Here is a link that compares most of the Go 7 sereies:
http://www.pcper.com/article.php?aid=237