Nvidia releases new mobile GeForce GTX 280M, GTX 260M, and GTS 160M

  • By SarjuS, GameSpot
  • Posted Mar 3, 2009 9:20 am PT

Laptops recently overtook desktops in overall sales. The trend has been pointing in that direction a long time, but the tide finally shifted. All the companies see the writing on the wall and respond accordingly. Nvidia's doing its part by releasing three new mobile graphics chips - the...

Laptops recently overtook desktops in overall sales. The trend has been pointing in that direction a long time, but the tide finally shifted. All the companies see the writing on the wall and respond accordingly. Nvidia's doing its part by releasing three new mobile graphics chips - the GeForce GTX 280M, GeForce GTX 260M, and GeForce GTS 160M. The company kept things simple in the nomenclature department, but I'm sure if we wait a few months we'll see the usual slurry of GT, GS, and G monikers.

Built on a 55nm process, the new chips share many of the same features as the company's flagship desktop GPU, the GeForce 280 GTX. Once on a mobile platform the chips have to be pared down considerably due to power and heat constraints. The GeForce 280M, 260M, and 160M each have 128, 112, and 64 cores respectively. By comparison the flagship GeForce 280 GTX found on the desktop has 240 cores. Each of the mobile chips has 1GB of GDDR3 RAM. According to Nvidia, the new mobile chips should outperform the prior generation of mobile chips by 20 to 60 percent depending upon the game. On a performance per watt basis, the new chips provide a 20 to 30 percent improvement over the prior generation.

30 Comments

  • Dark_Master-k

    Posted Sep 25, 2009 9:36 am PT

    Is this card better than the ATI 4870 Laptop card? bcoz i love Nvidia but people are saying to move to ATI but i really want to know is that worth it?

  • raf_d_king

    Posted Aug 24, 2009 7:09 am PT

    its amazing how they can make a 5 inch video card to be as small as a chip !

  • beymod

    Posted Jun 6, 2009 5:37 am PT

    thanks.....
    http://www.beymod.com.tr

  • zoladex

    Posted Apr 1, 2009 7:26 pm PT

    for the comment below:

    this is VERY limited. Usually only laptops made at the same time as the generations as the cards can be upgraded (about 3-4 months)

    My experience. Got an alienware laptop, 8m series. The company has told me that i cant upgrade to 9m or 200m series, would even let me upgrade to top model 8m series .

  • Templar_Bladema

    Posted Mar 31, 2009 4:06 pm PT

    @CyberAltair: You can send a laptop back into the company where they will perform the upgrades for you (as a cost, and the upgrading varies from company to company, model to model). That way you don't have to worry about home done upgrading.

  • Templar_Bladema

    Posted Mar 31, 2009 4:05 pm PT

    @metalkid9: I find a laptop extremly useful for gaming (except when it is time to upgrade, that is a b****). It is small, useful, and you don't always have to plug in to play a game (just be prepared for a short session). Plus it allows me to switch rooms incase I disturb my family, so if my voice chat annoys people in the TV room when they watch their favorite episode of say... The Mentalist, then I can easily move into the bedroom and not interfer as much. Try moving all the equipment with a PC from room A to room B

  • Slice4142

    Posted Mar 29, 2009 2:28 pm PT

    Now i can finally buy a laptop.. thanks Nvidia

  • metalkid9

    Posted Mar 29, 2009 11:35 am PT

    I think anyone would consider playing on a pc. laptops are only good when you're a busy person and always on the go and don't have time to stay home and play on the pc. But it amazes me how they manage to fit a whole tower into just a laptop

  • MaxBlaze

    Posted Mar 29, 2009 2:11 am PT

    If anyone considers buying a laptop with one of these you won't have to worry about upgrading for a LONG time. Really not a bad investment.

  • Kleeyook

    Posted Mar 27, 2009 11:31 pm PT

    Desktop is better for gaming. I've heard people complaining about laptop's chipset doesn't support most games. Really got bored of it. And what worse is that I have one.

  • gexer64

    Posted Mar 27, 2009 5:49 pm PT

    There are some laptops that can upgrade their video cards. However I don't think that manufacturers are going to make upgrades more accessible (even when the upgrade costs a grand).

  • CyberAltair5

    Posted Mar 27, 2009 7:38 am PT

    Just keep gaming to the desktops. You'll end up frying your laptops if you upgrade it and use it as you would do with a normal PC.

  • xophaser

    Posted Mar 25, 2009 11:11 pm PT

    the 280m only come with expensive laptop, My Thinkpad cheap out and got an ati, was going to upgrade to the pricer nvidia, but couldn't justify the price jump.

  • The_Fat_Zebra

    Posted Mar 19, 2009 2:18 am PT

    Is this an article or an advertisement?

  • ciaxhieu

    Posted Mar 18, 2009 1:06 pm PT

    now we are talking! but i couldnt just upgrade my laptop video card huh? man i wish laptop was more accessible like a desktop

  • MBP_King

    Posted Mar 12, 2009 9:02 pm PT

    I think this card is a great one for the price.

  • elitemacuser

    Posted Mar 12, 2009 2:04 pm PT

    my computor has like 9050 or somtin like that

  • MilkmanDO

    Posted Mar 12, 2009 3:58 am PT

    It would be OK, would need mains power/charger to run games really good at ultra high settings

  • jazzyrider

    Posted Mar 10, 2009 2:42 pm PT

    Wish netbooks would start using this, then I would get one. Somehow the intel chipset just doesn't cut it.

  • keatman

    Posted Mar 10, 2009 2:10 pm PT

    i love to get one of these but the budget is way out my reach.

  • asian_man

    Posted Mar 9, 2009 3:32 am PT

    This shouldn't be that great. The GTX 280m is just a 9800GTX+, nothing too new. Wait for the 40nm mobility radeons, they should be a little faster. Don't actually read too much into the names, NV sucks at naming their cards and a x2 4870 mobile should be a little faster. SHOULD

  • computorial

    Posted Mar 8, 2009 5:47 am PT

    How does this stack up against radeon x2 4870 mobile?
    Pity you did not say how much power it consumes under full load!
    But apart this it is a good video card. Just to costy.

    www.computorial.blogspot.com (welcome at my tech blog)

  • computorial

    Posted Mar 8, 2009 5:46 am PT

    How does this stack up against radeon x2 4870 mobile?
    Pity you did not say how much power it consumes under full load!
    But apart this it is a good video card. Just to costy.

    www.computorial.blogspot.com (welcome at my tech blog)

  • gijoewade2

    Posted Mar 6, 2009 11:30 pm PT

    For the folks that lead nomad lives and don't live in one place for a while, a laptop is the only option. If you want to game, a gaming notebook is the only option. Sure, mine weighs 15 pounds with accessories, but I have a good bag for it. When out of the country, it also serves as my link to friends and family. These mobile GPUs are also good for towers when someone wants to get the most performance per watt. Other people OC them like crazy in a tower too.

  • eternity21

    Posted Mar 5, 2009 10:32 pm PT

    In my personal opinion, if you're a hardcore gamer like myself, computers should always stay at home. You should never buy a laptop for gaming because it will disrupt your everyday life if it's very portable you can bring it anywhere. You will always have the tendency to use your laptop and you will not enjoy the great outdoors anymore. Playing should only be done at home, while outside we need to relax & enjoy nature, socialize and interact with friends, families and relatives.

    Laptops/Pocketbooks/Netbooks should only be used for business,school,research purposes because using it for gaming makes it very addictive and will ruin your life.

  • stealthyfeeak

    Posted Mar 4, 2009 4:03 am PT

    Is the ATI Mobility Radeon 4870X2 better than a 2 way SLI Nvidia GTX280M?

  • Resbang

    Posted Mar 4, 2009 2:56 am PT

    "PC's > Laptops any day."

    Wheres the explanation for this? Only an opinion with nothing to back it up. Besides, laptops DO have 5.1 sounds, 7.1 if you need and i might as well use an external monitor if i want. Its not something for poor people to get.

  • Hellfire93

    Posted Mar 3, 2009 3:29 pm PT

    Yeah PC's > Laptops any day.

  • anolecrabcf

    Posted Mar 3, 2009 2:57 pm PT

    I'm not a laptop gaming kind of guy, I need my big monitor and 5.1 sound to play happily

  • zgreenwell

    Posted Mar 3, 2009 11:29 am PT

    I want one, but the biggest problem with laptops is you just have to buy a whole new unit. To get a laptop using one of these I'm guessing I'd have to spend over $2000.

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