Take a look at the Mobile GeForce RTX 30s: a great performance started by Waltz

Not all GeForce RTX30 graphics cards are the same for laptops. Nvidia leaves a certain latitude for its partners and great fluctuations should be expected from one integration to another. Descriptions …

When looking for a laptop with a graphics card to play or process videos, we find a model that is reconnected to the computer at the manufacturer’s site or to the reseller. But nothing is said about the average consumption of the GPU: DGP (Total Graphic Power). However, this is expressed in watts (W), which can vary greatly from one model to another, which can have a significant impact on the speed of the graphics card, and therefore the performance in the game or software.

In fact, low DGP makes it possible to control the heat emitted by the GPU, but as a result of the game’s low performance (low frames per second), it leads to a reduction in post-operating frequencies. For example, GeForce RTX 3080 with 115W TGP and RTX 3080 with 150W TGP will not work, but it will have the advantage of warming up less.

Max-Q and Laptop GPU

This event is not new. Since 2017 Nvidia has distinguished its high DGP cards from those with low DGP by adding the Max-Q note. This is often associated with the name of the graphics card, which indicates that it is suitable for thin systems with a limited cooling system, so it should be heated less to be quiet. In fact, Max-Q was originally only used to denote low DGP, but Nvidia has changed it, and it is no longer possible to distinguish high DGP graphics cards from those with lower DGP. Today it is a sober laptop GPU that refers to all graphics cards for laptops, regardless of DGP, and we only know that the Max-Q versions have software features (such as Dynamic Boost 2.0 or Whisper 2.0) aimed at controlling its size. .

The problem? Given the three GeForce RTX 30s for Nvidia laptops, these graphics cards account for almost thirty different DGPs! The company encourages PC manufacturers to give this value to each of their machines, but this recommendation is unfortunately very rarely followed – not to mention that the concept of DGP is undoubtedly vague to the general public. However important information that is hidden and difficult to obtain from consumers.

Some manufacturers are more or less transparent. To say more about the DGP of laptops adorned with the latest GeForce RTX30, MSI has launched an official stream (YouTube video live with its community). Not displayed on its site …

Very thin and quiet models like Stealth 15M, GS66 Stealth, Creator 15 or GF75 and GF65 thin with very low DGP with RTX 3060 – 60 to 80 W – GP or GE models with 115 W TGP. The gaming performance of the latter is definitely better, although they do embed the same GPU. The difference is even clearer when looking at the RTX 3080: their DGP range is from 80 W to 150 W.

In fact, such differences in consumption can lead to lower frequencies of several hundred MHz, resulting in much lower FPS. Therefore, we hope that manufacturers will write DGP of integrated graphics cards in their computers as black and white, even if we do not have much illusions …

To get an accurate idea of ​​the performance of each of these integrations, it is necessary to move towards independent testing of these machines. Be sure to bring this to you in the coming months.