So, the rumors were indeed true: NVIDIA today has finally unveiled the notebook version of its Pascal-based consumer-level graphics cards. Instead of a staggered launch, all three cards – GeForce GTX 1080, 1070, and 1060 – were revealed at the same time but what’s more important is that they no longer carry the “M” label as per previous notebook graphics cards from NVIDIA.
In a way, it is a repeat of what NVIDIA did last year with the Maxwell-based GTX 980 card last year: adapting desktop-grade graphics cards and making it fit into notebooks. At the same time, NVIDIA also claimed that the performance of the GTX 10-series notebook cards are within 10% of their desktop equivalents – which sounds almost impossible up until now.
That is a bold claim indeed but it is true? Well, it is too early to conclude since notebooks that are based on the new GTX 10-series cards are barely out of the production line. Nevertheless, we managed to have a brief taste of what each card is capable of during a recent regional media briefing with NVIDIA.
GTX 1080
One of the GTX 1080 benchmark stations that NVIDIA provided to us during the briefing is a Clevo P775DM which is also equipped with a desktop processor in the form of an Intel Core i7-6700. Additionally, the notebook also comes with 17.3-inch Full HD 60Hz display and 16GB of RAM.
These are the results of the 3DMark Fire Strike tests that we ran on the notebook:
During the 3DMark Fire Strike Ultra test, we also observed that the GPU reached maximum a clock speed of 1,873 MHz and a maximum temperature of 78 Celsius. The measurement is done using EVGA Precision XOC tool.
We also subsequently ran the Rise of the Tomb Raider built-in benchmark on the GTX 1080-based notebook:
GTX 1070
One of the GTX 1070-based notebook that NVIDIA provided to the media as a benchmark station was a MSI GT72, which carries an Intel Core i7-6700HQ processor, 32GB RAM, and a 17.3-inch full HD 120Hz display. Similar to the previous GTX 1080-based Clevo P775DM, we ran the 3DMark Fire Strike tests and the Rise of the Tomb Raider built-in benchmark on the MSI notebook:
Using MSI Afterburner as the measurement tool and 3DMark Fire Strike Ultra as the workload, the GPU in the notebook reached a maximum clock speed of 1,670 MHz and maximum temperature of 74 Celsius.
GTX 1060
For unknown reasons, we were specifically asked by NVIDIA to utilize The Witcher 3:Wild Hunt as the tool to judge the performance of GTX 1060 which was equipped into a MSI GS63. The notebook also features an Intel Core-i7 6700HQ, 16GB RAM, and a 4K (3840 x 2160) 60Hz display.
With the in-game graphics resolution set to 1920 x 1080 together with High postprocessing preset, Ultra graphics preset, and NVIDIA Hairworks turned off, our brief test using FRAPS showed that the notebook able to achieve an average frame rate of 49 fps in the game. Due to time constraints, we didn’t manage to run other tests on the notebook.
There you have it, a quick look at the capability of the new GeForce GTX 10-series graphics cards for notebooks. While the actual performance that users are able to experience varies from one notebook to another depending on their configurations as well voltage and thermal design, we still can safely say these cards certainly have enough graphical firepower waiting to be unleashed by eager users out there.
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