HP 8510p/8710p graphics query

[fskmh]

I'm considering buying an HP 8510p, 8510w or 8710p laptop. The major specs (CPU, RAM, FSB) are similar. The 8710p is bigger with a full keyboard and numberpad, 17 inch wide wsxga screen, but it's R2K more than the 8510p. There are also some resolution differences depending on whether the laptop is wxga, wsxga (1680x1050) and the 8510w also has a 1900x1200 wuxga option.

While these are important I am curious about the graphics capability, i.e. for casual 3D [-]gaming[/-] hardware testing .

The 8510p has this option:
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 2600 256MB

The 8510w has this option:
NVIDIA Quadro FX 570M 256MB

The 8710p has this option:
NVIDIA Quadro NVS 320M 256MB

I've used way more nVidia cards than ATi cards, and my impression is that the Mobility Radeons are not great. From the specs I've read, the nVidia Quadros seem to more oriented to CAD and visualisation apps. Obviously this is what you'd expect from a business oriented laptop, but I'd like to know if anyone has tried out any of these laptops for some casual gaming. The laptop will be mainly used for number crunching on the run and data visualisation so, as I said, this is just something I'm curious about. I'd still rather know before I buy than after .

 

[antowan]

I doubt you would have any major difficulty playing an average 3D game on either of the nvidias to be honest. The graphics might appear a bit more blocky than with a geforce series card, but it should still play...

This is at least what I can deduce from reading up on these cards. I don't like ATI much. Don't have much of a reason other than that I am comfortable with Nvidia.