Synthetic Benchmark Results
Before comparing the gaming differences of GTX 280M and GTX 280 graphics units, it’s important to make sure both test systems have similar CPU and memory performance. SiSoftware’s Sandra 2009 SP3 is known for excellence in isolating the performance of these parts.
The desktop system’s CPU performance lead of around 0.5% should be “close enough” to allow accurate graphics benchmarks, since the cards themselves tend to be at least several percent apart.
A memory performance difference of less than three percent is again small enough to have minimum impact on a graphics performance comparison.
3DMark shows the GTX 280 system with nearly twice the graphics power of the GTX 280M. A closer look at GPU and CPU scores is needed before we move on to games.
Performance differences are actually larger in the GPU test than in the full test score. Thus, we expect the CPU performance difference to again be inconsequential.
A 3DMark CPU performance difference of only 1% provides added confidence in the suitability of the two configurations for comparing game-based graphics capability.
