GeForce GTX 480M: AVADirect’s W880CU Is Packing The Heat

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With the launch of its GeForce GTX 480M, Nvidia’s Fermi architecture takes center stage in high-end gaming notebooks. But is the notoriously-hot GPU able to compete against AMD's Mobility Radeon HD 5870? AVADirect gives us the answer with its new W880CU.

More W880CU Features

Clevo knows that anything plugged into the front of a notebook becomes a hazard once the unit leaves the desk. Only the tiny vent holes disturb an otherwise-smooth front edge.

A 2.0 MP camera occupies the top edge of the W880CU’s frame, a surface that features a high-gloss finish to match the sheen of the unit’s flat panel display. A matte finish on other surfaces reduces fingerprints.

The standard touchpad features a fingerprint scanner to make logins quicker and more secure.

AVADirect packs its W880CU with a notebook bag and shoulder strap, power brick and cord, OEM-license Windows 7 OS, manufacturer documentation booklets, a standard telephone cord, secondary hard drive bracket, and its own documentation folder.

A CD Sleeve within AVADirect’s system documentation folder includes drivers and software for all installed hardware. Also included (but not shown) is a DVI-I-to-VGA adapter block.

Thomas Soderstrom
Thomas Soderstrom
Thomas Soderstrom is a Senior Staff Editor at Tom's Hardware US. He tests and reviews cases, cooling, memory and motherboards.
53 Comments Comment from the forums
  • bin1127
    It plays Crysis!
    Reply
  • Tamz_msc
    ....all of these notebooks must be plugged into a power outlet before gaming commences.
    I think that sums it up.
    Reply
  • Lmeow
    Portable vasectomy!
    Reply
  • Tamz_msc
    LmeowPortable vasectomy!LOL +1
    Reply
  • xyzionz
    Quite a surprise on the power consumption...
    Reply
  • sprunth
    That's a crazy heat pipe setup...

    Agree on the naming thing on the last page, that would be helpful.
    Reply
  • Maziar
    Great review.
    Before its launch,it was rumored that it will have a much higher power consumption than 5870M, but now it seems they are close
    Reply
  • "Notice that the component on the left uses both fans and has two-thirds the total number of heat pipes" Ummmmm if I'm looking at the picture correctly the GPU and the majority of the heat pipes are on the Right, you may want to retype that.
    Reply
  • are there no temperatures for gpu in article or i missed it?
    Reply
  • Plyro109
    The funny thing is, AMD actually DID use the naming scheme you like in their LAST generation of mobile GPU's. The Mobility 4850 matched the standard 4850's number of stream processors, albeit with lower clock speeds. Same with the Mobility 4870 and Mobility 4870x2.

    They changed it in response to Nvidia's naming scheme, which is a shame. I liked the matching of desktop/laptop performance to names, too. :/
    Reply