2GB of RAM or nVidia video card?

Hi,

I am planning on purchasing an Inspiron 1420 and my budget allows me to either upgrade the RAM from 1GB to 2GB or to upgrade the video card from a Intel Integrated Graphics Media Accelerator 3100 to a 128MB NVIDIA GeForce Go 8400M GS. Which upgrade should I go for?

This is not a gaming machine, it's mainly for school. I'll probably buy it by mid-September.

By the way, here is the link to the special in question:

http://www1.ca.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/hot_offers_nb?c=ca&cs=cadhs1&l=en&s=dhs

Thanks in advance

 

Just for school, then definitely the extra RAM.

 

Get the video card... The ram can be upgraded later (and at a much cheaper price than dell offers... look on here or on slickdeals for a bargain on ram), the video card can not be upgraded

 

I would go for the video card becuz u can upgrade ur RAM in the future(just buy cheap 1G rams on newegg.com or something) , but its really hard to upgrade the video card (near impossible for laptops).

 

Actually, it is probably *literally* impossible to upgrade the video card in this case if you get one with an integrated solution. Dell has been known to use different motherboards based on if you do or do not choose integrated graphics. If you do, they sometimes use a model which has no slot. I'm not sure if this is true specifically for the 1420, however.

 

That's a pretty good point—the fact that I can easily upgrade memory later—but have you had experience with the nVidia video card above and Vista? How are the drivers and performance?

 

defintly just get 1 gig of RAm and the 8400M GS and upgrade the RAM to 2 gigs later, although I dont know how vista is going to run on 1 gig of ram

 

I don't have personal experience, but for a performance comparison, check this out:

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Graphics-Cards-Benchmark-List.844.0.html

The 8400 GS gets 3100 and 1456 in 3dmark 05 and 06 respectively, wheras the GMA 3100 gets 922 and 479 respectively. That's a difference of over 3x

BTw, to find it quickly, the 8400 is #44 on the list. The GMA is #67

 

Im using Vista basic on 1g of ram and it runs smooth and sweet. But Vista Home premium might have some problems on 1g.. still,,, I would go for the video card over the ram. The 128MB NVIDIA GeForce Go 8400M GS also runs pretty smooth on 1g.

 

You will definitely need 2GB RAM to run Windows Vista. 1GB just won't cut it these days. If you're sure you will only use it for school and no gaming, get the extra RAM.

I suggest you think about breaking the budget and getting both the extra RAM and the graphics card. The extra RAM should almost be a default. The graphics card is a little extra something you might like to have down the road.

Think about it.

 

That link was very useful, thanks. I guess I will go for the video card and reformat to XP. Anyone knows a good site that sells laptop memory in Canada?

 

Just buy it HERE or HERE and install it yourself

 

Ohhh... right. Canada. Sorry, I was getting the links together and missed your response! :c)

 

I was able to run bioshock full tilt on my 1520 with the 8600gt with 1 gig ram and 1280 x 800 screen.

I would buy the 8400 it would give you more of a speed boost then the extra 1 gig of ram.

 

Get the graphics card, I am in the market for a laptop at the moment and I will take a laptop with 1gb and a graphics card over a laptop with 2gb of ram and no graphics card.

 

imo i would def get the graphics.. the ram is so cheap now you can add 2gb for less than 100$ usually less then 80$ even the video card you will be stuck with the whole time you own it

 

Here's a link to list of up-to-date Ram deals in Canada:

http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=449110&highlight=ram

 

just get the video card cause u can buy laptop ram for a much cheaper price than gettin it from dell which is what i am doin to mine when i get it and intel graphic cards is kinda a pain in the a** if you do more graphic intense stuffs

 

definetly get the the gpu since ram is very easily upgraded

 

I see alot of people saying you need 2GB of RAM for Vista. That's not completely true. My M1330 ran smooth and sweet with only 1GB. It was very very fast. I upgraded to 2GB of RAM and I don't notice any difference at all. It might start up quicker, but that's about it. The RAM just isn't that noticeable unless you are running MANY applications. Get the 8400GS video card and upgrade RAM later.

 

You serious? Are you using home basic? Because I hear that does not take as much resources.


Anyways, I'd say this.

Do both. They are worth the upgrades.

 

Think about it this way...if you are not sure if you need the 8600M GT, you probably don't. However if you think you do, and money precludes you from getting both but you can afford to spend some money later, get the video card now. It will be much cheaper to pay non-Dell RAM prices than non-Dell video card prices.

I knew I needed the 8600...so I ordered my 1500 with only 1GB RAM...and just upgraded it to 2GB for half the cost of what Dell was charging....plus I am going to sell my 2x512MB to minimize the RAM upgrade cost even more.

 

i have a desktop at the shop running vista ultimate with 1gb of ram for almost 6 months now.. we have had zero issues with it with 1gb

 

Basic or Home Premium.

I'd say this. Get both. Perhaps don't get the RAM from Dell but I mean the 8400 GS isn't a great card by any chance. It'll run the older games that we all love in high settings though