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    Do I need a graphics card.

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by paulrigs, Apr 8, 2006.

  1. paulrigs

    paulrigs Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hi,
    Sorry if this is a real dumb question... I'm looking to buy my first notebook, and need some advice on whether I need a graphics card or if integrated graphics accelerator will do. Is the graphics card only needed for gaming or will it make a noticeable difference to video and photo editing, and some 2D CAD. Also if I do any gaming it will only be stuff like Civ or Rome Total War - not very graphics intensive stuff I guess? The thing is that the type of notebook I would prefer to get doesn't have discreet graphics.
     
    paulrigs, Apr 8, 2006
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  2. Reize

    Reize Notebook Virtuoso

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    It'll make noticable difference to video editing, as far as I know.
     
    Reize, Apr 8, 2006
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  3. twoheadedboy00

    twoheadedboy00 Newbie

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    Yeah man, a dedicated graphics card is important for doing video and photo-editting, as they are reliant on video memory. If you have an integrated chip, it will share the notebook's system RAM, which is the ramspace that programs use to run. Also, the memory on the videocard is faster for rendering video, speeding up video editting. So yeah, you'll see a noticable diff. in games and editting. However, it will drain your battery a little faster, but not that much faster.
     
    twoheadedboy00, Apr 8, 2006
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  4. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

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    Not proper video editing really since its the CPU doing that. Rome total war is surprising intensive, you will want at least an x600 for that.

    EDIT: Since when has VIDEO or PHOTO editing (not 3d CAD) ever used GFX ram?
     
    Meaker@Sager, Apr 8, 2006
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  5. Reize

    Reize Notebook Virtuoso

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    Even if you never play games I'd look for a comp with at least an X200M, every bit of a laptop counts to how it'll hold up compared to newer technology, the GPU included.
     
    Reize, Apr 8, 2006
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  6. otaku

    otaku Notebook Deity

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    I agree with reize unless your wanting a 3-4lb ultra light get something dedicated.
     
    otaku, Apr 8, 2006
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  7. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

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    Dedicated is more expensive and more power consuming so worse if your not going to use the extra grunt, in THIS case since he wants to play those games he should get one.
     
    Meaker@Sager, Apr 9, 2006
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  8. Ice-Tea

    Ice-Tea MXM Guru NBR Reviewer

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    Just pointing out that Civ4 is very heavy on pretty much anything.

    Make sure you have 1GB of ram and some dedicated GPU if you really want to play it in huge worlds with some details.
     
    Ice-Tea, Apr 9, 2006
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  9. paulrigs

    paulrigs Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thanks all for your advice - I had no idea those games were graphics intensive - I'll get one with a card!
     
    paulrigs, Apr 9, 2006
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  10. Reize

    Reize Notebook Virtuoso

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    No problem, glad to have helped.
     
    Reize, Apr 9, 2006
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  11. hessdesigns

    hessdesigns Notebook Enthusiast

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    So let me ask you all this... I am debating between the HP dv8000t and dv8000z. Would it be possible to do similar tasks to paulrigs (photos/graphics/video editing, but not the gaming) with the x200m that comes in the 8000z? I have heard some decent things about this integrated-yet-dedicated card, but do the video programs need the extra graphics card?
     
    hessdesigns, Apr 10, 2006
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  12. ttupa

    ttupa Tech Elitist NBR Reviewer

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    The ATI integrated Xpress 200M is the best integrated solution out right now. It will handle photos/videos and 2D graphics programs pretty decently. 3d games and graphics editors will still struggle on it though.

    As was mentioned, video editing is more processor dependent than anything.
     
    ttupa, Apr 10, 2006
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  13. hessdesigns

    hessdesigns Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thanks for your help, ttupa!
     
    hessdesigns, Apr 10, 2006
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