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Laptop Graphics CardWhich laptop graphics card is best?If you are planning on using the system for new 3D games often, things get more complicated, and you really need to pay attention to what you are getting. Note that all of the current chips play video and DVDs without any problem. Intel integrated graphics The Intel laptop graphics chips are solid business performers that play older games just fine. You won't have any trouble watching DVDs either. The chip is inexpensive, consumes the least power, and is a good choice for typical users. They may not play the latest cutting edge or upcoming games however, so look elsewhere if you may want to run those. Also, it is worth noting that even Intel's newest integrated graphics solution can't quite run Vista's best graphics without hiccupping. Many users wouldn't notice a difference, but they are there. For example, when Vista should fade to black for a notification, Intel's integrated chips fade then jump to completely black instead. ATI and NVIDIA ATI and NVIDIA have recently been bringing their desktop graphics technology down to laptops in the form of dedicated graphics chips. The result is, for the first time, laptops that can play the newest games at high resolutions and speeds. The two companies offer various different chips for different price and performance points, and it's hard to make precise comparisons between them. The first thing to realize is that just about anything you get from ATI or NVIDIA will be more powerful than an Intel graphics chip in terms of gaming, but will likely cost more as well. It is also worth noting that lower end dedicated graphics chips will be able to handle Microsoft's Windows Vista very well. The gap has been narrowed recently, but dedicated graphics chips will certainly provide a much richer experience than Intel's integrated GPU. Often, the biggest obstacle to getting a nice dedicated GPU is finding laptops with non-Intel graphics combined with the other features you want. The more powerful graphics chips appear in few systems from major vendors, and often only in huge laptops. Those that combine powerful dedicated graphics into an average size system are often top models. Recommendations Budget System Get the cheapest graphics chip you can find. The Intel offerings are a fine choice for all kinds of business and multimedia use, short of 3D gaming. Value System If you won't be doing much 3D gaming, the Intel GPU is still really fine. Remember, for business applications, browsing the web, watching video, and even playing an occasional game, it is a fine choice. On the other hand, if you want the best windows Vista experience you may need something more powerful. To be able to play the latest sports, fighting, or 3D games at high speeds, you absolutely need something from ATI or NVIDIA. Basically, if you're going to spend a considerable amount of time playing games, get the most powerful graphics chip that fits in your budget and comes as part of a system that you also like for its other features. High End System Definitely get something powerful from ATI or NVIDIA. Get one of their faster chips if possible, though the specific one is probably not that important unless you really will be gaming all the time. |
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