Spending most of the time on integrated graphics?

Hi all,

Just wondered if there is anybody on here who has bought an M15x mainly for multimedia and study/work/writing, with the 8800gtx (or 8700) to game on only when they have any down time.

If so, do you spend the majority of time using your M15x on integrated graphics?

I just wondered how the M15x performs on intergrated and if there are any major (or minor) concerns when you are using it in such a resourceful fashion when it is capable of so much more.

I'm just asking because I wanted to buy the M15x to use firstly as a powerful multimedia machine to do music and creative writing on (and running the latest screenwriting and music composition software), and only to game on in the odd moment. I do like having good graphics, so I did want the latest graphics card.

I'm just after feedback from anyone who can tell me from first hand experience how well the M15x performs when running on integrated, what things they like to do on integrated, and what tasks it performs exceptionally well on integrated.

Thanks in advance!

 

it will perform everything well on integrated besides gaming and the use of intense 3d applications like CAD or ProE

 

Just want to let you know that the 8800M GTX usually idles at 45 C on my system. The only time i even think about switching over is if i know i'm going to run off battery, which is basically .1% of the time.

 

i am just going to use integrated when i am in class. with the integrated card on you wont notice a difference in performance unless you are doing graphic intensive things. if you are going to listen and compose music, and type up a story integrated is more than enough since the processor will still be running at max as long as you are plugged in.

 

I switch over when I'm planning on using battery too. eg. headed to class, and I'm only taking the computer (no A/C adapter) or I'm not expecting to be near AC power during the time I'm out/using the computer.

on Integrated, and being a perfectionist, I notice the stutter in the aero interface and keep away from the 3d switch when on integrated (I don't use it much anyways, takes a second to kick-in when it hasn't been used in a while... I don't like waiting, and alt+tab does the job just as well)...

either way, I havn't met a non-3D application that DIDN'T like the integrated graphics... remember, this is the X3100 GPU from Intel. though not very good, people with WORSE than this play games...

my friend plays 3D games (though lightly) on a Toshiba laptop with a GM945 Northbridge computer (GMA 950 GPU)... this is some two generations or so after that...

Games I know he can play include stuff as recent as UT2004... that's... what? 10x more demanding than any 2D application? if not more?

I think integrated will be fine for anything you need.

 

Even if you're not and the processor is going at 1.6Ghz or something (based on the T9300)... It's still more than enough power.

I've used Reason on my C2D E4300 desktop, at 1.8Ghz, no issues at all. never had a problem rendering a music file in real-time.

 

Mine was bought for school. Most of its use will be fairly typical stuff nothing intensive except some gaming. Since its summer though I'm playing quite alot till school starts

 

Mine too was bought for school. Mainly because I got first honors (im not a smart kid, I just need to peak my grades for college). But I will use the integrated graphics when I am not gaming.

 

Thanks a lot for the replies. How hot does it get on integrated? Is it noticeably cooler?

 

me personally, even when i'm doing office stuff, i've got my lappie on the 8800. can't be bothered to switch to integrated, plus i want to be able to fire up games at the spur of the moment. while doing office work, the 8800 doesn't get that hot, the HDD (right under my wrist) is much worse.

 

te processor will get a bit hotter since the integrated card and the processor seems to share the same heatsink i think. It is still pretty cool and silent tho.

mine too was bought for school . just graduated high school and the college im going to requires laptops. i decided to just go for a high end laptop since i had to replace my desktop and i can finally take the m15x to my friend's places to play some games. im not likely going to be playing games on the m15x in college too

 

I agree. the harddrive really heats this computer up.

 

my theory is: if you're running on integrated, you're probably running on batteries. therefore, the CPU will be throttled for power, and in stealth mode, it'll get throttled even more... so with all this slow-down of the CPU, it'll produce less heat anyways, and the existing configuration will be more than adequate to keep it frosty.

just my $.02 on the matter.