Integrated video ok for M1330?

I'm planning on buying the Dell M1330, and I've elected to get the X3100 integrated video instead of paying the additional $100 for the 8400M GS. I'm not a big computer gamer, but should I expect any other aspect of the computer (movies, etc.) to be lessened by the reduced video capability?

Also, how much more battery life can I expect by having integrated rather than discrete video?

 

Not sure about battery life, but it will be better with that video option.

If you are not going to game, you should be fine. Video playback should be decent. The 8400 isn't that great anyways.

 

Go with the integrated x3100 graphics. No question about it. Battery life WILL be better. People need to learn that if you dont play stupid 3D games there is no reason for wasting money on a discrete graphics chip. Heck even with the x3100 you STILL can play MANY 3D games. The 8400gs is only about twice as fast as the intel x3100 so you aint going to gain much speed but only decrease battery life in everyday tasks. Yes I know aint aint a work. No it does not matter what graphics chip you have for photoshop or watching DVDs. Graphics chip upgrades are only for stupid 3D games. Even with the 8400gs you STILL will NOT be able to play todays 3D games so its a complete waste of money and you will only be burdening yourself with lower battery life under normal tasks.

 

stupid 3d games huh? what if you program? or edit video/pictures? what your idea of playable?

anyways OP, if you don't plan on doing anything but basic tasks and nothing graphic intensive, integrated will more than suffice and help with battery alot. but if you multitask alot with memory/graphic intensive programs the 8400 might be a big help. it will help video playback somewhat. and if you do alot of work at same time, a video card might help because it will offset cpu work. battery life might not mean anything if you're waiting for you cpu to do it's thing.

 

pukemon, the videocard has NOTHING to do with multitasking, programing, photo/video editing or ANYTHING 2D. Please do some research before posting FASLE information. The videocard does NOT offset cpu work no matter what app, thats just ridiculous and laughable to anyone who knows how computers work. Video cards dont run x86 code LOL. It really annoys me when people create their own reality and believe what they "think" is correct as in this case.

 

please reread my post. i never said it runs x86 code. the things i mentioned had to do with graphics and memory.

 

Regardless, even the fastest graphics card would do nothing to improve performance for multitasking, programing, photo/video editing. I dont think you understand that if you dont run 3D the graphics subsystem will NEVER use more than 16mb to display current laptop resolution screens at 32bit color. Dont matter if you have 100 internet explorer windows open and 100 photoshop windows open all while editing video, the graphics would even use more than 16mb to display the laptop resolution a 32 bit color nor will the graphics chip accelerate those processes as those processes all run purely on the CPU. Please do some research on video subsystems. Thank you.

 

well i guess you didn't reread my post and will continue to imply i said what you're saying. anyways.

 

if you don't want a mess, go with the integrated graphics with m1330...... with the discreet graphics card solution, the laptop runs hot.... and Dell did not do great with the cooling design of the laptop.... might have a busted motherboard if it becomes too hot

 

Absolutely not true. Another example of how people create their own reality an believe it.

 

Just want to point out something that majority do not notice or care about, though I had no choice when I purchased my tablet pc, but if you use the integrated card, when you start up Windows vista, after you see the Windows Vista Logo animation shine, the screen blacks out for a split second, and right when it comes back on again, there are random colored lines that show for a split second, then disappear.

It only happens during startup, and isn't a problem or anything, its just a minor glitch with the integrated chipset.

 

are you talking about where the startup looks for another display? if so you can disable that.

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=204772

a 43-page thread on graphics card overheating the mobo and the bad design(thermal pads instead of using springs to press the heatsink to the GPU card...)

not true?