The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Video Card question

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by Afreshboy, Dec 19, 2006.

  1. Afreshboy

    Afreshboy Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    18
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I've been pondering gettting the e1505 with the 256MB ATI MOBILITY™ RADEON® X1400 HyperMemory video card. Is having an upgraded video card like this going to seriously impact my battery life? Portability and battery life are important to me and if the video card is going to eat away at a hour of my battery life I may reconsider buying this.
     
    Afreshboy, Dec 19, 2006
    #1
  2. Gautam

    Gautam election 2008 NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    1,856
    Messages:
    3,564
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    Dedicated graphics (such as the one you mention) tend to consume more juice per minute than integrated ones. If you are not going to be doing intense graphic jobs (such as CAD, games) then integrated graphics will be fine. In fact, if battery life is essential for you, consider integrated graphics.
     
    Gautam, Dec 19, 2006
    #2
  3. Zero

    Zero The Random Guy

    Reputations:
    422
    Messages:
    2,720
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Battery life depend alot on the rest of the system. Having said that, the Mobility X1400 shouldn't reduce the time by an hour. It does take up more power, but it also brings quite a lot more graphical power, when compared with intergrated. Also, when on battery, the card will automatically clock itself down to save power.
     
    Zero, Dec 19, 2006
    #3
  4. Iceman0124

    Iceman0124 More news from nowhere

    Reputations:
    1,133
    Messages:
    3,548
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    the above poster is correct, the only way you will see a big impact on battery life would be if you were gaming or some other heavy 3d app on battery with your gpu power savings turned off and set to max performance
     
    Iceman0124, Dec 19, 2006
    #4
  5. rijet0711

    rijet0711 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    2
    Messages:
    24
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I have a 6400/E1505 and get around 5 hours w/ a 9 cell battery with brightness on full. Other specs are Intel C2D 7200, 1gb RAM, Intel Proset Wireless, X1400, 1gb RAM, 120gb HDD....
     
    rijet0711, Dec 19, 2006
    #5