Common GPU Questions

Hi, I'd just like to clarify if a dedicated GPU will have a speed or performance advantage over a integrated GPU, like the Intel x3100 in terms of:

Photos
Low Resolution Videos on Youtube
HD Videos
Loading Applications(MSN,Limewire,etc.)
Loading internet pages
Overall computer performance

P.S. I'm mostly trying to compare the difference between the 8400mGS and the intel x3100.

 

The only benefit of a dedicated graphics card will be when using heavy Aero effects in Vista, gaming, and HD video playback.

 

Photos - Nope
Low Resolution Videos on Youtube - Nope
HD Videos - No for the GPUs available on the xps 1330. Last time I checked only certain ATI cards had that function.
Loading Applications(MSN,Limewire,etc.) - No
Loading internet pages - Nope
Overall computer performance - Better gaming?? does that count??

 

Incorrect. All G8x (and G9x) GPUs feature some form of HD video acceleration. While not all of them feature full hardware decode like ATi's UVD, they still help the CPU out quite a bit.

 

Do you know if the x1000 series have that feature?

 

kk thx now I don't regret choosing the Intel over the nVidia as much as b4...

 

For your uses, no advantage as most of the posters in here have noted. You are better off with the integrated GPU - less $, less heat/power consumption.

 

so even if I had a 7950GTX or 8700M GT, everything would be the same performance wise except Aero effects, HD videos and gaming?

 

Yes, although if you had 40 or 50 videos playing simultaniously, it is possible (if you have an ancient CPU) that having a better GPU would help keep the videos playing smoothly.

At least, that was my experience running in YouTube with my old 450 Mhz, 128mb RAM, Geforce 2 Gateway Desktop in Ubuntu. With the videocard enabled, I could watch YouTube videos easily. Without the videocard enabled, I was getting 5 frames a second...in YouTube...with a single video playing.

 

The Core 2 on your XPS is more than enough to handle 1080p videos, so you wouldn't really noticed unless you were multitasking in the background. I also could not find any confirmation on techguy2k7's claims, so take it with a grain of salt.

Aero effects will be the same.

The only difference will be in gaming.

 

As long as you are not doing 3D everything will be the same. The X3100 has no problem with the Aero interface nor HD video. I had a machine with an X3100 for a time and never experienced any problems.

 

Even the GMA 950 is perfectly capable of running Aero (albeit with some lag here and there), so the X3100 should be perfectly fine .