Do I need discrete graphics?

I found basically the perfect comp for me but it has integrated graphics. The only games I foresee myself playing are Sims 1-3 and Age of Mythology. Will I be fine with integrated graphics for those?

 

Sims 3 will definitely need a dedicated videocard.

 

yea agreed sims 1 and 2 are playable with integrated chips but sims 3 is a whole newly designed game from what I have read and seen. Anything from an nvidia 8300m up should be able to run it..I'm not too sure how ati video cards go.

 

so i've heard.
sims 3 would be out with free USB's shaped like
the sims signature.. sims 2 needed a good video card
sims 1 didn't need much.. so i think sims 3 would need
the best video card there is..

 

Hahaha..........I wouldn't count on it.

Sims 3, like the others will probably be build to support IGPs from the pass year or two, especially since Spore supported Intel GMA950s, however the GMA950 support was only with a core 2 duo processor to make up for it since the CPU would be doing the geometry related work. I'm sure their minimum specification will be GMA950 with a Core 2 Duo, and the Intel GMA 4500. And of course I'm sure EA will purposely support the Radeon HD 3100/3200 and Geforce 8200 since they are more powerful than Intel's 4500. Along with that they have every reason to support laptop GPUs even though laptop GPUs don't have the same compatibility issues they did years ago. I'm going to expect the Sims 3 box to be very thorough about system requirements like the Spore box was lol.

 

I forgot where, but I was looking at a video/review of the sims 3, saying that integrated gpu would play the game fine.

 

You should just go ahead and get a dedicated anyway, you wont regret it. Don't know if your planning on any future gaming...

 

Go dedicated. Sure it might run on an integrated chip, but playing on the lowest resolution and settings is hardly worth looking at.

 

I wouldn't get anything less than a dedicated regardless. Why limit yourself in the future. You may only want to play the Sims right now but in a few months, you might want to play more than just pacman.

 

Yeah, here's another vote for dedicated. I know it's a large investment compared to integrated, but it's going to give you far better overall performance for your computer. Even if you could get Sims 3 to run on an integrated (which I kinda doubt, but not being familiar with the requirements I'll leave to the expert opinions above!) You'll be much more prepared for anything that may catch your eye in the near future game-wise with a dedicated card.

 

It's not that hard to find something like a 9500 for only a little more money. Even 9600M GT is coming down in price a lot.

 

integrated? sure it can run sims3. playable? hardly.
get discrete.

 

I'd say look into getting a Radeon HD 3200 or GeForce 9400M G if you want the best of both worlds - dedicated GPU power on an integrated platform.

 

Discrete...absolutely!

 

Well I'm looking at the Satellite E105. I was going to get the Y450 or 550 but they are at the very top of my budget (over in the 550's case) and if I get the $800 Satellite I can buy a printer and such.

Can I just swap out the graphics cards? Sorry if I sound like an idiot.

 

99.99% sure the graphics cards for the model you're looking at are not changeable.

 

I would go with a dedicated gpu for better futureproof.

 

Dedicated will give you better performance, but by no means does integrated mean no gaming. Size was a huge issue for me, and I play 90% of my games fine on my Tablet w/ ATI 3200HD integrated gpu. Granted, not at high settings for newer stuff, but on a 12" screen, even lower resolutions and settings look just fine.

Once again, dedicated will give you noticeably better performance, but if cost or size are factors, integrated with one of the newer IGP's is by no means the end of the world.... just have to tweak a little bit more!

If money isn't a huge factor, then by all means go dedicated.

 

Would integrated make the computer actually run SLOWER, or just not look as good?

 

Normal desktop performance would not be significantly affected. You just wouldn't be able to run games on high settings.

 

the ati 3200 would perform well dur to the small screen size.