IGM X3100 vs. 256MB NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS (64 bit) - worth the extra money for me?

I'm not at all into PC gaming, so would I really need to spend the extra $100 on the latter card? Are there any other benefits I'd get out of it, like when I'm watching videos, or is it primarily for playing games? Thanks in advance for any help.

 

Are you planning on watching HD videos? If not, the X3100 will be great enough, although you might want to wait for the X4500 or even the Radeon HD 3200 into the mobile market. The HD 3200 is an integrated card stronger than the 8400

 

I don't think I'll be watching HD vids on it. Would the second one have any other performance benefits other than just gaming? If not, I should be good to go with the X3100. Thanks for the reply!

 

...not sure on this, but it may impact responsiveness of some "eye-candy" in Vista.

 

Even if you are using Windows Vista with Aero ON...then 8400M GS is better.

second reason is that nVidia driver support is better.

Can you tell us for what all purpose u ll use the laptop?

 

No worries there, I'm gonna go with XP instead . BTW, it's the Vostro 1310 and 1510 I'm looking at:

http://www1.ca.dell.com/content/top...=bsd&~ck=pn&~ck=pn&dgc=AD&cid=8401&lid=621774

 

I'd go with the 8400m GS 256MB .. that's what i have and i think it's worth it !!!

 

Yes,it will be better,but not by much.
Also a dedicated GPU helps run Vista smoother.

 

If you don't game, watch hd videos, or use fancy but useless aero, I suggest you get the x3100. It's cheaper, runs cooler and safe you significant amount of battery life.

 

Unless you play games or want to run vista aero then go for the x3100.

High def\Blu-ray films will play fine on a core 2 duo processor with the x3100.

Your laptop will run noticably cooler with it too

 

hi my laptop system is :
Intel@ core 2 duo processor T5750 2.0 Ghz , 667 mhz, 2 MBL2 chace
intel GMA X 3100
2 GB DDR2 ram
160 GB HDD
O/s : windows vista home premium sp 1
my question is :
can i play the following games at this laptop:
- stronghold 2
- devil may cry 3 special edition
- doom 3
- prince of persia "sand of time AND two thrones"
- the suffering 1 & 2
please answer my question " the expert" honestly!!
thank you..

 

Honestly, your laptop isn't going to do much gaming. From the games i know you can probably run stronghold 2, doom 3 and POP.
I'm not certain about the others..
Try asking here

 

You won't be able to play PoP T2T ... !

 

Just remember that's not true of all titles.
Anything which is high bit-rate and also doing primarily software HD-Audio decode as well will stutter, and you can forget BD2.0 profile features like PIP commentary, it'll stutter.

But for most titles in stereo mode it'll be ok with the occasional hiccup, just don't expect that in the future though as more titles go hi bitrate H.264 which would make it very sluggish.

 

The X3100 is perfectly fine with Aero. Unless you have direct evidence indicating otherwise, please do not spread this mis-information around.

 

Thanks for the tip Greg, I was wondering if it was sufficient.

 

Yes, my friend`s Qosmio with the X3100 runs Vista HP with aero decently.
Granted, he gets a 2 or 3 WEI in Vista for that, but hey, it works

 

I think people are confusing the GMAs with the hardware vertex support GMA-X#### with those without GMA ####. The plain GMA 3100 likely still struggles with some Aero features like it GMA3000 brother, but the X3100 likely is a little better.

However to say it's 'perfectly fine' I think is overselling the X3100 as well.

 

Also take care about battery life. GeForce 8400m GS is more powerfull than the X3100 and it aslo have better drivers but it sucks more power from the battery.

 

One more thing... I personally like Nvidia's support for projectors and additional screens infinitely better than Intels...

This doesn't mean the Intel screen can't do it... but the Nvidia controls are much easier to use and make life a lot less annoying in both XP and Vista.
(note your tech gurus likely have nvidia cards in their laptops so it will be easier for them to help you too)

We have had more than one business person wish they spent the $100 for that alone.

 

Thanks for all the input guys, it's into consideration!

 

IMO yes. the X3100 will leave you wanting more if you ever get into any type of moderat power required grahic applications.

 

The X3100 handles Aero and Blu-Ray perfectly.

 

My girlfriend has a notebook with a x3100 and it strugles a bit with aero and this
http://insentient.net/, not that it doesn't work but the animations are not smooth, I have yet to install vista on my notebook(I didn't yet cause the vista I can get legally for free is the business and I don't want to lose the windows media center)

 

Just FYI, but if you get the X3100 and intend to play BR movies...make sure you get a 2.0GHz dual core processor. I've read literature saying this is the minimum requirement when the GPU isn't powerful enough to help.

Just in case.

 

Sure it does.

Oh , you forgot it also plays Crysis at 1920x1200 with everything cranked too.

 

If you want to play those games, you'll get the 8400. The decision is really that simple.