Integrated graphics--not so bad???

So i've been running integrated graphics my whole life.
granted, my computer life started when i was 8, 10 years ago.

and my parents bought the computers

but
im on our newest family pc, which is a few years old
and its running a ati radeon xpress 200 integrated graphics.

This is enough to run the orange box and high framerates with, what looks to me, amazing graphics.

im considering buying the dv5t
the option im looking at has a 256 9200m gs graphics card
or
the integrated intel Graphics Media Accelerator X4500.

differences?
specifics?
im going to have 4 gigs of ram (expandable to 8)
and a 2.0ghz intel processorx2

 

Get the 9200M GS. It will be a lot better, I think it is also dedicated GPU.

 

it is dedicated, i could choose the 9600 gt with 512mb but that would suck battery that i need to get around/plane rides (i go on a lot of buisness trips)

 

What job does an 18 year old have that requires lots of business trips?


I would go for the 9200M GS as well between the two cards.

 

Well not like corporate buisness, but i have to fly out to see family a lot/take care of legal stuff with recent deaths (its been like death spree on one part of my family) and i am the only person not senile so..

 

Ya, but the 9600m GT won't suck your battery that much when you're not gaming because you can put it in high battery mode or whatever.

 

you mean power saver mode.

 

does it mension anything about hybrid SLI? because i think the 9200GS is compatible.

9600M GT however would be worth the extra as games are just going to get more and more advanced so its better to have a more fututre proof solution than one which handles everything 'okish'. Like TTime20 said you can always put it in low battery profile to save battery. Or just buy yourself an extra battery =P

 

Well no idea how powerful the 9200 is (assuming not really) but my desktop card ATi 9600XT can run it smoothly (60-70fps) with all low settings (640x5?? lol). It looks ugly but playable...=/

 

3DMark06 Benchmark Scores:

nvidia 9600M GT - 4685 <--- Discrete/Dedicated GPU, now if you are a gamer, this is the way to go
AMD HD3200 (IGP) - 1651 <--- the best IGP currently available, shame its only for AMD systems
nvidia 9200M GS - 1401 <---Discrete/Dedicated Gpu that consumes more power than an IGP
Intel x4500 (IGP) - 949
Intel x3100 (IGP) - 524
nvidia 6150 (IGP) - 220
ATI Xpress 200M (IGP) - 196

Personally, I would go with Intel x4500 for lower power consumption since 9200 GS is one of the weaker graphics cards and probably cannot play the latest games well anyway except for maybe at the lowest settings.

Once the drivers for x4500 mature, expect to see even better performance. I remember reading somewhere that the x4500 might potentially compare with an 8400 GS once the graphic drivers are optimized.

**note, all the graphic options are BETTER than your ATI Xpress 200M, EVEN Intel's solution!

source: http://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Graphics-Cards-Benchmark-List.844.0.html
source: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=252297

Edit: I didn't really answer your question...

9200M GS - slightly better performance, but consumes more power (lower battery life)
x4500 - slightly less performance, but consumes less power (more battery life)

An x4500 is more than enough for basic daily needs and can play previous generation games just fine at mid-settings. It is fine for some slight casual gaming running on the lowest settings on today's games. (except maybe Crisis...)