Mobile GPUs: 3 questions re: running on an external monitor

Hi,

I will be purchasing a new laptop that I would like to serve several purposes and will most likely get a mid range lappy with either a 3650 or 9500GS card. I am most interested in 14" but may go up to 15". In either case, I can't afford the WSXGA+ screen (see below) AND a system with one of the above cards.. my budget is around $1200. My main activities are:

1. Taking to campus and doing work there (mostly the usual Office Apps as well as statistical analysis--lots of spread sheets)

2. hooking up to my TV through the DVI input to watch HD movies off the lappie

3. Hooking up to external monitor at home for work at home (which is currently set to 1680 x 1050). I already have an old desktop, which, after several upgrades, is nearing the end of its life. I figure even a modest laptop will crush my desktop so it will probably become a media server or something.

4. Occasional games. Don't need to play on the highest settings but would like the option of playing some of the newer titles.

My main question is: Can I get a laptop (say WXGA) with a smaller screen and still hook it up to my larger monitor at 1680 X 1050, or are the cards limited to the native resolution of the lappy screen? Also, would I be able to hook the lappy up to my 32" HDTV and watch HD movies using DVI? Would the ATI 3650 and/or GeForce 9500 GS work for all the above purposes?

Finally, if I was willing to forgo the gaming option, could I still watch HD Movies on the TV and still hook up to my external monitor at 1680 x 1200 with a lesser video card or even on board graphics?

BTW, I know this is not the "what laptop should I buy thread" but if anyone has suggestions (I am thinking one of the ASUS F8 series) for systems <= $1200 that would be fit for the above uses, I'll take them.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Best,

Kyle

 

My main question is: Can I get a laptop (say WXGA) with a smaller screen and still hook it up to my larger monitor at 1680 X 1050, or are the cards limited to the native resolution of the lappy screen? Also, would I be able to hook the lappy up to my 32" HDTV and watch HD movies using DVI? Would the ATI 3650 and/or GeForce 9500 GS work for all the above purposes?

A:
1.) Yes you can hook it up to external monitor for higher resolution.
2.) Yes you can watch HD movies through DVI. But make sure you computer can play Blu-Ray disc. "Computers with DVI video connectors can use many DVI-equipped HDTV sets as a display; however, due to Digital Rights Management, it is not clear whether such systems will eventually be able to play protected content, as the link is not encrypted." -wikipedia.
3.) Both cards are overkill for those purposes.

Finally, if I was willing to forgo the gaming option, could I still watch HD Movies on the TV and still hook up to my external monitor at 1680 x 1200 with a lesser video card or even on board graphics?
A: any independent GPU will do. but certainly not the integrated GPU since you want to watch HD movies.

 

Both of those chips support dual-link TMDS output over the digital out (be it DVI or HDMI) so 2560x1600 @ 60fps is doable although you may need to force the drivers for that high end support (but anything under 1920x1200 should be easy), and don't worry, both also support HDCP over DVI so the CRM crap isn't an issue.

You want a reasonably healthy GPU to ensure you can do things like noise reduction anti-aliasing and video scaling; if your monitor doesn't support lower resolutions natively (like a CRT) then you want the image to scale if it can, rather than rough interpolation.

Right now there are only a small number of intergrated graphics that can do a good job with all HD formats, really the only contenders are the front running AMD 780G and the close behind Geforce 8200, anything less will offer limitations you may or may not notice, but even then you may find their scaling and post processing abilities very lacking.

Overall the GF9500 and HD3650 are perfect for light gaming (without AA they do rather well) and especially for HD video content.

You could get away with and HD2400 or GF8400/9300, but definitely puts gaming limits in play, and some post processing limits too.

 

Thanks for the great replies! Based on the value that can be had right now, I think it makes sense to go with either of the graphics cards, and based on threads on this forum, it seemsthere is little difference between the two. The only thing I need to work out now is whether or not my TV will adequately support watching HD movies...it is one of the last CRT HDTV models, so it has a lower resolution than the newer ones, so it seems the video scaling option will be important. Frankly, I am not sure whether a movie in HD would look much better on it, but I want the lappy to be future-proof, should I opt for a new TV at some point.

It also sounds like either card will be adequate for my gaming needs. I am sure anything will be an upgrade, as I was able to play Witcher (albeit on the lowest settings) with an old P4 2.6, 1GB RAM, and a Radeon 9800XT.

Thanks again for the help

 

The 9500M-GS = 8600M-GT. Take a look at the Dell Vostro 1500, it offers a 15.4-inch WSXGA+ screen and an 8600M-GT for under $1000 easily.

 

What do you mean?
Most CRT based HD TVs are actually high resolution 1080i which is good because then you see the full 1920x1080 image. Some people prefer 720P but it's really content specific and also IMO TV and content quality specific. Good HD-DVD & BluRay content looks good on most 1080i TVs, better than most 720P/768P screens IMO. Also unlike an LCD it should adjust better to DVD content and then back to HD. I have a feeling if it's true HD then the card will have no scaling work to do with both the 480/540P and 1080i most likely.

Sure but not yet if you don't feel you need one.
There's alot of really format changing technologies right around the corner, and the only reason I would say to buy an HD TV now is if you are unsure about the future of Plasma development and want a Pioneer Kuro before they're gone. Just bought one of those for a friend for that very reason. But personally I'm waiting a bit (already have a bunch of TVs), and if your current one is fine, then I'd suggest waiting too unless there's something pecific that you feel you're lacking. Future proofing is no substitue for being able to make purchase decisions in the future.

Good luck, it's easy to get lost in all of it and get caught up in buying fever, but be sure to take a breather before buying and consider whether you've missed something or you're just buying based on the rush of searching and then finding something.