Heat: Intel 4000 vs NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M LE

Thinking of getting a Sony Vaio 15.5" S series (SVS151190X) and deciding whether or not to get a dedicated GPU. The laptop won't likely play many games, but I like having the extra performance available.

Anyone experienced the heat difference between and Intel 4000 and GeForce GT 640M on a laptop like this? I'd like it to still be cool enough to sit on a lap comfortably.

 

If you're not playing (recent) games or using specialized programs that take advantages of dedicated GPUs, the Intel 4000 will be more than enough.

 

Thanks for the input. I think I'll just go with the integrated.

 

Go with the Intel 4000 because the dGPU will do nothing but eat battery life and it costs less.

 

Does the laptop have Optimus? If it does, the 640m won't even be active unless you're running a graphics-intensive application like a game. Won't generate heat or use battery. No reason not to get it, unless it puts the laptop out of your price range.

 

Yes it has Optimus, and (at least here) the GPU is a $50 option so if you feel like it go for it. The discrete GPU will only be used for strenuous loads, the rest of the time you'll be using the Intel 4000.

 

But dual monitors/hdmi out is a lot better through the nvidia card.

..you can also flash the vbios on the 640le and easily get somewhere around 2300 3dmarks in 3dmar11. For Creative Studio apps, any cuda optimized program, photoshop, that sort of thing - then that's going to be a huge deal.

One thing I found out on my n56, by the way, was that the kepler card here actually draws less power than the intel hd4000 when it runs the same load the intel card croaks at. It only happens before the loads start to push the nvidia card, of course - but I didn't expect that.. So if you run things like Blender, or run Creative Studio, or games, video-acceleration. Or you run external monitors, or watch hd film, etc. -- you will want that nvidia card for several different reasons..