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    Radeon x1300 - need for, effect on battery life?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Shiffman, Jul 7, 2006.

  1. Shiffman

    Shiffman Notebook Enthusiast

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    Looking at ThinkPad T60. Mostly used for routine text-oriented tasks and travel, but also used at home (on AC) for editing digital photos. No gaming to speak of.

    Is there an incremental value to the Radeon GPU (vs Intel 950)?

    Will it decrease battery life?

    Thanks in advance!

    Saul
     
    Shiffman, Jul 7, 2006
    #1
  2. flanken

    flanken Notebook Evangelist NBR Reviewer

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    It'll probably consume a little more power than the 950; if you're not gaming at all, then there's really no point in getting the x1300.
     
    flanken, Jul 7, 2006
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  3. Tiger-Heli

    Tiger-Heli Notebook Evangelist

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    I agree with Flanken
     
    Tiger-Heli, Jul 7, 2006
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  4. Shiffman

    Shiffman Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thank you!

    S
     
    Shiffman, Jul 7, 2006
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  5. Shiffman

    Shiffman Notebook Enthusiast

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    Not even for playing DVDs?
     
    Shiffman, Jul 7, 2006
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  6. Tiger-Heli

    Tiger-Heli Notebook Evangelist

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    Nope - Playing DVD's are basically 2D graphics solutions - you are sending video to the screen, but the GPU doesn't have to calculate anything.

    GPU is needed for gaming, 3D animation, CAD/CAM, [strike-thru]and to some extent Photoshop where you may be manipulating large images in memory, but I'm not even positive about the last item.[/strike-thru]
     
    Tiger-Heli, Jul 7, 2006
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  7. Bhatman

    Bhatman Notebook Evangelist

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    I think with Photoshop its the same concept with DVD's as its also a 2D image (unless doing 3D modeling with PS). PS is more memory intesnive.
     
    Bhatman, Jul 7, 2006
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  8. Shiffman

    Shiffman Notebook Enthusiast

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    I'm finally getting it (duh!): the discrete GPU is just useful for 3D rendering!

    Is that the whole of it?

    S
     
    Shiffman, Jul 7, 2006
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  9. Tiger-Heli

    Tiger-Heli Notebook Evangelist

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    Pretty much, I think it does get used for 2D as well, but 2D is far less demanding.

    Examples - running a bunch of frames at DVD resolution is fairly simple nowadays.

    Loading say a 15,000 x 30,000 pixel image might take a minute or two on the Intel 950 and 20 seconds on the X1300, but the image is still there correctly after it loads.

    Drawing the screen for a 3D game is a problem, b/c if you have to wait for the images to develop, you are out of sync in the game.
     
    Tiger-Heli, Jul 7, 2006
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  10. wobble987

    wobble987 Notebook Virtuoso

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    Well, for playing video; the GPU DOES helps! Nvdia uses something called "Pure Video", while the ATI uses "AVIVO" both of this are image enhancing technology; go to ATI or Nvdia website for more info; i thought that the GPU also helps with photo work/rendering or 2D graphic work as some would call it, but i'm not 100% sure.
     
    wobble987, Jul 7, 2006
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  11. Tiger-Heli

    Tiger-Heli Notebook Evangelist

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    Sortof - AFAICT, those products only help with HDTV and HD-DVD
    http://www.ati.com/technology/avivo/index.html
    http://www.nvidia.com/page/purevideo.html
     
    Tiger-Heli, Jul 7, 2006
    #11