The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Vista and Video Cards

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by spizzak, Oct 10, 2006.

  1. spizzak

    spizzak Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    195
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I'm not sure if this is the right forum but how important is a good video card to running vista. Would integrated intel graphics do itm or would you need at least an 1400x or what. Thanks
     
  2. NetBrakr

    NetBrakr Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    119
    Messages:
    1,344
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    If you want to run Aero, the graphic card is very important, at least 128MB. if your integrated intel graphics supports 128 MB, then you should have no problem...however, you need more RAM.

    "If the GPU uses shared memory, then no additional graphics memory is required beyond the 1 GB system memory requirement; If the GPU uses dedicated memory then 128MB is required."

    JC
     
  3. brianstretch

    brianstretch Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    441
    Messages:
    3,667
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    The Intel GMA950 is supposed to be Vista Aero Glass capable but the rest of the Intel GPUs are hopeless. I'd be far more comfortable with a GeForce 6150 or ATI Radeon 200M/1150/etc. Most of the Turion X2 notebooks use those nVidia or ATI GPUs. Obviously a dedicated nVidia or ATI GPU is preferred in general unless you really, really need to maximize battery life.
     
  4. Sam

    Sam Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    3,661
    Messages:
    9,249
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    The integrated graphics cards will be horrible. Even IF they can run Aero, no doubt the whole system will crawl through tasks.

    Vista is all about entertainment. Entertainment needs visuals. Visuals need graphics cards :p.
     
  5. miner

    miner Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    1,326
    Messages:
    7,137
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    Er...No, Not really. I have been running Vista ever since RC1 and it is definately usable. Dont know whether the Intel GMA950 will handle it well, but for my uses the Geforce 6150 has no problems with Aero or any other feature of Vista what so ever. Ofcourse if you want to play modern games and also run Aero, then a good dedicated GPU is needed but for general uses a supported integrated graphics will do fine.

    You can run Vista on an Intel integrated or any other older graphics card, but the new Aero interface wont be able to run. Pick the right integrated Graphics and it wont have any issues with running Vista.
     
  6. R4000

    R4000 Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    736
    Messages:
    2,762
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Vista's Aero runs very fast and fluidly on my 200M, even though the OS gives it a low score.