Integrated or dedicated?

Sorry if this is a stupid question, however I am kind of new to the laptop realm. I have had a alienware for a while, but it is an older model(the first one they produced) and so now it is time to upgrade and after alot of research and reading I just can't get past the HP's for price, components and looks!
Anyway, I am looking at the dv6780se from best buy(basically just a prettied version of the d6700 or d6500). Link:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8669504&type=product&id=1196470766824

The biggest thing I keep looking at for my price range ($1000 or less) is the video card. I am not a big time gamer, but I enjoy playing some games from time to time and want a card that can handle most games coming out for at least a year or two (even though I know it might be in a lower grade setting for the game). Why I am getting so confused is because I know if a video card is integrated than you might as well forget ever changing it (at least for a person like me who only has average knwoledge of computers). I have heard of some talk about how great the laptop is because it has a dedicated chip. But at the same time it states that this chip has up to 1535 MB of graphics with 256 MB dedicated. Does that mean it is still an integrated chip with only 256 dedicated, or is this a chip that I would be able to change out down the road with out having to also change out the whole processor?

If it is integrated how hard really is it to change out the processor and video? This isn't something I would obviously do for at least another year or so, I was just wondering. It's just impossible to stay up to date with how fast technology is moving, so it makes it hard to make decisions. I don't want nor do I have the money to buy a new laptop every year(plus I think my wife would go nuts if I spent the same amount of time every year as I have this time around researching for a laptop. haha). I am wanting one that is within my price range, that has the ability to be upgraded (video card, HD DVD PLAYER etc.) when the time comes or when I have a little extra money in my pocket.

Sorry for such a long post. I appreciate you taking the time to read and respond. I absolutely love this community and it has been a priceless source of information in my quest for the new laptop. Thanks and I look forward to joining the HP community.

-Jamie

 

Check this out for graphic cards (IGP and dedicated):

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Graphics-Cards-Benchmark-List.844.0.html

 

None of the HP laptops allow you to change out the video card, because all of them are soldered onto the motherboard. If you wanted a laptop that you can upgrade the video card on you should go take a look at Sager's. If you do decide to go with an HP laptop still I would go with the highest video card that they offer on whatever model you are looking at, since you can't upgrade at all.

Now it is possible to upgrade the processor in the future, depending on the specifics that is, but it can be a big pain if you don't know what you are doing, and it will cost you a decent amount of money to pay someone to do it.

 

Thanks that was a huge help. Mostly when looking at a card I have been looking at the number within the card. I was just automatically assuming that a 8400m gs would be higher and better than a 7900 gs, but I see that isn't so. Man that just makes thing even more complicated. That almost makes me restart my search.

That brings up another question. How well can the hp numbers be trusted compared to some of the other companies?

I mean it just seems crazy that HP can offer a 256 dedication and 1535 total, while most others in this same price range are offering something like 358 as their total. I guess it has just thrown me off how it seams know one else is throwing out a 256 dedicated chip without getting into the $1300 + range?

 

Laptop CPU and GUI are hardwired to the mobo and can't be upgraded without replacing the whole board. The GUI memory you are describing is 512MB dedicated (fast memory only usable by GUI) and 1024MB shared (the amount of regular system memory the GUI might use if needed and available). Upgrades you can do are replacing the hard drive and adding more system memory. I think a regular DVD can be upgraded to a HD-DVD at some point, but I'm not sure.

 

The CPU of the laptop is not hardwired in, you can swap them out, maybe on the old laptops you couldn't change out the CPU but nowadays you can. I've done this on many laptops in the past. I don't know where you got your information from, but don't post things like that unless you are 100% certain. On the GPU side you are correct, except for the performance gaming laptops such as the new Alienware, Sager, etc. they allows you to swap out the GPU and upgrade.

 

Fair, I'll believe that, and good to know. I'm no tech and I've always gotten low-end or mainstream-consumer models, and the 2 I've opened for cleaning, I did not think the CPUs where replaceable.

What kind of CPU upgrades have you done with laptops, and what rules of thumbs do you use to decide when to upgrade? Maybe I will upgrade the 5500 C2D in my dv9000t someday.