Graphics Card

[Pythagoras]

Alright this might sound stupid but, when is it important/nessacary to buy a high powered graphics card. I'm still contemplating on buying a new laptop. There are three options 64MB, 128MB, and 256MB. Which do i choose and why? I typically use my machine for programming, but at work I use a CAD program for drawing kitchen cabinets. So should I upgrade to a better card or just go with th 64MB?

Oh and by the way I honestly have never done any gaming on my pc or do I intend to.

Please someone point me in the correct direction!!!

[dglienna]

Well graphics memory is usually quicker on the card, as it doesn't have to be copied back and forth, but if the graphics require more than the card has, then it uses system memory.

My laptop has a ATI Radeon IGP 345M graphics card, and it has 64M of memory on it.

It's similar to this one, but a little bit slower, and a HP Pavillion.
http://www.bizrate.com/marketplace/p...174884698.html

[Pythagoras]

So during the normal use of a pc, how much does the graphics card "dip" into the pc's ram?

[deranged]

I run a lesser card. I have about $60 in my card, and the best I need it to do is support 2 monitors. I feel that unless you're hardcore into gaming, there's not a card priced at more than $100 that you should 'need' (except maybe if you need an all-in-wonder with every concievable input/output known to man because you're a harcore video editor). I mostly program stuff freelance or make websites for people. I need 2 monitors because I'm very productive with them. I do also dabble with some 3-d programs such as Autodesk Inventor and Cinema 4D.
I would say play it safe and get a mediocre 128mb card.

[dglienna]

I watch DVD's with no problem with mine. That's about the most intensive thing that I do.

[Pythagoras]

Well the pricing is as follows:

Upgrade to 128MB = $99

Upgrade to 256MB = $199

In your opinion is it even worth the $99 for 128MB ?

[dglienna]

Not unless you have less than 512M of RAM. That way, things don't have to swap to disk, which really slows things down.

[Pythagoras]

No, I ws planning on 1GB of RAM and a 2.0P4 processor.

Well I guess that answers my questions. Thanks for all your replies.

[dglienna]

Plan on building a sysem that is marginal today, as the new 64 bit chips are coming out with Vista after next year. Plan on replacing it in about 18 months.
I'm hoping my laptop lasts until then.

[Pythagoras]

Oh wow you should have never told me that!!!!! Now I'll have to reconsider this whole idea!!

One more question though, does the graphics card itself control the quality of graphics? Just as an example, lets say your desktop, do the icons look better (ie: more crisp and colorful)?

[dglienna]

I don.'t think so. They all conform to VGA specs, and most support True Color.
The monitor is the factor there. It's all about the pixels.

[Valleysboy1978]

No, generally the graphics card will only be heavily used for games or 3D applications. I would agree with dglienna and stick with the cheap option until the 64-bit chips start coming out. Basically just buy something that should last a year or two. If you're planning on playing games/DVDs go for the 128MB, if not stick with the 64MB

[deranged]

No, I ws planning on 1GB of RAM and a 2.0P4 processor.

Well I guess that answers my questions. Thanks for all your replies.

Please do yourself a favor. Save money, and get more performance by going amd64 (turion core is a beast for the laptops, but athlon 64-m is good too).

[Cander]

I don't think you need much. You do however what to make sure your card has good OpenGL support as CAD viewports takes advantage of that I do believe. But if you are doing something small like cabinets, you still won't need alot of memory.

[Valleysboy1978]

Would agree with deranged though, go with the AMD's