Cheap laptop as HTPC

[JimRice]

I'm thinking about getting this laptop to use as a cheap HTPC, running XMBC client to a NPVR server installation on my wife's desktop. I know very little about Intel integrated graphics, and I'm not sure if this would do the job at HD 1080. Does anyone have experience with this? Thanks.

http://www.microcenter.com/product/427914/Inspiron_15_156_Laptop_Computer_-_Black

 

[NutBucket]

I use the integrated graphics in a recent gen (not Haswell) i5. Works fine.

 

[Fallen Kell]

I don't think it will be able to decode HD video with that graphics card smoothly. It is based on the Intel HD 2500 graphics chip, but with 1/2 the frequency and no advanced features like quick-sync. Anandtech had a semi review of the HD 2500:

http://www.anandtech.com/show/5871/intel-core-i5-3470-review-hd-2500-graphics-tested

The speed of the graphics processing in that laptop is only 350MHz vs the 650-1050MHz in the review, so judge accordingly.

 

[Fallen Kell]

I use the integrated graphics in a recent gen (not Haswell) i5. Works fine.

And the graphics processor in the recent i5 was the HD 4000 or the full speed 2500, not the half speed 2500 in the Celeron.

 

[NutBucket]

I didn't bother clicking on the link 🙂

 

[monkeydelmagico]

should be fine. http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2298418

http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=178902

 

[Maximilian]

I'm thinking about getting this laptop to use as a cheap HTPC, running XMBC client to a NPVR server installation on my wife's desktop. I know very little about Intel integrated graphics, and I'm not sure if this would do the job at HD 1080. Does anyone have experience with this? Thanks.

http://www.microcenter.com/product/427914/Inspiron_15_156_Laptop_Computer_-_Black

It will work, HD graphics and up can do 1080P just fine. HD4500 which came before HD graphics can do it so...

 

[sf101]

Should work for you but might be a bit bulky that way.
Id probably go the NUC or BRXX route myself personally for that budget area.