How bad is Intel GMA graphics in a laptop?

[0roo0roo]

well full load perhaps.
most laptops use surprisingly little power.

 

[0roo0roo]

http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/001099.html for example.

 

[mwmorph]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/001099.html for example.

I think we're trying to argue different points. Yeah, I'm trying to talk about load power, I mean there's no point measuring idle or web surfing power usage because when you design power draw, you have to design for load power.

From you link, running 2 prime 95s loaded the pc to 63W, add in some GPU work and you've be over 70 already, on that particular machine which is about as low power as it gets (2.0ghz, smallest non netbook sized screen. lowest of the low performance discrete graphics and a SSD instead of a normal HDD).

Also that 13.3" screen and the capabilities peg that laptop as an ultraportable as seen earlier in my post, so even normal load numbers like watching a 720P movie would be 50w which would be reasonable, with a single cpu core pegged close to 100% and some gpu load added on top.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: Arkaign
Another tip : if you do go with an Nvidia solution, check with laptopvideo2go.com, you can modify the latest Forceware drivers easily to work with your mobile GPU.

Nvidia Verde Notebook Driver Program

I just recently found out about Nvidia's Verde program (excuse me, Verde?). Basically Nvidia is trying to accomplish a few things:

1) Unified drivers for mobile graphics, so you don't have to use whatever old crap that the notebook manufacturer makes available.

2) Quarterly driver updates so you get more of the recent stuff.

The latest version is 186.81 and it comes with HD audio drivers (for HDMI audio), CUDA support and PhysX. Overclocking using 3rd party utilities also works, though you have to keep an eye on temperatures and possibly use a notebook cooler. About the only odd thing I've noticed about it is that it still requires a reboot (tested under Windows 7 RC using this gaming notebook with SLI*) when enabling SLI.

This post was brought to you by the color Green? and the number 5.

*Standard disclaimers apply.

 

[Arkaign]

^^ Interesting, well that's a good alternative. Seems like Nvidia is doing the same thing (it's just a modified .inf file) to enable newer drivers for their mobile cards. If I had to guess why they were 'locked' in the first place, it probably has to do with the OEM notebook mfg's and the agreements between them.

The cool thing is that if Nvidia releases a new driver on a monday, laptopvideo2go.com will have you ready to try that new driver on your geforce mobile pretty much immediately, with no waiting for this 'verde' program. I'm not saying the Verde program is a bad idea at all, just that it's still slightly limited. A very good move forward though, previously people had no choice but to use ancient drivers if they didn't know of the modded ones.

 

[jaydee]

Does anyone know how the new Westmere on-package 45nm IGP will fit into this? I realize benchmarks don't exist yet, but any guesses how, say, a 2.0GHz Arrandale with the graphics turbo mode would perform? Obviously better than the traditional 4500, but how about compared to the AMD IGP HD 3/4200? link

 

[Pneumothorax]

Originally posted by: jaydee
Does anyone know how the new Westmere on-package 45nm IGP will fit into this? I realize benchmarks don't exist yet, but any guesses how, say, a 2.0GHz Arrandale with the graphics turbo mode would perform? Obviously better than the traditional 4500, but how about compared to the AMD IGP HD 3/4200? link

I know we're going OT, but Intel DISMAL record on drivers is scaring me form an integrated IGP solution at this point. I have a feeling it's only going to be about equal or most likely worse than 9400M performance.