intel HD3000 vs discrete low end workstation card

[frozentundra123456]

Hi all

I just wanted to get a few opinions on the work laptop that I am probably going to purchase. It has an i5 2520m CPU and a NVS 4200M video card. As best I can tell, the 4200M is based on the GT520m. I am wondering if this card is really a significant upgrade from the HD3000. Looks like the card has 48 shaders and only a 64 bit bus. It is a preconfigured system to be purchased from our dedicated supplier, so is outrageously overpriced at 1200 dollars. Personally, I would probably not bother with such a low end card relative to the HD3000.

Main uses will be office, database, and HPLC analytical software, maybe some photoshop. No gaming allowed. I dont know if optimus is installed or not. I will want to connect to an external monitor, but wont the HD3000 allow that as well?

I am mainly just curious, since I dont think I have a option to order without the video card. Anybody want to comment on this configuration? The CPU is nice, but I dont really understand why they install such a low end video card.

 

[Arkadrel]

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel-HD-Graphics-3000.37948.0.html
http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-GeForce-GT-520M.43104.0.html

3DMark Vantage - P GPU no PhysX 1280x1024:
HD3000: 1360 points
520M: 1769 points (~30%)

Unigine Heaven 2.1 - high, Tesselation (normal), DirectX11 1280x1024
HD3000: 6.7 fps
520M: 7.6 fps (~13%)

In the games it looks much the same:
The 520M is probably around 10-30% faster on avg in most things, compaired to the HD3000.

Main uses will be office, database, and HPLC analytical software, maybe some photoshop. No gaming allowed. I dont know if optimus is installed or not. I will want to connect to an external monitor, but wont the HD3000 allow that as well?

Yes you can use a external monitor with the HD3000 as well.
Frankly if your not gonna use the 520M for anything, you might as well just get a cheaper laptop, one without a discrete in it, and enjoy slightly lower power usage -> longer battery life.

I am mainly just curious, since I dont think I have a option to order without the video card.

Plenty of laptops without discrete GPUs in them, which usually means faster/longer battery life.

 

[frozentundra123456]

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel-HD-Graphics-3000.37948.0.html
http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-GeForce-GT-520M.43104.0.html

3DMark Vantage - P GPU no PhysX 1280x1024:
HD3000: 1360 points
520M: 1769 points (~30%)

Unigine Heaven 2.1 - high, Tesselation (normal), DirectX11 1280x1024
HD3000: 6.7 fps
520M: 7.6 fps (~13%)

In the games it looks much the same:
The 520M is probably around 10-30% faster on avg in most things, compaired to the HD3000.


Yes you can use a external monitor with the HD3000 as well.
Frankly if your not gonna use the 520M for anything, you might as well just get a cheaper laptop, one without a discrete in it, and enjoy slightly lower power usage -> longer battery life.


Plenty of laptops without discrete GPUs in them, which usually means faster/longer battery life.

Unfortunately, I work for a University that has a dedicated contract with a vendor and we are not allowed to purchase on our own. This is the standard configuration. If I could do it myself I could definitely get an adequate laptop for 500.00. With the improvement in iGPUs I dont know why they insist on a dedicated card. Maybe they have a thing about certified drivers or something.

 

[CTho9305]

If you want to do built-in display + 2 external monitors you likely need a discrete GPU to do that.