Notebook video question. Looking at new Dell Studio 15

[Keysplayr]

Hey Folks,

Haven't bought a notebook in a while, and have a question about the graphics.

There are two options:

Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD

256MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD3450 for 75.00 more.

I was wondering, should I plan on being able to game on either of these graphics options?
Or will spending the extra 75.00 render my games unplayable anyway?

Is the HD3450 not worth the money? Can the Intel part handle games just as well?
I'm not looking to play Crysis of course. Maybe occasional UT3 or CoD2/4/WaW.

Or, am I barking up the wrong tree and can't expect to play any of these games on this lappy?

I am buying this laptop "primarily" for my home music studio for sequencing and multi-track audio recording/editing. Anything else is just a bonus.

Any ideas?

Thanks

 

[Keysplayr]

Huh. Ok then.

 

[ViRGE]

You have no chance in hell of playing a game on the IGP option. You stand a slightly better chance on the Radeon, but don't expect too much. If you look at this AT article, a mobile 3450 would be right around the 790GX.

 

[CurseTheSky]

With the Radeon, you could probably play most of those games at a low resolution (what is the native res on that screen?) with low or mild detail. Less graphically demanding games like HL2, CS:S, etc. should run without many problems, though.

I'd pay the $75 just to get away from the junk Intel IGP, unless you'd rather make this strictly a woek computer.

 

[Keysplayr]

Ok, thanks guys. I will rarely game on this thing. The Studio 15 has a lot of what I need for my music, so I have to stick with that. I'll go with the Radeon option just for a bit more of a chance of playing anything.

:thumbsup: