Intel Media Accelerator OR 256MB NVIDIA GeForce?

Question

I will be using my laptop for developing .NET applications using Visual Studio 2005. I will never play any (3D) games. I expect Vista Home Premium (AERO) features to run smoothly & working with multiple instances of visual studio, switching between them & building them should be fast.

1. Dell Inspiron 640M
Intel Core2 Duo T7200, 2GHz, 4MB Cache, 667 MHz FSB
Intel Media Accl 950 Graphics Up to 224 MB shared sysmem
Intel 945GM Chipset
14.1" WXGA+ Ultrasharp TFT Display with TrueLife1440X900
1024MB (2X512MB) 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM
120GB SATA HD

2.Dell Inspiron 6400
Same processor, RAM and hard disk
256MB NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) Go 7300 TurboCache
Intel 945 Chipset
15.4" WS XGA TFT Display with TrueLife1440X900

I'm little bit inclined towards 640M due to its size, but worried about the video card. Is it Ok to go with 640M? In short, NVIDA 256 RAM is required only for 3D games or even for Vista (AERO)? I don't want to compromise on VISTA AERO performance due to less video crd mem

Answer 1

if the vista aero performance (which is just special visual effects while you're using the pc) is that important to you then yes i would go with the nvidia card. Otherwise if you don't mind not necessarily being able to see the Aero effects then just save money and go for the intel integrated graphics card. (aero is a silly reason to get a more expensive video card)

Answer 2

If you are after size versus performance, I would not want to compromise my performance because of a few inches or a pound or two. However, due to the fact that it is shared memory, you will dig out of your RAM, only taking you to roughly 750mb... which, in light of Vista's specs, might have quite a bit of impact on the performance. I'd go with the 6400. 256mb video is a little overkill, but you do need that RAM. If it were me, I'd say even 1024mb was pushin the performance boundaries a little. Better safe than sorry :)

Answer 3

something is extra effective than integrated pictures. that's using fact an integrated pictures processor have not got its very own reminiscence (RAM) and ought to proportion the RAM that your CPU makes use of for various such themes as spreadsheet calculations, working the working gadget, working the certainly application training put in on your laptop, etc. As a gamer, continuously purchase laptops with separate, dedicated pictures processors, and nVidia's GeForce 8600 sequence is the cream of the crop in all laptop magazine comments.