integrated graphics

[shupola]

i have a few questions about integrated graphics.
1. i read an article at pcworld.com that integrated graphics are much cheaper, yet lower quality than non-integrated graphics. is this true and if so, is the difference considerable.

2. i think my compaq laptop has integrated graphics, because it was supposed to ship with 256mb of ram, but instead system properties say i have 192megs. so i assume my graphics card uses the other 64mb.

3. 64mb of my scant 256 is quite a chunk. is 64 a good amount for i.g? is it possible for me to lower the amount of ram my card uses, or am i just stuck with the loss of 64megs?

if you have the answers to any or all of these questions, please fill me in. any and all help is appreciated.

 

[Praetor]

1. I read an article at pcworld.com that integrated graphics are much cheaper, yet lower quality than non-integrated graphics. is this true and if so, is the difference considerable.

integrated graphics is cheaper because you arent buying anything extra (it comes witht he mobo)

2. I think my compaq laptop has integrated graphics, because it was supposed to ship with 256mb of ram, but instead system properties say I have 192megs. so I assume my graphics card uses the other 64mb.

Your laptop DOES have 256MB of ram however 64MB have been allocated for the videocard ... you can change the 64MB down usually to 8MB

3. 64mb of my scant 256 is quite a chunk. is 64 a good amount for i.g? is it possible for me to lower the amount of ram my card uses, or am I just stuck with the loss of 64megs?

Yes, in the BIOS you can usually change that

 

[smadge]

1. i read an article at pcworld.com that integrated graphics are much cheaper, yet lower quality than non-integrated graphics. is this true and if so, is the difference considerable.

yes very considerable. my opinion is that PC manufacturers scrape performance off on graphics because most buyers dont check for that in the specs. for example,i have onboard graphics with 64mb and it cant even play counterstrike.

 

[Kaidryl]

if you care about games/media, stay away from the integrated. If you wan't to "turn down" the mb's the integrated uses, when booting your computer you push f11 or something and there is usually an option to lower it, the lowest my laptop goes to is from 64-8...

 

[shupola]

thanks for all the help guys. i dont play many games, i just like to surf the net and listen to music so i turned it down to 8mb and i can tell a difference in how fast windows open or in switching applications. before it was like pulling teeth. i love this forum.

 

[Praetor]

Glad we could help