Video card question

I see that the standard Dell video card is the Integrated Intel
Graphics Media Accelerator 3100. I've read that if you want to use
Vista's Aero interface, you will need a powerful graphics card. Is
the Intel good enough for that? Is there any reason I should consider
upgrading to the nVidia or ATI 128 MB video cards that Dell offers?

<void.no.spam.com@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1a4c875f-3f1a-42a4-b6fa-d529c8a347fd@25g2000hsx.googlegroups.com...
>I see that the standard Dell video card is the Integrated Intel
> Graphics Media Accelerator 3100. I've read that if you want to use
> Vista's Aero interface, you will need a powerful graphics card. Is
> the Intel good enough for that? Is there any reason I should consider
> upgrading to the nVidia or ATI 128 MB video cards that Dell offers?


I would select the 128mb video card upgrade, or wait until the card is
bundled with the system and on sale.

Integrated can run Aero, but if you're not happy with the performance or
display you're stuck.

Getting the card pretty much assures you'll be happy.

Hi!

> I see that the standard Dell video card is the
> Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3100.
> I've read that if you want to use Vista's Aero
> interface, you will need a powerful graphics card.
> Is the Intel good enough for that?

The GMA 3100 is actually a fairly powerful part, although it still
uses shared video memory (meaning that it borrows a chunk of system
RAM) to function.

I *think* that the first Intel chipset-based video system capable of
running Aero is the GMA950. I've run Vista's Aero on a GMA950-based
laptop and it was entirely passable in terms of usability.

> Is there any reason I should consider upgrading
> to the nVidia or ATI 128 MB video cards that Dell
> offers?

If you need all of your system's RAM to be available or if you do any
gaming, you should look to the ATI or nVidia options (although these
too may "borrow" some system RAM). Otherwise, I'd go with the Intel
GMA offering.

William

void.no.spam.com@gmail.com wrote:
> I see that the standard Dell video card is the Integrated Intel
> Graphics Media Accelerator 3100. I've read that if you want to use
> Vista's Aero interface, you will need a powerful graphics card. Is
> the Intel good enough for that? Is there any reason I should consider
> upgrading to the nVidia or ATI 128 MB video cards that Dell offers?

I would go for an NVidia card. You can get very nice cards with 128 or
258MB VRAM that are under $100. Installing is a snap.

--

Regards,
Hank Arnold
Microsoft MVP
Windows Server - Directory Services