do i even need discrete graphics on t410s?

[noeltazz]

according to the other post, it looks like the discrete graphics chip for the t410s may never make it to the usa.

Im not much of a hardware guy, but I was wondering if I even need this chip, as I kind of need a new laptop soon.

I will be ripping a lot of DVD movies, and editing videos.

For example, I like to make home movies, and use windows movie maker to do editing on them. Eventually I'm going to get something more advanced and add effects, and other things to it. I also use photoshop for other various projects.

Does the graphics chip make a difference in these activities?

Or should I just get the integrated

[dr_st]

Recent versions of Photoshop allow you to take advantage of hardware acceleration for some specific tasks (how likely you are to use them depends on your projects). This is the only one of the activities you mentioned where the discrete GPU may make a difference, as far as I can see.

[NClens]

Why not just buy a W510 then, especially if you are going to use Photoshop? That is, unless you really need the portability of the T410s. Also, the discrete version of the T410s appears like it eventually will hit the U.S. market based on the tabook.

[Colonel O'Neill]

From personal experience, Photoshop doesn't really off-load too many calculations to the GPU; the Filters take pretty much the same time to do the job on Integrated as on Discrete. I'd say going for a good CPU is much more important.

I'm not sure about video editing, but I think it's pretty much the same unless the new T410s card can use CUDA and the software supports it.

[noeltazz]

nclens, i called lenovo today, the guy i talked to is 100% positive that the discrete will never ever make it to the US market for the t410s. No chance whatsoever.

so after hearing that news, I ordered my thinkpad today.

maxed with everything except for ram, i got 4gb instead of 8gb because it was too expensive.

the estimated ship day is 5/4/2010

thats pretty long.... i may get a mac book pro instead tbh. especially with all these stories of delays

[Schwaby]

nclens, i called lenovo today, the guy i talked to is 100% positive that the discrete will never ever make it to the US market for the t410s. No chance whatsoever.

so after hearing that news, I ordered my thinkpad today.

maxed with everything except for ram, i got 4gb instead of 8gb because it was too expensive.

the estimated ship day is 5/4/2010

thats pretty long.... i may get a mac book pro instead tbh. especially with all these stories of delays

well, on the US lenovo site you can now purchase the "Elite" T410s with the discrete option. So I'm pretty sure the customer rep you talked too wasn't all that knowledgeable

[noeltazz]

typical salesperson. I asked about 5 times too.

"sir, does it sound like there's any wavering in my voice? The US will never see the discrete chip"

are his exact words.

[sanjuro]

In general, having a discrete graphics will make your computer more responsive in displaying/updating graphics.

In dealing with large sized files, there may be performance bottleneck with photoshop or video processing software, but Windows 7 should benefit from having on-board accelerated graphics.

I'd go with discrete graphics if it available and extra cost is tolerable. It remains to be seen whether there will be issues with heat and short battery life for having discrete graphics chips in T410s.