Intel or NVIDIA graphics - which one to choose?

[vkostic]

Getting ready to order a new T410... need help with selecting the graphics. Options are:

- Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 5700MHD - AMT

- NVIDIA NVS 3100m Optimus Graphics 512MB DDR3 with AMT (Extra $100)

I don't play games. Basically what I need it for is: Windows 7, Microsoft Office, Photoshop, Visual Studio, web surfing, playing videos...

Would the NVIDIA option be worth $100 in my case?

Thanks!

[erik]

photoshop would be the only app in that list i could see the nvidia showing any benefit.   unless you consider yourself a photoshop power user then you'll do just fine with the intel.

fwiw, most people who truly need discreet GPUs don't have to ask if they need them -- they already know.   most who ask usually don't.

[vkostic]

No, definitely not a Photoshop power user.

Thanks Erik!

[nikki605]

I would agree with erik. I got the Intel integrated graphics with my T410 and I am very satisfied with it. Like you, I do mostly MS Office apps, email, web surfing and a few light video games. I don't do any photo/video editing (well, very little) on the T410. Not because of the Intel graphics, but because of the LCD panel. Even with the WXGA+ panel, photos can look awful. The narrow viewing angle, drastically alters the appearance of photos. I'll use it to crop or resize, but not to do any color/brightness/contrast adjustments.

[Colonel O'Neill]

Intel should be more than enough.

Photoshop isn't very GPU-accelerated at the point, and the integrated should be more than enough.

NVIDIA graphics would be useful for casual gaming. video processing or some moderate CAD work.

As an interesting point, the integrated graphics chipset can handle Modern Warfare 2 moderately fluently:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_uKBTcPMXA

[lead_org]

the optimus enabled thinkpad now supports 4 LCD, so it could be something that you may consider if you run multiple LCD setup.

[Colonel O'Neill]

That it does, although I believe it is necessary to use a dock to achieve such a number of monitors. Or a few USB-to-DVI adapters.

[lead_org]

you would need dock 3 plus.

usb2dvi can be used on both the nvidia or intel laptop, but it can't really stream high resolution videos due to the usb 2.0 bandwidth limit.

[AMATX]

http://hothardware.com/News/Lenovo-Cele ... -and-More/

Interesting demo of both video procs running concurrently. Towards the end of the demo, he mentions running FOUR monitors with the Dock+.

Nifty stuff, here...

[vkostic]

usb2dvi can be used on both the nvidia or intel laptop, but it can't really stream high resolution videos due to the usb 2.0 bandwidth limit.

Does that hold true for the USB docking station with DVI?