Intel HD 3000 (Sandy Bridge graphics) vs. Nvidia Optimus

[corisin]

I have no experience with either graphics option and was hoping for some feedback on which is a better purchase for me. I've heard Optimus provides better performance but that it can cause problems (et. al especially if one wants to run a Linux Distro etc).

Assuming I will be able to get Intel HD 3000 graphics on the upcoming T420, do you think I'll have powerful enough graphics to do everything I want? Only gaming I'd do would be "old school" counter-strike. But I do want to be able to play mp4 h.264 video files off my hard drive smoothly.

I have a discrete ATI Mobility Radeon X1400 on an old T60. This video card works fine for me (except for 3D stuff). Not sure if this provides a reference point for performance comparisons or not. Would the Intel HD 3000 provide any performance gain over this ATI card?

Love to hear any feedback and info you can share. thanks.

[Colonel O'Neill]

According to NotebookCheck, even the current gen GMA5700MHD benches higher than the X1400, so the Intel HD 3000 should be more than plenty. Old school Counter-Strike (non-Source) won't stress modern hardware at all.

[corisin]

Been wanting to move to CS: Source, but I need to get a Desktop with some power first

[corisin]

According to NotebookCheck, even the current gen GMA5700MHD benches higher than the X1400, so the Intel HD 3000 should be more than plenty.

How exactly did you learn this from notebookcheck? Would you mind explaining how you did this (found it out)?

[Colonel O'Neill]

I just compare the benchmark scores for each card. Scroll down on the page for each one. Usually I look at the 3DMark05 scores since it's on virtually every card.

CS:Source is more CPU dependent than GPU dependent, so GPU isn't too heavy a factor. An X61 can play Source reasonably well on a 2.1GHz Core 2 Duo and integrated graphics, whereas an X100e with 1.6GHz single-core and Radeon HD3200 can't play it at all.

[corisin]

Oh, this is great news.

So with a Sandy Bridge CPU and HD 3000 graphics, would you anticipate that I'd be able to run Source at "full power."?

Thanks so much for the info