Re: ThinkPads

[Stefan Monnier <monnier@iro.umontreal.ca>]

> Video acceleration:
> All I can find is ATI or Intel video chipsets...  but I've heard say
> that ATI (3D acceleration) is a pain to get working.  I've had some
> trouble myself for older cards (mine was Radeon 7200, not supported at
> all, although it did work at one point on FC5), but do some of the
> cards work without problems?  The Intel ones provide 3D acceleration,
> but what is the difference in performance between a 128MB nvidia card
> and an Intel integrated chipset that can share ~200MB of the regular
> memory?  If the Intel chipsets provide decent 3D acceleration, I may
> as well go with it.  Here's what seems to be available for video:
> Integrated Intel 945GM
> Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
> ATI Mobility Radeon X1300 64MB
> ATI Mobility Fire GL V5200 256MB
> ATI Mobility Fire GL V5250 256MB

If you want to play games or use other heavy-3D applications, then the Intel
graphics probably won't cut it.  But if you're like me, that's not
a concern, in which case the Intel option is far better:
- the drivers work great
- good karma (you won't be buying from an uncooperative company)
- the power consumption is slightly lower so your batteries last longer
- it's typically cheaper


        Stefan "who's ordering machines with ATI cards, because for some
                reason I couldn't find any provider nearby who offered a 14"
                T-series with 1400x1050 with anything else than an ATI card"