Laptops and Integrated Graphics

[rstirk]

Hi there, hope this isn't a completely daft question...

I want to buy a laptop as a second computer. I already have a reasonably specced desktop which I use for video stuff.

But I want a second PC which I can lug around the house/garden, taking advantage of my recent wifi installation. As well as video work, I'd also use it to watch (bought) DVDs and maybe try and play games on it - although the game playing is not the important requirement.

I don't want to spend a fortune - I could maybe get £800-900 ok'd by my wife(!) although would prefer to spend less - not more than £700.

The question is, are those PCs with integrated graphics going to be ok for my use? Are there any particularly good integrated graphics systems that anyone would recommend, given a desire to keep the budget down?

Thanks in advance for your help,
Richard.

[directhex]

if you don't get a laptop with an integrated radeon/geforce, games are gonna suck

and since those ones are hot/heavy/power-hungry, i wouldn't bother

get a low-end centrino laptop with onboard intel gma900, and be done with it

[noTHINGface]

Agreed - I have an IBM T40 thinkpad with a Radeon mobility 7500 in it, its very poor for playing games (though I can play HL2) but for working around the house and in the garden using wifi its excellent. Nice and light and you get a decent amount of battery life out of it.

Plays DVDs nicely too.

[StormPC]

No, get a Turion64. I got a Compaq Presario v2000 with integrated ATI Radeon Xpress 200M graphics. Since it's an A64 it plays games great and the ATI chipset does a great job for the money. $899.00 US, so well within your budget. It overclocks from 1.6 to 1.76GHz without any issues at all. Great battery life and nice and slim. Just barely over 5 pounds.

Any of you Centrinos wanna compare benchies?