Mobile Video Card for HD Playback

[ldavis]

I am looking at getting a basic laptop from Dell(but will consider other suggestions) that will be used for some simple home computing. I will use it wirelessly with placeshifter (only have 802.11g in my house so HD wirelessly is a no go) but would like to be able to playback HD when it is wired into the network. Let me say that this machine will never ever be used for gaming.

I am looking a the Insprion 1501 (Xpress1150 256MB integrated graphics) and an Insprion E1505 (X1400 256MB dedicated graphics). Is the 1150 enough to allow HD playback without pegging the CPU?

[GTwannabe]

The 1150 is too slow for HD, as it's basically a halved X300 with no onboard memory. You likely won't even be able to play SD video in fullscreen mode without stuttering.

[ldavis]

Originally Posted by GTwannabe

The 1150 is too slow for HD, as it's basically a halved X300 with no onboard memory. You likely won't even be able to play SD video in fullscreen mode without stuttering.

Thanks. So based on my experience this is not nearly as good as the Intel 950 on-board graphics. I have seen that "card" in a very cheap computer (running Vista w/ 512 MB memory no less) and it was able to play back 1080i with moderate studdering. As far as SD, heck I have got a 2 year old Averatec with a SiS 32MB shared memory on-board graphics card and it plays back SD just fine. That graphics card will do 720p with a little studdering(though the CPU is pegged). So you must be saying this is much worse than even that. Correct?

[GTwannabe]

Here's my experience with the 1150 chipset:

It didn't have enough memory bandwidth to output SD video in fullscreen @ 1600x1200. Only managed about 45-50fps of the intended 60fps, resulting in stuttering.