Intel HD graphics, new install advice

[natman]

Hi,
I am getting a new laptop ( i am thinking of this one : http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/ie/en...7-4314661.html basically its

Intel® Core™ i5-450M Processor • 2.4 GHz, Level 3 cache 3 MB Intel® HD Graphics, up to 1696 MB total available graphics memory

This is my question, the above laptop has an intel Core i5 with HD graphics. Does anyone have experience with this under Kubuntu? Will all my fancy desktop effects run ok? Will i still be able to HD video files?
Would it be worth looking at a laptop with an ATI graphics card just for the sake of smoother desktop effects and stuff? I dont plan on doing any gaming - i just want a smooth pretty kubuntu laptop

Thanks:

[lmilano]

Re: Intel HD graphics, new install advice

Oh my,

That would have been a supercomputer 10 years ago! I haven't tested that hardware. But, for comparison: my wife own similar but less powerful hardware: a gorgeous Dell Vostro V13 (I bought it with linux preinstalled, as all my last 3 computers and 2 phones ), with an anemic CULV Celeron @ 1.2Ghz (single core, no HT), and GMA MHD.

This beauty has a much better graphics processor. See here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_GMA

My wife's computer handles video beautifully, except Flash at VERY high resolutions. But Flash is highly CPU bounded (they don't use GPU hardware acceleration). You'd have 2 cores with HT = 4 cores at 2.4 Ghz, basically 8 times the CPU power of my wife at max utilization of the execution threads.

Also, your IGP is built into the processor, which makes it fundamentally better. I think this will be more than enough muscle for what you need.

Hope this helps. Of course it would be nice to hear some more opinions. Enjoy your toy!

[ardvark71]

Re: Intel HD graphics, new install advice

Hi...

I see that the notebook you're considering is an HP Pavilion. To be honest, I don't know how well built Pavilions are in general nor the experiences of other owners but I will offer mine in the hopes that it may help someone. If you do purchase this system, I highly encourage you to purchase a "product protection or replacement plan" with your system that adds additional years beyond the manufacturer's one or two year warranty. When my dv9830us was purchased back in 2008, my mother also purchased one of Circuit City's protection plans that Radio Shack took over when they went out of business. About a month before that plan was to expire, The LCD monitor shorted out or something taking the motherboard with it. When I got the computer back along with the receipt, it didn't give the total cost of parts and labor. But if I were to guess, I would say at least several hundred dollars, money that I didn't have. Because of the coverage, it was all free of charge.

My laptop has been a wonderful blessing from the Lord, sometimes, because of our fallibility, the things we make go haywire.

As to the graphics chipset and linux, I am partial to Nvidia and their Geforce series and if you can find the same model with their chipset as opposed to Intel, I would recommend it. I think the graphics will be better overall.

Regards...

[ardvark71]

Re: Intel HD graphics, new install advice

About paying for additional warranty, EU law requires equipment to be fit for purpose and that will automatically extend the warranty to at least some 3 or even 4 years, depending on how effective your national courts interpret 'fit for purpose'.

Hi...

I live in the U.S., where laws concerning how businesses are allowed to operate and what they can or cannot do are a lot more lax.

Regards...

[Guest]

Re: Intel HD graphics, new install advice

HP is a Good choice. Lenovo laptops work pretty good too with Linux.


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[oshunluvr]

Re: Intel HD graphics, new install advice

The good news is the new .38 kernel (shipping with natty) has a lot of improvements for intel graphics. The bad news is intel graphics have been less than stellar in the past.

Hopefully, the latest updates will solve most of those issues. Also 1366x768 is almost impossible with intel - at least the older setups.

You might look for a better monitor/graphics card and give up a little on the processor or hard drive space or RAM. You'll be happier in the long run IMO.

I'd do a little research into it before giving out the credit card number.

[Guest]

Re: Intel HD graphics, new install advice

I think the laptop is good and you should go for it.
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[richb]

Re: Intel HD graphics, new install advice

I have an Acer with the i5 and Intel graphics. It runs Kubuntu 11.10 very well. All desktop effects work and it is very fast. My screen is 1366x768 detected at install and have zero issues. So from real experience I can definitively say the i5 with Intel graphics will work fine.