buying a new laptop,
i'm wondering which of these configurations, if either,
would help when [simultaneously] running a 2nd monitor

A. 2gb ram, with video attached to mother board,

B. 1gb ram, with a seperate dedicated video card
[probably a 256mb card]

i believe, i've read the attached motherboard type video,
sometimes uses the computer Ram, if needed

if it makes any difference,
i'm not into gaming, mostly internet multi-tasking

thanks
waterboy

Yes, integrated video uses system RAM.

If you are not doing heavy duty gaming, image/video/audio editing, CAD, then
more than 1GB of RAM is pretty much wasted.

A system with separate video processor, with separate video RAM, especially
up to 256MB, would put you in a better position to use the graphic features
of Vista, if you choose.

Val

<waterboy@financier.com> wrote in message
news:1166040945.317190.144420@73g2000cwn.googlegro ups.com...
> buying a new laptop,
> i'm wondering which of these configurations, if either,
> would help when [simultaneously] running a 2nd monitor
>
> A. 2gb ram, with video attached to mother board,
>
> B. 1gb ram, with a seperate dedicated video card
> [probably a 256mb card]
>
> i believe, i've read the attached motherboard type video,
> sometimes uses the computer Ram, if needed
>
> if it makes any difference,
> i'm not into gaming, mostly internet multi-tasking
>
> thanks
> waterboy
>

> Yes, integrated video uses system RAM.
> If you are not doing heavy duty gaming, image/video/audio editing, CAD, then
> more than 1GB of RAM is pretty much wasted.
> A system with separate video processor, with separate video RAM, especially
> up to 256MB, would put you in a better position to use the graphic features
> of Vista, if you choose.
> Val

Val,

you've actually confused me
i thought gamers wanted those dedicated video cards?
[i'm not into gaming, or photo editing]

my question really concerned running a 2nd monitor
would either more ram, or a better video card help?

i have no need/desire for Vista [at the moment]
i do mostly medium power multi-tasking
[web research, day-trading, cd burning]
i was leaning towards 2gb ram, but wanted other opinions

thanks
waterboy

Sorry if I confused you.

For your purposes, 1GB RAM and the integrated video (which uses some of that
RAM) would be sufficient.

Yes, for gaming or other video intensive uses, the dedicated video card with
separate video memory is desirable, if not downright mandatory.

For any general purpose uses, more than 1 GB system RAM is wasted in XP.
You'll end up with lots of bytes that get very dusty. ;) Better to spend
the extra money on other upgrades, extra battery, docking station....

Val

<waterboy@financier.com> wrote in message
news:1166106884.424212.73040@80g2000cwy.googlegrou ps.com...
>> Yes, integrated video uses system RAM.
>> If you are not doing heavy duty gaming, image/video/audio editing, CAD,
>> then
>> more than 1GB of RAM is pretty much wasted.
>> A system with separate video processor, with separate video RAM,
>> especially
>> up to 256MB, would put you in a better position to use the graphic
>> features
>> of Vista, if you choose.
>> Val
>
> Val,
>
> you've actually confused me
> i thought gamers wanted those dedicated video cards?
> [i'm not into gaming, or photo editing]
>
> my question really concerned running a 2nd monitor
> would either more ram, or a better video card help?
>
> i have no need/desire for Vista [at the moment]
> i do mostly medium power multi-tasking
> [web research, day-trading, cd burning]
> i was leaning towards 2gb ram, but wanted other opinions
>
> thanks
> waterboy
>