New Laptop (GPU Questions)

AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 QL-64 Dual-Core Processor (2.1GHz, 667MHz FSB, 1MB L2 Cache)9
4096MB Dual-Channel DDR2 667MHz sDRAM Support10
ATI Radeon® HD 3200 Graphics with up to 1919MB of HyperMemory™ supporting Shader Model 4.0 and Microsoft® DirectX® 10 with AMD M780G Chipset10
Will i be able to play Guild Wars fairly well? I would think so.

But, more importantly, will i be able to upgrade the graphics card later if i need more "oomph"
I know this particular card supports a hybrid mode, but...
This is my first laptop. I dont know how easy it is to upgrade them compared to desktops (ive updated various non-gpu competent on desktops)
Computer Link

Thanks in advance

you cant really upgrade laptops GPU wise.
and that card is fast enough to run GW, not perfect but everything on medium and it works

Ok thanks. I just read that it had a special Hybrid mode, and that that MIGHT make it easier to upgrade.
Hmm, to buy or not to buy.......

hybrid graphics normally means something like:
it can use your internal memory for a couple % more performence.
if you dont need a laptop, get a desktop PC, much more performence for the price

Sorry, need the 'top
I already have a Desktop.
This chips Hybrid:
http://www.amd.com/us/products/deskt...g-chipset.aspx

Yeah that chipset is hybred crossfire capable, but that only applies to a desktop - with the laptop the hd3200 is what you get. It will suffice for GW at 1280x1024 or 1440x900 on medium to high settings with playable FPS.

Ok, thanks for your help everyone.

Hey, how is the "ATI Radeon(TM) HD 4200 Graphics with 128MB Display Cache Memory"
Will i see any more performance, or is it just a number? Only other difference is 3gigs of ram instead of 4.

the 4200 is a whisker better than the 3200, but as far as gaming is concerned we're looking at a few % at best. Get whichever is cheaper.

Laptops don't have video "cards" in the traditional sense. There has been some effort to create some sort of standard for laptops, but I don't think it's happening. The closest you come to a "card" is the plug-in modules that some companies (e.g. Dell) use so they can "customize" your laptop when you order it. These modules are proprietary and are made to fit only a few specific models. So, you can't go to your local Best Buy or tigerdirect to get a video card for your laptop.
Basically, when you buy a laptop, what you have is what you get. If you think you will want more graphics omph, buy it now.

ATI chipsets that support "hybrid mode" allow you to plug in a regular (PCIe) video card to do a Crossfire type connection between the on-board video and the discrete card. This usually only applies to desktops, but could theoretically work with a laptop, but the laptop would basically have to come with it already.

the main reason why there isn't a standardized form factor for laptop upgradable graphics is thermal constraints. it's impossible to design one form factor that will accommodate every brand and every model of laptops out there. even with laptops that use the current "standard" form factor, the graphic "cards" themselves are almost always modified slightly to meet thermal constraints.

Thanks for the help, and for the get whichever is cheaper, the "worse" GPU cost $10 more, but has 1 gig more ram, a .1 ghz faster CPU, and a 320 Hd vs 250.
Compaq (Its the recommended config, but i threw in the 5 GPU upgrade for the media reader.) Cheaper, but worse.
Gateway- Better in every way but the GPU (including look)
So, it looks like the Gateway wins. Thanks all, ill post again if/when i get it.

Just make sure you stay away from Intel integrated graphics.

Edit. - just the graphics, not the cpu, Flavoi

Thats what ive heard. I dont Intel (Graphics) anyway, so AMD/ATI is great.

Edited: I meant graphics.
Also, i just thought, since GW is a lower req. game, would it be able to play other games as well? Specifically, Lord of the Rings online? i looked on their website, but im not sure how to rate integrated vs dedicated.