Video card question

My friend wants to buy a laptop. The videocard is Intel HD 4400 graphics with 1792 mb total graphic memory. Is this an onboard card ? She wants to play Ethan Carter.

I am sure you want to wait for the knowledgeable ones to come along but it looks like an integrated card and I am reading it is not up to running big games and Ethan is certainly a hog...

I agree with Winfrey.

This sounds like the integrated card in an Intel Core i5 or Core i7 processor. I doubt it will work and I will check, but I have to leave right now. For gaming, she really needs a stand-alone video card. Maybe Jenny or Inland will be by and can say more.

Hi Winfrey
That's what I thought also. I gave her the specs to my card and she said she will look for that one. I also told her she needs a separate card not an onboard one.

Intel graphics aren't as well supported by games as Geforce or Radeon. When you find a laptop with a Geforce or Radeon, check the model number to make sure it's capable of playing games. Also avoid "Optimus" graphics because people have had problems with them going to low power mode in non-3D games, producing "sticky cursor" and other sluggishness.

Nearly all laptops have onboard graphics -- even "gaming laptops."
Unless you're going to buy a huge, heavy two-inch-thick gaming "laptop" there won't be room for a separate video card.

Gaming laptops are not for everybody that is for sure not only for the size but also for the cost.

Not to promote any brand in particular I was reminded of how surprised I was when looking into gaming laptops one model from Digital Storm that comes in at 5.5 lbs in weight (includes the battery pack) and dimensions of •15.16" (Width) x 10.67" (Depth) x 0.98" (Height). Maybe I am wrong but I believe that model has a separate video card and uses the GeForce GTX 900M Graphics series. While everyone's budget is different I did not think that model was expensive for what you get.

With that said in my case with my gaming laptop Jenny is completely correct with the heavy two-inch thick statement! Mine is almost 9 lbs in weight (including the battery pack) and just over 2 inches thick but that gave me room to have the dual (SLI) gpu graphics I wanted.

If your friend does get a laptop with a separate gpu card one item I would also recommend that you mention to your friend is to get a good laptop cooler, heat is the enemy in laptops more than in a desktop although it is not good in any computer and gaming laptops are not known to run cool. Sadly most if not all 'good' laptop coolers are not good siting on your own lap.

The i3, i5 and i7 have on chip graphics adapters, but there is nothing that stops a manufacturer from adding an onboard adapter. If the adapter is an Intel on an i3, i5 or i7, it is probably the one on chip. if a different make it is probably onboard rather than on chip.

As has been noted, the Intel graphics commonly have issues in many games.

See if you can get the actual model number, then we can look it up. Otherwise we just can't tell.

I just looked up the Intel 4400 and it is on a 4th Generation Core i3 processor.

Not something I'd want to invest in for gaming - as Jenny (and others) have stated, Intel GPU's and gaming aren't a good mix.

They are fine for general computing, watching video and even casual games. But that's as far as they will go...

Thank you all. I will pass on the info to her.