[wellylug] GPU ideology vs performance

[Atom Smasher]

watch for cross posting.

i'm eying a new laptop (it will be running ubuntu-studio), and have a 
choice between "Intel GMA HD" or "NVIDIA NVS 3100m Graphics 512MB DDR3". 
the intel is standard, the nvidia is about a $100 upgrade (and presumably 
that correlates to performance advantage of the nvidia; certainly 
dedicated RAM is better than shared RAM).

IIUC, i may get better performance from the nvidia (or maybe not? since 
the driver seems to have been done without any support from nvidia), but 
intel maintains a much better relationship with the FLOSS community. so 
ideologically, i'd prefer to not spend money on hardware that shuns FLOSS. 
i don't do any gaming, so i'd like to think the intel should be sufficient 
for me. i'd like to go with the intel for ideological reasons (not that i 
have any unconditional love of intel, but nvidia seems much less 
supportive of FLOSS).

so... i'm leaning towards the intel, with an understanding that it's the 
cheaper option. if ideology wasn't a factor (and if linux performance 
wasn't a question), i'd just spend the extra $100 on the better GPU. so 
this isn't so much about money as it is about functionally vs ideology. 
will i pay a price of functionality by going with the intel? or, since 
it's current hardware, even the "basic" option should be fine?

any opinions? thanks...

also, if anyone knows how to get the best deals on lenovo (preferably 
without paying the windows tax), let me know. either on or off list, as 
appropriate.


-- 
         ...atom

  ________________________
  http://atom.smasher.org/
  762A 3B98 A3C3 96C9 C6B7 582A B88D 52E4 D9F5 7808
  -------------------------------------------------

 	"I recognize that a class of criminals and juvenile
 	 delinquents has taken to calling themselves
 	 'hackers', but I consider them irrelevant to the
 	 true meaning of the word; just as the Mafia calls
 	 themselves 'businessmen' but nobody pays that fact
 	 any attention."
 		-- Robert Bickford