3d card

[Wheelbrace]

Many software programmes today require 3D Card for graphics.

I never see this mentioned in adverts for lap tops and wondered whether this is described differently or perhaps this is not available on laptops but for desktops only.

Any advice would be appreciated

[fo3nix]

Laptops do have them too, but often not as 'powerful' as the ones found in desktops.

[GuyIncognito]

Laptops have until recently been the poorer brother of the desktop pc, generally a new laptop will have 32-64mb graphics card (GFX card), but this is nowhere near the performance needed for todays games, being around the 256-512mb for top of the range GFX cards.

I think it has more to do with a moneysaving exercise and the fact the big name gfx card companies (ATi and nVidia) have only recently been releasing high performance GFX cards for laptops (they are for obvious reasons different size to normal PC cards).

[fo3nix]

GuyIncongnito: it's not a moneysaving exercise, it's because of the high temperatures that the cards would have to run at in such as small case. it's the limiting factor of most things in laptops. the same reason as to why Apple Powerbooks never got a G5, and ultimately why Apple changed to Intel processors.