Screen Size
Laptop screens have a wide range of sizes depending upon the type of laptop system that you are looking at. Larger screens provide an easier to view screen such as a desktop replacement. Ultraportables tend to have smaller screens allowing for a reduced size for increased portability. Many systems now offer a wide aspect ratio screen either for a more cinematic display or to reduce the size of the screen in the depth dimension for a smaller system size.
All screens sizes are given in a diagonal measurement. This is the measurement from the lower screen corner to the opposite upper corner of the screen. This will be the actual visible display area. Here is a chart of the average screen sizes for different style laptops:
- Netbook: 12" or Less
- Ultraportable: 13.3" or Less
- Thin and Light: 14" to 16"
- Desktop Replacement: 17" to 19"
- Luggables: 20" and Higher
Resolution
Screen resolution or native resolution is the number of pixels on the display listed in the number across the screen by the number down the screen. Laptop displays look best when the graphics are run at this native resolution. While it is possible to run at a lower resolution, doing so creates either a reduced image on the screen with a black border or an extrapolated display. An extrapolated display tends to cause reduced image clarity as the system has to use multiple pixels to try and display how a single pixel would normally appear.
Higher native resolutions allow for a greater detail in the image and increased work space on the display. The drawback to high resolution displays is that fonts tend to be smaller and more difficult to read. This can be a particular drawback for people who have poor eyesight. It can be compensated by changing the font size in the operating system, but this can have unintended results in programs. Below is a chart of the various video acronyms that refer to resolutions:
- WVGA: 800x480
- SVGA: 800x600
- WSVGA: 1024x600
- XGA: 1024x768
- WXGA: 1280x800 or 1366x768
- SXGA: 1280x1024
- SXGA+: 1400x1050
- WXGA+: 1440x900
- WSXGA+: 1680x1050
- UXGA: 1600x1200
- WUXGA: 1920x1200 or 1920x1080
Graphics Processor
In the past, graphics processors have not been much of an issue for consumer laptops. The majority of users were not doing much graphically that required 3D graphics or accelerated video. This has changed as more and more people use their laptops as their exclusive machine. Even if you don't plan on playing PC games, a graphics processor is still a necessary item if you intend to do high definition video playback either via stream, media file or Blu-ray. Most of the modern dedicated graphics processors can handle these but if you are looking to play 3D games, you will need to look towards higher end mobile graphics.
The two major suppliers of graphics processors for laptops are ATI and NVIDIA. ATI has been supplying graphics processors for laptops for many years and they have a proven track record when it comes to supplying powerful yet energy efficient graphics chips. NVIDIA is the desktop graphics powerhouse when it comes to 3D graphics acceleration and they were the first to bring many of these same features to the laptop realm.
The following chart lists the current crop of graphics processors for laptop PCs from the two companies. They are listed in the approximate order of performance from highest to lowest. Portables that will be used for gaming should have at least a minimum of 256MB of dedicated graphics memory but preferably higher. (Note that this list has been shorted to just the latest versions of the graphics processors plus a few previous generation models.)
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 280M
- NVIDIA GeForce 9800M GTS
- ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4870
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260M
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 250M
- NVIDIA GeForce 9700M GTS
- NVIDIA GeForce GTS 160M/150M
- ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4850
- NVIDIA GeForce GT 240M
- NVIDIA GeForce GT 130M
- NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT
- ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4670
- ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4650
- ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3650
- ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4570
- NVIDIA GeForce 9500M GS
- ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4530
- NVIDIA GeForce G110M
- NVIDIA GeForce 9300M GS
- ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4330
- ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3400
- NVIDIA GeForce G102M
- NVIDIA GeForce 9200M GS
In addition to these processors, ATI and NVIDIA both have technologies that can allow certain graphics processors to run in pairs for additional performance. ATI's technology is referred to as CrossFireX while NVIDIA's is SLI. While the performance is increased, battery life for such laptops is greatly reduced due to the extra power consumption.
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