Cheapest laptop w/ non-shared graphics card?

Hello everyone.

I have a previous post titled "Help the new guy", because I've been doing some research on my first laptop purchase coming soon. My budget is around $1000 and I've seen quite a few different options at that price range. Many people hate Athlons, and many people hate P4's. I know to stay away from a Celeron but with all the different opionons around it's pretty difficult to make up my mind.

At bare minimum I want: 512 mb Ram; DVD/Cd-rw drive; wireless g already installed (don't know anything about it but what I've read in the forums); processor??? (no preference, Athlon, pentium, but no celeron); Screen size 15" is best but 14.? wouldn't hurt;

GRAPHICS??? This is where I get frustrated. With my budget I've been told that I will have to go with Shared Memory graphics cards (Radeon 32mb or 64 mb shared with Ram memory), just when I feel ok with a laptop choice I'll read someones review that says the shared memory graphics cards suck. I want to be able to play some games, and some video editing, but gaming for me comes via the X-box. I saw a Dell 5100 on their refurbished website in my price range with an individual memory graphics card at 32mb. But then I read someone say they wouldn't get a Dell 5100.

QUESTION: What is the cheapest laptop that has a graphics card that does not incorporate this shared memory concept? Is a 32 mb individual memory graphics card better then a 64 mb shared memory graphics card laptop? HELP

jack

Thanks aussie. I needed that info.

Jack

familty laptop/cheapest gaming laptop

Dave,

My research has given me too many options with out one being solid enough to feel comfortable with.

The laptops with a "shared memory graphics card" are abundant. At Best buy you have the HP ZE4630 for $999.00 (after $250 in rebates). At Circuit City there are more options starting with the HP ZE4560 for $950.00 (after $250 in rebates), the Compaq CPQ 2195 for $899.00 (after $300.00 in rebates, the Compaq CPQ 2580 for $1049.00 (after $250 in rebates), and lastly the Toshiba A35S159 for $999.00 (after $250 in rebates).

All the above computers come with 512 mb Ram, Wirless G already built in, and ATI mobility 64 mb shared graphics cards. Processors are either AMD athlons or P4's, no celerons. I have no preference towards either the AMD or the Pentium.

The olny one in my price range $900 - $1100 w/a separate graphics card (I think, some of these computer spec sheets don't make it clear or not if it is shared memory) is the Dell 5100 on the Refurbished Dell website. But many many people have said to stay away from the Dell 5100.

SO, AS YOU CAN SEE WITH ALL MY RECENT RESEARCH, I STILL HAVE NO CLUE!!!

jack