Real-time rendering...

[JPMVDE]

Hi.

I want to upgrade the graphics card I have in my Acer laptop. Currently I have an ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 but I want a faster one that allows me to render graphics and images in real time. Any good websites I can inspect to get ideas.
Also, any way I can reduce transcoding times when producing a DVD?

[Richard_G]

So how do you intend updating the graphics card in a LAPTOP?

[canadateck]

Some new high performance laptop and portable computer manufacturers are coming out with models that enable users to upgrade the video card or video accelerator it came shipped with. Unless your laptop or portable computer is one of these types of laptops or portable computers you will not be able to upgrade your video card.

If you are unsure if your laptop or portable computer is this type of computer it is recommended you contact the laptop manufacturer for additional information.

[Richard_G]

That's a new one on me, I stand corrected. I don't suppose they use standard AGP cards though.

Changing the graphics card won't have any effect on rendering or transcoding times though.

[canadateck]

I know just changing a memory card on a laptop can be an all day job on some laptops,I wouldnt wanna know what it would take to change a video card.

[bugster]

Hi.

Also, any way I can reduce transcoding times when producing a DVD?

Get a faster processor.

Thats probably not what you wanted to hear, but it is the best way by far. Faster HDD or more memory can also help, but not by much.

[guns1inger]

You need a realtime edit card. I have never seen one of these for a laptop. They have hardware assist through specialist drivers for realtime rendering of DV and certain effects. Some can render many layers in realtime if the effects fall into a discrete set. Some also come with hardware mpeg-2 encoding, which will speed up your authoring somewhat. Again, none of these work with laptops. If you are after realtime 3d then you need to look at different kit again. There are realtime raytrace and radiosity render cards that can produce interesting results. They are not cheap and require dedicated drivers (and applications, in some cases).

There is not way, short of making a custom unit yourself, of getting a laptop capable of doing this sort of thing. The power required to drive these cards generates too much heat for a laptop to bear. Even the titanium Macs running FCP get uncomfortably hot running an average speed (they aren't all that fast).