Hello!

I'd like to buy a laptop, and may play some games on it, though not the most recent ones. I know that video cards using integrated memory aren't fast because the GPU is on the main board and also uses the computer RAM. I know I should buy a card with some dedicated memory instead. However, I found lots of notebooks having some Integrated + Dedicated memory at the same time ??  I've seen a card having a 256 megs dedicated memory that can go up to 1,5 gigs.  Is the system using up the first 256 megs of dedicated memory first, then uses my RAM up to 1,5 gigs as a swap ?   Or is a video card with only dedicated memory's way much better? Thanks!Welcome to the forums!

A video card with shared memory is no good for gaming, unless you only play older games.
These cards with some of their own memory and more shared are just as bad really.
Be aware however that dedicated cards suck more power and put out more heat than integrated cards.
Whatever you decide you will have to make sacrifices with a laptop, they're just not meant for gaming.
If you would like some more specific advice, listing laptop makes/models that you're interested in, or the video cards or chips CONCERNED, would help us to give more specific advice.
Hope this helps.Right now I don't have any model in mind, however I can tell you that my type of gaming is with game consoles emulation such as the N64, or PSX. Also, I was told by someone that unless I install Windows XP on the laptop, I shouldn't bother buying an integrated video card since Vista ask a lot of video power. Vista does need a beefier computer than XP, and I would say that integrated graphics would possibly struggle a little with Vista, especially if you don't have a lot of RAM.
If you're just emulating games (by the way, that can't be discussed here as it's against the forum rules) then you won't need a great graphics card, as FAR as I am aware most emulators need CPU power more than powerful graphics cards - at least, in my experience they do.
If you do have any questions regarding graphics cards or the other HARDWARE specs feel free to ask away, as laptops can't be upgraded much it's important to try and get the best you can for your money if you must have a laptop.Let's say I'd pick this laptop on FutureShop worth 1000$, which is my budget: a Pavilion DV9934CA , with a CORE 2 Duo 5750,  with 4 Gigs of RAM, equiped with a GeForce 8400M GS with 256 megs dedicated memory that can climb up to 1,5 Gigs. Would Vista struggle on that machine?   It will certainly run a lot slower than XP, but it should run acceptably on that machine.
The graphics card is poor, but adequate for Vista - if you plan on any other gaming I would try for a better one.
That sounds like a pretty decent machine for the price though, all things considered.I see. Thanks!  I've got one last question for now. Out of curiosity, I'd like to know the exacts differences between a fully integrated video card and a partially dedicated card. I know that an integrated card uses a GPU that is integrated directly on the main board, and uses the system memory. But how does a partially dedicated card works? First, is the GPU directly on the main board, or does it have a board of its own? Second, how does the memory works here? Does it uses its own memory first, then uses the RAM as a swap if need is? I noticed that this category of video cards  often comes on laptops that are a bit more expensive than the cheaper ones, so I'm wondering if their graphics cards are yet a bit better than the fully integrated ones. Thanks for the infos!  On a laptop, many GPUs are actually built into the board, WHETHER dedicated or not.
Generally speaking though, these "partially integrated" cards are separate graphics cards, with a small amount of their own VRAM.  They use this and the system RAM together.  I'm not sure if the card will use its own RAM first or not, but I think there wouldn't be much difference in speed most of the time anyway because these cards often use slow VRAM anyway, whereas normally GDDR3/4 RAM, used by most dedicated cards, is much faster than the system RAM.
The cards which use system RAM as well as their own are usually better than integrated chips as they are often a better class of GPU entirely.

Does that help clear it up somewhat?Yes thanks! I think I'll buy this type of cards. I'm ready to put about 1000-1200$ for a laptop so I won't get the cheapest parts, but since Vista seems so hungry for system ressources, I think I'll stay with Windows XP..You're more than welcome.
You'll see a lot of people advocating Vista over XP or vice versa, my advice would be to see if you can try Vista out, perhaps on a friend's PC, to see if you like it or not.