Video card question, 1gb or 512mb for multiboxing on laptop?

[jdpatt]

I was hoping to pick your collective brains here. I'm looking at a few different laptops for gaming when I'm away from home. Specifically, to multibox Everquest (not EQ2), 3-6 accounts.

My desktops run it fine at home (Core2Quad/8GB RAM/Radeon 4850 cards/24" 1080p monitors), but I know a lot of laptops are something of a compromise, downgraded somewhat from their desktop counterparts.

From what I've read, the newer 1gb video cards have really no advantage in the real world over 512mb cards. Running graphics intensive games like Crysis and such, you'll see no improvement with a 1gb video card over a 512mb.

HOWEVER, when running multiple instances of the same game (even an older, less graphics intensive game like Everquest) would I see any benefit to a 1gb card?

Basically, I'm trying to decide if I should try to pick up a Gateway 7811 used or refurbed (nice budget gaming computer, 512mb video card) or get the 7801/7805 model for quite a bit more money (came computer with 1gb video card)...even considering picking up that Quad Core 7812 (same computer, 1gb graphics and quad core processor) when it becomes available...not sure what would work best for me.

Any opinions would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Dave

[Sam DeathWalker]

Someone said that 1G was a lot better for 5 instances, but I would like everyone to keep in mind that for a 32 bit operating system you reduce available system ram by 1/2G if you have a 1G card vs. a 1/2G card.

It depends on how many textures are required for a zone I guess, if over 100M per account then 1G might be better. Maybe there is a limt to the amount of textures WoW keeps on the video card as compare to system ram. Just not enough infos to know.

I use 1/2G 9600 cards and don't plan to upgrade.