Group Video - System requirements - Intel HD4000 V...

Question

Has anyone used the intel HD4000 integrated video for group video.
7-Way requirements:
CPU
Minimum: Core 2 Duo 2.5GHz    
Recommended: Intel i7
Graphics card
Minimum: 128 MB
Recommended: 256 MB
Memory
Minimum: 1 GB
Recommended: 2 GB
The above is the listed requirements for up to 7-way group video.
A graphics card's perfermance varies GREATLY reguardless of how much memory it has.
"i7" performance varies GREATLY across the product line.
(The could have specified Gen1/Gen2/Gen3 i7-series. That would give a slighty more specific range)
Long story short Im looking at getting the following to hook up to a TV in a small confrence room.
http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/desktops/dc3217by-product-brief.html
On Skype's site the requirements are somewhat vauge.
The recomended CPU for 7-way is just Intel i7.
The i3-3217U out-performs the i7-610.
(so will it be enough? or do they mean a higher end i7?)
I can allocate 256MB of memory to the Intel HD4000 Intgrated video.
(will it be powerful enough though?)
Realisitcally we will only be doing 3-5 way group video now.
I want to make sure that if 7-way is required we will be able to do it.

Answer 1

I have to disagree with your direct assessment of the lower end  i7 and the i3.  The bells and whistles (higher DMI, the ability for better performance out of the upgraded video) of that particular i3 may allow it to perform better than the i7 as a total package.  I wouldn't be focused on the i3, i5, i7 mumbo jumbo, just the specs.   I tend to take into consideration what specs are designed to do, focus on the singular component in the evaluation towards the whole to give an over-generalized recommendation.  It would be difficult for anyone to list every possible combination of hardware.  I also don't see them dropping stand-alone dedicated video card requirements any time soon.
In any case if you notice the trend of the FAQ,  I would infer something closer to a mid-range  i7 similar to the i7-3520 in spec.  That would probably meet the low end of the recommended spectrum (you could always go higher).   As far as video, there seems to be a concern more with processing speed rather than graphics.    The i3 is probably a good budget CPU that meets the requirements of a 7-way call.  You could always get a better video card than the onboard, but I don't see why in this scenario it would substantially bottleneck things.  Even if it did, you could probably pick up an inexpensive/used quality Nvidia or ATI PCIe card that would outperform the onboard.