Repeating background images (processor intensive?)

One of my coworkers is entirely opposed to repeating background 
images for use in table cells and body backgrounds, etc. His premiss 
is that these repeating images (a few pixels by a few pixels) are 
processor intensive and slow down older systems.

I am not a huge fan of these, but they seem to work quite well for 
tables set at percentage widths. I don't have any data to back up my 
assumption that he is misinformed, but my instincts tell me that he 
is.

Or am I the misinformed one?

Thanks for the comments

.scott

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