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So, with SC2 coming around the bend, I, like the rest of you, really want to play. However, being a Junior in college, my macbook is quite old. As such, I'm not sure it can support SC2, and I'm not exactly what you would call a computer expert, so I need some help from the TL community when it comes to this matter.
Now for the questions:
1- Will a macbook with an intel core 2 duo, with 2 GB of ram, and a GMA 950 video card be able to run SC2? I dont care about optimum settings, just being able to run the game would be enough.
2- Assuming that my current computer will not be enough, what are some good laptops that would have enough power to run SC2, but not be overly expensive (preferably around or less than $1000 (damn collegiate poverty))? Not being familiar with computer components, I really have no idea which cards will be able to run SC2, and the eventual expansions. Even just letting me know which cards/processors/other important components I need to watch out for would be a big help!
Thanks for your time- in the future this blog will be filled with more entertaining content than this, but playing SC2 comes first!
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1. No
2. What is important to you in a laptop? Battery life? Looks? Reliability?
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1. no, fuck mac anyway
2. that laptop is good enough to do other shit so if u have one dont get another laptop just buy a desktop. ur not gonna find a really nice laptop to run sc2 that runs much less under 1g
this is what i use and i like it alot
http://www.jr.com/sony/pe/SON_VPCF116FXH/
not the exact same model but really similar
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On April 21 2010 15:09 FragKrag wrote:
1. No
2. What is important to you in a laptop? Battery life? Looks? Reliability?
Beyond enough power to play SC, I just want a middle of the road sort of computer. Looks arent that important, and I dont care as long as it has decent battery life (my current computer averages about 3.5 hours when unpluged, although most of the time it is jacked into the wall). Widescreen would definitely be a plus, as it is my understanding that 16: 9 is the best for SC.
Reliability is very important, I'm used to a macbook which just works, no questions asked, and the ability to go and get it fixed in an apple store when anything breaks, so I definitely am looking for reliability/ good service.
Beyond that, I'll take as much power as I can get for my budget.
edit: stupid smiley face.
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give waht you want speficially, Ie. I want to run sc2 at this resolution, at high setting and have a min frame rate of 50 fps. etc. There are a lot of data out there regarding sc2 frame rates on hardwares.
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On April 21 2010 15:18 Glider wrote:
give waht you want speficially, Ie. I want to run sc2 at this resolution, at high setting and have a min frame rate of 50 fps. etc. There are a lot of data out there regarding sc2 frame rates on hardwares.
Again, I'm not all that good at computers, so I'm not exactly sure what all that means/is. I'd like to play on medium/low settings without any lag issues, as I'm pretty sure thats all i'll be able to get for what I can afford. Anything more is a plus.
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Thanks for all the help! One more question, should all 3 be able to handle the expansions as well? I'd hate to have to get a new comp for each game.
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Expansions should logically have the same system requirements.
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Most likely yes. Blizz's games are well optimized. No matter your choice, avoid integrated cards. You probably should buy a desktop to be honest. Your current laptop looks good for most tasks, unless you are planning to play more causal games/ video editting etc. Also, it is harder to upgrade for laptops than desktops, especially for graphics cards.
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On April 21 2010 15:29 cascades wrote:
Most likely yes. Blizz's games are well optimized. No matter your choice, avoid integrated cards. You probably should buy a desktop to be honest. Your current laptop looks good for most tasks, unless you are planning to play more causal games/ video editting etc. Also, it is harder to upgrade for laptops than desktops, especially for graphics cards.
Yeah, if the game came out next year after i graduate, i would definitely get a desktop. However, it looks likely that its gonna come out sooner rather than later, and I wanna be able to play while still in school. The prospect of having a desktop in a dorm room just kinda scares me.
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infinity21
Canada6683 Posts
It's not harder than desktops, it's usually not possible. You can upgrade the HDD and RAM for your laptop but almost never your GPU or CPU.
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The new macbook pro 13'? could this run it?
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New? It's just the same hardware rebranded
yeah, it'll run at low just fine.
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On April 21 2010 15:41 haruharu wrote:
The new macbook pro 13'? could this run it?
Er with the same money you could buy a non macbook laptop with better specs.
To each their own however.
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Its the classic argument, like buying a Sony Viao laptop, you pay an extra £100 for the prettyness!
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I recommend a desktop computer rather than a laptop for gaming. SC2 will be playable on the laptops, true, but you'd save a lot more money buying a desktop. I know you're going to college so you'll need a laptop. The main reason I say not to buy a laptop is because I've had a lot of friends who have had laptops breaking down after a few years.
The type of gaming laptop you want would probably go for about 1000$. If you are really set on a laptop for college purposes, I'd suggest you get a cheap 400-600~ laptop and 500$ desktop for SC2. If you look around you could get the desktop even cheaper. There are plenty of deals on newegg,com, woot.com, frys.com.
I normally build my computers but since you don't know much about comps, I would suggest you buy an already built desktop and just upgrade the video card to the minimum that's in your budget and can still meet the minimum video card requirements as determined by Blizzard. If you do decide on a desktop and how to build one, etc, PM me and I'd be more than happy to help. I love building computers~
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I actually agree with above poster that you should think twice before investing in laptops. They are not durable and not very nice compared to desktops. I would buy a cheap Lenovo and save up money for a good desktop.
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Really depends on how much you are willing to spend on this laptop.
If you are planning to get a laptop for gaming, the laptops listed by FragKrag are good (pretty cheap too)
here is a cheaper one I found on Newegg if your budget is lower.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834115727
$599
I think it should run SC2 on lowest settings
My lappy with 9300M GS runs SC2 on lowest smoothly, and I'm pretty sure the 4570 is a stronger card
Of course if you are willing to spend $1000, you can always build a computer (that can run SC2 pretty well) and buy a cheap laptop/netbook 
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If you have the choice get a desktop for gaming and a cheap laptop.
Laptops are terrible. Expensive, poor performance cost wise, shitty durability, bad keyboard, bad screens, can't uppgrade, can't change parts etc ...
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SC2 has pretty low requirements, I have a crappy Radeon 3650 in my laptop and it runs fine on high (admittedly its overclocked a bit but the card is still crappy). I can also run in low settings on the integrated card but it does get choppy in big battles.
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On April 21 2010 20:11 starfries wrote:
SC2 has pretty low requirements, I have a crappy Radeon 3650 in my laptop and it runs fine on high (admittedly its overclocked a bit but the card is still crappy). I can also run in low settings on the integrated card but it does get choppy in big battles.
3650 >>>>>>>>>> Intel GMA 950 crap
It gets destroyed by GeForce 6xxx lulz
http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,2845,1821805,00.asp
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On April 21 2010 20:13 Boblion wrote:Show nested quote +On April 21 2010 20:11 starfries wrote:
SC2 has pretty low requirements, I have a crappy Radeon 3650 in my laptop and it runs fine on high (admittedly its overclocked a bit but the card is still crappy). I can also run in low settings on the integrated card but it does get choppy in big battles. 3650 >>>>>>>>>> Intel crap
heh well the integrated card is intel crap but even it manages reasonably.
personally I really like Lenovo since they have good hardware for their prices, and their especially business line is really solid. plus they are easy to open up and upgrade ram/hdd or even cpu compared to most big brands
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On April 21 2010 20:20 starfries wrote:Show nested quote +On April 21 2010 20:13 Boblion wrote:On April 21 2010 20:11 starfries wrote:
SC2 has pretty low requirements, I have a crappy Radeon 3650 in my laptop and it runs fine on high (admittedly its overclocked a bit but the card is still crappy). I can also run in low settings on the integrated card but it does get choppy in big battles. 3650 >>>>>>>>>> Intel crap heh well the integrated card is intel crap but even it manages reasonably.
Well i don't know if your IGP is the GMA 950 but i don't think that an IGP who can't even get more than 10 fps in 640*480 for HL2 can run Sc2 ( even on low ).
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On April 21 2010 20:28 Boblion wrote:Show nested quote +On April 21 2010 20:20 starfries wrote:On April 21 2010 20:13 Boblion wrote:On April 21 2010 20:11 starfries wrote:
SC2 has pretty low requirements, I have a crappy Radeon 3650 in my laptop and it runs fine on high (admittedly its overclocked a bit but the card is still crappy). I can also run in low settings on the integrated card but it does get choppy in big battles. 3650 >>>>>>>>>> Intel crap heh well the integrated card is intel crap but even it manages reasonably. Well i don't know if your IGP is the GMA 950 but i don't think that an IGP who can't even get more than 10 fps in 640*480 for HL2 can run Sc2 ( even on low ).
er yes mine's actually the 4500 so i didn't mean to say that he shouldn't upgrade, just that it's possible to run SC2 on integrated
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laptops may be be crappy for a lot of reasons, but when your roommates are sitting on the couch checking their fantasy teams and you're sitting there trying to stare at everything on your tiny iphone screen because your desktop can't be lugged around, you get a little jealous
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EPT
