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Hi TL, my old dell laptop has recently burned out due to SC2. In case anyone is interested, here were it's specs.
+ Show Spoiler + Core2Duo 1.8 ghz
2 gb ram
128mb nVidia GE Force card (forgot the actual card, can get it if needed)
So now I'm in the market for a new laptop, and I found a Dell laptop that seems much better suited for SC2 than my old one.
Core i5 450m
6GB DDR3
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5470 (1GB vram)
500GB 7200 rpm
I looked on Notebookreview and it said that this video card would probably only run SC2 at good fps on Low. Anything above Low graphics would result in unplayable FPS. I can't imagine that's the case, as my old 128mb nVidia card could play SC2 without lagging on Low settings. Does anyone have any advice or information or have any experience with this video card? 1GB vram sounds like plenty, but I'm concerned because of the statistics on Notebookreview.
Thanks for your time, I really appreciate it.
TLDR: Will this video card safely run SC2 at medium settings? Or will I risk burning it out like I did my old card?
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VRAM has very little to do with the actual performance of the card. It's only really used as storage. The clock speed, bus width, and memory clock is more important when it comes to actual performance.
What Nvidia card did you have?
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I believe it was the nVidia 8400gs m version 128mb
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I've got essentially the same machine, but it's an Asus. I got it with a 1yr. "anything happens for any reason" warranty, and a 3yr. Factory warrantee for just over 1000$.
Same video card, same processor,
I play starcraft on Low usually, but just because I like the way it looks. I stream live from my computer on Medium settings. FPS on anything past medium settings sharply drops once you get into 3v3 or 4v4 matchups where there's a lot of units on the map.
It will definitely play on Medium settings with no problem.
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Cool, thanks for the response Faze. I went ahead and bought the laptop, hoping it will be a big step up from my other one. Will the laptop run the game on High settings in 1v1? Or would that be pushing it? I don't want to push the video card past it's limit and have it fry out on my again.
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Hey Toobz, update me the laptop's performance when u get it. Thinking of getting that Inspiron too.
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Sure. As long as this thread stays open, I'll update it as soon as my new laptop arrives (around september 3rd). Just to brag a little bit, I got the system for $689 ($734 after tax). I really hope this computer comes through for me. Excellent deal!
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Yes this will definitely handle medium. My mobility radeon hd 3470 can handle medium.
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OK I just got my laptop tonight, and whenever I try and play sc2 on medium settings, i get a bit of lag. I can't play this game at my peak while at medium settings, because the lag is just significant enough to make things difficult and to cause me to misclick.
Faze, how do you get your comp to run smoothly? We have the same specs apparently and I'd love to know how you get your laptop to run the game flawlessly on medium/higher graphics.
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Try changing the battery setting to high performance from balanced. Worked a treat for me
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Hey, sorry for the late reply - haven't checked this thread in a while - my power settings are on "Power4gear entertainment", and I don't lag at all on medium settings.
I get a touch of lag at high, and significant lag enough to be "slowing down the game" on ultra. That's with Firefox, iTunes, and Skype open.
Maybe since you just got the laptop, and it's a dell, you have a bunch of bloatware running in the background?
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Yeah I might have a lot of bloatware on it. How do I know what is safe to remove? I'm completely new to Windows 7. I have changed it to High Performance mode, but still experience a bit of mouse lag as soon as shaders goes to medium.
What is "Power4gear entertainment"?
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I bought this same exact laptop a month ago and it runs low perfectly except in 3v3/4v4 when everyone is 200/200. It's definately playable on medium, but it's going to be hovering around 20-30fps instead of a solid 60.
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The problem is on anything above Low, no matter what type of game it is, I get some mouse lag. It's definitely making the game difficult to play.
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This thread confuses me no end. Other posters asre suggesting that you should only be able to achieve good continuous playable performance on low, although I have the following laptop;
AMD X2 @ 2.1Ghz
4GB Ram
ATi HD 3200
and I can run the game on low, the occasional setting on medium, in any of the situations you've outlined above with no slowdown. Therefore, surely this chap would be able to play on medium if not medium/high considering the technical difference between the two machines? I'm amazed if not.
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I thought so too, as I said my old nVidia 128mb graphics card could play on Low settings as well or possibly even better than this new ATI 5470. I'm not very pleased with this graphics card (the core i5 and 6gb DDR3 and 7200 rpm HD are just AMAZING though). I'm planning on returning this laptop to get my $734 back. I am going to Tokyo for a couple months and I think I'll need the money more than a powerful laptop. I will probably just buy a cheap little internet laptop for school, and buy a gaming PC when I get back from my trip.
To anyone that wants a very fast computer for a very low price (at the expense of a low end graphics card) DEFINITELY check out the Dell Studio 15. There is an incredible deal on it right now. Find a coupon code for $90 off a studio 15, and you're looking at a $689 laptop that is FAST. Just don't expect to play SC2 on anything besides Low graphics.
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EPT
