I'm looking to get a secondary system, something I can use on the go, and this little number caught my eye.
My question is though, does this have enough power to run 3 certain programs, Source SDK, GIMP and the XSI Mod Tool (preferably, or an equivalent 3D program)?
Specs Opinion
Created 14 years ago2010-03-09 21:26:52 UTC by
TawnosPrime
Created 14 years ago2010-03-09 21:26:52 UTC by
TawnosPrime
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-09 21:27:52 UTC
Post #279585
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-10 07:46:35 UTC
Post #279590
The graphics chip in that lappy is balls, you don't want to have an Intel graphics chip, if you're wanting to do something other than office work. Source could run on it if you're lucky, but I wouldn't count on it. Even if it works, the frame rates would be pretty low.
This site http://www.notebookcheck.com/Mobile-Grafikkarten-Benchmarkliste.735.0.html is a big help, if you want to compare graphics chips. You'll be probably be looking for some chip around #110 and up on this list, for example the Mobility Radeon HD 4570 would be a good pick, especially since it's fairly popular in laptops these days. Something similar from Nvidia should also do the job, just forget Intel
This site http://www.notebookcheck.com/Mobile-Grafikkarten-Benchmarkliste.735.0.html is a big help, if you want to compare graphics chips. You'll be probably be looking for some chip around #110 and up on this list, for example the Mobility Radeon HD 4570 would be a good pick, especially since it's fairly popular in laptops these days. Something similar from Nvidia should also do the job, just forget Intel
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-10 10:53:39 UTC
Post #279592
I prefer these specs.
guffaw 
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-10 13:08:10 UTC
Post #279594
Truly I thought this was about glasses as well.
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-10 14:17:45 UTC
Post #279595
These portable computers are not really designed for gaming and mapping.
They are intended for people who want to check emails and maybe run office applications.
If you really want to map, I would use a desktop.
They are intended for people who want to check emails and maybe run office applications.
If you really want to map, I would use a desktop.
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-10 15:39:05 UTC
Post #279596
those statements aren't really true anymore.
you can easily/cheaply(relatively)buy a gaming laptop nowadays. I'm not even talking about buying an alienware for 3000 quid or anything. i mean, you can buy a notebook with a decent gfx card, that will play every modern game on the market for less than 1000 quid, easy. Half that easily if you're willing to buy refurbs...
as far as mapping/modeling is concerned, i think almost any retail notebook would run the sdk and max fine, but whatev (i ran source sdk and max 9 on my old pentium 4 laptop and shit-balls gfx card with no trouble).
you can easily/cheaply(relatively)buy a gaming laptop nowadays. I'm not even talking about buying an alienware for 3000 quid or anything. i mean, you can buy a notebook with a decent gfx card, that will play every modern game on the market for less than 1000 quid, easy. Half that easily if you're willing to buy refurbs...
as far as mapping/modeling is concerned, i think almost any retail notebook would run the sdk and max fine, but whatev (i ran source sdk and max 9 on my old pentium 4 laptop and shit-balls gfx card with no trouble).
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-10 15:42:30 UTC
Post #279597
Yeah I prefer desktops in about every aspect, except mobility of course. Although my laptop is quite nice as far as performance.
The laptop you're looking at has the same specs as mine, only you're paying and extra $300 for the touch feature. Its reasonable and not too bad of a deal really.
The laptop you're looking at has the same specs as mine, only you're paying and extra $300 for the touch feature. Its reasonable and not too bad of a deal really.
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-10 16:15:01 UTC
Post #279600
It's always been my opinion that gaming + laptop = bad.
You either have to pay tons for a beefy laptop, or deal with having to tweak the settings of each game until it's just playable (at a low resolution with settings down, etc) and even then it's laggy.
Even if you do spend the money to get a huge laptop, in six months time it'll get obsolete and you're stuck with something you can't upgrade. I know people who go through one or two laptops every two years - that's ridiculous. My desktop has lasted 3 years and it has at least another 3 in it - and a lot more depending on how I want to choose my upgrade path.
That said, if you don't want to play games, but just run a few 3D apps, a cheaper laptop should be able to deal with them. I agree about getting a proper video card, though.
Also I keep reading the topic of this thread as 'Specs Onion'. Dunno why.
You either have to pay tons for a beefy laptop, or deal with having to tweak the settings of each game until it's just playable (at a low resolution with settings down, etc) and even then it's laggy.
Even if you do spend the money to get a huge laptop, in six months time it'll get obsolete and you're stuck with something you can't upgrade. I know people who go through one or two laptops every two years - that's ridiculous. My desktop has lasted 3 years and it has at least another 3 in it - and a lot more depending on how I want to choose my upgrade path.
That said, if you don't want to play games, but just run a few 3D apps, a cheaper laptop should be able to deal with them. I agree about getting a proper video card, though.
Also I keep reading the topic of this thread as 'Specs Onion'. Dunno why.
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-10 17:13:33 UTC
Post #279601
Glad thats not just me.
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-10 20:05:38 UTC
Post #279608
Actually, nowadays it's pretty narrow-minded to say that a laptop is crap for gaming. For example I have a pretty budget Toshiba laptop (I bought it for like ~800 USD two years ago) and it still runs newer games. The main problem is, that manufacturers see a bucket of money instead of people, that are willing to purchase a laptop.
The main specs are always "CORE2 QUAD 8000 GIGAHURTZ 8 GB RAM 1 TB HARD DRIVE OMG", but mostly forget to mention the graphics chip. But there are indeed deals, that can compete with desktop rigs. Sure, they're not upgradeable, but can serve you for 'round 2-3 years, if you're lucky. You just need to keep your eyes open, and look at the specs. Especially if your goal is to run like Source apps, you can get a laptop for 800 USD, and can use it for future games as well.
The laptop I have is a Toshiba Satellite A200-1S9, which - as I already mentioned - cost me ~800 USD two years ago, and serves me perfectly fine. It has a cheap Core 2 Duo processor and a fairly decent Ati Radeon HD 2600 graphics chip, and even in the worst case, I can run newer games - like say Borderlands or Mass Effect 2 - on high settings at 1024x600 with playable framerates. Yeah, it's not the highest resolution, but since the highest resolution is 1280x800, it's not a huge sacrifice.
Yeah, if you want to run everything on max resolution, with 8x AA and 16x AF, you should get a desktop, or a lappy for 'round 1500 USD. But if you just want something, that can handle everything with a minimal compromise and needs to be portable, hell, go with a laptop. Just keep your eyes peeled.
The main specs are always "CORE2 QUAD 8000 GIGAHURTZ 8 GB RAM 1 TB HARD DRIVE OMG", but mostly forget to mention the graphics chip. But there are indeed deals, that can compete with desktop rigs. Sure, they're not upgradeable, but can serve you for 'round 2-3 years, if you're lucky. You just need to keep your eyes open, and look at the specs. Especially if your goal is to run like Source apps, you can get a laptop for 800 USD, and can use it for future games as well.
The laptop I have is a Toshiba Satellite A200-1S9, which - as I already mentioned - cost me ~800 USD two years ago, and serves me perfectly fine. It has a cheap Core 2 Duo processor and a fairly decent Ati Radeon HD 2600 graphics chip, and even in the worst case, I can run newer games - like say Borderlands or Mass Effect 2 - on high settings at 1024x600 with playable framerates. Yeah, it's not the highest resolution, but since the highest resolution is 1280x800, it's not a huge sacrifice.
Yeah, if you want to run everything on max resolution, with 8x AA and 16x AF, you should get a desktop, or a lappy for 'round 1500 USD. But if you just want something, that can handle everything with a minimal compromise and needs to be portable, hell, go with a laptop. Just keep your eyes peeled.
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