The age old question...

vic fontaine · 02-01-2010, 04:11 PM

Will FH2 run on this graphics card????

I'm buying a Thinkpad T410. It has an integrated graphics option and a discrete option. The discrete card isn't great, but it'll run FH2 well enough.

The integrated option is intel's new GMA 5700MHD. It's not great, but a lot better than their earlier on-board graphics have been.

In this review (link), it does a bit worse than nvidia's 9400. So, I'm wondering if there are any of you who are running FH2 on a 9400 or something equivalent? Ideally, if you're running it on a macbook or low-end macbook pro. I'm expecting low settings, obviously.

If you go here, and look for the NVIDIA GeForce 9400M , you'll see a bunch of comparable cards next to it in the list.

If it was just a matter of money, I'd go for the discrete option hands-down. But Lenovo makes you buy a heavier 9-cell battery that sticks out the back if you get the nvidia card. What they SHOULD do is offer the smaller battery with switchable graphics, but oh well.

Dago Red · 02-01-2010, 05:30 PM

I tried running FH2 on a 14" business Dell (vostro) with an nvidia m class card and it was good enough for me at the time... however the whole thing ran super hot, like crazy hot it wasn't even comfortable touching the keys above where the card was after an hour+ playing time.

I'd be pretty weary of such a set up - business laptop+trying to play games. I'm much happier the other way around - with a gaming laptop and conducting all my business from it. And it has less problems all around, none really. Asus.

I'm glad to ditch that bug battery (this 14" Asus is light as a feather with 4 gigs of ram, + 1 gig on a 6900M GS). But I can tell you i gto used to that bigger battery real fast when i had it, they protrude a little but not so much they prevent you from carrying it or placing it anywhere.

Can't imagine going integrated unless it was my second machine, for only the occasional romp away from home.

vic fontaine · 02-01-2010, 08:19 PM

Yeah it's not ideal by any means.. don't think I want to go the gaming laptop route though.

If I run FH2 on the Macbook Pro I'm using now (nvidia 9600m GT), within about 10 minutes the metal between the keys is uncomfortably hot and I'm pretty sure I'd burn myself if I left a finger on the part of the case right above the keyboard.

Thanks for the input. Good to hear that the battery's easy enough to get used to.

The other Coolhand · 02-01-2010, 09:51 PM

Im going to try and get my new Vaio set up by thursday. It has a Nvidia 230M 512 GB DEDICATED memory.

Dago Red · 02-02-2010, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vic fontaine

If I run FH2 on the Macbook Pro I'm using now (nvidia 9600m GT), within about 10 minutes the metal between the keys is uncomfortably hot and I'm pretty sure I'd burn myself if I left a finger on the part of the case right above the keyboard.

That's exactly why you need a laptop geared for gaming. Getting the Thinkpad would be in the same ballpark as the MAC i'm thinking... except it'll be plastic that's super heating.

I know people play worldofdouchecraft on their dorkbooks but that game can't possibly be taxing the video card. When I run FH2 the card can start to purr a bit (normally not a peep). But this ASUS, designed for serious media&games never gets hot.

By the way, due to a pricing fluke I got this new $1200 64 bit dual core centrino2 (newly released cpu last Jan when i got it) with 4 gigs, and the decent card with 1 gig on it for only $700 at best buy.

You cant find them anymore, but a similar line of ASUS laptops are now like $899 instead of $1200.

Dago Red · 02-02-2010, 01:40 PM

ps.
some of those video card tests are done in a vacuum. They don't see how the laptop holds up for months on end, nor can you get an idea of how that card performs inside your particular laptop.

Since Asus takes heating/cooling and airflow seriously, whereas Dell apparently did not, Asus laptops outperform and outlast the Dells - it's like night and day.

I looked at the Thinkpad too originally cause I keep reading how great they are for writing, but I play games too many nights a week to roll like that. it'd never hold up.

vic fontaine · 02-02-2010, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dago Red

That's exactly why you need a laptop geared for gaming. Getting the Thinkpad would be in the same ballpark as the MAC i'm thinking... except it'll be plastic that's super heating.

Yeah I agree, which is why I'm wary of even bothering with the graphics card.

I think I'd be better just building a PC for gaming, than finding something that marries gaming capabilities with productivity. I made that sort of compromise with my last computer, and wasn't really happy with it. Although it does look like Asus may be one of the first companies to have their head on straight about that. Usually the only way to run games well on a laptop is to 1, play old games, or 2, buy a 10 lb behemoth with a glossy, ridged case and a cup-holder.

That said I'm pretty much sold on the Thinkpad. Productivity and durability are guiding my decision here, plus they have some good deals at the moment ($800 for a base-level T410). If $200 extra and a battery that sticks out will get me my FH2 fix for the mean time, then great. If I can squeeze by with the GMA, even better.

vic fontaine · 02-02-2010, 03:35 PM

Oh, also, check this thing out re. laptop gaming:

Vidock 2

It's an external enclosure for desktop video cards that plugs into an express card slot. At $300 it's a little pricey.. although you can get it for $320 here with a Raedon 4670.

You also have to use an external monitor, so you might not save a lot compared to just putting a desktop box together. Definitely a step in the right direction though!

Dago Red · 02-02-2010, 05:33 PM

Aha, that is a very interesting opton!

I am kind of doing that already, I only play games with this Asus plugged into an external 21.5 in hi def (1080p) lcd.

Works like a dream... should have mentioned that too. Playing on a little 14in monitor that has comparatively poor viewing angles and no where near the resolution or contrast ratios of the external sucks.

I thought i'd play Empire total war mods on just the laptop when i'm traveling but i just can't even do it... i read instead. External all the way. Plugging in a external hardcore video card is definitely something i'd look into for the next step but what i already have is plenty fine at the moment.

02-01-2010, 04:11 PM	#1
vic fontaine Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Age: 100 Posts: 278	The age old question... Will FH2 run on this graphics card???? I'm buying a Thinkpad T410. It has an integrated graphics option and a discrete option. The discrete card isn't great, but it'll run FH2 well enough. The integrated option is intel's new GMA 5700MHD. It's not great, but a lot better than their earlier on-board graphics have been. In this review (link), it does a bit worse than nvidia's 9400. So, I'm wondering if there are any of you who are running FH2 on a 9400 or something equivalent? Ideally, if you're running it on a macbook or low-end macbook pro. I'm expecting low settings, obviously. If you go here, and look for the NVIDIA GeForce 9400M , you'll see a bunch of comparable cards next to it in the list. If it was just a matter of money, I'd go for the discrete option hands-down. But Lenovo makes you buy a heavier 9-cell battery that sticks out the back if you get the nvidia card. What they SHOULD do is offer the smaller battery with switchable graphics, but oh well. __________________ GloblCapitalistHegemony - im in ur economy, exploiting ur doodz

02-01-2010, 05:30 PM	#2
Dago Red Executive Management Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 9,466 Images: 77	I tried running FH2 on a 14" business Dell (vostro) with an nvidia m class card and it was good enough for me at the time... however the whole thing ran super hot, like crazy hot it wasn't even comfortable touching the keys above where the card was after an hour+ playing time. I'd be pretty weary of such a set up - business laptop+trying to play games. I'm much happier the other way around - with a gaming laptop and conducting all my business from it. And it has less problems all around, none really. Asus. I'm glad to ditch that bug battery (this 14" Asus is light as a feather with 4 gigs of ram, + 1 gig on a 6900M GS). But I can tell you i gto used to that bigger battery real fast when i had it, they protrude a little but not so much they prevent you from carrying it or placing it anywhere. Can't imagine going integrated unless it was my second machine, for only the occasional romp away from home. __________________ "Seems economic recession has hit badly to your burger too" ~Masi

02-01-2010, 08:19 PM	#3
vic fontaine Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Age: 100 Posts: 278	Yeah it's not ideal by any means.. don't think I want to go the gaming laptop route though. If I run FH2 on the Macbook Pro I'm using now (nvidia 9600m GT), within about 10 minutes the metal between the keys is uncomfortably hot and I'm pretty sure I'd burn myself if I left a finger on the part of the case right above the keyboard. Thanks for the input. Good to hear that the battery's easy enough to get used to. __________________ GloblCapitalistHegemony - im in ur economy, exploiting ur doodz

02-02-2010, 01:40 PM	#6
Dago Red Executive Management Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 9,466 Images: 77	ps. some of those video card tests are done in a vacuum. They don't see how the laptop holds up for months on end, nor can you get an idea of how that card performs inside your particular laptop. Since Asus takes heating/cooling and airflow seriously, whereas Dell apparently did not, Asus laptops outperform and outlast the Dells - it's like night and day. I looked at the Thinkpad too originally cause I keep reading how great they are for writing, but I play games too many nights a week to roll like that. it'd never hold up. __________________ "Seems economic recession has hit badly to your burger too" ~Masi Last edited by Dago Red; 02-02-2010 at 01:43 PM.

02-02-2010, 03:35 PM	#8
vic fontaine Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Age: 100 Posts: 278	Oh, also, check this thing out re. laptop gaming: Vidock 2 It's an external enclosure for desktop video cards that plugs into an express card slot. At $300 it's a little pricey.. although you can get it for $320 here with a Raedon 4670. You also have to use an external monitor, so you might not save a lot compared to just putting a desktop box together. Definitely a step in the right direction though! __________________ GloblCapitalistHegemony - im in ur economy, exploiting ur doodz

02-01-2010, 09:51 PM	#4
The other Coolhand A Real Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Age: 24 Posts: 1,277	Im going to try and get my new Vaio set up by thursday. It has a Nvidia 230M 512 GB DEDICATED memory.

02-02-2010, 05:33 PM	#9
Dago Red Executive Management Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 9,466 Images: 77	Aha, that is a very interesting opton! I am kind of doing that already, I only play games with this Asus plugged into an external 21.5 in hi def (1080p) lcd. Works like a dream... should have mentioned that too. Playing on a little 14in monitor that has comparatively poor viewing angles and no where near the resolution or contrast ratios of the external sucks. I thought i'd play Empire total war mods on just the laptop when i'm traveling but i just can't even do it... i read instead. External all the way. Plugging in a external hardcore video card is definitely something i'd look into for the next step but what i already have is plenty fine at the moment. __________________ "Seems economic recession has hit badly to your burger too" ~Masi Last edited by Dago Red; 02-02-2010 at 05:39 PM.

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