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Old Jul 24, 2011, 01:04 AM // 01:04   #1
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Default Llano laptop for GW 2?

I'm thinking of getting one of these things:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...=00-42662774-2

It's main task will be movie and Hulu-watching and browsing but I'd like it to be semi gaming capable. I'd probably upgrade the 5400 rpm hard drive to a hybrid Momentus XT. Any thoughts on how it would play GW2?
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Old Jul 24, 2011, 09:09 AM // 09:09   #2
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Going to work better then on intel based graphics can't say more then that for sure. Guessing gw2 will run fine on atleast low settings.
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Old Jul 24, 2011, 02:42 PM // 14:42   #3
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I agree with the above to some extent. It's going to run better than any equivalent Intel machine with on-chip graphics. I would think that it could run GW2 well enough to be enjoyable, provided the graphics settings are kept low enough to provide a good fps rate.

It's odd that they don't say what the screen rez is - just that it's 16:9.

It looks exactly like an Acer - so much so that I'd say it's an Acer with a Gateway logo.

I just recently bought an Acer 11.6" netbook with the AMD C-50 APU. It plays GW1 much better than I thought it would - medium graphics, 30fps - and is overall, a nice machine. It has no problem handling HD videos from YouTube, etc.
(I don't expect to play GW2 on it, other than perhaps doing stuff like inventory management or trades, etc.)

Also, a friend of mine just got a 15" Acer C-50 laptop for his daughter (he's so cheap, he made her pay for it. ). It looks exactly like that Gateway - same layout, and same distinctive texture on the back of the display - which is why I say that the Gateway is either a Re-badged Acer, or they both get them from the same source.

Last edited by Quaker; Jul 24, 2011 at 02:54 PM // 14:54..
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Old Jul 24, 2011, 03:16 PM // 15:16   #4
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Resolution is what I'm thinking about, too. It seems like an A8-3500 + 6620G can handle 1366x768 gaming at medium detail, so I doubt you'll be able to run GW2 at that 17" screen's native resolution, even though they don't tell you what it is.

We can hope that GW2 scales well (GW1 always did), and that you'll be able to run it a little higher, though. And I think it's pretty safe (though never 100% certain, of course) to say that the laptop will be able to handle it at some playable resolution or other.

(I'm going by Anandtech's review here.
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Old Jul 24, 2011, 08:48 PM // 20:48   #5
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Yeah the lack of screen res is annoying... Maybe I'll email Gateway.

Also from what I understand memory speed helps Llano graphics enormously. Wonder if it actually might be worth the upgrade from 4 GB 1066 to 8 GB of 1333...

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Quote:
Originally Posted by Quaker View Post

Also, a friend of mine just got a 15" Acer C-50 laptop for his daughter (he's so cheap, he made her pay for it. ). It looks exactly like that Gateway - same layout, and same distinctive texture on the back of the display - which is why I say that the Gateway is either a Re-badged Acer, or they both get them from the same source.
Acer owns Gateway, so...
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Old Jul 25, 2011, 02:29 PM // 14:29   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cebalrai View Post
Acer owns Gateway, so...
Well, that explains that.

Near as I can find, that laptop has a 1280x768 display (or possibly 1366x768), which is kinda coarse for a 17" display - although it will handle 720p HD natively. You might be happier with a 15" model.

Edit - Gateway's US website lists the display as WSXGA which Wikipedia says is 1280x768, but it's more likely to actually be 1366x768.

Last edited by Quaker; Jul 25, 2011 at 10:52 PM // 22:52..
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Old Jul 25, 2011, 06:21 PM // 18:21   #7
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Wow, if that's right, it's horrible. I think I'd go nuts with that resolution on a 17" laptop.
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Old Jul 25, 2011, 09:26 PM // 21:26   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Quaker View Post
Well, that explains that.

Near as I can find, that laptop has a 1280x768 display (or possibly 1366x768), which is kinda coarse for a 17" display - although it will handle 720p HD natively. You might be happier with a 15" model.
Hilariously, I emailed Gateway only to hear that they don't know what resolution the screen is. They have to "elevate" my question. Fry's says: Display: 17.3" HD Widescreen Ultrabrightâ„¢ LED-backlit LCD Display, 1600x900 resolution, 16:9 aspect ratio

http://www.frys.com/product/6670744?...H:MAIN_RSLT_PG


Also I'm thinking about upgrading the memory. Tom's Hardware's review of the Llano shows a HUGE benefit from having fast RAM (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...no,2975-6.html). This laptop comes with DDR3 1066. Apparently mobile Llano processors can handle up to DDR 1600, however Crucial's memory finder thing only wants to sell me up to DDR 1333. Corsair's website doesn't even recognize this model yet since it's so new.

Anyone know if I can upgrade to DDR3 1600?

Last edited by cebalrai; Jul 25, 2011 at 09:30 PM // 21:30..
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Old Jul 25, 2011, 11:02 PM // 23:02   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cebalrai View Post
Anyone know if I can upgrade to DDR3 1600?
You might need to actually take a look at the BIOS to see if there are the appropriate RAM settings available. However, there would probably be an "auto" or "by SPD" setting that should handle 1333 at least.
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Old Jul 26, 2011, 12:47 AM // 00:47   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Quaker View Post
You might need to actually take a look at the BIOS to see if there are the appropriate RAM settings available. However, there would probably be an "auto" or "by SPD" setting that should handle 1333 at least.

It can definitely handle DDR3 1333, per Crucial's website. I'm expecting a crumby laptop BIOS though that doesn't have a memory speed option. I might just order dome DDR3 1600 and keep it if it works or at least downclocks to 1333.
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Old Aug 02, 2011, 09:40 PM // 21:40   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cebalrai View Post
I'm thinking of getting one of these things:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...=00-42662774-2

It's main task will be movie and Hulu-watching and browsing but I'd like it to be semi gaming capable. I'd probably upgrade the 5400 rpm hard drive to a hybrid Momentus XT. Any thoughts on how it would play GW2?

Just wanted to say I got this laptop and I love it. The screen and case are gorgeous, possibly the best-looking presentation I've ever seen. It's also quite thin and light for a 17" laptop. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a media and light-ish gaming machine.
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