Curse

TomD22 · Jul 03, 2005, 05:57 PM // 17:57

I did read the sticky, really, but it focused more on proper graphics cards, with only a brief aside to mention integrated ones. I know from experience that my laptop struggles to run a lot of games, so i'd be grateful if anyone could tell me how well it is likely to handle GW before i go out and buy it.

I have a P4 2.8GHz
with 512MB RAM
and an Intel 82852/82855 GM/GME integrated 'card' sharing 64MB with the main RAM.

Is this likely to run GW OK?

Thanks for any help

EDIT: OK, i really should know by now to search forums first. I just read another post on this page where several ppl who had the same card as me were discussing needing to roll back to an earlier driver to fix graphics problems. So i take it i may have to do that. But still, can any of you tell me how the game runs with that card? The last MMORPG i had (ROSE online) just wasn;t worth running on this computer, the performance was so bad, even though it was working, ish. Will it be OK?

Young_Anakin · Jul 03, 2005, 06:11 PM // 18:11

i tried playing Guild Wars on a friends computer that has the same video card that your talking about. the graphics were terrible, game lagged so horribly, and I could only play for a few minutes before the computer blue screened on me. The computer only has 256 RAM to and there's a lot of programs running in the background.

Dusk_ · Jul 03, 2005, 06:33 PM // 18:33

I have this video card, and while it is somewhat laggy, I can run it with decent graphic settings. Unfortunately, there's none of the glowy effects.

TomD22 · Jul 03, 2005, 06:50 PM // 18:50

Thanks both. Hopefully with 512 RAM i'll be OK then. And i can always have a look at the better effects on my other comp.

aeroclown · Jul 03, 2005, 07:10 PM // 19:10

honestly, if you are going to drop the money on 512MBs of ram, you could just as easily get a mid range ati or nvidia based card.

There are quite a large number of those made by quite a number of resellers. Just look around, ebay, tigerdirect.com. Im sure you can find a good deal. In fact if im not mistaken, the last news letter I got from tigerdirect They were selling a Geforce 6600gt with 128mb of ram, Dual DVI out and svideo out for 149.99 after rebate with free shipping.

Iteicea Destroidium · Jul 03, 2005, 08:33 PM // 20:33

ya, you have to set shadows to off, pixels to low, and everything else to lowest quality...it looks like crap but it runs, I run it on 2 comps...the one im on now is a lot like yours, set everything on low and it should work. If you get blue screened, try rolling back your drivers and start GW up again, works well.

Khyron the Dark · Jul 03, 2005, 10:08 PM // 22:08

lol... before I got my new Nvidia, I had the Intel integrated and it booted me off everytime I tried to use a merchant or collector, or trade.... meh... I still have 256 RAM, so, it's still not as good, but that'll be fixed after awhile....

TopGun · Jul 03, 2005, 10:25 PM // 22:25

An extremely small percentage of integrated cards can run games, and those small percentage of cards are being put on systems with over 512 RAM. I seriously doubt your capability to run the game on your laptop. Its pretty rare to be able to run modern-day, up to date games on anything less than 512 RAM- because your RAM is shared you will have less than 512.

If you have skill in computer hardware, you might want to attempt building a system yourself:

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/...1675328,00.asp

Keep in mind you won't be able to buy a gaming laptop without dropping a sick amount of money, but you will be able to buy a gaming desktop with a small budget, and building a desktop yourself will keep your budget low. If you can afford the investment it may be well worth it.

Also keep in mind, if you are to hock your current laptop and buy a gaming laptop, it will weigh considerably more.

zman_acura · Jul 04, 2005, 07:39 AM // 07:39

my best advice is buy a desktop. If you can't, to get a laptop that can run guild wars you're gonna have to spend top dollar or at least get on with a radeon 9000 with 64mb of vram.

If you can get a desktop i bought my hp for around $600 including video card

In it i've got

amd athlon xp 2000+
512mb of ram
128mb Radeon 9600XT

and cable internet. I can run full graphics with no lag or any hangups at all. Go for a desktop if at all possible.

TomD22 · Jul 05, 2005, 11:37 AM // 11:37

Right. Aeroclown - i already have that much RAM, i'm not "dropping money on it". And you really should know that you cannot upgrade the graphics on a laptop with an integrated card. As you don't, please don;t try to answer in a thread you don't understand.
TopGun - you're also wrong, most integrated cards can run games - what's the point of a 3D card otherwise??

As it happens, my laptop can just about run it with all the quality settings on lowest. But i think i'm gonna stick with using my desktop as much as possible (athlon 2600+ 512RAM Radeon 9000 128MB)

silvertemplar · Jul 05, 2005, 01:06 PM // 13:06

Quote:

But still, can any of you tell me how the game runs with that card?

I have same graphics card on my laptop with 512MB RAM ,except it's a 1.6Ghz Centrino [which is probably slower than 2.8Ghz P4]. I -have- to run the game on the absolute lowest graphics settings, but it runs just fine [without any lag/low fps] at those settings. I can't move up the settings because my Intel totally goes bonkers , the textures becomes screwy, the "floor" becomes white/very bright , the game still runs at those settings though but i can't see anything [and then the low fps starts kicking in too].

Now having a desktop with a better card i must admit there is a HUGE difference between "lowest quality" and "medium quality" settings [nevermind highest quality]. First thing missin on my Intel is
not seeing ANY boss-auras and i'm sure there's alot of "effects" i never see which are in fact there.

So have to weigh up the options, quite frankly the lowest graphic settings is fine for my purposes, you can PvP without a hitch and PvE you just won't see some cool things like the snow/wind effects etc [or at least you will not appreciate it as much].

TomD22 · Jul 06, 2005, 11:02 AM // 11:02

Yeah, you're right, the difference in quality is huge. It's sooo much better on my desktop