Curse

Shayne Hawke · Aug 14, 2009, 03:30 PM // 15:30

I'm considering buying a new laptop before the fall semester begins. I know that in the past, there were lots of people having trouble with loading into places such as Rata Sum, and it has something to do with the way the graphics are produced. Rather than go through workarounds, I'd like to know if there's a list of hardware I should be avoiding in order to avoid the problem altogether.

Kattar · Aug 14, 2009, 03:38 PM // 15:38

Don't buy anything with an Intel GMA chip. The nicer (and more expensive) Nvidia or ATI built in cards should be able to handle GW.

Elder III · Aug 15, 2009, 11:41 AM // 11:41

if it says Intel GMA XXX or Intel 4500 or Intel x3100 or anything with "Intel" and "Graphics" in the same line don't buy it or you will have problems in Rata Sum (almost guranteed).

Before you buy something post a link here so that someone can double check it for you, for both price and performance before you buy it.

Quaker · Aug 15, 2009, 04:27 PM // 16:27

I concur - if it says any form of Intel Graphics, don't buy it.

Get a laptop that has ATI/AMD or nVidia graphics. Beyond that, it's up to your own budget and personal desires. But for best "gameplay" performance you should try to get a laptop with a discrete video chip (GPU), as opposed to "integrated", and preferable with it's own dedicated graphics RAM as well.

Btw, many of the on-line dealers, such as Dell, will supply the basic laptop with Intel GMA, but they can be "customized" with better graphics from ATI/AMD or nVidia.

William the Only · Aug 19, 2009, 11:33 PM // 23:33

Consider an ASUS G51... they are not on display at best buy but they have them in stock... just go to their website.

Around $1100

Really a great lappy. Not an unweildy 17" screen, a modest 15.6" or so. Really nice. Beautifully designed, runs smooth

I have never been to Rata Sum as I do not have EotN but I get >200 FPS in towns/outposts with highest graphical settings and over 350 outside.

It is really quite rediculous