Curse

techguy84 · Jul 07, 2007, 05:57 AM // 05:57

I did a search, and I found a few things, but nothing that really answerd my questions so I thought I would ask.

I used to have a laptop that had the Intel GMA 950 in it. I know that this does meet the Minimum requirements to play, but it was still dodgy at best.

My question is, does anyone use this adapter, or does anyone use somthing similar like the ATI Radeon Xpress 200M.

I could get it to run, and it ran good so long as there was no players around me, but for areas like LA and Old Ascalon, it was really jerky.

I am planning on getting another laptop as I have to go on the road alot and I still want to play when I have a chance, so I need to know what to shoot for. If anyone using Integrated to play, do you have any pointers to maximize playabilty. For example, is there a way to take the game out of DX9 and take it back to DX8. I know you would lose alot of the visuals, ALOT, but it seems like in the options menu it indicates what DX version your on like you could possible pull it down to DX8 and run it.

Anyhow, thanks for any replies on this.

P.S. Hi, I'm new LOL

scrinner · Jul 07, 2007, 06:09 AM // 06:09

Put the quality down and it'll work. Thats the first thing.

Lagg · Jul 07, 2007, 07:57 PM // 19:57

Double post, please delete.

Lagg · Jul 07, 2007, 08:01 PM // 20:01

Use the -dx8 and -noshader switches.

http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Command_line

In-game, disable pretty much all visual candy, low quality textures, no reflections, the works.

Especially Post-process effects and Anti-Aliasing are framerate killers.

It won't look pretty, but it will run.

Check out this review of current mobile video card solutions:

http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=2757

Personally, I'm running an Nvidia Go 7600 on my laptop, which is already overkill for GW.

But do try to get one step up from integrated, unless you really need better mobility at all costs.

Malice Black · Jul 07, 2007, 08:40 PM // 20:40

When you do purchase a new laptop look into the 7600 or 7900 it is more then enough for GW and will play most modern games at med settings.

If you fancy a high end card the the 7950GTX is the card to get BUT it only comes in 17" and above laptops.

tijo · Jul 07, 2007, 09:14 PM // 21:14

Look for a laptop with a GeForce 7600 or above or an ATI x1600 or above. You can look into the toshiba A100 models, there are some with good video cards, HP and other brands also have good video cards. Just expect to have to pay something around 1600$(canadian) or above, if you want something with a good video card.

techguy84 · Jul 08, 2007, 08:22 AM // 08:22

Thanks for all the answers you guys. I just found out about the -dx8 switch.

I had rented a Dell Inspiron 9400 which comes with a Intel Core Duo and 1GB of Ram. Good specs for a laptop, but it had the Intel GMA 950 in it. It was a awesome laptop with a 17" widescreen.

I looked into buying one at Dell, but configured with the GeForce Go 7900GS was a little out of what I could afford atm. I can get one at $899 with the integrated, and down the road upgrade it once I have more money to do so. Now I know most of you will say thats impossible, but its not if you do it right. For about $400 roughly, It can be upgrade using a refurb motherboard with the MXM slot, or what ever it is, and then the card itself. Have to play with the heat sink and pipe a little bit, but it can be done. It will cost me roughly 100 more to do it this way, but if I had the other 300 in the first place, I probably wouldnt be here.

Anyhow though, I have been in and out of GW since Prophecies come out, and I am finding myself this time getting into it more than ever, and since I will be on the road in a new career, I just wanted to see what my options were for this game in peticular.

Thanks for all the help guys. Im gonna try running my copy on my Desktop and see what the difference between DX9 and DX8 is in this game, other than the lighting lol.

UPDATE - Wierd how that works out, but my desktop is a Intel Core 2 Duo e6400 with 2GB of ram, and a ATI Radeon X1900GT, and when I turned off shaders, set it for DX8, and dropped all visuals to low quality, my performance bottmed out. I normally rund at 160-200 FPS with everything maxed, but now it wont even crack 100 unless I am on the login screen. Go figure huh lol.

shanaya · Jul 08, 2007, 08:31 AM // 08:31

The little laptop I'm using right now (Medion Sim2000) has integrated SiSM661 graphics which I have set to 256mb. This runs Guild Wars very nicely - not a high frame rate but very playable.