How do I tell if a laptop that I do not posses meets the requirements of a game?
is there some place where I can figure this out automatically? Or, do I need to go through a laptop's specs line by line?
How do I know if one type of processor is better than another? To figure this out, do I need to do research?
Here's the specs in question:
MINIMUM:
OS: Windows 7 x86 or newer
Processor: AMD Athlon II X4 640 @ 3.0 Ghz / or Intel Core 2 Quad 9400 @ 2.66 Ghz
Memory: 2 GB RAM
Graphics: AMD HD 5770 / or Nvidia GTX 460, with 1024MB VRAM. Latest available WHQL drivers from both manufacturers.
DirectX: Version 9.0c
Network: Broadband Internet connection
Storage: 4 GB available space
Sound Card: Direct X 9.0c- compatible sound card
Additional Notes: Controller support: 3-button mouse, keyboard and speakers. Special multiplayer requirements: Internet Connection or LAN for multiplayer.
edit: Because there was confusion.
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I so, so wish I could give Steam permission to read my system specs and recommend software with compatible minimum requirements.
ReplyDeleteYou can't? WTF.
ReplyDeleteWhat version of Windows are your running?
ReplyDeleteYou used to be able to right click on the my computer icon and get a "properties" that you could click and that would have most of that information for you. Plus, right clicking on your C:drive will tell you how much space you have available.
In Windows 10 there does not seem to be one place to find those things. I'm still exploring.
I believe if you go to about system it should tell you the clock speed of your processor and maybe the memory of your video card too
ReplyDeleteAnd there it is, Start button, Settings, About...
ReplyDeleteJust didn't scroll far enough down.
My current windows laptop is a POS that I use to run games from GoG; shit from the 90s. It was $400 like 3 years ago. It has a cracked (touch) screen, and is nearing the end of life.
ReplyDeleteI'd be buying a laptop for the purpose of a video game, but I don't know how to find out if a laptop that isn't in my possession is sufficiently good.
If you're buying it from a retailer, that info should all be on the website in the description or specs field.
ReplyDeleteThe don't make it clear but they will post the clock speed buried in the detailed specs. I'd think on a laptop, a current generation is or better should do the trick
ReplyDeleteSure, Mickey Schulz.
ReplyDeleteSo, the game requires:
Processor: AMD Athlon II X4 640 @ 3.0 Ghz / or Intel Core 2 Quad 9400 @ 2.66 Ghz
Looking at laptops at microsoftstore.com, I see:
Intel Celeron N3050
Intel Atom Z3775
Intel Atom x5 - Z8500
to figure out if these are better than or equal to the Intel Core 2 Quad 9400, do I need to research? Do I need to do a wikiwalk to determine the relative quality of processors?
For CPUs, I would just use Tom's Hardware chart:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/cpu-hierarchy,4312.html
That way you don't need to know details, you just see what's relatively in the same performance tier.
They also have charts for other things like graphic cards.
This is also one reason why I switched back to console gaming...
ReplyDeleteWilliam Nichols, it looks like those are using Mobile processors which are weaker. For example that celeron is only a 1.6 ghz processor. If you want to game, you should get a full sized laptop or a desktop, otherwise getting a decent processor costs a fortune
ReplyDeleteok.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like such a laptop is easily $1,000. I'm not willing to pay that to play.
So, back to games from the 90s.
Thanks everyone.
ReplyDeleteUgh. Sorry for my poor reading comprehension. It's before noon. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.
ReplyDeleteMickey Schulz no problem. All I really needed to do was to put the name of the processor into the windows store, and see that the prices start at > $1,000. That's enough to know I'm priced out of the market.
ReplyDeleteAck.
ReplyDeleteIf your willing to go desktop, you can easily blow away those requirements for $550. http://www.bestbuy.com/site/hp-envy-desktop-intel-core-i5-12gb-memory-2tb-hard-drive-brushed-metal/4370501.p?id=1219738783775&skuId=4370501
ReplyDeleteOtherwise, I think the processor is a bit misleading. Given the ram requirement, my guess is that those specs are from a few years ago. A current midrange processor should be fine even for a laptop (but probably not a tablet processor).
Absolutely no space for a desktop.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like if you can get away with an all in one, it's about $850, but does take up some desk space. I'd say at that point a laptop is probably the better deal
ReplyDeleteGot a url for me, David Rothfeder ?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.bestbuy.com/site/dell-inspiron-23-8-touch-screen-all-in-one-intel-core-i5-12gb-memory-1tb-hard-drive-silver-black/4473300.p?id=1219751170407&skuId=4473300
ReplyDeleteThat's a desktop. I have no place for it.
ReplyDeleteI thought you were referring to the all in one. This laptop should be more than enough http://www.bestbuy.com/site/lenovo-edge-2-15-6-2-in-1-touch-screen-laptop-intel-core-i7-8gb-memory-1tb-hard-drive-gunmetal/4525501.p?id=1219757972468&skuId=4525501
ReplyDeleteThanks for the quick research, David Rothfeder
ReplyDeleteI think I am not willing to pay $800 for a $40 game. The enjoyment per hour per dollar is too low.
Compare to board games! Between Two Cities is $30, as compared to ~900 all in. That's 3% of the price!
But I suspect for this game you can get away with something like this http://www.bestbuy.com/site/acer-aspire-15-6-laptop-intel-core-i5-4gb-1tb-hard-drive-gray-black/4961000.p?id=bb4961000&skuId=4961000
ReplyDelete... But that falls short of the processor requirement. And it has integrated graphics instead of a process with a gig of ram.
ReplyDeleteOh I hear you. I went a long time between computers. I think I did drop like $800, but gaming isn't my primary reason for needing a computer. The best thing about boardgames is if you do know people who put $800+ a year into the hobby (I might know a few) you can just play with them.
ReplyDeleteOr buy one new board game a year for $50, all in! And not need a thousand dollar piece of equipment to play them that needs to be replaced every couple of years.
ReplyDeleteGah. I wish I liked video games enough to pay for them. Even this game I balk at the price, and it is literally my favorite genre ever.
True, but funny things have been going on with processors ever since they went into multiple cores. Sometimes numbers don't line up how they used to (hence the list posted earlier). I'm not as familiar with what's changed from the Intel 2's to the I series but I suspect based on the other requirements (windows 7 and 2gb of ram) that the current tech probably has some other means to compensate. The model I think will get by has more ram than the regular requirements and video card requirements put together. In anycase you can always load the game, play it for the weekend on medium settings, and return it if it's problematic
ReplyDeleteProcessors <cardboard addiction<rpg's
ReplyDeleteGood game capable laptops are always in the $1000 and up range for modern games. They need to have a separate graphics processor and memory to be useful for most high end games, and most business systems lack that.
ReplyDelete