Laptop Buying

**Cyclone_04** · February 18, 2011, 09:04 AM

I'm looking at buying a laptop and would like to know if there is much of a difference between an i3 and an i5 processor for running TW games.

processor: New 2010 Intel® Core™ i3-370M (2.4GHz, 4Threads, 3M cache)
memory: 6GB Mem + 500GB 5400RPM HDD
video card: ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD550v, 64-Bit, 1GB, DDR3

Will this run Empire or shogun well?

**irishron** · February 18, 2011, 11:35 AM

Moved.

Don't bet on it. Cpu minimum for Empire, harddrive slow, and low-end graphics chip at best.

**Juli26** · February 18, 2011, 11:44 AM

Originally Posted by Cyclone_04

I'm looking at buying a laptop and would like to know if there is much of a difference between an i3 and an i5 processor for running TW games.

processor: New 2010 Intel® Core™ i3-370M (2.4GHz, 4Threads, 3M cache)
memory: 6GB Mem + 500GB 5400RPM HDD
video card: ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD550v, 64-Bit, 1GB, DDR3

Will this run Empire or shogun well?

sorry but no, it will not run Empire and/or Shogun well. CPU has turbo boost and it's a p good one but it's 2 cores will limit you once you decide to have more troops on the battlefield. However the bad component here is not the cpu but the graphic card. It just plainly sucks. Also if you dont want long loading times you shouldn't pick a 5400rpm drive but 7200rpm or better (ssd's are the fastest)

**Cyclone_04** · February 18, 2011, 01:12 PM

I'm looking for a comp in the $650-750 range.

Any suggestions on an affordable graphics card?
Assuming I can get a decent graphics card, would upgrading to an i5 processor with turbo boost add anything?
Thanks.....

**irishron** · February 18, 2011, 01:43 PM

I suggest you read http://forums.totalwar.com/showthrea...ead-first-post) and go by the recommended specs for decent play or add about 25% for good play.

**karamazovmm** · February 18, 2011, 01:53 PM

there is the acer 3820tg and the acer 4820tg

and the gpu 550v is a 4650, which gives a good medium to high settings. I have a 4670 and I play empire on high

**Juli26** · February 19, 2011, 07:35 AM

Originally Posted by Mr MM

there is the acer 3820tg and the acer 4820tg

and the gpu 550v is a 4650, which gives a good medium to high settings. I have a 4670 and I play empire on high

I thought the 550v was weaker than the 4650 since it's the mobile version of that card = with less stream processors and clocking?

**irishron** · February 19, 2011, 08:34 AM

Any 64-bit chip is going to be slow for Shogun II and the 550v is one.

**karamazovmm** · February 19, 2011, 10:47 AM

any mobile version is slower than its desktop counter part.

and ron is right as usual, the great bottleneck of the card is not the core clocks its the memory clocks. Thats why Im a happy man that can OC the memory clocks up to 1000mhz from stock of 800mhz, and the core goes to desktop levels as well.

But the memory channel isnt 64bit wide its 128bit.

And since my screen is low res, 1366*768, I can play on high empire, for shogun I dont know, Ill let you know when I get mine.