This can't be right!

[Saber02]

Less than 5 months ago I spent $4,000 on an Alienware laptop specifically for this game (and a little more for Rome Total War II whenever it comes out). Just bought STWII, and I lag at 1V1. I even lag on low settings when the battle starts, and I was told when purchasing that this computer's not supposed to lag at any game for at least the next 2 years. I'm wondering if there's an incompatibility issue, and if someone else is having the same problem.


PC Specs:

Alienware M17x
-SLI 1GB GDDR3 Nvidia GeForce GTX 285M
-8GB Dual Channel Memory (2x 4GB DDR3)
-Intel Core i7 940XM Quad Core Processor, 2.13GHz (3.33GHz Turbo Mode, 8M Cache)
==I don't know if there are better processors now, but 5 months ago the I7 extremene was the most powerful processor offered in a laptop.

So really, what's the problem here? I just don't get it. If anyone can shed some light on this mystery, it'll be much appreciated. I have also updated my driver but it didn't help.

[NDawg1]

Right click Shogun II in your steam games libary, click properties, go to the local files tab and defrag game cache. Hope that hope although i have no idea why you have any lag with specs like that.

[Saber02]

Thanks,

Keep them coming. This is my 1st time playing a game with Steam, so I'm not sure if it's the reason. I purchased a hard copy to stay away from steam, but found out that everything's through steam anyway.

And I know, $4,000 is ridiculous. Especially for a college student. And it took me "a while" to save it too. Again, I'm a diehard total war fan. It's actually the only game I've played in the last 5+ yrs. Rome, then Medieval, then my old laptop couldn't handle anything else.

But, keep em coming.

[Hullucinate]

You could have a lot of crap clogging up your computer. Start the task manager and look at processes and end any non vital process.

Also..$4000 for a laptop or any computer lolololololol

[Death_Sheep]

Make sure that task manager is not running any extraneous stuff.

Also 4k for a laptop? Dude.

[InF3sTeD]

You would have to be running a lot of stuff in the background inorder to see a performace decrease. I would just tough it out and wait till the first patch is released in a few weeks.

I havin't been hearing many people with Quad core processors having issues with lag since the release but I could be wrong. Perhaps these people could give us some insight.

[Saber02]

Make sure that task manager is not running any extraneous stuff.

Also 4k for a laptop? Dude.

Imagine the look on my face. I ran benchmarks a pc benchmark on the most demanding game out there today, (I think it's Metro 2033), and it said I could run it maxed on high with no problem. Then I install this game and I'm lagging like there's no tomorrow.

I agree, this was an EPIC FAIL

Rich , no way. For a college student that's over a yrs of saving.

P.S., I wanted to be able to play the nxt game coming out. Sucked when everyone could play empire and I was stuck on Stainless Steel after Stainless Steel. Didn't mind though, guns weren't my type.

Also, play another game. Uhhh, I don't have any other games, I'm not rich here. Went cold turkey in order to save up for it. Should've seen me, I was like Rocky training to get to the top. And then I get there and get knocked out. I'm like

[Corvic]

Imagine the look on my face. I ran benchmarks a pc benchmark on the most demanding game out there today, (I think it's Metro 2033), and it said I could run it maxed on high with no problem. Then I install this game and I'm lagging like there's no tomorrow.

I agree, this was an EPIC FAIL

Rich , no way. For a college student that's over a yrs of saving.

P.S., I wanted to be able to play the nxt game coming out. Sucked when everyone could play empire and I was stuck on Stainless Steel after Stainless Steel. Didn't mind though, guns weren't my type.

Also, play another game. Uhhh, I don't have any other games, I'm not rich here. Went cold turkey in order to save up for it. Should've seen me, I was like Rocky training to get to the top. And then I get there and get knocked out. I'm like

I know it's a few months too late for this...but, build your own desktop (if you desperately need a laptop..snag a 400 dollar one.) Cost me 1k to build a high end machine with newegg deals.

As a fellow poor college kid, I can't believe you would drop 4k without researching other options...

Anyways, back on topic...defrag your comp, anti-virus, the works. You probably have some serious software issues going on, because your specs should handle the game.

[Saber02]

I know it's a few months too late for this...but, build your own desktop (if you desperately need a laptop..snag a 400 dollar one.) Cost me 1k to build a high end machine with newegg deals.

As a fellow poor college kid, I can't believe you would drop 4k without researching other options...

Anyways, back on topic...defrag your comp, anti-virus, the works. You probably have some serious software issues going on, because your specs should handle the game.

OOOh trust me, I had a great deal of time to research other options. You can get a desktop with less that's more powerful. Me, I don't have the ample space for a desktop, so laptop was the only choice. Have 1 desk and when it's study time I need to be able to tuck the laptop away.

Also, dell had a 20% off through their college site the time I bought it, otherwise I was planning to purchase the laptop now and get the latest technology. But 20% off bringing it down to 4k seemed too good to pass up.

P.S., I like your avatar. Disturbed's my favorite band too. Their best, "Pain Redefined"...

[lesterthenerd]

if youre rich why not. you know you would...

[Ferdiad]

Less than 5 months ago I spent $4,000 on an Alienware laptop specifically for this game (and a little more for Rome Total War II whenever it comes out). Just bought STWII, and I lag at 1V1. I even lag on low settings when the battle starts, and I was told when purchasing that this computer's not supposed to lag at any game for at least the next 2 years. I'm wondering if there's an incompatibility issue, and if someone else is having the same problem.


PC Specs:

Alienware M17x
-SLI 1GB GDDR3 Nvidia GeForce GTX 285M
-8GB Dual Channel Memory (2x 4GB DDR3)
-Intel Core i7 940XM Quad Core Processor, 2.13GHz (3.33GHz Turbo Mode, 8M Cache)
==I don't know if there are better processors now, but 5 months ago the I7 extremene was the most powerful processor offered in a laptop.

So really, what's the problem here? I just don't get it. If anyone can shed some light on this mystery, it'll be much appreciated. I have also updated my driver but it didn't help.

Why did my pic dissapear?
Again here is my pic.

[Sgt.Valenzuela]

@Ferdiad: that picture made me laugh!!


@Saber02 its a software issue not a hardware issue!

1 way to narrow it down is to play another game if you can that has good graphics. If it lags on that then you might wanna check out drivers? If it doesn't then its S2:TW specific...Also remove and reinstall the game and restart computer and check again.


Edit: well could be hardware but im guessing its software

[Maizel]

A Student with 4K isn't poor.

[Shiloh]

I agree a desktop rig is the way to go. I purchased a used 2-year old rig off Craigslist for $400. and for a few hundred bucks put a new Corsair 650W PSU and a Radeon 5770 card in and right now I'm running S2TW on medium with no lag, high with a bit of lag - not too bad.

Anyhow, to get back on topic I would re-post in the Basement on these forums. I received a lot of assistance when I was getting my rig. Good luck.

Edit: Didn't know you didn't have room for a desktop.

[Elzabar]

Just moved this thread to the Tech Help area

[Saber02]

Did the driver update, didn't help. Will keep trying and googlign different things.

[Shiloh]

With my old NVIDIA card I had issues when NTW came out where I had to use older drivers - the newer ones weren't working properly. Something you may consider looking into.

[Capt. Fozdike]

*cough* desktop *cough*. Never buy a laptop for the sole purpose of gaming, even if you spend 10,000 on a laptop it's still never going to have the power of a desktop and you will still have the usual issues of running games on laptops. It's most likely a driver problem. A lot of demanding games simply will not work on laptops because they require desktop chipsets.

[Totalheadache]

*cough* desktop *cough*. Never buy a laptop for the sole purpose of gaming, even if you spend 10,000 on a laptop it's still never going to have the power of a desktop and you will still have the usual issues of running games on laptops. It's most likely a driver problem. A lot of demanding games simply will not work on laptops because they require desktop chipsets.

this

gaming on a laptop is like sleeping with the devil hehe. still he's young and will learn the error of his ways.

build your own next time

alienware is a fecking rip off!

ok will try and make the op not feel 2 bad. (which he should) but download a program callled driver sweeper and use it in safe mode. install diff drivers.

http://downloads.guru3d.com/Guru3D--...load-1655.html

p.s u should never run at a lower res. if your games are running crap at your native res it's either lack of cpu speed/weakgpu/driver issue or craply optmised game.

could be sli isnt kicking in?

[TW Junkie]

Get the latest drivers from nvidia.com and any other updates, I'm sure alienware has some sort of update management software, everyone does these days. Other than that the game is most likely the problem, not the latptop.

Does it ever seem slow doing any other things with it? I'd definitely try some other games, go buy Crysis Warhead its 50% off on EA right now. If you can run that game even decently, then you know there is no issues with your laptop or operating system and its the game.