Will this laptop be any good for gaming?

[Alfred K]

Hello! In my search for a new laptop that could handle video games I stumbled across a machine that has these specs:

• Processor Intel Core i3-2330M 2.2GHz 3MB cache
• 15,6" HD LED (1366x768)
• 8GB DDR3 RAM
• MB Intel HM65 chipset
  
  • Graphics Card Nvidia GeForce GT 540M 2GB
  • Wifi, 10/100/1000 LAN, 2xUSB 2.0, 1xUSB 3.0, VGA, HDMI, Bluetooth, kõrvaklapiväljund,
  
  
• DVDRW DL
• 750GB S-ATA 8MB cache
• Battery: 6cells, ~5,5 hours

The processor may be swapped for an i5.
I want to be able to play games like Medieval 2 and Arma 2 on my laptop. Searching online gave me quite strange answers. Some people claim that this graphics card can run battlefield 3 with 45+ fps at all time, others claim that Arma 2 is like a slideshow. So, is this laptop any good for gaming and worth getting? All help is appreciated

[irishron]

It will handle Medieval2. I know nothing about ARMA2.

[Alfred K]

It will handle Medieval2. I know nothing about ARMA2.

Thank you! Being able to play Med. 2 is a great relief

Arma2 is VERY CPU intensive, recommended specs for the game suggest a quad core Intel @ 2.8GHz. Even the best machines struggle with it so getting any laptop to play it would difficult anyways. With the last gen core i3 and the 540M it will be pretty sluggish.

Here are some benchmarks for the GTX 540M

http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-...M.41715.0.html

Most games are playable (30+ fps) on low or med with the card and the test setup. Med2 should be no problem. I can play Med2 on highest settings on my Core 2 Duo with a 9800GTM.

Thanks for the information. Turns out that this graphics card is actually more powerful than my current one . Seems that I will be able to play some of my favorite games after all.

check out this website, types in the games you want to be able to play, and there should be a spec section on each game where you put in your laptop/desktop specs and it tells you whether the game is playable http://www.game-debate.com/

Ah, it is good to see hardware test tools that don't detect your computer's system specs automatically. Thank you!

Okay, now I'm quite a bit smarter. So, one final question: is this laptop worth getting in your opinion?

[DisgruntledGoat]

Arma2 is VERY CPU intensive, recommended specs for the game suggest a quad core Intel @ 2.8GHz. Even the best machines struggle with it so getting any laptop to play it would difficult anyways. With the last gen core i3 and the 540M it will be pretty sluggish.

Here are some benchmarks for the GTX 540M

http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-...M.41715.0.html

Most games are playable (30+ fps) on low or med with the card and the test setup. Med2 should be no problem. I can play Med2 on highest settings on my Core 2 Duo with a 9800GTM.

[The Roman Republic]

check out this website, types in the games you want to be able to play, and there should be a spec section on each game where you put in your laptop/desktop specs and it tells you whether the game is playable http://www.game-debate.com/

[DisgruntledGoat]

What are you paying for it and who is the manufacturer?

[Alfred K]

What are you paying for it and who is the manufacturer?

I'm paying 550 euros for it and it is manufactured by Ordi (a small local company)
their website (english language avalable) http://www.ordi.ee/EPood/

[DisgruntledGoat]

Unfortunately I can't speak to the build quality, it is in the standard price range for laptops with those components.

[karamazovmm]

its a compal chassis, its good enough.

I would recommend going for a 640m at least, the difference in power is great.

However you have to pay attention to not buy a fermi card instead of a kepler card, the difference in power and heat is just too great in mid range cases, in the high end the difference in power from the 680m to the 675m is gigantic, you need 2x 675m to be a little bit faster.

Fermi = 48 cores (610m)
Fermi = 96 cores (620m/630m/640m)
Fermi = 144 cores (640m)
Kepler = 384 cores (640m/650m/660m)
Fermi = 336 cores (670m)
Fermi = 384 cores (675m)
Kepler = 1344 cores (680m)

[Bolkonsky]

I can play it on my i3 2.4 and 5650, so ArmA 2 will be playable, but not great.

[Alfred K]

OK, thanks for the reply