Advice needed re new notebook for Team Fortress 2

Hello all,

Just wanted some advice really. I've managed to get my gf hooked playing Team Fortress 2 on my PC. It runs fine on my computers so no problems there. We've installed it on her laptop however and it's running into problems as the laptop is nearly 2 years old (specs in a sec). Now we were thinking of perhaps selling the laptop to replace it with a newer model, however we are on a tight budget so can only really afford £500 (~$1000) (after hopefully selling the old laptop for ~£300 (~$600)). We're looking at another laptop in particular so I'll post both sets of specs. We would appreciate your advice as I know next to nothing about notebook gaming. Will the newer computer fair better and if not are there any others in our price range that would?

Thanks in advance, here's the specs:

Current Computer:
HP Pavillion dv4277
Pentium M 740 @ 1.7GHz
1GB Ram
ATI Mobility Radeon X700

Possible new computer:
Samsung R60+ Aura
Intel Core 2 Duo @ 1.66Ghz
2GB Ram
ATI Radeon X1250

Thanks a lot

 

The ATi Radeon X1250 actually lacks any vertex shaders therefore the CPU must handle them. It's an integrated solution and like any other integrated system, it pretty much sucks, but not as bad as Intel X3100

I'd stay with the older machine for a bit while longer as prices come down some or if you want to act now, go for something with at least an 8400GS or 8400GT, as they are pretty good GPUs for the "low end segment" and would easily play TF2 pretty nicely, maybe at full max settings.

 

I know that Ati x1600 256MB runs TF2 at 1280x800 all on high. 1680x1050 needs a bit of settings lowering. CPU is C2D. Loading times a bit long on my Vista 2GB RAM, 5400 rpm disk. Once it is loaded it is flawless, no issues whatsoever.

I hope this helps,

Ivan

 

An 8400m GS can easily play that game on all high minus AA on 1280*800

No motion blur but is far cry from unplayable. Motion Blur is cool but not a must.

 

OVERCLOCK THE X700!!! THYRE AWESOME CARDS! IF i hadn't just bought a second old laptop...i would have made you an offer on that one (im in the U.K and so are you by the sounds of it) sorry mate...a little late...

are you fussed by how high the graphical quality is...or do you (or she) just want a playable game?

 

Well I just got a new vostro 1500 and so far I can play cod uo, and half life 1 the anthology and mine has the 8600m gt...

 

just keep in mind that TF2 will run slower than HL2 so don't assume you'll get similar results as CSS. i don't know what it is but it may be the textures and decals.