HP dv2845se - Game savy?

Hi, I recently bought a HP dv2845se laptop and realized that it might not be capable of playing the new games. At best buy, the price tag said it was "a true gaming computer" but now I'm a little bit skeptical having looked up the graphics card and stuff. I haven't opened the box, so it can be easily returned. Tell me what you think:
It has:
4gb of ram
2.1 GHz AMD processor (AMD Turion(TM) 64 X2)
1600Mhz System Bus
512KB + 512KB at die Level 2 Cache Memory
NVIDIA GeForce Go 7150M (UMA)
Up to 1071MB of Video memory
64 bit Vista Home Premium
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...=product&tab=2&id=1204924952362#productdetail

I think that's all the stuff needed to determine its power. Do you think it is capable of running the newer games such as COD4 and stuff. I'm not expecting them to be on the highest settings. Does the large amount of ram make up for the processor/graphics card?

 

That's an IGP(integrated graphics processor) Not a gaming card. You can probably play call of duty 4 on it but it will look like crap.

Return it and start a thread in the what notebook should i buy forum

 

Return it. Best Buy is genius with the whole "Gaming" thing.

When I was looking for a Sony notebook, (best build quality, my opinion), they actually told me Dlna was Sony's own GPU.

Seriously.

 

I think that there really needs to be some worldwide rating for PC's including laptops. Unfortunately, Vista's WPI is a joke, and we need a real one, regulated by some independant organisation.

 

Well, from what I can tell, its got an "okay" graphics card and a really fast processor and a ton of ram. Does this make up for the graphics card? It also says up to 1071MB of Video Memory, implying that it shares memory from the ram? But even if it takes a whole gigabyte, it is still ahead of average computers because it will have 3 gbs left.

I looked at a few "gaming" laptops and the one that interested me had a slower Intel processor and a lower system bus, but it had 1 mb more cache memory and 3gb of ram. It also had a ATI Mobility Radeon HD 2600 XT graphics card. The thing is, its the same price (given that the other one wasn't on sale). So why would that one be better?

heres the link:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...=6850&lp=1&type=product&cp=1&id=1205537513321

 

It doesn't matter if it can share 2.5G of RAM for the GPU, it's still not dedicated. Shared Ram does very little in gaming. In order of importance for gaming-

GPU, RAM, CPU.

This can vary, depending on the game, but for most games that is the order. The HD2600XT is leaps and bounds over the 7150M. The CPU can always be upgraded later, and RAM is so dirt cheap, (2G for $30), you need to find a system with a good GPU. The 7150m is not.

 

calling the 7150m an "okay" gaming card is a pretty heavy stretch of the imagination.

it should be able to RUN most games (they will launch, which is more than can be said for some integrated graphics chips) but you will need to run semi-modern games at the lowest resolution and minimum settings just to get playable framerates.

the hd 2600xt IS a legitimate mid range gaming card. it can play all the games on the market, no problem. probably medium settings and resolution in most cases. even crysis.

the cpu just needs to be modern. any reasonably clocked core 2 duo processor is fine (2 ghz and above). ram is dirt cheap these days, you can get 4 GB of ram for $50.

 

There's a possible mistake on that, though - I think the machine he points to (gateway M-6850FX) Best Buy claims has an HD 2600 XT, but it's questionable whether it indeed is a TRUE HD 2600 XT, or a standard HD 2600.

Just an FYI....

Also, as other have said, yeah, the GO 6150 UMA is basic integrated gfx - nothing to game on. If you can move up to $1099, they have the Gateway P-6860FX on a TREMENDOUS sale - and it WILL indeed game! It is, however, a 17" laptop. If you are REALLY set on the DV28xx series, then go to www.shopping.hp.com, and build one off the 2800T artist series, which has good starting specs, and has a 128MB GeForce Go 8400M GS GPU in it, while still being the 14.1" form factor.

Willy had a good suggestion - return it, and then go to the "What should I buy
section, fill out the FAQ form, and post it as a thread. There's a bunch of good guys on here that will give advice. I know I've been reading for days and days now, trying to educate myself so i can make my decision.

Best of luck!


T

 

It is the gaming notebook for late 1990's/early 2000's game, not for today's game

 

Ok. Which cards should I look for or avoid? I want to be able to play the modern games, but it is by no means my top priority. The computer will be mainly used for school. The graphics aren't too important either, as long as i don't have to play minimum settings on everything.

 

Recommend an 8600m gt (not gs), 9500m, 8800m gts (not gs), 8800m gtx. (power of cards listed in order) Those are geforce cards. an Ati radeon 3600 something series card would also suffice.

(Note: All cards listed next are wayyyyyy better than a 7150m)

For light gaming.......an geforce 8400m, an 8600m gs.......on the ati side.....an radeon hd 3200 integrated card (machine should have a processor that says Turion X2 Ultra (key word ULTRA, new tech maybe hard to find right at this time)), a radeon 3450 is good too. For older notebooks a 7600 or better would make for a good refubished. (i have a geforce 7900gs (sorta of current midrange power on mine, and its a big 17in notebook, but its still pretty powerful).

8600m gt & 9500m will be in 15.4in notebooks. the 8800m gs and gtx are in 17 in. notebooks.

Buy online instead, a good deal can be had with coupon codes from this site as well as others, maybe check out slickdeals.net every so often and you'll get lucky. Maybe you could get a refurbished one? A new decent gaming notebook can be had for around $1000usd.

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=39568

 

Yeah best buy and compusa have a way of labeling certain PCs for certain tasks in which they cannot do well or at all. If the PC conatins ATI or Nvidia products its a "gaming monster" according to them, and its all marketing to the not so savvy people. I d recomend starting a thread about which notebook to buy and that should help you out a lot.

 

There is no such thing as a "8800m gs" in notebooks. They have only GTX and the weaker GTS.

 

srry missed the t edited previous post and yer right 8800GTS. Srry for any confusion this may have caused.