Just ordered Vostro 1400 with GeForce 8400 GS...

...and was wondering how well this would do with 'less than Crysis' for some games like 'Half-Life 2', 'Doom 3', or 'Roller Coaster Tycoon 3'. Here is what I got:

-Intel T5270
-2GB RAM
-128MB GeForce 8400M GS
-160GB 5400 RPM HD
-DVD/CD RW combo
-14" 1440x900 screen
-9-cell battery
-2 year standard warranty
-Vista Premium (I can always toss on XP if I want, but waiting for SP1)

This is the computer I got instead of some Best Buy special with an Intel X3100, so it looks like I have about 3X the graphics performance - but is that OK for casual games that are a year or so old? I understand I will need to play these games at lower graphics settings and maybe below the native resolution, but should they at least be playable?

Thanks! This is a Christmas present, and its main use is school, not games, so it does not need to be a gaming monster (have a nice desktop for that).

 

I havent got any of the games you've mentioned, however Star Wars Battlefront 2 (which is a 2005 vintage game) plays perfectly at medium graphics (running native resolution 1280x800) on my HP using the same video card and quite similar specs. Havent tried pushing it further (medium is what i use on my desktop) but it probably would.

Grand Admiral

 

this is a pretty good setup. you can easily play those types of games at a good resolution and descent settings.

 

Good, thats what I was hoping to hear

I plan on also doing everything I can to tweak the computer to its best and fastest.

Hopefully in the next month, I will also build a new gaming desktop with a Q6600, 4GB, geForce 8800GT 512MB, etc. and OC the sucker - so this laptop is the auxiliary.

 

you'll be fine, i can run COD4 at 1024x768 on medium so stuff like HL2 will probably run on high

 

You have the 8400 GS? That's good to hear because I plan to experience what COD4 is all about.

On sale: http://www.gogamer.com/viewproduct....80&AID=2202820&PID=1225267&SID=sduidp0t688436

 

With maxed settings save for the AA/AF (which are set to the third to lowest setting for each for me) I get around 45fps on Source, dropping to maybe 25ish with lots of people. I'm on 1GB of RAM while i wait for my other two to arrive.

HL2 should be no problem with the 8400. Same with Doom 3.

 

Nice! I think this computer might be better than I expect.

 

You should be good to go with all the previously mentioned games, save Crysis.

Work smarter, not harder.

 

I have to be honest, posts like this really bug me.

What's the point of asking how the games'll run? You already bought the laptop, you're going to find out when it gets here anyhow.

That's ignoring the fact that you're just asking questions that have already been answered here (I believe the 8400M GS has its own thread no less). I understand you're anxious to see how your shiny new laptop will perform - I've got one with an 8400M GS on the way that I'm looking forward to putting through its paces - but you didn't need to start a thread to do it, and it's pointless to ask the question since you're just going to be playing it in a week anyhow.

 

Whoa, step back. The OP's excited, give him a little slack. If everyone said "It's a POS" then maybe he'd cancel his order and save a few bucks to bump up to an 8600m GT or something. Who knows. This is a forum, it's for discussion.

 

I think maybe he means the number of "less informative" threads is on the rise.

I been finding more general type threads in these forums lately, simple sales questions like which brand is better etc. which is fine and can lead to bigger discussions.

But some people might be looking for more technical and interesting threads after reading thousands of the same general threads. I like notebookreview.com forums as people tend to be more mature, stick to facts, and some threads can be very informative.

Making use of the search function to research information allready available before posting a simple thread is much more efficent way of using forums and will reduce the amount of information overload other forums users have to filter through.

I think there is heaps of other threads on the Vostro 1400 allready (And a partically large one on overclocking the 8400M GS) people might just be irritated that a new thread was started when it could have just be continued in a allready existing thread.

 

Because I just ordered a $900 toy and am curious as to what I can expect?

 

Problem is a lot of times that when you search for a certain topic you get a thread that is like 50 pages long and can't find what you're specifically looking for.

 

Exactly^^. Thats why I always wonder if anyone bothers to search the forums. Especially as the forum i want todes not come up anyway.

Oh and those games wil run fine, and your laptop is a nice setup

Call of duty 4 works very good on my system.