Ordering Lappy w/ 8600m GT: Games?

I was just wondering what games you guys recommend, I am ordering a new Vostro 1500. The specs include a T7250, 8600m GT (DDR2 of course), 2GB of ram, and a 160GB HDD. All for around $830. Oh and I get the extended battery with that.

I already know that I am going to get The Orange Box, CoD4, Crysis, and probably UT3. I know that for the most part, Crysis excluded, the 8600 will run these games pretty well, and Crysis running "OK".

Also, what does OCing require?

I know that Riva Tuner and Updated Drivers help, but is there anything else?

Thanks.

 

some drivers OC better than others; some drivers are inherently more or less stable. just one of those things. I've found 169.32 to work well. Of course, a week from now when your machine ships, more drivers will be out. Nvidia rocks like that. Just ask what driver to use when you get your machine.

I would do a clean install of the operating system when you get the machine, I would also recommend NOT buying crysis, on account of the fact that the game is boring and doesn't run very well.

have you already ordered your machine? You could possibly save even MORE money (and get more memory) by ordering the lowest ram option from dell and then just buying 4 gigs straight up from newegg (2x2gig modules)

 

I may just see what Crysis is like from the demo first, I really don't know.

The lowest ram option right now is 2GB, I am pretty lucky, not having to pay extra like the Home side. I'm ordering it tomorrow anyway, so nothing is final.

I've heard before that its good to do a clean install as you state, you know that there is no crapware in the Vostro line. Oh and also, I'm not sure if it comes with a clean install CD, it may just have the factory image CD, I'm not sure.

 

There's a new 225 off 999 and above laptops for Inspirons right now if you're interested.

 

Thanks for the heads up, but my system is priced out at 1200 with a savings of around 360. Anyways, I actually want Vista *GASP*

Hilarity ensues.

 

Nope, no laughing, 3/4 of the population here likes Vista, including me.

 

Yeah, I kinda get sick of the bashing by that quarter of the population who are XP Fanboys.

I think of Vista like New Coke, most people like it, but the small percentage of the people who don't like it make a huge fuss about it.

I don't see the merit to the claims that Vista will be the next ME, I'm not sure that the people who say those types of things have experienced the horrid experience that is ME.

My first laptop was an ME laptop (Dell), I had problems left and right. I use Vista day in and day out at school and at home. I don't see the crime against humanity that people who are anti-vista make it out to be.

At least someone agrees with me...

 

its probably it COD4 orange box and crysis. or Wait till assassin creed release if u dun hav a ps3 or 360, same goes to DMC4.

 

I'm getting Bioshock soon, heard great things about it, has a very interesting atmosphere about it.

 

I can guarantee you 100% that I had experienced the horror that is ME, on a not so power PC as well, just imagine ME's already horrified stability with the slow CPU speed, it was hell back then.

I hope by "Small percentage" you are referring only to the members of this board. Anyhow, I found that most of the average users who doesn't game or require the machine to perform some resource intensive task tend to stick with Vista that ship with their laptop. Well, because it looks pretty, I guess when you are not doing anything besides checking email and surfing webs, looks and the impressiveness of the overall beauty of the "desktop" suddenly become important.

Also, don't assume all XP fan boy (users) bash Vista, and its respective users, for one I don't. I am using XP, but I really want to switch back to Vista, but the gaming performance is just not cutting it for me right now, once Microsoft decided to straighten out their priorities, I will switch.

On Topic: 8600m GT is a very capable card, but the DDR2 can be a bit limiting on the performance of the card in newer games. Otherwise, it cuts though older games like a hot knife against butter. (I hope I didn't mess up the saying, English isn't my first language).

 

it's "like a hot knife through butter."

the games mentioned in this thread will keep you busy for a while. also try FEAR, Riddick, STALKER.

 

all the games in my sig play well on my 8600m gt ddr2 except for gears and its stuttering.

 

A 8600M GT is a good card. It'll run lots of games well. Source based games are really kind to all systems, even older ones. Thats what I like about HL2 and other Source based games. Crysis is more like some sick massochist that wants to hurt your PC.

 

Ive heard that the ATI Mobility Radeon HD2600 is basically
ATI'S version of the Nvidia 8600M GT and the performance
of the two GPU'S are almost identical is this true?

 

I've heard that also, but the Nvidia still has better performance on either versions when comparing them respectively.

 

Not quite "identical", although close. An 8600M GT probably scores about 300 more 3dmarks in 3dm06 than a Mobility 2600.

 

I just ordered it, my dad let me buy it a day early...

Here's for waiting, the 19th can't come soon enough.

 

8600gt should run all the current games today and probably through this year. but im not so sure about the next games. crysis came out too early imo

 

COD4
Orange Box
Far Cry
FEAR
Prey