Real-time strategy

First off, let me list the specs.

HP Pavilion dv6500t
Windows Vista Home Premium
Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo T7300 (2.0GHz/4MB L2Cache)
2GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm)
383MB NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS (128 dedicated plus shared)
120GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive

Ok, my concern is whether or not my notebook can handle recent ('05-'07) real-time strategy games. I know my machine will not be able to run Command and Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars and Starcraft 2 is way out of the question. Any suggestions or alternatives to the previously mentioned titles?

 

I think you're mistaken. The dv6500t and its 8400M GS should be more than capable of running Tiberium Wars, and it will DEFINITELY handle SCII when it comes out.

 

Yeah, what TORCH said. The 8400M GS will easily be able to handle Command and Conquer 3. Definitely not ultra high, but it will run fine.

 

Really? After reading several threads related to my graphics card and its capabilities, I thought the 8400M GS was only good for really light gaming. The 8400M GS is considered to be bottom of the barrel, right?

 

Not really, it's a decent card, just not as good as some of the newer DX8 cards. Your system is powerful enough to compensate somewhat I think.

 

you can easily run C&C3, and even easier SC2.

 

Not at all. In fact, its still in debate as to whether the 8400M GS will be able to run Crysis! I believe Chaz said he thought it would, albeit on low-medium settings.

I'm assuming by DX8 that you meant either DX10/DX9 compatible, or that you mean the nVidia GeForce 8 Series.

 

I can run Tiberian Wars @ Medium Graphic, 1024x768 with a Nvidia 7400Go smoothly... but will choke when there is too many stuff rendered on screen. The 8400M GS is like 2x faster than my gpu, do you think it cannot run?

 

Well, if it isn't already obvious, my knowledge of graphic cards is limited. I'm still doubtful about purchasing Command and Conquer 3. Will multiplayer cause trouble?

I'm curious to know the system requirements for Starcraft 2. I expect them to be pretty steep.

 

There is a bit of a "you must have the very latest/best" sense to this forum, that's probably why you thought 8400 GS was low-end. True, it's not the best available, but it should run any new game fine - you just might have to have a little below maximum settings. Which isn't a killer - you really don't need 32x anti-aliasing and 16x anisotropic filtering.

The 8400 GS is probably a medium-end card of the newest generation, so it should be able to at least run new games for a couple years to come, longer with some titles.

I doubt it would cause multiplayer trouble, either. Chances are someone will have a worse card, and Internet connections are usually the real limiting factor anyways (in my RTS experience at least).

Another good RTS series is Age of Empires. I've run their newest game (Age of Empires III) on an nVIDIA MX440 (probably would be called 4400 GS if made today) and it works fine, so the 8400 GS would run it excellently. If you can, run demos of the games you're curious about to see how they run before purchasing.

 

Lol. Its ok that you don't know; that's what we're here for (although my facts should often be checked )
Multiplayer should not make a difference in how the GPU works.

There are no current published system requirements for SCII

Blizzard wants to sell as many copies as possible, so they make their games to be able to run on ALL systems (think WoW). Most likely it will be highly scalable in nature, and will run smoothly on MANY systems, albeit with different settings.

 

Hehe yeah. Meant DirectX 10 compatible.

Crysis will be DirectX 9 compatible right?

 

Glad to know I chose the right forum. Thanks for the help guys!
I have never downloaded a demo before and I don't have a lot of storage so I am little hesitant.

Besides Command and Conquer, Starcraft, and Age of Empires, what other quality RTS games or series deserve a mention?

 

The good thing about demos is after you're done with them you can always delete them to get the space back. Here's a link for the Command and Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars demo. I didn't find a Starcraft II demo (there might not be one right now). I've always had good luck with FileFront as a download source that doesn't require signing up, so given a choice I usually use them.

I'm guessing it'll take 3 GB for both the installed demo and the .zip download, which can thereafter be immediately deleted. Hopefully you have 3 GB on the 120 GB dv6500t hard drive? If not, I'm sure you can get advice on an external hard drive here as well!

 

Lol. I figured.

Yes. Crysis is supposed to be DirectX 9 compatible.

There is no SCII demo available at this time, but they did have several stations running it at Blizzcon... maybe someone ghosted it?

 

Thanks for the link. So, all I have to do is delete ALL the files and I'll get the space back? Sheesh, I feel like a total newb when it comes to technical stuff.

 

120Gb is still quite a lot.. mind do i ask, wat ya have to fill the 120gb?

 

The 8400 GS can run CC3, but at what settings and what FPS?

I have a 256mb 8400M GT and I can play CC3 only at medium settings, without AA at 1028x800 with only 15-20 fps. It slows down even more when playing multiplayer.

 

It's not multi player that slows it down really. It's the fact that there may be more units ON SCREEN at a time than in campaign. Also, I used to run CnC3 on Medium settings on my GMA 950.

If the 8400M GT can't do more than that, I am VERY happy my bro didn't get the M1330 with the 8400M GS.

The 8400M is a garbage card. I have finally seen how bad it is, lol

Now, again, for ME it's a horrible card. For others who just want to run RTS or light games it will be fine.

I play all new games, though.

 

Not possible, even my 7400Go can play it on medium without aa and af at more than 20fps. Did you set ur laptop power to full?

 

hmmm... are you sure there isn't some deeper problem?
The 8400mGT is pretty much the same card as the 8400mGS, and I know you can run CC3 better than that on it.
Its true that its an average card at best, but I believe it usually performs better than that.

 

Well, it is not completely filled yet. I'm just a little paranoid about lost space. When I was younger I completely destroyed my father's '96 Sony VAIO desktop, bad memories of excessive PlayerWorlds downloading and viruses come to mind.

Yeah, what he said.

 

another good RTS is Company of Heroes. i have it and i rly love it. good campaign/single player and fun multiplayer

 

Yes, it is set to high performance mode. I am using gpu driver 162.18 from laptopvideo2go.

 

I believe it is a problem with the registry, i had the same problem b4 and some others had the same problem as well. I was running cnc3 very smoothly in the beginning but suddenly the fps dropped half way down. I went to reset my power options (for the gpu, u need to go advance option for the gpu) and it set my gpu to max again. I recommend u to do that. (Move the balance bar to balance and apply, then move it back to max again and apply)

 

I am using vista and I don't see any options to chnage the gpu to max in the power options..only hard drive, display, cpu, wireless, etc. Do you mean using the nvidia control panel?

The 3dmark05 and 06 scores are pretty good though: 4615 and 2632.

 

Yea, i think. I m using XP so i couldnt really tell u where it is. 3dmark will be normal, i tested it also. But when i ran cnc3, the temperature of my gpu is wrong. It was like always at 65celcius but at that time, it barely exceed 60celcius. That's the time i found out something is wrong.
Can you find the powermizer for the nvidia card?
Move the slider around and apply.. then back to max and apply.. and try cnc3 and see if it is faster.

 

I just changed it to performance. I'll try CC3 and see fps at current settings and higher ones. What software do you use to measure gpu temp? I am using speedfan but only gives me cpu core temps. Thanks for the help.

 

I use speedfan as well, i tot all nvidia chips have on board thermal detection.. i ll help u to search around to see if there are any other options.

 

Heres what I get from CC3 with nvidia control panel emphasis on performance:
no aa & 1280x800: nod campaign amazon desert with 30 unit battle
-everything at ultrahigh (high if ultra is not available) 12-14fps
-everything at high 15-16fps
-medium setting and high setting (if medium is not available) 20-22fps
-medium setting and low setting 24fps

 

That's good enuf.. i thought u were running at 1024x768....

 

Well, I run C&C3 at Ultra High; 1440x900 resolution, AA 1x and I get around 20FPS. It fluctuates of course but it's very playable.

 

ok, thanks for the help.

 

The 8400gt has to be able to do better then that GoLeafsGo.

Do you have the latest drivers? Did you make sure your GPU settings are on max performance? Were you running any other applications while this was on?

I suggest you download 3dmark06, run it and tell us what your scores were

 

I have recent gpu drivers (162.18) and my 3dmark05 and 06 scores are pretty good - 4615 and 2632. I'm not sure how else to set the gpu to max performance except using the nvidia control panel and setting the glider all the way to performance. Not doing much else when gaming..unless norton internet security slows it down a lot... GolfLeafsGolf

 

man i have yet to run C&C 3 on my computer. and its making me mad. everytime i go to amazon i forget to order it. but i think its the fact that i cant fully play the game (as in i have no DX10 shader capabilities) but i can play Company of Heroes on High with 2x AA and get around 45 fps. so i imagine i can play C&C 3 on high. native res is the killer though. i just cant bring myself to lower the res. an also its crazy how u can play an RTS @ like 25-30fps and its good but then if u tried and played an FPS at that frame rate it would be unacceptable.

 

You should give CC3 a try as it is a fun game. I agree that you can play RTS at lower fps than FPS because it doesn't rely on "twitch" reactions. I believe that CC3 is capped at a max of 30 fps. I'll see how other games perform on my notebook. I'm not a heavy gamer but I enjoy playing RTS.