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FFXI and laptopsFollow

#1 May 07 2004 at 4:37 PM Rating: Decent

Scholar

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I was directed here from another thread. http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/forum.html?forum=28&mid=1083945369403002937&num=3

I'm looking to get a laptop for work soon but I would like to be able to play FFXI on it as well. Would a Mobility Radeon 9200 be up to the task or would I need a 9600 version? Anyone already play on a laptop that can handle it so I can compare?

#2 May 08 2004 at 2:14 PM Rating: Decent

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I have played the game on laptops with a Radeon Mobility 7500 (16MB) and a Mobility 9200 (32MB). The 7500 ran the game perfectly @ 800x600, and the 9200 run it great @ 1024x768. Considering most (not all, most) laptop LCDs are natively 1024x768 (yes, i know some come 1280x1024 and 1400x1050, i said most) the game looks and runs great. This was using CPUs @ 2ghz and 2.4 ghz, also 512MB RAM in both laptops.

My biggest piece of advice is to NOT use the video driver from the manufacturer (normal ATI driver won't install without modding the .inf file in the driver) but use the drivers from http://www.omegacorner.com/ . He mods the drivers for better speed and compatibility with Mobilities.

Z

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#3 May 09 2004 at 10:09 PM Rating: Decent

xtremehelix

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I am thinking of playing it on a laptop when I get into University. What laptop would you suggest?

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#4 May 09 2004 at 10:10 PM Rating: Decent

xtremehelix

35 posts

When of course, exclude Alienware and Falcon-NorthWest

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#5 May 10 2004 at 4:45 AM Rating: Excellent

Dread Lord Kaolian

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When picking a laptop for gaming and university work, video card choice is THE most important factor. Get one of the ones with an upgradable graphics card module (dell and HP make some) and the best graphics you can afford. If you have to skimp on ram at first or other accessories to afford the model with a better video card, it will be well worth it. next most important is processor speed. some processors are upgradeabble these days, but for the most part you will be stuck with whatever you choose there. Ram, HD space, etc, all that is upgradeable.

Screen size is nice, but keep in mind you can always get a bigger external monitor. as a matter of fact, you may even want to get a cheap monitor anyways depending on you area of study. A dual monitor setup does wonders for paper writing and computer codeing.

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#6 May 10 2004 at 9:46 AM Rating: Good

CloakedStranger the Wise

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Also keep in mind that the laptops that run FFXI properly will probably be heavy. Most people are getting laptops so they can walk around with them to classes and sit outside and write a paper. Chances are if you're getting a laptop that'll run FFXI nicely, it'll be at least 9lbs. While that may not sound like much, try lugging it around all day, or working with it on your lap. Not fun.

Just something to keep in mind...

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#7 May 10 2004 at 5:03 PM Rating: Decent

Scholar

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This is the one I'm looking at:

http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/default.aspx?EDC=573720

#8 May 15 2004 at 10:48 AM Rating: Decent

xtremehelix

35 posts

It doesn't look like your laptop will be able to handle FF XI smoothly. First, the CPU is only 1.4 GHZ. Having a 1.6 GHZ desktop, the game still runs a bit choppy in Bastok town. Second, the graphic card is 64 MB, but it has no name! I have a Geforce 4 Ti 4200, with 128 MB, as I mentioned before, I still experience lag in town.

You will be able to run FF XI, but not with an enjoyable graphic.

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#9 May 16 2004 at 5:39 PM Rating: Good

CloakedStranger the Wise

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The laptop is a Centrino. Basically it will be equivalent to a Pentium 4 1.9 or 2.0

The video card is a problem though...but on the medium settings, he should be ok. Just can't crank it up to max.

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Burninator, Dwarf Paladin on Lightbringer server.
Lvl 40 and rising.
Proud Officer of <Penguin Nation>

Downtime Tally:
- 01/13/05 16 Hours downtime
- 01/14/05 Server crash while in instance
- 01/16/05 'Unable to log in at this time'
- 01/16/05 Server crashes and rollbacks all evening.
- 01/17/05 30 minute queues to get in. No time to wait to play.
01/18/05 Server down. No reason

#10 May 19 2004 at 10:15 AM Rating: Decent

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Try reading the whole page he linked. It's an ATI MOBILITY RADEON 9200. It will run the game fine at 1024x768 in my experience, just like I said, again, don't run with the OEM drivers if you want good performance.

Z

____________________________

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#11 May 19 2004 at 10:27 AM Rating: Good

CloakedStranger the Wise

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Zandder wrote:

Try reading the whole page he linked. It's an ATI MOBILITY RADEON 9200. It will run the game fine at 1024x768 in my experience, just like I said, again, don't run with the OEM drivers if you want good performance.

Z

Are you sure? Because I'm thinking of sellig my PoS Dell laptop and getting an IBM. Problem is they all come with ATI 9000 mobility chips. A few have the 9200. I really want a laptop that can play games as I'll be away from my desktop more and more.

EDIT: I just read the whole page again thank you. And the native resolution of the screen isn't 1024x768. So the 9200 with 64MB of ram isn't quite going to cut it for the native resolution of a WXGA screen which is something like 1280x800. The game will run, but not at max settings. Medium yes. If you run it at 1024x768, it'll look fuzzy.

Edited, Wed May 19 11:44:26 2004 by CloakedStranger

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Burninator, Dwarf Paladin on Lightbringer server.
Lvl 40 and rising.
Proud Officer of <Penguin Nation>

Downtime Tally:
- 01/13/05 16 Hours downtime
- 01/14/05 Server crash while in instance
- 01/16/05 'Unable to log in at this time'
- 01/16/05 Server crashes and rollbacks all evening.
- 01/17/05 30 minute queues to get in. No time to wait to play.
01/18/05 Server down. No reason

#12 May 20 2004 at 11:42 AM Rating: Decent

Scholar

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The onboard anti-aliasing effect from 1024x768 to 1280x1024 native res and isn't that bad at all, at least when using a mobility. I have run in a situation like this and you don't notice it that much at all.

And even if the 9200 had enough video memory to run it at the native res of the LCD, I don't think you'd want to. I'm sure the frame rate would take a major hit at that res on that mobility.

If you are seriously looking at thinkpads, get one from the T40 series with a mobility 9200 and as much CPU and RAM as you can afford. Great machines, pricey, but solid as a rock.

Z

Edited, Thu May 20 12:43:42 2004 by Zandder

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    Class: BLM/RDM/THF/RNG/WAR   Level: 60/39/20/31/15 
   Server: Pandemonium       LinkShell: Lifestream 
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#13 May 20 2004 at 12:07 PM Rating: Good

CloakedStranger the Wise

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I'm trying to decide between a Compaq and an IBM right now.

The Compaq has a 9200 video chip in it and runs with WXGA, the IBM has a 7500 chip and runs with just XGA.

____________________________

Burninator, Dwarf Paladin on Lightbringer server.
Lvl 40 and rising.
Proud Officer of <Penguin Nation>

Downtime Tally:
- 01/13/05 16 Hours downtime
- 01/14/05 Server crash while in instance
- 01/16/05 'Unable to log in at this time'
- 01/16/05 Server crashes and rollbacks all evening.
- 01/17/05 30 minute queues to get in. No time to wait to play.
01/18/05 Server down. No reason

#14 May 20 2004 at 2:07 PM Rating: Decent

Scholar

870 posts

If you check IBMs site, they just announce T42s with 9600 mobilities in them for sale.

Z

____________________________

Character: Zander                 Race: Taru Taru 
    Class: BLM/RDM/THF/RNG/WAR   Level: 60/39/20/31/15 
   Server: Pandemonium       LinkShell: Lifestream 
                    R E T I R E D

http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/profile.xml?1335

#15 May 20 2004 at 2:39 PM Rating: Good

CloakedStranger the Wise

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Sage

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$$$$
$$$
$$
$

The money tree is bare. No new IBMs like that for me. :(

____________________________

Burninator, Dwarf Paladin on Lightbringer server.
Lvl 40 and rising.
Proud Officer of <Penguin Nation>

Downtime Tally:
- 01/13/05 16 Hours downtime
- 01/14/05 Server crash while in instance
- 01/16/05 'Unable to log in at this time'
- 01/16/05 Server crashes and rollbacks all evening.
- 01/17/05 30 minute queues to get in. No time to wait to play.
01/18/05 Server down. No reason

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