21 replies to this topic

[Jake Devlin]

I recently bought an ASUS R503U-RH21 notebook, at factory settings from 2011. I'm wanting to know if this can run MWO, with or without upgrades, mods, etc. I've already installed the game, but I'm running 6FPS at all LOW settings. I'd like to know from anybody who knows what they're doing if this is a viable system, if it needs modifications, or if its just a waste of time. Here are the system specs: Processor / Chipset
CPU: AMD E2-1800 1.7 GHz
Number of Cores: Dual-Core
64-bit Computing: Yes
Chipset: AMD A68M

Hard Drive: 500 GB HDD / 5400 rpm
Interface: Serial ATA-300
Optical Drive: DVD±RW (±R DL)

Audio & Video
Graphics Processor: AMD Radeon HD 7340
Camera: Integrated webcam
Resolution: 0.3 Megapixel
Sound: Altec Lansing speakers , microphone
Audio Features: ASUS SonicMaster Lite
Windows 8-64 bit.

[Flapdrol]

Could try it at a lower resolution too, though I don't think you'll get over 15 fps with those specs.

[Lily from animove]

1,7ghz dualcore? i don't think this will deliver a playable experience. But it may run.

and upgrading notebooks is not that easy, and probbaly not worth the money.

Edited by Lily from animove, 07 February 2015 - 02:47 PM.

[Goose]

Fold

[Jake Devlin]

So, it's pretty much a waste of time to try to play the game? I'd be better off saving up an ungodly amount of money for a PC?

[Goose]

… Yes

[Kotev]

You dont need ultra modern/expensive PC to run the game. I play at 30-40 fps with C2D e7300 overclocked 3.4 ghz with Radeon 3870x2

[Goose]

Kotev, on 07 February 2015 - 03:09 PM, said:

… overclocked 3.4 ghz with Radeon 3870x2

I suspect the poor gent isn't up to such technical feats.

http://mwomercs.com/...ost__p__4152941

[Jake Devlin]

Eh, if it comes down to piecing together a good rig, I have NO idea what I'm doing, and I would have to drive about 45 minutes to any given PC store. I have no idea what you're saying, Kotev

[MercJ]

Check out the MWO Rigs thread, there's some good starting builds in there. Heck, I'm sure we could all come up with a ~300 build or something - no need for an "ungodly" amt of $

Pentium G3258+B85 mobo that you can OC on + 4GB RAM (8 is better of course, but budget!)+120GB SSD+GTX750ti+$30ish case+PSU? 70+70+35+60+130+30+30, and there you have a complete system minus OS, keyboard/mouse/monitor for $425.

EDIT: Put my money where my mouth is:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: *Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($63.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-B85M-GAMING 3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($55.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Kingston Fury Black Series 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($31.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: OCZ ARC 100 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($59.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card ($123.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: NZXT Source 210 Elite (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($38.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: EVGA 400W ATX Power Supply ($19.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $394.91
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
*Lowest price parts chosen from parametric criteria
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-07 18:57 EST-0500

Edited by MercJ, 07 February 2015 - 03:57 PM.

[Tyrnea Smurf]

Jake, you can read up a bit on computers in general, and specifically computers that are for sale that are considered "gaming rigs".

From that, it will both give you some ideas at the pecking order in which the various parts rate with one another, and price structures (which are better parts, and what would be considered good/great value for the money, also it will give you ideas as to why you want certain parts and not others if a resource intensive fast paced game is your goal to play)

Understand that computer parts and their pricing is fairly fluid, it changes often. However its really not that hard to get a basic working understanding:

1) of what goes into building a computer (the parts you will need)

2) what the basics of the computer parts market are, and how the shift over time. (the working budget you will need - and how long it will take you to gather the money to build/buy)

A rule of thumb I live by, is computers are cheaper to piece together and build yourself, and you will have to invest time and effort to learn about them to do it right, and on a budget.

Another piece of advice I can give you: I don't know where you live, but often its easier and cheaper to order parts in building a computer online, and have it shipped to your door. But then again if you live in the deepest jungles of the Amazon, that might not be an option, but its a way to go.

2 years ago I built my current comp from scratch, having only ever built 1 computer before 10 years prior. Mine works well, and cost about $900 in total, and took me 3 months to gather up the parts as I could find them at the price I could afford.

[Lord Letto]

How much did you pay for that Laptop? i'm sure we can make something with 10 times or more the performance for the same price. for example, if you paid $500-550 on that laptop, if you were to get a Desktop instead:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($63.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($19.88 @ OutletPC)
Thermal Compound: Arctic Silver 5 High-Density Polysynthetic Silver 3.5g Thermal Paste ($6.89 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock H81 Pro BTC ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($51.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($74.98 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 660 2GB Video Card ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Thermaltake VL80001W2Z ATX Mid Tower Case ($19.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($39.99 @ Micro Center)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($88.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $536.57
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-07 18:53 EST-0500
60FPS+ I'm 100% Sure, I'm 200% Sure it'll be atleast 1000% Better than 6FPS with everything on low.

[Zensei]

To answer your original question, 'is this a viable system', no its not, its a notebook so there are zero options for upgrading it, save up some bucks and build a gaming rig, follow the suggestions before this post they sound relevant. Your notebook is a decent internet browser not much more.

[Jake Devlin]

I paid $200 for it. However, when I get my MHA in (GI Bill), part of it will go towards a PC since obviously this laptop won't cut it. With that list up there, I can piece one of my own together, piece by piece. I'm sure I can put it together myself.

[Zensei]

Jake Devlin, on 07 February 2015 - 04:06 PM, said:

I paid $200 for it. However, when I get my MHA in (GI Bill), part of it will go towards a PC since obviously this laptop won't cut it. With that list up there, I can piece one of my own together, piece by piece. I'm sure I can put it together myself.

Thats what you do then, I have a note book for watching Futurama in bed, so its not a total waste.

[Jake Devlin]

Thanks for the help, all. I needed this laptop regardless of if it ran this game. It just would have been nice to get playing again.

[Catamount]

Once you're ready to build the above builds thread is a good start, and a good way for us to stay up to date on deals people find, but create a thread and we'll custom-tailor a parts list to whatever budget you have as long as it's at least $400, possibly +$100 for OS costs

Edited by Catamount, 07 February 2015 - 06:59 PM.

[auniqueid]

jessus, I could donate parts that could run mwo at a decent frame rate at medium-ish settings from my spares/old parts bin. But you could very, very easily build a small rig that runs mwo for $300 that is useful for business apps/causal web use.

[One of Little Harmony]

Despite the apparent consensus, I highly recommend throwing out the extra money for a Haswell (or Broadwell) i3 or i5 instead of the anniversary edition Pentium processor. (You can also use the stock cooler instead of a Hyper212 if you go this way)

There is a sort of novelty about using the anniversary edition Pentium, but unless you really enjoy tweaking computer settings, just shell out for an i3 or i5. Also, if you're going to get an SSD you should go 240gb unless you really enjoy tweaking computer settings. However, this does come at a price....but unless you are in some voodoo edge case in your personal finances, it'll be worth it.

Edited by One of Little Harmony, 07 February 2015 - 08:29 PM.

[MechWarrior4172571]

Jake Devlin, on 07 February 2015 - 02:36 PM, said:

"Am I wasting my time?"

Yes.

You've got yourself an internet/e-mail browser.
You can probably watch movies on it all right too.

It's definetely not a gaming laptop.

Gaming laptops cost $2,000-$4,000

And before anyone say that you can get an ok gaming laptop for $1000.. the answer is "nope".

What you could do is build a PC computer from scratch for $1000 and it would qualify as a gaming computer, but not a laptop.