13 replies to this topic

[Defibrillateyou]

Greetings been a big battle tech fan for 20 years but I am a Mac user. I am thinking about getting an Alienware alpha to hook to the TV to play MWO. Any one tried this? Also can one use a Xbox 360 controller that comes with the alpha to play or does one need a keyboard mouse?

[Hammerhai]

I do not know the Alpha, so cannot comment on that laptop. The Alienwares I have seen were all hi spec for the time, and would most likely do. (They are not sold here in my country any more as the exchange rate makes them too costly). Engadgets review I just skimmed, but left me feeling "meh" about the concept. Personally.

Here the red flag: Joystick to mouse emulation.
Keyboard and mouse are the absolute minimum. You will forever play on hard mode if you cannot use those. Joystick does not work effficiently in MWO, often requiring user.cfg hacks. (For the "proportionate" mode). Read Loc Nar's articles on zero order vs first order controls for better understanding.
Well, best of luck with your idea, but the gist of what I read leaves me saying no, build a decent desktop.

If it does work, your controller with the short throw joysticks is a blessing in relative mode, but not competitive either. In "proportionate" mode the throw is way too short for adequate results. Certainly pixel point shooting is not possible.

TL;DR
MWO is designed for mouse and kb play, from the ground up. Violate this rule at your peril.

Here the article link:
http://mwomercs.com/...ls-demystified/

[Rogue Jedi]

Looking at the specs of the lowest spec Alpha I am confidant that will play MWO at minimum settings pretty well, looking at the highest spec that should play OK at mid to high settings.

The 4gb of RAM on the low spec is MWOs minimum recommended amount however the 8gb on the high is ok

The GPU, the 8650 is ok and probably good for high (but not max) settings, it seems weird that there is no option for another GPU on the higher spec builds

The lowest spec I3 CPU is not bad but the higher specs with an i5 or i7 would be much better

If you want something to sit in your lounge which you can use for MWO occasionally the Alpha should do the job but a self build gaming machine will probably be better for simular money if you are specifically after a gaming PC.

Even a cheep keyboard and Mouse wouldlikely be better for MWO than the X-Box pad

[Gumon Choji]

Modern APU type chips have the power to play this game. AMD or Intel. Get the best on board graphics. for your laptop. However this does not let you rock out with high frames or all the bells and whistles on. For that a desktop is your real choice.

[Gumon Choji]

I looks at the alpha specks it has a 4000 series i3 and a Modified Nvidia GTX 860M. You will need a mouse and keyboard and can use an X box controller with it. Cool machine. MWO can be played on it at lower settings. (mouse and keyboard is your friend in this game). If you go this route get the i5 or better.

A traditional computer could play MWO and you can get much better for cheaper. The are 6200 series Intel APU is very close in performance. That is a past generation behind and built on graphics have improved exponentially. I mean that. the 6200 series built in graphics are on par with an R7 250 (AMD) or GT 740 (Nvidia) . The trick is to look at Bio shock performance as it runs the same-ish engine.

http://www.tomshardw...iew,3107-7.html

But what am I saying. If you get hooked a big GPU is key. If you just want to play you can get the Alpha.

[Nimbus Captain Brannigan]

wait you want to hook up laptop to a tv? WTH is the point of laptop. Just build a desktop, you wont have to pay massive "prebuilt", "laptop", and "alienware name" markup. Also, laptops tend to be 2-3 times less efficient as desktops.. thus you always have the "M" on cpus, because they are built for laptops.

Edited by Nimbus Captain Brannigan, 12 October 2015 - 04:48 PM.

[Rogue Jedi]

Nimbus Captain Brannigan, on 12 October 2015 - 04:47 PM, said:

wait you want to hook up laptop to a tv? WTH is the point of laptop. Just build a desktop, you wont have to pay massive "prebuilt", "laptop", and "alienware name" markup. Also, laptops tend to be 2-3 times less efficient as desktops.. thus you always have the "M" on cpus, because they are built for laptops.

the alpha is not a laptop, it is an ultra small factor PC, think along similar lines to a Mac mini or a TV set top box

[Defibrillateyou]

Thanks for the insight, maybe I will build my own it's been years since I have done that I hear this game does not like AMD hardware is that true?

[Goose]

http://mwomercs.com/...ost__p__4753669

[Goose]

Wait: http://www.giantbomb...g-pcs-m-566881/

[Rogue Jedi]

defibulateyou, on 13 October 2015 - 05:57 PM, said:

Thanks for the insight, maybe I will build my own it's been years since I have done that I hear this game does not like AMD hardware is that true?

it works better with Intel CPUs than AMD CPUs, as far as GPUs (Graphics Cards) AMD and Nvidia both work fine, and I play on a 5 year old AMD CPU and get med-high graphics at 30+ FPS

[AngelsGrave]

Just to answer this old question.

For all those in the future... works like a dream. I was questioning it at first but now after 2 weeks back playing again (almost a year break) and using this on a 4K UDMI TV ... best thing ever. Nice not spending 3K plus on some ramped up super comp. However. Wired keyboard and mouse ONLY. DO NOT use a wireless mouse and keyboard and DO NOT... after many attempts use a Xbox controller. Thought it would be ok just for fun using a controller but it just doesn't have enough accurate response and that goes for even a high end wireless keyboard and mouse.(mostly the mouse, it has a delay factor)

Been a gamer for 25 years and over 40. Have the stupidity to admit it. Alienware Alpha does work.

-AG

PS Even the high end Alpha... extend the RAM. Just get more.

[Not A Real RAbbi]

defibulateyou, on 12 October 2015 - 07:00 AM, said:

Greetings been a big battle tech fan for 20 years but I am a Mac user. I am thinking about getting an Alienware alpha to hook to the TV to play MWO. Any one tried this? Also can one use a Xbox 360 controller that comes with the alpha to play or does one need a keyboard mouse?

FYI: I play MWO at medium settings on a 2011 21.5" entry-level iMac. Win7, courtesy of BootCamp. You're welcome. ;-)

[AngelsGrave]

TheRAbbi, on 06 January 2016 - 11:34 PM, said:

FYI: I play MWO at medium settings on a 2011 21.5" entry-level iMac. Win7, courtesy of BootCamp. You're welcome. ;-)

But his question has nothing to do with what you said.... lol lol lol

Wasn't flaming ... lol... just noting your statement

Edited by AngelsGrave, 06 January 2016 - 11:45 PM.