Computer dummy needs specs

**RagahRagah** · 08-02-2011, 01:09 AM

Sorry if this is supposed to go somewhere else. I'm looking for a laptop and while I assure you I'm not looking to have a laptop just for gaming, I want whatever laptop I get to be able to play Amnesia and Penumbra and wondering if anyone with expertise could tell me if the following laptop (which I am considering) could run these 2 games.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Asus+-+Lapto...Id=2712418

Thanks.

**zecuro** · 08-02-2011, 02:47 AM

(08-02-2011, 01:09 AM)RagahRagah Wrote: Sorry if this is supposed to go somewhere else. I'm looking for a laptop and while I assure you I'm not looking to have a laptop just for gaming, I want whatever laptop I get to be able to play Amnesia and Penumbra and wondering if anyone with expertise could tell me if the following laptop (which I am considering) could run these 2 games.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Asus+-+Lapto...Id=2712418

Thanks.

its seem really ok the only thing i kknow its the speakers from this laptop computer are a big donwside but you know with a good pair of earphone you got a much better experience ...and the other thing i know on the description of the laptop it don't mention the graphic card.....if its a ATI card you will need to donwload some driver to run the game...i hope that will help you

sorry for my bad english

**RagahRagah** · 08-02-2011, 07:05 AM

(08-02-2011, 02:47 AM)zecuro Wrote:
(08-02-2011, 01:09 AM)RagahRagah Wrote: Sorry if this is supposed to go somewhere else. I'm looking for a laptop and while I assure you I'm not looking to have a laptop just for gaming, I want whatever laptop I get to be able to play Amnesia and Penumbra and wondering if anyone with expertise could tell me if the following laptop (which I am considering) could run these 2 games.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Asus+-+Lapto...Id=2712418

Thanks.
its seem really ok the only thing i kknow its the speakers from this laptop computer are a big donwside but you know with a good pair of earphone you got a much better experience ...and the other thing i know on the description of the laptop it don't mention the graphic card.....if its a ATI card you will need to donwload some driver to run the game...i hope that will help you

sorry for my bad english

And how would I go about learning if I need a driver and what driver(s) I would need and where to go to find said driver(s)?

**TFEF** · 08-02-2011, 07:53 AM

Actually, basically every single device on your computer needs a driver. Drivers tell your computer how to work the device. They're usually downloaded from the official site of the company that made the device. As an example, an ATI card would have drivers from the official site, which is ati.com I believe.

If you're planning to get a decent laptop for Amnesia/Penumbra, you'll want to find a laptop with an Nvidia video card, if the laptop has switchable graphics. From what I've seen, ATI cards don't seem to register properly with the game.

The laptop you linked to doesn't seem bad, but I'd be wary. I couldn't find what video card it is, and I'm not sure what the specifications page means by 'UMA' graphics.

**plutomaniac** · 08-02-2011, 09:54 AM

If you want to play OpenGL games buy a laptop with NVIDIA graphics card only. If it has AMD dedicated and Intel embedded the game will only recognise the Intel one and there will be problems. So, NVIDIA only! Smile

**RagahRagah** · 08-02-2011, 10:35 AM

Am I to assume the type of NVIDIA is irrelevant as long as the computer is current? And is that to say that if it doesn't have an NVIDIA card that it's entirely a no-go? I found the exact laptop I linked that comes WITH an NVIDIA card but a lot of reviewers are complaining about it making the laptop really buggy (messed up drivers, IIRC). I have been looking at Alienware but I don't want to spend all that money on a laptop in which I'm only going to play less than a handful of games.

**plutomaniac** · 08-02-2011, 09:25 PM

I cannot recommend you anything at the moment. But if you want to play OpenGL games like Amnesia you should have an NVIDIA card with OpenGL 2.1 support. All nvidia gpus from 2008 or something can definitely play the game.

**RagahRagah** · 08-03-2011, 04:29 AM

(08-02-2011, 09:25 PM)plutomaniac Wrote: I cannot recommend you anything at the moment. But if you want to play OpenGL games like Amnesia you should have an NVIDIA card with OpenGL 2.1 support. All nvidia gpus from 2008 or something can definitely play the game.

Well, I'm leaning towards an Alienware now so more than likely this question might be moot now. Thanks, though.

**eiahmon** · 08-04-2011, 06:16 AM

Here you go, Ragah:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6834215126

I reccomend you get this one. It's dirt cheap, it's decently powerful, and it can run Amnesia just fine. I bought it a couple weeks ago, and it's been great. The only drawback is that 3.0GHz processor runs pretty hot at times, especially when gaming, so you're gonig to need a chill mat, and I would reccomend using a desk, to ensure good air circulation. Smile

**plutomaniac** · 08-04-2011, 09:37 AM

It has AMD cpu and AMD gpu so there should not be any problem, just like eiahmon said. But if it had Intel cpu and AMD gpu then OpenGL games would see only the crappy Intel one.