new laptop with weak video card

[vizwhiz]

Skuzzy,
I bought a laptop for work (work???), and since I didn't plan to play AH2 on this "work" computer (SILLY ME!!), I got the standard video card, which happens to be a built-in Intel graphics adapter.

Well, as it happens...just happened to happen...really!...I tried to use my laptop for AH2 when I was at home one night after I had been working on the laptop ...and didn't feel like cranking up the "big" machine, so I just downloaded AH2 onto the laptop to see if it would run and what the video would look like...

Okay here's what happened.  Frame rates at zippo...2-10 at max.  Had to set the textures to 128, had to slide the sliders waaaay over, so enemy planes look like boxes until they're shooting at me...and in the video settings area the check boxes are grayed out, the ones that are supposed to be checked...Optimize stuff and hardware vertex processing...

Computer is a Dell Vostro 1500, with 2GB memory and 1.4GHz dual core, running WinXP SP3, and cable modem... I have no problems with any "glitches", just slooooow performance for frame rates.

Anyway, as I did some research about the (lousy) graphics card, I found out that it does not have on-board memory, it uses system memory...which shouldn't be a problem cuz I have 2GB...compared to my desktop that has only 512MB but runs AH2 fine (cuz I have an Nvidia video card on it).  So it appears that the max graphics memory the card can use is 384MB, which is a lot, but it is dynamic...so I don't know how it sets the priorities for program vs. video when AH2 is running.

Any ideas?  It would be great if I could set up the laptop to be the AH2 computer so I don't have to mess with the desktop.
Thanks...and <S>

[OOZ662]

Your biggest problem will be that the integrated graphics also utilize the main CPU and cordon off part of it for its own use. Basically, everything on a laptop like that is being fed and computed in the CPU. Take into account that "mobile" CPUs are designed for low power consumption and less heat, you don't have the workings for a physics engine, especially a flight simulator.

In basic terms, the sound and video "cards" don't have much on them besides the instructions for the CPU and the external connector.

[Skuzzy]

A video card using system RAM is not going to work well.  First off, dedicated video RAM is significantly faster than system RAM.  The more system RAM used for video RAM, the less system RAM you have available for everything else.

Secondly, when the CPU has to access system RAM, the video card has to wait.  Every time the video card accesses system RAM, the CPU must wait.  This is the primary killer of performance for on board video chips.

Lastly, the on board video chips are simply horrifically slow.  They are good for laptops as they increase battery life by using less power than a good dedicated video card does.  The reduced power usage comes at the expense of performance.

[kvuo75]

vizwhiz.. i have almost the exact same laptop. EXCEPT, I went with the nvidia 8400gs option on the video card (last year some time).. i get pegged at 59fps pretty steady..  I dont know what is involved in swapping or adding a vidcard on a laptop, or if the current vostros can even take one (last i looked I dont think they even had the optional videocards anymore). but thats what I'd loook at indeed...

[vizwhiz]

Thanks for all the input... I've checked into it and I'd have to swap motherboards, more than 1/2 the cost of another laptop.
I didn't realize that there could be such an intense performance difference with the onboard video card, so it sounds like I'm stuck with what I have...
I'll pursue all the tips-and-tricks to see what I can do to improve the performance, dropping processes out, etc. to unload as much as I possibly can.  If nothing works, then, well, I'll just make sure the desktop is set up for the game!

Along these lines, is there any benefit to setting up a separate windows user just for games?  Can you set it up to keep unwanted programs from loading when you do that?

[OOZ662]

Better idea is to go get a program called AlacrityPC. It's the sequel to FSAutoStart. Have a search for the latter on the forums and you'll see what it does. Works wonders (Unless you're on Vista, as that's broken at the moment).

Link to AlacrityPC download page