I bought Oblivion about a week ago. Super fun! But of course, my laptop just had to die out yesterday! ):
Eh, I saw it coming.

I am now searching for a new laptop! ... but I need some help.

My now-dead laptop has a NVIDIA GeForce 6800 card. I could run Oblivion on Medium at roughly 20-35fps. No major issues.
It was kool, but I'd like to go higher with the settings. I'd LOVE Max settings, but I could definitely deal with High settings.

I can't afford a laptop (from a local retailer) with anything but the NVIDIA 310M, Intel cards, and ATI HD cards. I've played on an Intel. I've played on the ATI HD cards. Do not want.
Plus, NVIDIA is a good brand.

So, the big question: how well does Oblivion run on a NVIDIA GeForce 310M graphics card (for any of you who have it/have played on it)? For those of you who don't have one, have you heard anything about it's performance?

Thanks!

EDIT: Oh, I dunno if this changes anything, but the computer's specs would be something like this:
4GB RAM, 2.2GHz i5 processor, 512MB dedicated memory, 500GB hard drive

Intel chipsets arent good (not even cards). ATI and Nvidia are both good. The 310 will do ok on about low-medium settings. But dont expect too much out of it.

Oh, I dunno if this changes anything, but the computer's specs would be something like this:
4GB RAM, 2.2GHz i5 processor, 512MB dedicated memory, 500GB hard drive.

I know I edited the first post, but I figured I'd just reply to you anyway. XD

Which ATI chipsets are available?

The HD 4200 series. D:

How much are you looking to spend for a notebook?



In that case, the GeForce 310M is the better choice and performer over that.

I checked out the Notebookcheck site.

Just to get an idea...
According to Notebookcheck, the GeForce 9300M GS (Class 3, like the 310M) runs Oblivion on High settings at around 20fps. Now, that's a 2005 card.
The 310M is a 2010 card and is, supposedly, *edit: 64% better than the 9300M. That in mind, theoretically, do you think I could get around 30/35fps on high settings with the 310M? Or maybe even better?

$900 max. And it has to be from BestBuy, so I don't have a huge amount of options.

Oh, here's one of the laptops I've chosen. It's my favorite:
Search "Q430-11" at Bestbuy.com

Hmmm Brick and Mortar stores only huh? Got a Fry's Electronics, Brandsmart, Office Depot, or Microcenter in your area?

From Best Buy, what's stopping you from getting this:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Samsung+-+Laptop+/+Intel%26%23174%3B+Core%26%23153%3B+i5+Processor+/+17.3%22+Display+/+4GB+Memory+/+500GB+Hard+Drive+-+Red/Black/9728443.p?id=1218161511080&skuId=9728443

Still having one of the other stores will increase your options significantly. Best Buy usually has an excellent deal for a gaming notebook around that price range from Asus or Gateway, but looks like a new model hasn't shown up yet.

There's an Office Depot, but my dad kinda has this thing with Best Buy. He won't buy big electronics from anywhere else. );

Yea, I saw that one. It's unavailable at every store within 100 miles of my city. Probably further, too. XD

I love Asus!
But the only really good one they have is a 17.3in (too big), $1,299 (too expensive) one. Didn't see a good Gateway. ):

Well, show this Office Depot notebook to him then:

http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/542229/Toshiba-Satellite-A665-S6067-16-Laptop/

Hopefully, he'll have a change of heart.


For something smaller:
http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/410757/Lenovo-ThinkPad-L412-4403-Core-i3/...Radeon 5145 is a slightly faster Radeon 4570, which is still pretty decent.


Otherwise, if it must be Best Buy, I'd say wait a bit. Something is going to come around soon from Asus and/or Gateway that is gaming caliber and right at your price point. They already phased out the previous models.

Oooooh, me likey! 8D

Thanks a lot!~ I'll definitely show it to him! :3

:ahhh:
^ Just because I like that emote. XD

...I hoped, but it didn't happen. -.-

Seriously, just sit tight until Asus's new lineup of G53 models come out with the GTX 460M video cards. Best Buy will probably pick them up and sell them for cheap.

Well, if you're choices are Best Buy only I recommend http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Alienware+-+Laptop+/+Intel%26%23174%3B+Core%26%23153%3B2+Duo+Processor+/+11.6%22+Display+/+4GB+Memory+/+250GB+Hard+Drive+-+Cosmic+Black/9732759.p?id=1218162977578&skuId=9732759&st=m11x&cp=1&lp=1.

I'm sure I'll get bashed for recommending an AW but whatever.

It's small(might be an issue for some), very light, gets 3+ hours battery life while gaming, and would run Oblivion great.

I have an M11x, and I run the game at native res with high settings, no AA, and generally get 30-50 FPS outdoors, with it rarely dropping below 60 indoors.

Though I do have the R2 which has a better processor, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pek3zXW1cj0

It seems totally awesome!

An 11.5" screen is really small, though... I guess I'll just have to see it in person. I'll look into it a bit more.

My parents said we'll go to Best Buy Sunday, so I'll just make my decision then and there.

For now, recap: I can expect to play Oblivion on Medium settings with the 310M? Agreed?

You'll get some medium with it. Didn't suggest the Alienware earlier to you because I figured it would be too small. 11.6" is pretty much netbook size.

It seemed a bit small at first for me, but I adjusted to it very quickly, and that's coming off playing on a 24" monitor.

Perfect size for me personally, good idea to check it out in person though.

This review does not give me any assurance at all that a 310 can do any better than Low Quality images at medium resolutions, or else to get better settings, will have to be set to a Low resolution:

http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-GeForce-310M.22439.0.html


Gorath

Just an update:
Getting my laptop tomorrow! Still don't know which one. It all depends on the Alienware's screen size.

I'll tell you guys how it all works out. If I do end up getting the 310M, I'll post the frame rates on Low - High settings for anyone who's curious. I highly doubt I'll get anything maxed, so I won't even bother with that. XD

Don't lie I can run the game on high settings with a g210

Go play TROLL somewhere else, twit!

Ok sorry for telling the truth.Calling me a troll for telling the truth :facepalm:

Chicken Little was too dumb to know the difference and claimed the sky was falling. All of the G.210-derived graphics chips are junk, period. The benches aren't the liars, it's the Chicken Littles with blinders on making exaggerated claims, is all that's going on.

could take the game disk with you and see if they will let you install it and test performance before purchase ! ( that way you would know whether to purchase or wait for something else !) - Many stores will let you test things out if they know you are serious about buying so never hurts to take it with you and ask !!