New PC, frame rate? & game recomendation

[Staz]

Hey all

I just got a new gaming laptop. Sager 5960. 20.1" 1680x1050 screen, Turion ML-60 cpu, 2GB DDR 667MHZ ram, and Dual GeForce 7950 GTX 512mb cards.

I haven't done any gaming in about a year because I could not get Direct X 9.0c drivers for the GeForce 440GO in my now retired laptop.

I tried the video stress test on Half Life 2: The Lost Coast and always get ~80FPS, regardless of settings. 1024x768 all settings on medium and no AF or AA and 80 FPS or 1680x1050 all setting maxed out and 6xAA and 16xAF and 80FPS. Does this mean I am CPU limited?

Also what would be a good game to show off the capibilities of this machine. I like light hearted First Person Shooters with a sense of humor. Favorite game of all time is Postal 2, the Serious Sam series is also very fun.

Thanks in advance

[Wolf2000me]

Show off in 3DMark06 but don't run the CPU tests, otherwise the whole idea of showing is off is pretty much ruined

In the Half-life 2 80fps case, you probably have vsynch enabled or somewhere in a config file the max fps is limited to 80fps. In many games a certain fixed fps is better for trickjumping for some reason. For ex 76fps in ET. That's why that feature is available, with in this case 80fps as default value.

[chrisbard]

Hey man, long time no see! How is the fish? Don't worry about the 80 FPS. HL2LC is demanding especially at very high res. I'd say get Splinter Cell Double Agent to see what your rig can do ! Amazing game with superb graphics !

[Staz]

Originally Posted by Wolf2000me

Show off in 3DMark06 but don't run the CPU tests, otherwise the whole idea of showing is off is pretty much ruined

In the Half-life 2 80fps case, you probably have vsynch enabled or somewhere in a config file the max fps is limited to 80fps. In many games a certain fixed fps is better for trickjumping for some reason. For ex 76fps in ET. That's why that feature is available, with in this case 80fps as default value.

Vsycn is not enabled, but it's really not a problem since my monitor is set up at 60Hz so anything over 60FPS is wasted anyway. I just thought it was weird that no matter what I was getting 80FPS.

I know the CPU is the weak link here. I really wanted a laptop (well a compact lugable anyway) with Dual 7950GTX 512mb cards in SLI and a 19" or 20.1" screen and a C2D at 2.0GHz or better. No one had that, I could have gotten SLI and C2D and 17" screen or 20.1" screen and C2D and a single card or what I got.

Anyway I am currently on hold as for gaming, DVD drive died and I am waiting on an RMA. But Spider solitaire plays real fast on this thing

[keithwalton]

Thats a really good spec for a laptop, I like the way you put 'lugable'
i've seen some laptops with the 17" widescreens and they are hardly small! probably still lighter than my old dell inspiron 8100!

[tiamat63]

christ man, how does the batter survive?

[Staz]

Originally Posted by Seperah

christ man, how does the batter survive?

Battery?

Battery?

Oh you mean that 2 pound thing underneath the laptop that lets you run for about 45 min with one video card disabled, WiFi off, and screen dimmed.

I always plug it in.

I got to tell you though, I have a satelite receiver hooked up to the TV tunner and the picture is great. That is functionality I would sugest to any college student, or someone else with a small place.