Buying New Laptop: Will Run Silent Hunter(s)?

[MinskMariner]

Hi all,

I'm looking to upgrade from my current (very old) laptop which cannot run Silent Hunter 4/5. I've always wanted to play SH4 on full graphics and also SH5, and one of the things that I most look forward to in my new laptop is that it can run those games.

In terms of performance/price value and other factors, I've found that the Lenovo IdeaPad Y500 is a top contender for me. My question is, from your experience, would I have any problems running Silent Hunter 4/5 with the following specs?:

• Intel Core i7-3630QM Processor
• Windows 8 64
• NVIDIA GeForce GT650M GDDR5 2GB
• 16GB PC3-10600 DDR3 SDRAM 1600 MHz
• 1TB 5400RPM + 16GB SSD

I'm especially concerned about whether that specific mobile video card and SSD+HDD configuration will work well (Windows 8 doesn't seem to be a problem, from what I've read).

What do you all think? Your help would be appreciated.

Looking forward to prowling the virtual depths (in hi-res) soon

[BlackBass]

Sh5 pushes my desktop PC with I7 2600k 3.4Ghz and a GTX580 with 16gis of ram, but i don't think it's the PC. i think it's the bugs in the code I may be wrong but i can run other games maxed out and they run fine.

As for SH4 you should really have no issues it's a little older game.

But maybe some of the other guys can give more info as per your specs vs the games

Here are the two specs:

SH5:
Supported OS: Windows XP (SP3) / Windows Vista (SP2) / Windows 7
Processor: 2 GHz Intel Core2 Duo E4400 or 2.1 GHz AMD Athlon 64 X2 4000+ (2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 or 2.6 GHz AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+ or higher recommended)
RAM: 1 GB Windows XP / 2 GB Windows Vista, Windows 7 (2 GB / 4 GB recommended)
Video Card: 512 MB DirectX 9.0c–compliant video card (1 GB recommended) (see supported list*)
Sound Card: DirectX 9.0c–compliant sound card
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c
DVD-ROM: 4x Dual-layer DVD-ROM drive
Hard Drive Space: 6 GB (10 GB recommended)
Peripherals Supported: Mouse, keyboard
Internet Connection: Broadband Internet connection

*Supported Video Cards at Time of Release:
NVIDIA GeForce 8800GT / 9 / GTX series
ATI RADEON HD 2600 / HD 3000 / HD 4000 / HD 5000 series
NVIDIA SLI & ATI Crossfire




Here are the specs for SH4.:

In order for this game to run properly, your PC MUST meet or exceed these minimum requirements:

Supported OS: Windows XP / Vista (Only)
Processor: 2GHz Pentium 4 or AMD Athlon (3GHz Pentium or AMD Athlon recommended)
RAM: 1 GB (2 GB recommended)
Video Card: 128 MB RAM DirectX 9-compliant video card capable of rendering Pixel Shader 2.0 (256 MB RAM recommended) (see supported list*)
Sound Card: DirectX 9-compliant sound card
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c or later (included on disc)
DVD-ROM: 4x or faster DVD drive
Hard Drive Space: 6 GB
Multiplayer: 128 kbps upstream or faster (512 kbps upstream or faster needed to host online games)

*Supported Video Cards:
ATI RADEON 9600 / 9700 / 9800, X300 - X850, X1300 - X1800
NVIDIA GeForce 6200 / 6600 / 6800 / 7800

[raymond6751]

The real issue is that laptops tend to NOT run games like SH well. I got a laptop running Windows Vista and couldn't run SH at all. My desktop, running Win 7 won't run SH3, so I'd say if you are already running careers, don't lose your old system. You can use it to continue play.

Good luck on the new one. Don't give up, try all SH games and maybe one of them will work.

[TheDarkWraith]

I have a Toshiba Qosmio with a Core I7 (2.83GHz), 6GB ram, NVidia 360m, OCZ SSDs, and Win 7 Ultimate 64bit and it runs all Silent Hunters (III, IV, and V) with no problems

[BigWalleye]

I have an Alienware M11X with Intel 17 2637M at 1.7 GHz, 8GB RAM, 650GB 5400rpm HDD, NVidia GeForce GT 540M graphics processor, and Windows 7/64. I use the laptop at home with a 19" HD monitor, wireless keyboard and mouse. It works swell for SH4, Never had any problems running at the highest graphics settings. Sh5 on high graphics is is a bit jerky and laggy, with rare CTDs. I could live with it, but I prefer to strap down the graphics quality to Low (with max anti-aliasing). I find the graphics quality quite acceptable at that setting. YMMV.

Your system will be considerably more capable than mine. I don't know if you will be able to run SH5 at High graphics quality or if you will tolerate anything less. But I am pretty certain that you will be able to run it with at least reasonable graphics quality, and maybe at the top end. Do expect to shell out for an external monitor and keyboard. My opinion would be: "Go for it."

[archer9]

Originally Posted by raymond6751

The real issue is that laptops tend to NOT run games like SH well.

I agree. I can only recommend the OP to buy a desktop for gaming. I have a Phenom II x4 965 ($100) and HD Radeon 7850 ($150) and I can run this game on max settings with steady 60 FPS.

[V13dweller]

Originally Posted by BlackBass

Sh5 pushes my desktop PC with I7 2600k 3.4Ghz and a GTX580 with 16gis of ram, but i don't think it's the PC. i think it's the bugs in the code I may be wrong but i can run other games maxed out and they run fine.

As for SH4 you should really have no issues it's a little older game.

But maybe some of the other guys can give more info as per your specs vs the games

My desktop with an AMD Phenom II X6 clocked at 3.4MHz, my NVidia Gtx 570 with 1.5GB OF GDDR5 and 32 GB ram runs sh5 at a solid 60Fps even in combat.

And I could only recommend a desktop for SH5, most high powered laptops generate too much heat for SH5, and are not capable of getting rid of this heat, so every hour or two you might have to quit game and let your computer cool.

[BigWalleye]

I think we can all agree that the easiest and simplest (and probably least expensive) way to get a computer capable of handling graphics-intensive games is to buy a desktop/tower unit and populate it as your tastes and wallet dictate. But there are some people who have, by choice or necessity, a mobile lifestyle that precludes hauling a desktop computer around the country, who would still like to play games like SH5. There are a scant few laptops which offer graphics capability beyond the Intel on-board chipset. And using even a "gaming" laptop imposes its own limitations. A laptop capable of handling high-end graphics applications will also cost considerably more than the same capability in a tower unit. But the question the OP raised was not whether a laptop was an optimum solution - it's not - but rather, whether it was a solution at all. And the answer is that, yes it is possible to run SH5 on a laptop, perhaps with some compromises, depending on the particular laptop you choose.

[Fifi]

I can run both 4 and 5 with my poor laptop and a GE force 610M!
Nevertheless, i can't have any AA settings, because it's running an I3

[MinskMariner]

Hi all,

Thank you so much for the feedback, gents. I just ordered the IdeaPad and look forward to some Silent Hunter action in a few weeks. Thanks again!