How are these specs for this laptop?

Question

Graphics

GPU/VPU ATI Mobility Radeon HD 2600

Video Memory 512MB GDDR3 Dedicated Memory

Graphic Type Dedicated Card

I want to play Sims 2, Viva Pinata and Spore on default settings.

And are Gateway laptops decent? We use them at school but the ones at school are c**p so I'm kind of put off by that.

Answer 1

You cant just look at the graphics, even for playing games.  If the CPU is dual-core 2.0GHz or better and the RAM is AT LEAST 1GB, then you should be fine.  I'm not sure about Gateway, but I would go for Dell.

Answer 2

The stats are pretty good for running of mid-level games but i would not put trust in Gateway, they have always delivered a bad product under my watch so I would be more driven towards Dell, HP, ASUS,  Alienware, or Apple (You can run windows on the with the x86 config if you were not sure, also said to run windows better then any other laptops on the market). But the thing about purchasing PC's you should always reformat them upon purchase because the owners and distributors always throw a bunch of harmful or just idiotic programming in there so if you have a large budget buy the apple or aleinware if not buy one of the ASUS, HP's or Dell's. ASUS is best on cheaper end.

Answer 3

The graphics will be decent with a 2600. You say default settings, so you don't appear to be a hardcore gamer. The 2600 will do fine for all three of those games (and others like them.)

What you really need to worry about on a modern laptop is memory. There have been many complaints about Windows Vista being slow and inneficient. If you have a properly specced PC this is simply not true. Vista needs a MINIMUM of 2GB of RAM to be reasonably fast, and personally I would get 3GB or 4GB. It will make you much happier in the long run.

I am running my desktop with 3GB of RAM on Vista Ultimate and I couldn't be happier. Absolutely LOVE it. When I only had 1GB of memory it SUCKED.

Just make sure you have plenty of memory, and paired with that graphics card you will be a happy camper

Answer 4

The older Gateway computers, were "c**p". The newer ones, however, are much better. I still wouldn't get one, because I'm prejudiced about them. If it were up to me, everyone would get an HP. Or a Mac. But, it's your computer, your decision, your money, your life.

As for those specs... they do look really good. I would definately get that, if I were you. Or look into getting those same specs in an HP laptop.

Hope this helps.

-ABC :)

Answer 5

Yes that is a very powerful graphics card for what games you will be playing. It is more than enough and you will not have any problems playing the games you are looking to play.

Answer 6

That's a very nice graphics card, but it means sweet f**k all if you don't have the ram and processing power to back it up. For example if you were to use that card with a Under clocked p4 I doubt your going to be running Sims 2 on it.Or if you don't have enough ram the computer will keep slowing down either lock up or crash.

However I suspect with a graphics card like that your processor and ram is more than sufficient unless you went out of your way and bought a new card and put it into a old machine.