To make it objective I'm going to keep out the laptop's brand name and the price. People tend to be a bit bias towards one brand or another and the price for good measure just to make sure.

Laptop A
Display Type: Widescreen TruBrite TFT LCD display


Screen Size: 17.3"


Maximum Resolution: 1600 x 900


Memory Type: DDR3


Memory Size: 4GB


Memory Slots (Total): 2


Memory Slots (Filled): 2


Memory Slots (Available): 0


Maximum Memory Supported: 8GB - 64-Bit


Capacity: 320GB


HDD/SSD Drives Included: 1x 320GB


Drive Types: Hard Drive


Hard Drive Speed: 5400 RPM


Processor Brand: AMD


Processor Class: Athlon II


Processor Type: Dual-Core


Processor Speed: 2.1GHz


Processor Number: P320


Lifestyle: Home & Student


Condition: New


Operating Systems: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit


Platform: Laptop


Graphics Description: Integrated Graphics


GPU/VPU: ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4250 Graphics


Video Memory: 256MB-1405MB dynamically allocated shared graphics memory


Optical Drive Type: SuperMulti DVD±RW Dual Layer Labelflash


Supplemental Drive Type: Media Reader


Capacity: 5-in-1


Media Types: Memory Stick
Memory Stick PRO
Multi Media Card
SecureDigital High Capacity
Secure Digital
(shared slot-may require adapter for use)


Audio Description: Integrated Audio


Audio Chipset: Dolby Advanced Audio


Audio Channels: Built-in Stereo Speakers


Integrated Microphone: Yes


USB Ports (Total): 1 - eSATA/USB 2.0 Combo
2


LAN Ports: 1


Audio Out Jacks: 1 - Headphone output port


Microphone Jacks: 1 - Microphone input port


VGA Ports: 1 - RGB (monitor) output port


Communications Description: Integrated LAN
Integrated Wireless LAN


Interface Type: RJ-45 Ethernet Connector
Wi-Fi: 802.11 b/g/n


Data Transfer Rate: Up to 300 Mbps
10/100 Ethernet LAN


Protocols: 802.11b
802.11g
802.11n


Width: 16.3”


Height: 1.10” - 1.49”


Depth: 10.6”


Weight: 6.6 lbs


Mouse Type: TouchPad™ pointing device with multi-touch control


Buttons: Enable/Disable


Keyboard Type: Standard US keyboard with 10-key


Battery Type: 6-Cell Lithium-ion


Battery Life: 3 hours, 44 minutes


Biometrics: Slot for Security Lock


User Recognition: Toshiba Face Recognition


Color: Black


Integrated Webcam: Yes


Software Included: Microsoft Office 2007 Home and Student Edition: 60 Day Trial Version


Specification Notes: [6] To provide the most accurate specifications, the specifications listed are base upon information provided by the vendor.

Laptop B
Display Type: Widescreen TruBrite TFT LCD display


Screen Size: 17.3"


Maximum Resolution: 1600 x 900


Memory Type: DDR3


Memory Size: 4GB


Memory Slots (Total): 2


Memory Slots (Filled): 2


Memory Slots (Available): 0


Maximum Memory Supported: 8GB - 64-Bit


Capacity: 320GB


HDD/SSD Drives Included: 1x 320GB


Drive Types: Hard Drive


Hard Drive Speed: 5400 RPM


Processor Brand: AMD


Processor Class: Athlon II


Processor Type: Dual-Core


Processor Speed: 2.1GHz


Processor Number: P320


Lifestyle: Home & Student


Condition: New


Operating Systems: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit


Platform: Laptop


Graphics Description: Integrated Graphics


GPU/VPU: ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4250 Graphics


Video Memory: 256MB-1405MB dynamically allocated shared graphics memory


Optical Drive Type: SuperMulti DVD±RW Dual Layer Labelflash


Supplemental Drive Type: Media Reader


Capacity: 5-in-1


Media Types: Memory Stick
Memory Stick PRO
Multi Media Card
SecureDigital High Capacity
Secure Digital
(shared slot-may require adapter for use)


Audio Description: Integrated Audio


Audio Chipset: Dolby Advanced Audio


Audio Channels: Built-in Stereo Speakers


Integrated Microphone: Yes


USB Ports (Total): 1 - eSATA/USB 2.0 Combo
2


LAN Ports: 1


Audio Out Jacks: 1 - Headphone output port


Microphone Jacks: 1 - Microphone input port


VGA Ports: 1 - RGB (monitor) output port


Communications Description: Integrated LAN
Integrated Wireless LAN


Interface Type: RJ-45 Ethernet Connector
Wi-Fi: 802.11 b/g/n


Data Transfer Rate: Up to 300 Mbps
10/100 Ethernet LAN


Protocols: 802.11b
802.11g
802.11n


Width: 16.3”


Height: 1.10” - 1.49”


Depth: 10.6”


Weight: 6.6 lbs


Mouse Type: TouchPad™ pointing device with multi-touch control


Buttons: Enable/Disable


Keyboard Type: Standard US keyboard with 10-key


Battery Type: 6-Cell Lithium-ion


Battery Life: 3 hours, 44 minutes


Biometrics: Slot for Security Lock


User Recognition: Toshiba Face Recognition


Color: Black


Integrated Webcam: Yes


Software Included: Microsoft Office 2007 Home and Student Edition: 60 Day Trial Version


Specification Notes: [6] To provide the most accurate specifications, the specifications listed are base upon information provided by the vendor.

Laptop C

Display Type: LED backlight


Screen Size: 14"


Maximum Resolution: 1366 x 768


Memory Type: DDR2


Memory Size: 2GB


Memory Slots (Total): 2


Maximum Memory Supported: 8GB (Requires 64-bit Operating System)


Capacity: 160GB


Drive Types: Hard Drive


Hard Drive Speed: 5400 RPM


Processor Brand: AMD


Processor Class: Athlon X2


Processor Type: Dual-Core


Processor Speed: 2.20GHz


Processor Number: QL-66


Lifestyle: Home & Student


Condition: New


Operating Systems: Windows 7 Home Premium


Operating System Licenses Included: Windows 7 Home Premium


Platform: Laptop


Expansion Ports: 1 - Express Card Slot/34


Graphics Description: Integrated Graphics


GPU/VPU: ATI Radeon™ HD 3200


Optical Drive Type: DVDRW


Supplemental Drive Type: Media Reader


Capacity: 2-in-1


Media Types: Multi Media Card
Secure Digital


Audio Description: Integrated Audio


Integrated Microphone: Yes


PS/2 Mouse Connectors: N/A


PS/2 Keyboard Connectors: N/A


Serial Communication Ports: N/A


Parallel Ports: N/A


USB Ports (Total): 3


FireWire Ports: N/A


Fast Infrared Ports (FIR): N/A


LAN Ports: 1


Modem Ports: N/A


Audio Out Jacks: 1


Line In Jacks: N/A


Microphone Jacks: 1


VGA Ports: 1


DVI Video: N/A


HDMI Ports: N/A


S-Video Connectors: N/A


Port Replicator/Connector: N/A


eSATA Ports: N/A


Communications Description: Integrated LAN
Integrated Wireless LAN


Interface Type: RJ-45 Ethernet Connector
802.11 Wireless Networking


Protocols: WIFI


Width: 13.23"


Height: 1.26"


Depth: 9.21"


Weight: 5 lbs


Mouse Type: Touch Pad


Battery Type: 6-Cell Lithium-ion


Battery Life: Up to 4 hours


Biometrics: Kensington Security Lock Slot


Color: Black


Specification Notes: [6] To provide the most accurate specifications, the specifications listed are base upon information provided by the vendor.

I would prefer that 2k Greg would give me an opinion. Nothing against anyone else but since he's at 2k he would have the ear of the firaxis team and therefor would have the most accurate opinion. But I would appreciate any feed back. So nothing against anyone. Oh and to make it interesting(because I'm like that) I will give one dollar for every post that gives a half way decent answer to the best answer.

Edit: Hope that helps.

You don't really need to waste all that text on us. The only really important line is this:
Graphics Description: Integrated Graphics

Non of those is suited :lol:

You don't really need to waste all that text on us. The only really important line is this:
Graphics Description: Integrated Graphics

Non of those is suited :lol:

Laugh it up, laughing boy. Don't make me get my spearmen to take down your tanks! It would be helpful to know what I actually need, boy!

A laptop that says '5730' under the graphics description.

Simple as that.

And yes, your OP is a waste of text. No one is going to read any of it.

A laptop that says '5730' under the graphics description.

Simple as that.

And yes, your OP is a waste of text. No one is going to read any of it.

Or 5650. Civ V won't really need any more than that, and laptops with the 5730 are a little overpriced right now.

I read the whole text but then didn't post because I felt like this is well covered in other threads.

Jesus Christ, My computer would eat 30 of those laptops. Laptops are not for gaming period, they can't handle the heat from graphics card, they can get up to 80-90 degrees Celsius that's 176-194 degrees Fahrenheit. Buy a desktop. Laptops are for playing flash games, or kids games.

The second one would be the best, if you want to do people a favour you could edit your post and put each one into a seperate spolier. This will allow them to view each laptop with a click on the spoiler, and it will take up like no space if you don't want to look at any of them.

Or 5650. Civ V won't really need any more than that, and laptops with the 5730 are a little overpriced right now.


I dont really know much about Laptop specs, but that one should also be fine, or an Nvidia 335 or better.

Jesus Christ, My computer would eat 30 of those laptops. Laptops are not for gaming period, they can't handle the heat from graphics card, they can get up to 80-90 degrees Celsius that's 176-194 degrees Fahrenheit. Buy a desktop. Laptops are for playing flash games, or kids games.

Some people have really good reasons for wanting a laptop but I agree in principle.

I would never want to game full time on a laptop. It's just not civilized.

Once you've hooked up a real monitor, real keyboard, and real pointing device (aka, mouse), then you're basically gaming on a limited and weaker mocked up desktop!

A year or two from now when you buy your next game and everything about your laptop is fine - except the graphics capacity, you're kinda screwed. I build a new PC every 2-3 years and usually upgrade my video card once or twice between each build. My wife loves it! Heck, I just built a new PC a few months ago and already want to upgrade my video card and I have ZERO reason to do so, it's just a compulsion /twitch. Surely some good would come of it. Even without that excess, the idea is that you can often extend the life of a gaming desktop by just upgrading your graphics and maintain a quality rig. Or even moreso, you have the potential to upgrade. With laptops you're usually locked in and/or dealing with a lot of screwy integrated parts. Laptops usually run a lot of management/monitoring/other peripheral software too that you can't really safely disable - sucking up resources.

Lastly, I think it's crazy to say "I'm buying/building a machine to play XXX." You should always build/buy the beefiest rig you can when you buy, IMO, because you never know when a patch or expansion will suddenly jack up the sys reqs on your favorite game, and you never know if some other slightly beefier game will come out that you really want. Don't limit yourself with minimums. Go for all you can when you go for it. PCs and laptops are expensive enough that spending an extra 1-200 up front can greatly extend the useful "life" of the PC. It's usually a good investment and beats being utterly crushed a few years later when your unupgradeable laptop is just barely too weak to run some new game you want.

Jesus Christ, My computer would eat 30 of those laptops. Laptops are not for gaming period, they can't handle the heat from graphics card, they can get up to 80-90 degrees Celsius that's 176-194 degrees Fahrenheit. Buy a desktop. Laptops are for playing flash games, or kids games.

They said that civ 5 would be able to be on a laptop and I've seen someone play command and conquer on a laptop and that's worse than any civ game could ever be. also I have a desktop. I just want something on the go.

Some people have really good reasons for wanting a laptop but I agree in principle.

I would never want to game full time on a laptop. It's just not civilized.

Once you've hooked up a real monitor, real keyboard, and real pointing device (aka, mouse), then you're basically gaming on a limited and weaker mocked up desktop!

A year or two from now when you buy your next game and everything about your laptop is fine - except the graphics capacity, you're kinda screwed. I build a new PC every 2-3 years and usually upgrade my video card once or twice between each build. My wife loves it! Heck, I just built a new PC a few months ago and already want to upgrade my video card and I have ZERO reason to do so, it's just a compulsion /twitch. Surely some good would come of it. Even without that excess, the idea is that you can often extend the life of a gaming desktop by just upgrading your graphics and maintain a quality rig. Or even moreso, you have the potential to upgrade. With laptops you're usually locked in and/or dealing with a lot of screwy integrated parts. Laptops usually run a lot of management/monitoring/other peripheral software too that you can't really safely disable - sucking up resources.

Lastly, I think it's crazy to say "I'm buying/building a machine to play XXX." You should always build/buy the beefiest rig you can when you buy, IMO, because you never know when a patch or expansion will suddenly jack up the sys reqs on your favorite game, and you never know if some other slightly beefier game will come out that you really want. Don't limit yourself with minimums. Go for all you can when you go for it. PCs and laptops are expensive enough that spending an extra 1-200 up front can greatly extend the useful "life" of the PC. It's usually a good investment and beats being utterly crushed a few years later when your unupgradeable laptop is just barely too weak to run some new game you want.

Yeah but I'm limited by price. My max I can spend is 600 dollars.

Here's the deal: Civ V will run on laptops.

While it will scale well graphically on more impressive computers, the minimum specs should provide everything except for some of the flashier graphics. The dual-core is likely a requirement more for the AI programming than for graphics abilities. Otherwise, all of the specifications are REALLY LOW. A recent graphics card, a recent chip, default levels of RAM.

When I recommended a radeon 5650, my point was that it's going to be a graphics card that will handle ALMOST (but not quite) ALL of the graphics that 5 can through at it. It will scale well and run similar games at decent levels of performance, and it's available in computers that cost less that $700.

As an aside, who wants a computer that they can't take with them? Desktops were great in the 90's, but nowadays...

Anyway, B29, I wouldn't be worried about any new, $600+ laptop being able to run Civ 5. I'd make sure I was a fan of the physical build quality, the keyboard layout, and size/layout, but the specs will carry you fine. If I was worried about anything, I'd be extremely iffy on buying a new computer with only 2 gigs of RAM. Acer has good looking, well spec'ed notebooks in a variety of screen sizes running the radeon 5650 for $650 and up on newegg.

EDIT: $600? Can you squeeze it up to $650? If so, then this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834115796

If not, then one of these: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834115848
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834114909
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834114937

I like Acers better than other computers at the same price, they always have the best price/performance ratio and decent build quality. Asus and Sony have the best build quality, but you pay for it with lower-end chips and a higher price tag.

Some people in my classes have Toshiba's, they're not real impressive but those two models are well spec'ed for the price.

A laptop that says '5730' under the graphics description.

Simple as that.

And yes, your OP is a waste of text. No one is going to read any of it.

But what does it mean? Explain it as though I have no idea what your talking about. I simply copy/pasted. I did not know what I needed.

But what does it mean? Explain it as though I have no idea what your talking about. I simply copy/pasted. I did not know what I needed.

If you do not care for wasting lots of time learning about the intricacies of computer hardware, the most efficient way of shopping for a new computer is asking some guys who do.
Specify what you intend to do with it (playing Civ5, check) and how much money you want to spend ($600, check). After the general hubbub has died down (will probably not take long in this case) usually things will narrow down to very few choices. Those you might want to countercheck on some computer hardware web site (http://www.notebookcheck.net is probably most useful for laptops) and maybe check customers comments on the sites of the big vendors (amazon, newegg).

To throw my opinion into the fray, if you want to do any kind of gaming on it, any integrated video card is a bad idea. Even if you get a better processor into the deal this way. Processor (CPU) power these days is almost in no cases the factor limiting gaming performance, graphics card (GPU) processing power is.
To get a perspective: Apart from (ultra-)compact notebooks, the performance difference between entry-level and high-end mobile CPUs is about a factor of 2. For GPUs it's more like a factor of 20 .
Especially on a sub-$1000 notebook you will want the best possible GPU that fits into your budget. In this case that would be the ATI/AMD Radeon mobility HD 5650 (http://www.notebookcheck.net/ATI-Mobility-Radeon-HD-5650.23697.0.html) or 5730 (http://www.notebookcheck.net/ATI-Mobility-Radeon-HD-5730.23825.0.html), those two are essentially identical. From the gazillion notebooks at newegg this boils your choice down to
that one (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834115848),
which will be running Civ5 just fine on medium to high settings.

If you don't mind your laptop on the heavy and bulky side, another $50 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834115796) will get you a better CPU, though the GPU will have to work harder on the bigger display. Civ5 might be one of the few games where you actually will be able to notice the difference between those two CPUs, as in: late-game turns might take 15 instead of 20 seconds ;)

But what does it mean? Explain it as though I have no idea what your talking about. I simply copy/pasted. I did not know what I needed.

You need a graphics card to play games.

Simple? ost laptops come with rubbish integrated graphics that are suitable for web browsing and multimedia use, but will not run games very well. To play games on a laptop, you need a decent mobile range graphics card.

To be honest, I really dont think you will find a suitable laptop for $600, though i may be completely wrong as my knowledge on laptops began developing since everyone started typing laptop specs to ask if they will be able to play Civ 5 :p

Go over to this site http://forum.notebookreview.com/

I am sure they will be able to advise you.

I have made a thread for you, B-29 and everyone else in your situation. My ultimate recommendations for you are exactly the same as tokala's.

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=379631

A Graphics Card is a chip on you computer that does certain specific tasks for which it is specialized. The two most prominent are to calculate the 3d graphics common to gaming, and to send a signal out to control your monitor. Another use that's becoming more prominent is streaming video. The simplest chips do nothing but send the signal out to the monitor. Because all computational tasks require memory, most low end chips have access to the main system RAM, the 2, 3, or 4 GB listed on the computer's specs. The industry term for this is an "Integrated Graphics Card." When they use this RAM, the computer no longer has access to it, and so different parts of your computer are competing with each other, slowing the performance of everything. As a speci on models, you'll usually see this referred to as "Intel GMA" or "Radeon 3200 or 4225".

More advanced graphics chips have their own, specialized memory pools to draw from. This makes controlling the signal to the monitor go faster and smoother while letting the CPU have full access to the system RAM. This dedicated RAM means that the chip gets called a "Dedicated Graphics Card." The real benefit is that these chips are basically super-specialized CPUs in their own rights, but only any good at doing the types of calculations required for 3d graphics. Newer ones also have special instructions designed to make streaming video work better. Because of this, your graphics and systems performance are WAY higher on a dedicated video card. The Radeon 5650 is currently at the best price/performance ratio of the newest cards that enhance 3d and streaming video. Higher numbers than 5650 are even better, but more expensive.

Hope that answers your question about that part.

Just make sure none of these terms appear in the description of its graphics capabilities:

Integrated
Mobile
M (trailing M in a chipset name)
Intel

Just make sure none of these terms appear in the description of its graphics capabilities:

Integrated
Mobile
M (trailing M in a chipset name)
Intel


Mobile is ok, they are only slightly less powerfull than full versions.
My 8600M is able to run Mass Effect 2 with quite good settings.

Mobile is ok, they are only slightly less powerfull than full versions.
My 8600M is able to run Mass Effect 2 with quite good settings.

They run some games well and there are high end mobile chips too, but in the $600 range of laptops you're more likely to end up with crap.

They run some games well and there are high end mobile chips too, but in the $600 range of laptops you're more likely to end up with crap.

I'd not recommend $600 laptop for gaming anyway.

Just make sure none of these terms appear in the description of its graphics capabilities:

Integrated
Mobile
M (trailing M in a chipset name)
Intel

So you are advising people who are looking for a notebook not to buy a notebook? :lol::lol::lol:
ALL notebook GPUs will have a m(obile) or mobility somewhere in the designation.
It is true, though, that a mobile GPU will be notably inferior to a desktop GPU with the same designation, but thats the price you have to pay for the computer being mobile.

So you are advising people who are looking for a notebook not to buy a notebook? :lol::lol::lol:


Well.. if I have to be honest... if you are looking for something that can play recent games for $600 then the only sound advice I have is don't buy a laptop.


ALL notebook GPUs will have a m(obile) or mobility somewhere in the designation.


Thanks! I forgot to mention "Mobility" for ATi (oops, now AMD) chips.

But you're right, they seem to have snuck in Ms or similar everywhere now... some years ago there used to be a distinct difference between mobile/mobility/m/xpress/go and so on.

Anyway. Don't buy a laptop for $600 and expect to play a new game on it.

Well.. if I have to be honest... if you are looking for something that can play recent games for $600 then the only sound advice I have is don't buy a laptop.


It depends on the gaming you want to do. Someone who lives for fps games is going to play on a desktop for several valid reasons other than the video card framerate. There's a large amount of ergonomic concerns with hardcore action gaming that laptops simply can't address.

But someone who just wants to pick up WoW, SC2, Civ 5, the Sims? They're going to be in great shape with a well-chosen $600 or $700 laptop. I've listed out several good choices in another thread, I've pointed some out in this thread or one like it, and while none of them are going to run Crysis on high or GTA4 on high, they're all going to get you by for a year or two, while running quiet, cold, and portable.

I think "Gaming Laptops" are like unicorns, but I've been doing all of my gaming on laptops for almost a decade now, and I wouldn't go back.

I think what everyone's missing here is that Civ 5 is not the only reason I'm getting a laptop, my fault. I may be able to increase it another 50 if I can convince my parents.

Well, check the thread I posted. I'm on my phone so I can't easily go find it. The low cost one's listed are all going to handle Civ 5 or comparable games well, and any other tasks besides maybe videoediting with no problem.

Here's the deal: Civ V will run on laptops.

While it will scale well graphically on more impressive computers, the minimum specs should provide everything except for some of the flashier graphics. The dual-core is likely a requirement more for the AI programming than for graphics abilities. Otherwise, all of the specifications are REALLY LOW. A recent graphics card, a recent chip, default levels of RAM.

When I recommended a radeon 5650, my point was that it's going to be a graphics card that will handle ALMOST (but not quite) ALL of the graphics that 5 can through at it. It will scale well and run similar games at decent levels of performance, and it's available in computers that cost less that $700.

As an aside, who wants a computer that they can't take with them? Desktops were great in the 90's, but nowadays...

Anyway, B29, I wouldn't be worried about any new, $600+ laptop being able to run Civ 5. I'd make sure I was a fan of the physical build quality, the keyboard layout, and size/layout, but the specs will carry you fine. If I was worried about anything, I'd be extremely iffy on buying a new computer with only 2 gigs of RAM. Acer has good looking, well spec'ed notebooks in a variety of screen sizes running the radeon 5650 for $650 and up on newegg.

EDIT: $600? Can you squeeze it up to $650? If so, then this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834115796

If not, then one of these: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834115848
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834114909
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834114937

I like Acers better than other computers at the same price, they always have the best price/performance ratio and decent build quality. Asus and Sony have the best build quality, but you pay for it with lower-end chips and a higher price tag.

Some people in my classes have Toshiba's, they're not real impressive but those two models are well spec'ed for the price.

Thanks for the info! really was helpful. Also I like the sig! I just found out my parents will pay 50 extra, cheers!

Well.. if I have to be honest... if you are looking for something that can play recent games for $600 then the only sound advice I have is don't buy a laptop.



Thanks! I forgot to mention "Mobility" for ATi (oops, now AMD) chips.

But you're right, they seem to have snuck in Ms or similar everywhere now... some years ago there used to be a distinct difference between mobile/mobility/m/xpress/go and so on.

Anyway. Don't buy a laptop for $600 and expect to play a new game on it.
This, a better rule of thumb is if the number is four digits, then the third digit tells you the quality, you want the third digit to be a 7, 8 or 9
It depends on the gaming you want to do. Someone who lives for fps games is going to play on a desktop for several valid reasons other than the video card framerate. There's a large amount of ergonomic concerns with hardcore action gaming that laptops simply can't address.

But someone who just wants to pick up WoW, SC2, Civ 5, the Sims? They're going to be in great shape with a well-chosen $600 or $700 laptop. I've listed out several good choices in another thread, I've pointed some out in this thread or one like it, and while none of them are going to run Crysis on high or GTA4 on high, they're all going to get you by for a year or two, while running quiet, cold, and portable.

I think "Gaming Laptops" are like unicorns, but I've been doing all of my gaming on laptops for almost a decade now, and I wouldn't go back.
WoW came out in 2004, SC2 requires a weak CPU and a weak GPU for recommended specs, the Sims 3 (newest one) requires weak everything... So yeah, those three will likely run great on a $600 laptop! OTOH Civ V's recommended specs can't be met in an affordable laptop

Here's the 700 dollar question: Does Civ 5 have more than one install? There are some computer programs that limit the number of installs you can do. Most of the ones I've heard of were virus protection programs. Also did civ 4 do this?

Here's the 700 dollar question: Does Civ 5 have more than one install? There are some computer programs that limit the number of installs you can do. Most of the ones I've heard of were virus protection programs. Also did civ 4 do this?

Civ V has unlimited installs, however you can only play one copy at a time

Here's the 700 dollar question: Does Civ 5 have more than one install? There are some computer programs that limit the number of installs you can do. Most of the ones I've heard of were virus protection programs. Also did civ 4 do this?

Civ V has unlimited installs, however you can only play one copy at a time

This is not exactly a 700 dollar question, and that's not really an accurate answer. 2KGreg went to a lot of trouble to do a Steam FAQ for the CFC and 2k forums back in like July, and it's stickied at the top of this forum.

http://forums.2kgames.com/forums/showthread.php?p=944015#post944015

Note that, with the flip of one software toggle in Steam, you can play multiple instances of Civ 5 at one time. This includes LAN multiplayer.

Any idea as to which would be better for Civ? Both are $600 and 15.6 inch screens.


Toshiba
1.6 GHz AMD Phenom II P920 quad-core processor
4 GB DDR3 memory
ATI Radeon HD 4250 graphics card


or


Acer
AMD Turion II Dual-Core P520(2.3GHz)
4GB Memory DDR3
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5650

Thanks, this thread has been very useful.

Acer and stop doing same post in two different threads!

This is not exactly a 700 dollar question, and that's not really an accurate answer. 2KGreg went to a lot of trouble to do a Steam FAQ for the CFC and 2k forums back in like July, and it's stickied at the top of this forum.

http://forums.2kgames.com/forums/showthread.php?p=944015#post944015

Note that, with the flip of one software toggle in Steam, you can play multiple instances of Civ 5 at one time. This includes LAN multiplayer.

yes it is. I will need to spend at least 700 dollars on a laptop and civ 5.

I just booted Civ5 up today on my MacBook running Bootcamp. This laptop IS NOT a beefy powerhouse at all (I really use it for office stuff and that's it) - however it ran AWESOME I have to say. Sure, the video settings had to be quite low - but if you're ok with that, than a $1000 Apple could do the trick perfectly for you.

I just booted Civ5 up today on my MacBook running Bootcamp. This laptop IS NOT a beefy powerhouse at all (I really use it for office stuff and that's it) - however it ran AWESOME I have to say. Sure, the video settings had to be quite low - but if you're ok with that, than a $1000 Apple could do the trick perfectly for you.

Have you been reading this WHOLE thread!?! A $1,000 is at least 200 to 300 dollars over my UPPER limit so no way and if I have to mess with the laptop just to get civ 5 then I'd rather have a PC.

If anybody is interested, i tried Civ5 on laptop with 3470 mobility radeon, and it was decent enough for Low DX9 settings on 1280x800. Frame rate is around 10-15fps in late game (20+ for leaders), but this is not shooter, so it's playable enough.


P.S.
It's ASUS X59SR.

My laptop is a m3200 and it's decent. everything on low but it's definitely playable.

Now because of the product key Activation will I be able to install it on my laptop AND
desktop?

Civ is tied to your steam account, not to anything else.
You can install Civ5 on every computer you want to, how often you want to.

Civ is tied to your steam account, not to anything else.
You can install Civ5 on every computer you want to, how often you want to.

But when I tried installing on my dad's computer it said (when I tried typing in the Product Key) that it was already activated on another computer so...

Activation is not the same as installing ;).
Just download steam on your dads computer, log in with your steam name and password, and you should be able to download it without any code or some other kind of activation again.

The game plays reasonably well with my HP ProBook 4530s (which doesn't have any special GPU integrated, just the simple Intel(R) HD Graphics Family).

Do they mean integrated as in part of the CPU, or are they just meaning it's soldered so you could never upgrade it?

Do they mean integrated as in part of the CPU, or are they just meaning it's soldered so you could never upgrade it?

Normally one does not upgrade a laptop. There are mobile Graphics "cards" that are seperate from the main board and CPU just like in a desktop PC, but they are more Daughterboards, and can be replaced if they go bad seperate from having to replace the whole mainboard. It is not like one can go to a store and purchase one that they can swap in and out though.

Intergrated just means that it is a chip on the mainboard and not seperate, but neither can be truly upgraded.

On a loptop, one can change a hardrive or memory, but that is about it (sometimes a DVD/BD drive).