Older desktop outperforming newer laptop (FFXI)

[zard1977]

Bought a new laptop recently. Specs are as follows:

Windows 7 Home Premium 32 bit
Intel i5 540
Nvidia GeForce GT 335M
4GB ram

The problem is the fps drop drastically from 29 to around 10 whenever there are more players/npcs on screen. Even my desktop has higher fps even though it has lower specs. The desktop also outperformed the laptop on the ffxiv benchmark test.

Desktop is running XP with
Core2 Duo E8500 3.16GHz, 3GB ram, ATI radeon 4850

Updating latest graphics drivers on laptop did not produce any noticable effect.

Anyone has any tips??

[Kryssan]

Newer does not equal greater performance.


These results do not surprise me at all and honestly, regarding laptop drivers, I have nothing to tell you except use the desktop. That 4850 I don't specifically know the specs for since you didn't include them, but comparing it to the G335M without actually benching it myself I'd say the former is going to win without question. They're both GDDR3 ram, but the mobile chipset is 128bit compared to the 256bit of the Radeon. The mobile set is 400/1066Mhz, and while you didn't list the Radeon's specs, I'd imagine it beats that as well (probably around 500~600ish on the core? Memory I'm not hazarding guesses for).



Additionally, many people have issues using newer drivers/boards with old games like FFXI - I am not exempt, I fought z-fighting a great deal when I was still playing for probably the last 2 years that I played the game.

[njitjk68]

I'm pretty sure e8500 is a bit better than the i5 540 and the 4850 is a lot better than the GT 335M which would mean your desktop more powerful than your laptop.

[Isiolia]

Aye, the E8500 trades blows with the i5 650 on the desktop, and is faster than any of the i3 parts there. Considering the i5 540 is a mobile only part, it wouldn't surprise me at all to see it be outperformed across the board by the E8500, considering the performance hit most mobile parts see.

I'd expect that your desktop is a consistently better performer, especially by the time you factor in faster storage, not needing to throttle for heat, etc.

FFXI shouldn't be -that- hard to run though. Unless the video chipset is especially weak, I'd suspect an issue with drivers or configuration.

[Octavious]

also, idk if it was said (or already known, I know Isiolia knows this) the mobile i5 540m isn't a quad-core anyway, just a fancier dual core at heart. So you're essentially comparing two dual core processors where one is clocked higher. this: http://www.anandtech.com/print/2902 has a good run down of the i5 in general. The only issue i've come across with the i5 is the graphics switching if your laptop does it. It will basically lower the CPU speed to account for an increase in GPU temperature. I'm not sure if thats the problem, just an idea. For some reason when my friend would play SC2 his CPU would slow down since he was running everything on high resolutions etc. I forget the exact fix to the problem, but there should be a way to turn off the scale down somewhere if you determine that its the issue.

[jurjur]

It's just like wondering why a current laptop with integrated intel graphics can't beat a mid-range gaming desktop of yesteryear.

[Octavious]

It's just like wondering why a current laptop with integrated intel graphics can't beat a mid-range gaming desktop of yesteryear.

D: a possibility, also, the Core 2 Duo line was pretty solid as far as CPUs go.

[Krandor]

Your desktop is stronger, just that simple. If you have the 335M it should be a fairly small laptop, probably 15 inches or under. Unless you're rocking a 17" laptop with an i7 you can't expect to really get close to desktop performance, fact of life with laptops.

I own a laptop with a Core 2 Duo OCed to 3.2Ghz, and running GT9800s in SLI, and it can still be owned by a 800 or 900 dollar desktop you grab at Bestbuy or Fry's

[xopher]

lol mobile graphics.

[Kongolo]

Desktops > Laptops

by price
by performanc

[Gredival]

I'm guessing you have a m11x r2. I'm having the same problems. While the 335M isn't a super graphics card, it should be enough for FFXI so I'm pretty sure it's cuz of nVidia drivers.

nVidia drivers are really finicky with FFXI so newer drivers aren't always the best.

The best driver FPS wise is the Alienware specific beta 257.30 from Dell here

However it will stop Windower from engaging. A new debug Windower is being beta tested right now to fix it.