Taking NS2HD Mobile

HughHugh CameramanSan Francisco, CA Join Date: 2010-04-18 Member: 71444NS2 Developer, NS2 Playtester, Reinforced - Silver, Reinforced - Onos, WC 2013 - Shadow, Subnautica Developer, Pistachionauts
edited March 2011 in NS2 General Discussion
<div class="IPBDescription">I need your help!</div>Good morning ladies and gentlemen!

I need your help. My job is sending me away from home for weeks on end, and it's killing NS2HD. I want to get mobile, and I'm going to do it with a beastly desktop-replacement notebook and a fat mobile broadband connection.

There is a hurdle: I need to know that the fat, heavy thing I buy is going to be able to push out the frames I need, lest the 'HD' in 'NS2HD' becomes a misnomer. Now, mobile GPUs may be the hobbled, underpowered, unloved cousins of the mighty desktop-GPU, but I hold out hope because right now NS2 is CPU bound and not GPU bound. Sandy Bridge is my ticket in CPU wise, now I need your help for the GPU.

So, this is an appeal to any mobile-GPU users out there to do me a huge favour and give me five pieces of data:

1. GPU model
2. CPU model
3. Resolution [And whether or not you play windowed]
4. Detail level
5. FPS on TRAM [r_stats value while standing on the Marine Start side of Tram hub, looking north to the Alien Start side, in an online game, would be perfect]

I will be forever indebted to anyone who can provide this information!

EDIT: Added detail
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Comments

  • ThaldarinThaldarin Alonzi&#33; Join Date: 2003-07-15 Member: 18173Members, Constellation
    I've not used anything laptop wise for a long time, although you need to be looking for no less than an intel i7 CPU.

    GPU wise I hear the mobility 5870 and 6870 are top end GPU.
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  • PersianImm0rtalPersianImm0rtal Join Date: 2010-12-02 Member: 75414Members, Constellation, NS2 Map Tester
    edited March 2011
    Well I am glad to hear you are doing this, but just so you know you are going to be paying 4 times the amount for not even half of the performance. I say get an Alienware notebook. Edit: I would also be extremely surprised to find out that anyone is able to play the game on a notebook at the level of quality you are able to do on your desktop for the videos you make.

    But I still think you should just recruit help from the community to make videos on your channel while you are away from your desktop. i am sure there are plenty of fanatic NS2 Fans that could man the job part time. I run a RUSE commentary channel and we have like 10 people making videos on our channel. We make a video like every few days, and It would be nearly impossible to have that many videos being made with out help, with my busy schedule.

    Check it out:
    <a href="http://www.youtube.com/rusetfb" target="_blank">Click here to visit my RUSE youtube Channel.</a>
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  • KoruyoKoruyo AUT Join Date: 2009-06-06 Member: 67724Members, Reinforced - Shadow
    edited March 2011
    1. ATI 4650m
    2. i7 720m
    3. 1600*something 16:9
    4. low
    5. more slideshow than anything else, 15 (+-5)

    Would be nice if a 460m + new i7quad was enough - so you dont have to look out for an overpriced 5kg+ gamernotebook like alienware :P (but i guess it wont)
    Gfx cards to look out for: 480m 6870m 6970m or 560m (not yet available) or higher
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  • HughHugh Cameraman San Francisco, CA Join Date: 2010-04-18 Member: 71444NS2 Developer, NS2 Playtester, Reinforced - Silver, Reinforced - Onos, WC 2013 - Shadow, Subnautica Developer, Pistachionauts
    edited March 2011
    Thanks for the replies guys. Yep I've got the CPU and laptop model locked and loaded Thaldarin :) PersianImm0rtal, if there are people out there itching to make videos, I'd gladly support them in starting other NS2 channels. And yes I'm aware of the terrible $$$ to performance ratio... I'm a previous owner of an XPS M1730 :(.

    Koruyo thankyou x100000 for taking the time to write that up!
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  • LoeyLoey Join Date: 2009-10-31 Member: 69187Members
    edited March 2011
    <a href="http://www.ddcomputer.com.au/prod-G73JH-FHD-TZ155V-proddes_ASUS_G73JH-FHD-TZ155V_Notebook_Intel_Core_i7-720QM_-_8GB_DDR3_-_1TB_Hybrid_HDD-_ATI5870M_1GB_-_BLURAY_Writer_-_11N_-_BLUETOOTH_-_WEBCAM_-_Win7_HP_64-bit.html" target="_blank">ASUS G73JH</a>

    I'm currently using that, although being unable to connect to steam due to being in afghanistan, all i can say is it runs the editor really well.
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  • VicVic Join Date: 2010-11-20 Member: 75106Members
    I think you'd have to invest quite a bit in order to be able to record at a decent quality/framerate. On my laptop (i5 430M @2.26 GHz, 4GB RAM, ATI 5650) it's barely playable in 720p @ medium quality, while my desktop (an old Intel E5200 dual core @2.5Ghz, 4GB RAM, ATI 4890) runs it way better in 1080p (but would probably still struggle with Fraps on).
    Also be careful when choosing the storage as well, most laptops have slow hard drives (5400 rpm?) and I don't know how useful would an external hard-disk be.

    Here are some game benchmarks: <a href="http://www.notebookcheck.net/Computer-Games-on-Laptop-Graphic-Cards.13849.0.html" target="_blank">http://www.notebookcheck.net/Computer-Game...ds.13849.0.html</a>
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  • endarendar Join Date: 2010-07-27 Member: 73256Members, Squad Five Blue
    Here's some more data, I post this knowing that you would never buy a quadro for gaming, but hey, its another set of results to look at.

    1. Nvidia Quadro FX 880M
    2. i7 720QM (1.60ghz, turbo to 2.8ghz)
    3. 1920x1080 fullscreen
    4. high detail
    5. 11-12.

    Horrible to play, I recorded some video as well in a rockdown game, very painful at 1920x1080, slightly better at 1280x720.
    <a href="http://img339.imageshack.us/i/ns22011031621074293.jpg/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/6863/ns22011031621074293.th.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" /></a>

    <a href="http://img576.imageshack.us/i/ns22011031621074724.jpg/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img576.imageshack.us/img576/2513/ns22011031621074724.th.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" /></a>

    May I suggest one of these for mobile gaming/recording?
    <img src="http://www.global-b2b-network.com/direct/dbimage/50185089/Platform_Hand_Truck.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
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  • PlasmaPlasma Join Date: 2003-04-26 Member: 15855Members, Constellation, Squad Five Blue
    NS2HD my friend has a high perf laptop (I don't know the model sorry) but its like a desktop-grade GPU.

    You can also get a GPU enclosure (like a HDD enclosure) which connects a high end GPU to your laptop.

    Food for thought :)
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  • RhodriRhodri Join Date: 2003-06-21 Member: 17575Members
    edited March 2011
    I'm pretty sure ATI never released the GPU enclosure they were working on in the end. This looks like a beast: <a href="http://eurocom.com/products/showroom/specselectnew.cfm?model_id=214" target="_blank">http://eurocom.com/products/showroom/specs...fm?model_id=214</a>
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  • EnceladusEnceladus Join Date: 2004-01-18 Member: 25442Members
    Put up NS2 and Fraps on a usb stick, go to a local notebook store and ask if you could try it out :)
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  • Kouji_SanKouji_San Sr. Hινε Uρкεερεг - EUPT Deputy The Netherlands Join Date: 2003-05-13 Member: 16271Members, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue
    <!--quoteo(post=1837369:date=Mar 16 2011, 01:48 PM:name=Rhodri)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rhodri @ Mar 16 2011, 01:48 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1837369"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I'm pretty sure ATI never released the GPU enclosure they were working on in the end. This looks like a beast: <a href="http://eurocom.com/products/showroom/specselectnew.cfm?model_id=214" target="_blank">http://eurocom.com/products/showroom/specs...fm?model_id=214</a><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    SLI in there and 4 1Tb HDD's... How does that all fit into a laptop, I wonder how long the dual battery will last :P
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  • PersianImm0rtalPersianImm0rtal Join Date: 2010-12-02 Member: 75414Members, Constellation, NS2 Map Tester
    <a href="http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/load_configuration.do?destination=review&config_id=6135537&aoid=35252" target="_blank">http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping...&aoid=35252</a>

    HP dv6tqe Quad Core Laptop for $1150 - $325 with code NB2212 = $825 with free shipping.


    Specs

    2nd gen Intel Core i7-2630QM 2GHz
    6GB DDR3 Memory
    640GB 7200rpm Hard Drive
    15.6" 1366 x 768 LED Display
    1GB Radeon HD 6770 GGR5 Graphics
    HDMI
    VGA
    SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-R/RW w/ Double Layer Support
    WiFi N
    6-Cell Lithium-Ion Battery
    HP TrueVision Webcam w/ integrated Mic & Fingerprint Reader
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit


    Seems like a decent deal, i am not sure if the card is beefy enough, but I think it should be maybe? Besides the price is EXTREMELY good.
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  • PersianImm0rtalPersianImm0rtal Join Date: 2010-12-02 Member: 75414Members, Constellation, NS2 Map Tester
    edited March 2011
    You can also upgrade to 750GB harddrive for free!


    I just realized...I am not sure if they ship to Australia! You will have to check. =/
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  • AvalonAvalon Join Date: 2007-03-04 Member: 60224Members
    NS2 seems to like the highest single IPC it can extract from a CPU. So, I'd recommend the highest clocked chip you can find. As for mobile graphics, generally the mobile variants are 25-50% slower than their desktop counterpart. I'd look for no less than a GTX 460M or Radeon 5870/6870 mobile.
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  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Join Date: 2011-02-17 Member: 82258
    edited March 2011
    If you want a desktop replacement laptop, I think Alienware is a good place to start. Yes they are expensive, but they're powerful and rugged, and that's what you need really.

    <a href="http://www1.ap.dell.com/content/topics/topic.aspx/global/products/alienware/topics/en/ap/au/laptops?c=au&cs=audhs1&l=en&s=dhs" target="_blank">http://www1.ap.dell.com/content/topics/top...;l=en&s=dhs</a>
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  • SpoogeSpooge Thunderbolt missile in your cheerios Join Date: 2002-01-25 Member: 67Members
    If I were you, I'd take a look at the <a href="http://www.hp.com/united-states/campaigns/envy/index.html" target="_blank">HP Envy17</a>.
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  • TigTig Join Date: 2010-05-08 Member: 71674Members, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Silver
    if i ever bought another lappy (i had a bad experience with a high end pavilion that i'm still sore about), i'd pay the money for alienware. the ability to barebones a laptop is pretty clutch these days and upgrading on demand sounds swell. pricetag sucks, yes, but is it worth it? i think so.
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  • TigTig Join Date: 2010-05-08 Member: 71674Members, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Silver
    <!--quoteo(post=1837401:date=Mar 16 2011, 03:37 PM:name=Spooge)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Spooge @ Mar 16 2011, 03:37 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1837401"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->If I were you, I'd take a look at the <a href="http://www.hp.com/united-states/campaigns/envy/index.html" target="_blank">HP Envy17</a>.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    i would suggest never buying anything from hp.
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  • PersianImm0rtalPersianImm0rtal Join Date: 2010-12-02 Member: 75414Members, Constellation, NS2 Map Tester
    <!--quoteo(post=1837404:date=Mar 16 2011, 04:12 PM:name=Tig)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tig @ Mar 16 2011, 04:12 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1837404"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->if i ever bought another lappy (i had a bad experience with a high end pavilion that i'm still sore about), i'd pay the money for alienware. the ability to barebones a laptop is pretty clutch these days and upgrading on demand sounds swell. pricetag sucks, yes, but is it worth it? i think so.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->


    What do you mean? Are the GPU and CPU in the alienware computers upgradable later on?
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  • HughHugh Cameraman San Francisco, CA Join Date: 2010-04-18 Member: 71444NS2 Developer, NS2 Playtester, Reinforced - Silver, Reinforced - Onos, WC 2013 - Shadow, Subnautica Developer, Pistachionauts
    Thanks for all the suggestions guys! Endar thanks heaps for that data. I've already settled on the laptop, just looking for those five pieces of info from any other laptop owners out there. The release of build 168 today while I'm still interstate made me acutely aware of the lack of video's I'm producing.

    Rhodri I had laugh configuring the Eurocom to 'Dream' spec: $20,000 USD! Love the suggestion Endar, it's so true.
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  • PersianImm0rtalPersianImm0rtal Join Date: 2010-12-02 Member: 75414Members, Constellation, NS2 Map Tester
    Let us know what kind of notebook you get, I am curious.
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  • EnceladusEnceladus Join Date: 2004-01-18 Member: 25442Members
    Just a though.. have you considered a notebook with docking station? Since these would - depending on manufactor - allow you to plug in a regular gfx card and harddrive etc.
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  • CoolCookieCooksCoolCookieCooks Pretty Girl Join Date: 2003-05-18 Member: 16446Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor, Constellation
    Would you consider doing commentaries on other peoples footage? For example if somebody were to record a bit of game footage at 1080p for an entire round and you watch/commentate over the top? This would be a sort of cheaper solution as you would only need a video editing rig rather than a laptop which can powerfully run NS2.
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  • HughHugh Cameraman San Francisco, CA Join Date: 2010-04-18 Member: 71444NS2 Developer, NS2 Playtester, Reinforced - Silver, Reinforced - Onos, WC 2013 - Shadow, Subnautica Developer, Pistachionauts
    <!--quoteo(post=1837556:date=Mar 18 2011, 12:04 AM:name=CoolCookieCooks)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CoolCookieCooks @ Mar 18 2011, 12:04 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1837556"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Would you consider doing commentaries on other peoples footage? For example if somebody were to record a bit of game footage at 1080p for an entire round and you watch/commentate over the top? This would be a sort of cheaper solution as you would only need a video editing rig rather than a laptop which can powerfully run NS2.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Absolutely yes. A few people have generously tried to supply me with games in the past, and I really appreciate it. The big hurdle is getting the game to me, as I don't have my own FTP or anything suitable for massive file transfers.
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  • Kouji_SanKouji_San Sr. Hινε Uρкεερεг - EUPT Deputy The Netherlands Join Date: 2003-05-13 Member: 16271Members, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue
    THat would cut out the huge cash sink issue, but indeed it would add the problem of moving these 1080p files trough the intertubes!

    Heh I would record stuff, if I could. But alas currently I am having trouble running NS2 (HDD seems to be dieing, time to keep an eye on my backup :P)
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  • IronHorseIronHorse Developer, QA Manager, Technical Support & contributor Join Date: 2010-05-08 Member: 71669Members, Super Administrators, Forum Admins, Forum Moderators, NS2 Developer, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue, Subnautica Playtester, Subnautica PT Lead, Pistachionauts
    <!--quoteo(post=1837360:date=Mar 16 2011, 02:45 AM:name=Loey)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Loey @ Mar 16 2011, 02:45 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1837360"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--><a href="http://www.ddcomputer.com.au/prod-G73JH-FHD-TZ155V-proddes_ASUS_G73JH-FHD-TZ155V_Notebook_Intel_Core_i7-720QM_-_8GB_DDR3_-_1TB_Hybrid_HDD-_ATI5870M_1GB_-_BLURAY_Writer_-_11N_-_BLUETOOTH_-_WEBCAM_-_Win7_HP_64-bit.html" target="_blank">ASUS G73JH</a>

    I'm currently using that, although being unable to connect to steam due to being in afghanistan, all i can say is it runs the editor really well.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->


    why dont you just tor?
    or find any other VPN means?
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  • HughHugh Cameraman San Francisco, CA Join Date: 2010-04-18 Member: 71444NS2 Developer, NS2 Playtester, Reinforced - Silver, Reinforced - Onos, WC 2013 - Shadow, Subnautica Developer, Pistachionauts
    edited March 2011
    If anyone else has any numbers to share it would be greatly appreciated, I'm particularly interested in results from the 540m, 460m, and 485m. If it happens, it's going to be a nvidia card so I can use adobe mercury. Much as I love AMD :(

    EDIT: Deleted irrelevant stuff
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  • aeroripperaeroripper Join Date: 2005-02-25 Member: 42471NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation
    I wonder if one of those "use your PC, while you're away from your PC" applications would give acceptable FPS for recording from a laptop. I'm guessing it's a big NO that it wouldn't give acceptable frame rates, but just throwing it out there.

    This site made me think of it:

    <a href="http://www.streammygame.com/smg/index.php" target="_blank">http://www.streammygame.com/smg/index.php</a>
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  • KoruyoKoruyo AUT Join Date: 2009-06-06 Member: 67724Members, Reinforced - Shadow
    edited March 2011
    <a href="http://www.villageinstruments.com/tiki-index.php?page=ViDock" target="_blank">http://www.villageinstruments.com/tiki-index.php?page=ViDock</a>

    Its actually not a bad idea...

    Lenovo x201 + Vidock4 with 5770
    <a href="http://www.lenovox201.com/2010/11/vidock-4-unbox-hardware-setup-software.html" target="_blank">http://www.lenovox201.com/2010/11/vidock-4...p-software.html</a>

    performance with pci express card slots?

    Edit:
    Read on some articles its about 250mb/s ~ PCI x1 (for comparison PCs usually have PCI x16) And you lose around 50-70% performance.
    Still pretty ok - you can make small portable laptops(likethe x201 example) into gaming laptops.

    PS: Havent watched the x201 video stuff yet - so i dont know if this combo works on the notebook display itself or only with external monitos connected to this vidock shizzle...
    EDIT: Ok this guy said it need an external display - so forget this useless piece of crap. :P
    There are DIY manuals that work(with adapters like this <a href="http://www.hwtools.net/Adapter/PE4H.html)" target="_blank">http://www.hwtools.net/Adapter/PE4H.html)</a>, but - thats even less practical for traveling.

    Conclusion:
    This is only for ppl that wanna have good gaming performance at home with a very portable notebook on the go in a "single" solution. (and even then its not very practical, and still only at laptop gfx niveau - thanks to the PCI x1 speed)

    final edit: intel had some plans to make a standardized connection slot for this kind of stuff that could handle PCI x16 in 2009 - but it seems they backed off(nothing available), laptop marked is eating away a lot money from the desktop segment (and is growing)... guess thats why. You wanna sell them a desktop and a laptop... (and a tablet, and a netbook, and a....)

    And not only laptops with adapters for super graphic powers.
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  • LoeyLoey Join Date: 2009-10-31 Member: 69187Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1837710:date=Mar 18 2011, 02:45 PM:name=ironhorse)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ironhorse @ Mar 18 2011, 02:45 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1837710"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->why dont you just tor?
    or find any other VPN means?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    tor?

    my internet is slower than dial up. it took my mate 5 days to install black ops. if i connect to steam, i wouldnt be able to play because as soon as i finish downloading a patch, the next will be out
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