Read first: Will PCSX2 run fast on my computer?

[ChesterCheese]

I read you recommend avoiding Mobile CPUs but since I am never home I am looking into a new notebook exclusively. I was wondering how an i5 520m with a 5650 will hold up against some of the RPGs on the PS2. Screen resolution is 1366 x 768 so I guess the CPU will be the limiter, but by how much?

[Rezard]

I read you recommend avoiding Mobile CPUs but since I am never home I am looking into a new notebook exclusively. I was wondering how an i5 520m with a 5650 will hold up against some of the RPGs on the PS2. Screen resolution is 1366 x 768 so I guess the CPU will be the limiter, but by how much?

That CPU (Core i5-520) will do great, especially for RPGs. It will most likely out perform mine, and I'm definitely not limited to just RPGs.

As for the high resolution, that VERY GOOD GPU will do great.

Mobile PCs are not as bad as some may have you think. Desktop's are definitely cheaper and are generally more powerful than laptops (therefor can handle the load with more ease). This doesn't change the fact that laptops CAN HANDLE PCSX2 JUST FINE.

[rama]

New and expensive (at least medium class) laptops can work with PCSX2 fine, yeah.

They need to have the OS install fixed, so it doesn't do all the aggressive power saving anymore
(including the way long Sleep() time some laptop windows installs show).

[ShootingStars]

I would like to play games like FFX, FFX2, Xenosaga, etc.

ThinkPad W510 - 1 Year Depot Topseller Warranty

Intel Core i7-720QM Processor (6M Cache, 1.60 GHz)1
Genuine Windows 7 Professional 3212
15.6" HD+ Anti-Glare display LED backlight and WWAN antenna
nVidia GLM DG 1GB, AMT
UltraNav FPR, No Color Sensor
4 GB PC3-8500 DDR3 (2 DIMM)8
500GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm4
DVD Recordable, Ultrabay Enhanced5
9cell, LI Battery TWSL60
Integrated Bluetooth PAN 2
Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 630010
None65
1 Year Depot/Express Warranty5


Will this run PCSX2 nicely without heating problems? Thank you for the help... The GPU is a nVIDIA® Quadro® FX 880M... which is this:

http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-Quad...735.0.html

[pedrosilvaa]

Unfortunately that CPU is a bit slow for pcsx2 (1,60Ghz is way too low clock speed). Has it got TurboBoost or something?

[ilovejedd]

Unfortunately that CPU is a bit slow for pcsx2 (1,60Ghz is way too low clock speed). Has it got TurboBoost or something?

Yes.
i7-720QM: 1.60GHz - 1/1/6/9 = 1.73GHz/1.73GHz/2.40GHz/2.80GHz

@ShootingStars
One nice thing about the recent crop of laptop processors (at least starting from Core 2 microarchitecture from Intel) is that they're just low-power versions of current desktop processors. For the most part, clock for clock performance is the same as desktop counterparts so it's easier to estimate how they'll do in certain tasks. You'll probably be better served by a higher clocked dual-core Arrandale, though.
i5-520M: 2.40GHz - 2/4 = 2.66GHz/2.93GHz
i5-540M: 2.53GHz - 2/4 = 2.80GHz/3.06GHz
i7-620M: 2.66GHz - 3/5 = 3.06GHz/3.33GHz

[ShootingStars]

Unfortunately that CPU is a bit slow for pcsx2 (1,60Ghz is way too low clock speed). Has it got TurboBoost or something?

Yes.
i7-720QM: 1.60GHz - 1/1/6/9 = 1.73GHz/1.73GHz/2.40GHz/2.80GHz

@ShootingStars
One nice thing about the recent crop of laptop processors (at least starting from Core 2 microarchitecture from Intel) is that they're just low-power versions of current desktop processors. For the most part, clock for clock performance is the same as desktop counterparts so it's easier to estimate how they'll do in certain tasks. You'll probably be better served by a higher clocked dual-core Arrandale, though.
i5-520M: 2.40GHz - 2/4 = 2.66GHz/2.93GHz
i5-540M: 2.53GHz - 2/4 = 2.80GHz/3.06GHz
i7-620M: 2.66GHz - 3/5 = 3.06GHz/3.33GHz

So the i7-620M would help me get awesome speeds for most games? Thanks. + A GPU above 8600GT.

[Rezard]

Yes, and the nice thing about the 620M is the base speed is pretty decent, as well. That will come in handy if PCSX2 happens to go unrecognized by the Turbo Boost.

[ShootingStars]

Yes, and the nice thing about the 620M is the base speed is pretty decent, as well. That will come in handy if PCSX2 happens to go unrecognized by the Turbo Boost.

Thanks for the help guys... I have found several laptops I want with the I7 620m.
Any recommendation?

Here are the GPUs associated with the laptops... which one should I choose? Thank you for any help!

http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-Quad...738.0.html

Only one... :l

[Rezard]

That NVIDIA Quadro NVS 3100M may fall short. I can't be %100 certain, as it has 512mb of V-RAM that should be fast enough, but it has noticably few pipelines (16) and only 64-bit memory bus width (which can be enough in some cases). I could be wrong. I do believe it is possible some games will be OK, but you might be disappointed with what you spent. I'm only concerned for your sake. Hopefully someone who is more certain can comment.

I could suggest GeForce GT 8800M, 9600M or more. Any three digit GeForce GT where the second digit is at least a "3" (as in 230M) or a ATI Radeon in the high 4000s or mid 5000s. Anything mentioned should be enough, anything higher should be better. This is just to give you an idea.

Just a thought, does anyone know if the built-in graphics core on some of the Core i processors could make any impact on PCSX2 (especially in cases where the GPU would be slightly insufficiant)?