Help a non-computer savvy person understand his laptop - Hardware & Software

So to start off here are my specs from dxdiag OS: Windows 7 64-Bit Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5 CPU M 540 @ 2.53GHz (4 CPUs), ~2.5GHz Memory: 4096MB RAM Video Card: Intel(R) HD Graphics (Core i5) with 1696 MB of memory DirectX Version: 11 Basically what I'm seeking is enlightenment through some questions about my laptop and the video games I have installed on it. 1) How come when I try to run say, Red Orchestra 2 which the rec. specs are; [B]Recommended[/B][B]OS:[/B] Windows XP/Vista/7 [B]Processor:[/B] Quad Core 2.6 GHz or better [B]Memory:[/B] 3 GB [B]Graphics:[/B] 512 MB SM 3.0 DX9 Compliant NVIDIA® GeForce GTX 260 or better ATI® Radeon® HD 5750 or better [B]Hard Drive:[/B] 8 GB free hard drive space [B]Sound:[/B] Sound Blaster Audigy or better Now to me after looking at my specs I feel like I can run this game at almost full capacity save for the processor which almost makes it to the rec. processor level, but when I run the game I HAVE to run it at almost low everything in order for the game to run smoothly. Why is this? 2)Since dxdiag says I have 1696 MB of video memory then is that a good thing? Because to me that can be translated to 1.7 GB of video memory. 3) I cant get all the AA and pretty graphic options for TF2 even though TO ME I have a good video card with 1696 of video memory and a DX 11 version. Help me understand Facepunch.

1. I'm guessing because of the onboard graphics card. 2. That's a pretty good size for video memory. 3. Again, its an onboard card, as in on the mobo. Not very good.

But what makes an onboard video card less better than a one that isn't if it has more memory?

That and Intel is fucking terrible at making graphics setups. Memory isn't everything. [url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127573]Take a look at this GTX 550.[/url] It's got half a GB less memory than your current setup, and is even an older generation of nVidia cards, but it will make your current graphics chipset look like it was made out of Legos by comparison.

Add to the fact that laptops are designed to stay [I]somewhat[/I] cool (cough cough dell) and have a limited amount of room for a discrete cooler on a higher power graphics card

Your GPU is integrated into the CPU. And the reason that you have ~1.6 GB of video memory is because it's stealing system RAM to use as video memory, which makes less available to the rest of the system. The GPU doesn't allocate ~1.6 GB all the time, it can just use up to that much if it needs it. Normally it will allocate a much smaller chunk of memory to itself (8-512M) when not being used heavily. The Intel integrated HD2000/3000 GPUs (which you have) aren't designed for anything more than light gaming. You aren't going to be able to run GPU intensive games like TF2/RO well at any sort of decent resolution with any sort of decent detail settings.

He has a HD2000 what is a piece of shit when compared to the 3000. And let's not touch the ivy what should have an even better IGP, the HD4000. What lappy do you have, it might, MIGHT have a place for a new, not integrated GPU, even though it is not usual to be like that.

[QUOTE=lavacano;36657490]That and Intel is fucking terrible at making graphics setups. Memory isn't everything. [url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127573]Take a look at this GTX 550.[/url] It's got half a GB less memory than your current setup, and is even an older generation of nVidia cards, but it will make your current graphics chipset look like it was made out of Legos by comparison.[/QUOTE] he has a laptop not a desktop

[QUOTE=mastfire;36661577]he has a laptop not a desktop[/QUOTE] My point still stands, even if he can't actually use the card. why is he trying to play games on a laptop anyway

[QUOTE=LordCrypto;36657651]Add to the fact that laptops are designed to stay [I]somewhat[/I] cool (cough cough dell) and have a limited amount of room for a discrete cooler on a higher power graphics card[/QUOTE] Cough hp Cough

[QUOTE=Ehmmett;36664290]quotes[/QUOTE] Are you implying my "your card sucks" thing is sub-par or are you saying he's gaming on a laptop because he doesn't know better?

[QUOTE=bohb;36659785]Your GPU is integrated into the CPU. And the reason that you have ~1.6 GB of video memory is because it's stealing system RAM to use as video memory, which makes less available to the rest of the system. The GPU doesn't allocate ~1.6 GB all the time, it can just use up to that much if it needs it. Normally it will allocate a much smaller chunk of memory to itself (8-512M) when not being used heavily. The Intel integrated HD2000/3000 GPUs (which you have) aren't designed for anything more than light gaming. You aren't going to be able to run GPU intensive games like TF2/RO well at any sort of decent resolution with any sort of decent detail settings.[/QUOTE] This is the 2010 generation - they weren't using HD 2000/3000 back then, if I remember correctly. Isn't that the Sandy Bridge (which, afaik, were much faster GPU-wise) integrated GPU?

[QUOTE=GoDong-DK;36673101]This is the 2010 generation - they weren't using HD 2000/3000 back then, if I remember correctly. Isn't that the Sandy Bridge (which, afaik, were much faster GPU-wise) integrated GPU?[/QUOTE] Yes they are. I think the Arrandale integrated GPU's were just called intel HD graphics, plainly.

[QUOTE=BustinJon;36656894] 3. Again, its an onboard card, as in on the [b]CPU[/b]. Not very good.[/QUOTE] Ftfy. Obviously for laptops, even discreet GPUs are most likely soldered onto the motherboard anyways, unless it uses a modular formfactor.