TheGolfClub game PC requirements

[Sascha1818]

I just found the new Schenker XMG P705 laptop. Any thoughts ?

• Intel Core i7-4720HQ Quad-Core Prozessor (6MB Cache, 4x 2,60 - 3,60 GHz, Hyper-Threading und Turbo Boost)
• 8GB DDR3 1866MHz Kingston HyperX (32GB möglich)
• 1000GB HDD WD BLUE SATA III 5400 (U/Min) 9,5mm
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M 4GB GDDR5
• Intel Wireless Dual-AC 7265 M.2
• 43,9cm (17.3") Full-HD (1920x1080) Non-Glare
• Kartenleser, RJ45 Port (LAN), 1x USB 2.0 (als eSATA/USB-Compo-Port), 3x USB 3.0 (1x mit Power-Off Ladefunktion), 2x Mini DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI (with HDCP), Kopfhörerausgang, Audioeingang, Mikrofoneingang, S/PDIF (optisch)
• Tastatur mit Nummernblock und Beleuchtung in 3 Stufen (Stark, Schwach, Aus), Multi gesture Touchpad mit Scrollfunktion
• High Definition Audio, Sound Blaster® X-FI® MB3, ONKYO 2.0 Speaker-System
• Anschluss für Sicherheitsschloss, TPM 2.0, Fingerprint-Reader
• 2.0 MP Videokamera, eingebautes Mikrofon
• 180W Netzteil, 60 Wh Akku

[keither5150]

On paper, that laptop should be able to run TGC on high with object detail on 3 and the tree detail and distance on min. I base that on the 980M being close to equal to a GTX 680. The only thing that worries me is that the processor runs at 2.6 and turbos up to 3.6 GHz As soon as the machine heats up, you will not have turbo speeds unless they have a massive cooler and fan. Some gaming laptops shoot hot air out the side like a blow dryer but hotter. I am wondering why you are considering a laptop. A desktop for 1/2 the money will out perform a gaming laptop. The exchange rate to Canadian dollars is about $2000. I can build a great machine for that amount. If you have to have a laptop, be prepared to run the game on lower settings. I would be interested in what FPS laptops are getting and with what settings.

[Sascha1818]

I was reading a rewiew about it and they said the most demanding game right now is the New AG Revolution and it did not have any issues at the Max settings of the game and did not heat up much either. 30 PPS at the highest game settings.

[keither5150]

That laptop should run the game. I was saying that for less money, a desktop will run it better. There is no way that XMG P705 will run TGC on a simulator at full settings. My machine can't run it at full. As far as laptops go, that one is a good choice, if you have to have a laptop. If you don't need a laptop for your set up, you will be way better off with a desktop.

I can tell you what I have. The 3 main components CPU, Ram, GPU are all better than what that laptop offers.

2600k i7 at 3.4Ghz, 16 gigs of ram at 2133 MHz, GTX 970 , PSU 1000 watts, 500 GB SSD, I recently when from a GTX 680 to a GTX 970. I sold my GTX 680 for $240 so the upgrade cost me about $200 Cnd. I ran both cards with TGC on High but there are settings within the game to make things look even better.

680... I ran object detail 3 High quality tree count at min and high quality tree distance at min. The game played at about 35 FPS
970.... I run object detail 5 , tree count at 1600 and tree distance at 320. The game plays at 35 FPS.
Download a program called FRAPS to check your frames per second. Above 30 FPS is playable but you really want 35-45FPS to ensure smooth play all the time.
I have tried turning up the distance and the count to max. I don't see a noticeable quality difference other than my FPS drops below playable levels.
BTW the game looks great on object detail 5.

I hope that helps.

[Sascha1818]

Thank you very much. The reason why i'm looking into a Laptop is because i'm travelling most of the time and I can't take a Desktop with me. I have the tgc PC game right now and on my current Laptop i can't play it or even use the course Designer. It's painal. So I need a better Laptop and of course i don't want to buy a better Laptop and a Desktop for my sim at home for when i'm home and get to play tgc and maybe the courses i designed as well.

[keither5150]

That makes sense. It will run it, for sure. You should post your FPS, I would be interested on how a high end laptop does. Download a program called fraps to test your FPS. If possible, try to find a laptop with a slightly higher CPU clock speed. 2.8 is about the highest that I have seen (but not really looking too hard). Cooling is also key, no point in having turbo if it is too hot to stay there. So do some research. Good luck....... I found a laptop that may beat my desktop.
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX57931

[Sascha1818]

Did check it with the program you said and here some rough readings:
First of all with full detail and full tree count etc. a game with a lot of trees is not playable !
With detail on 3 trees half and half the average course plays between 25 and 50
If it a lot of trees it drops to 15 to 20 for a few seconds but overall enough detail for me and playable.
A Highland course with no or just a few trees stays at 50 with the mentioned settings
I'm happy with that

[keither5150]

It is nice to see that a laptop can play it. My old video card played it at those settings. It still does look pretty good on 3.

[Sascha1818]

Hahaha yes i saw that one too but it's 4200 facing my 2200 hahaha they have a Modell with 4x4ghz too for 200 more but it's a 17 inch with almost 10 pounds

[keither5150]

Yes 10 pounds........ sort of mobile. I am not even sure if I could build a computer for that much. diminishing returns for sure. If money were no object, I would spend about $2400 on a desktop and $4200 on that laptop.

[DougieMn]

Interesting stuff on the laptops. Would love to find a laptop that would run TGC at a suitable level and be able to use it for stuff other than sim! Recommendations greatly appreciated. Any of the Alienware laptops make the grade?

[keither5150]

Stick with i7 (higher speed, the better) GTX 970M or better, 8 GB of Ram or better. TGC is not very taxing on ram and CPU. It is hard on the video card. A laptop with a GTX980m will play TGC on high, detail 3, tree quality and distance at about 1/4 of max. I am estimating this based on the GTX980m being equal to a GTX680 in most games. The game will look very nice at those settings. When setting up TGC, download a program called FRAPS. It will give you your frames per second. Smooth play is expected at 30-45 FPS. Asus also makes a good gaming laptop. Expect to pay a little more compared to a desktop. You will find that most of the gaming laptops are being sold with a GTX 960m. While the GTX 960m can play TGC you will have to turn the detail and trees way down. There were some videos posted on this forum of a laptop playing TGC on high, detail at 1. Anyone provide a link?

[keither5150]

http://golfsimulatorforum.com/forum/skytrak/36173-skytrak-and-the-golf-club-tgc-simulation-software/page36

Found it.

[Archv6625]

I run my sim on a 5 year old sager laptop with a GTX460. As long as you don't get silly with the graphics settings, it plays with no issues at all and looks great and smooth. With that said I'm planning an upgrade relatively soon.

[DougieMn]

So if I'm not overly concerned about "realistic" trees you can run TGC with a decent recent laptop? I'd like to be able to use it for work as well and my current laptop is aged so would love to be able to find a happy medium utilizing a laptop.

For you techies out there I'd accept any direction as to which laptops are decent etc.

[DougieMn]

Ok, shopping laptops. Makes the most sense in my situation and am not overly concerned about how pretty the trees look as long as the Sims work with it.

Alienware has a laptop that is cheap and allows you to add a desktop video card with a separate power supply if needed in their little breadbox. Any input from the experts here?

The other one I'm looking at is the Asus with a 980m video.

Both are i7 units.

[ProTee United]

We have an MSI Laptop, i7 with an 880m card. Asus or Alienware with a 980m will run great.