Laptop for Stormblood

[Hamada]

Go with one with 1050ti, even if you have to sacrifice on specs... or jump on eBay and find a 980m laptop. The extra power will make a difference for ffxiv, especially with the graphical upgrades they're making with the game.

no

A laptop is not going to give you as good performance at the same price point as a desktop in most cases because they prefer things that don't get as hot or use as much power in them. My suggestion to get something playable would be to look at the Minimum and get above that and then see how much you can get above recommended. Pretty much anything that fits that description will play fine.

MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

OS: Windows® 7 64 bit, Windows® 8.1 64 bit, Windows® 10 64 bit

CPU: Intel® Core™i5 2.4GHz or higher

Memory: 4GB or higher

Available space on hard disk/SSD: 60GB or more

Graphics Card: NVIDIA® Geforce® GTX750 or higher or AMD Radeon™ R7 260X or higher

Screen Resolution: 1280x720

Internet: Broadband Internet connection

Sound Card: DirectSound® sound card (DirectX® 9.0c or higher)

DirectX®: DirectX® 9.0c and DirectX® 11



RECOMMENDED SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

OS: Windows® 7 64 bit, Windows® 8.1 64 bit, Windows® 10 64 bit

CPU: Intel® Core™i7 3GHz or higher

Memory: 8GB or higher

Available space on hard disk/SSD: 60GB or more

Graphics Card:NVIDIA® Geforce® GTX970 or higher or AMD Radeon™ RX 480 or higher

Screen Resolution: 1920x1080

Internet: Broadband Internet connection

Sound Card: DirectSound® sound card (DirectX® 9.0c or higher)

DirectX®: DirectX® 9.0c and DirectX® 11

You need at least a 1060 m , or 970/980m or something x70/x80

If you cannot get something along those lines with a SSD128 gp + do not bother with getting a laptop for this game, go deskop at that point

[SecretCrowds]

Any reason why a laptop and not a desktop? Most of the laptops at your budget range pair an i7 with a GTX1050, which is not worth it. You can build a desktop that will give you better results/value for Stormblood using the same budget.

Some examples would be
https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/list/MqHLXH £362 3.5GHz + GTX1050ti
https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/list/RQGfgL £575 i5 3.0GHz base / 3.5GHz turbo + GTX1060
https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/list/Ysm83F £831 i5 3.8GHz base (overclockable to 4.2GHz) + GTX1060


However, if you really need a laptop, then go ahead and buy those i7 + GTX1050 or at least increase your budget a little and go for the GTX1050ti or GTX1060. It won't be the best value though.

http://www.dell.com/uk/p/inspiron-15...15-7567-laptop £899 i7 2.5GHz base / 3.5GHz turbo + GTX1050
http://www.dell.com/uk/p/inspiron-15...15-7567-laptop £1099 i7 2.8GHz base / 3.8GHz turbo + GTX1050ti

[Hamada]

If you want high settings, i7/ 1060m can give that to you, while running at max FPS

if you are doing more like a 1050M you might needs pure med settings to keep up the FPS. I could not find proper benchmarking but the gap performace of a 1050 to a 1060 is pretty big, with the min saying you need a 750
http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/high_end_gpus.html
a 970M does more then a 750 desktop, but
:
FINAL FANTASY XIV: Stormblood Benchmark
Tested on: 6/8/2017 2:51:53 AM
Score: 3212
Average Frame Rate:21.834
Performance: Fairly High
-Capable of running the game on default settings. Consider switching to a higher resolution depending on performance.
Loading Times by Scene
Scene #1 7.145 sec
Scene #2 6.278 sec
Scene #3 5.670 sec
Scene #4 7.335 sec
Scene #5 13.961 sec
Scene #6 2.559 sec
Total Loading Time 42.951 sec

DAT:s20170608025153.dat

Screen Size: 1920x1080
Screen Mode: Full Screen
DirectX Version: 11
Graphics Presets: Maximum
General
-Wet Surface Effects: Enabled
-Occlusion Culling: Disabled
-LOD on Distant Objects: Disabled
-Real-time Reflections: Maximum
-Edge Smoothing (Anti-aliasing): FXAA
-Transparent Lighting Quality: High
-Grass Quality: High
-Background Tessellation: High Quality
-Water Tessellation: High Quality
-Glare: Standard
Shadows
-Self: Display
-Other NPCs: Display
Shadow Quality
-LOD on Shadows: Disabled
-Shadow Resolution: High - 2048p
-Shadow Cascading: Best
-Shadow Softening: Strong
Texture Detail
-Texture Filtering: Anisotropic
-Anisotropic Filtering: x16
Movement Physics
-Self: Full
-Other NPCs: Full
Effects
-Limb Darkening: Enabled
-Radial Blur: Enabled
-Screen Space Ambient Occlusion: HBAO+: Quality
-Glare: Normal
Cinematic Cutscenes
-Depth of Field: Enabled

System
Windows 8.1 64-bit (6.2, Build 9200) (9600.winblue_ltsb.160930-0600)
Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4710HQ CPU @ 2.50GHz
16336.832MB
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M (VRAM 6019 MB)

This software does not guarantee that your system will run the Windows versions of FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn, FINAL FANTASY XIV: Heavensward, and FINAL FANTASY XIV: Stormblood.

FINAL FANTASY XIV: Stormblood Official Website http://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/pr/
(C) 2010-2017 SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved.

Share Results
Type 1
http://sqex.to/ffxiv_bench_na #FFXIV Score: 3212 1920x1080 Maximum DX11 Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4710HQ CPU @ 2.50GHz NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M
Type 2
http://sqex.to/ffxiv_bench_na #FFXIV Score: 3212 1920x1080 Maximum DirectX11 Full Screen NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M
Type 3
http://sqex.to/ffxiv_bench_na #FFXIV 1920x1080 Maximum DirectX11 Score: 3212 Fairly High
Type 4
http://sqex.to/ffxiv_bench_na #FFXIV 1920x1080 Maximum DirectX11 Full Screen Score: 3212
Full Results
FINAL FANTASY XIV: Stormblood Benchmark
Score: 3212 Fairly High
1920x1080 Maximum DirectX11 Full Screen
Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4710HQ CPU @ 2.50GHz
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M
http://sqex.to/ffxiv_bench_na #FFXIV

Having max settings had a huge FPS hit, so if a 970m, that is over min of a 750 desktop, I do not really advice a 1050m, you need a desktop for that budget or increase it for a 1060m. But this is speculation I couldn't find proper comparisons.

Also SSD, you need to keep an eye for SSD with data drive no matter if you are getting desktop or laptop, huge impact on loading times. (Put OS/FFXIV on the SSD while you configure everything else to save on the data HDD)

[Rinuko]

£1500-£2000 on Amazon - I really don't want to be "that guy" but if you don't know the price point of the laptop or are unsure then please don't recommend as that's two offerings of which both come in considerably beyond budget....

Also, if anyone is gaming on a budget laptop would you please be able to post your Stormblood benchmark as I'd be interested in knowing this

Thanks a lot,
XIII

My bad. Pound isnt my currency so I wouldn't even know what it converts into. Regardless the specs are OP for simply this game. We got it for just to future proof

[UnluckyXIII]

And here we go......

no, I really suggest finding something with a 1060 in it (or higher but those would be out of budget)

Also if you see say 970,980, anything with x70/x80 might wanna look into those if you catch a sale.

Yeah I was thinking that a 1050 or even a 1050Ti might be pushing it a little, would like to know if anyone is playing FFXIV HW with these cards or the score that they get with the SB Benchmark so I have an idea how they would fair in the real world.

I was hoping to catch a sale but it would either mean waiting until the Back-2-School season as I’ve missed most of last year’s models getting sold off

A laptop is not going to give you as good performance at the same price point as a desktop in most cases because they prefer things that don't get as hot or use as much power in them. My suggestion to get something playable would be to look at the Minimum and get above that and then see how much you can get above recommended. Pretty much anything that fits that description will play fine.

Fortunately, I already have a gaming PC that is more than sufficient for SB (GTX980Ti on LG 34UW), the laptop is purely for use when traveling and away from the gaming PC. Although, looking at them recommended specs I’m willing to say a fair % of the player base won’t be sitting on a GTX970/RX480 or better GPU so wonder how things will play out when SB launches.

Go with one with 1050ti, even if you have to sacrifice on specs... or jump on eBay and find a 980m laptop. The extra power will make a difference for ffxiv, especially with the graphical upgrades they're making with the game.

I was thinking that the 1050Ti would have to be the bare minimum but if at all possible I’d try to go for a 1060, price depending… I’d personally rather avoid eBay and a used laptop at all costs (unless refurbished and directly from the manufacture with warranty) I’ve heard of far to many eBay horror stories to risk dropping upto a grand on something and getting stung.

What graphical upgrades are they making with the game btw? Gameplay footage from SB looks the same as ARR/HW to me?

Any reason why a laptop and not a desktop? Most of the laptops at your budget range pair an i7 with a GTX1050, which is not worth it. You can build a desktop that will give you better results/value for Stormblood using the same budget.

Some examples would be
https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/list/MqHLXH £362 3.5GHz + GTX1050ti
https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/list/RQGfgL £575 i5 3.0GHz base / 3.5GHz turbo + GTX1060
https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/list/Ysm83F £831 i5 3.8GHz base (overclockable to 4.2GHz) + GTX1060


However, if you really need a laptop, then go ahead and buy those i7 + GTX1050 or at least increase your budget a little and go for the GTX1050ti or GTX1060. It won't be the best value though.

http://www.dell.com/uk/p/inspiron-15...15-7567-laptop £899 i7 2.5GHz base / 3.5GHz turbo + GTX1050
http://www.dell.com/uk/p/inspiron-15...15-7567-laptop £1099 i7 2.8GHz base / 3.8GHz turbo + GTX1050ti

I agree, a desktop would be much better value and offer much more power than a laptop in this price range ever could, but I already own an appropriate one for FFXIV (i5 Processor/GTX980Ti on LG 34UW), the laptop is simply to fill a gap when I work away, travel etc but would still like access to the game

If you want high settings, i7/ 1060m can give that to you, while running at max FPS
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Having max settings had a huge FPS hit, so if a 970m, that is over min of a 750 desktop, I do not really advice a 1050m, you need a desktop for that budget or increase it for a 1060m. But this is speculation I couldn't find proper comparisons.

Also SSD, you need to keep an eye for SSD with data drive no matter if you are getting desktop or laptop, huge impact on loading times. (Put OS/FFXIV on the SSD while you configure everything else to save on the data HDD)

Yeah, the 970m seems to be slightly sluggish for the SB Benchmark (although still gets a “Fairly High” rating… I mean, it will run it, but in high density areas with lots of other players or during dungeons and raids with lots of casting animations I can see it starting to struggle to keep up (maybe I’m wrong).

I really would love to see 1050, 1050Ti and 1060 SB Benchmark scores… surely someone in the community must have these cards and I would very much appreciate some scores to help further my research before deciding on a final laptop

My bad. Pound isnt my currency so I wouldn't even know what it converts into. Regardless the specs are OP for simply this game. We got it for just to future proof

No problem, I wasn’t wanting to have a go, and I’m sure you can imagine my frustration when people are offering things that are up-to double my top-end budget, no harm though

Thanks for all the replies so far
XIII

[Hamada]

And here we go......


Yeah I was thinking that a 1050 or even a 1050Ti might be pushing it a little, would like to know if anyone is playing FFXIV HW with these cards or the score that they get with the SB Benchmark so I have an idea how they would fair in the real world.

I was hoping to catch a sale but it would either mean waiting until the Back-2-School season as I’ve missed most of last year’s models getting sold off


Fortunately, I already have a gaming PC that is more than sufficient for SB (GTX980Ti on LG 34UW), the laptop is purely for use when traveling and away from the gaming PC. Although, looking at them recommended specs I’m willing to say a fair % of the player base won’t be sitting on a GTX970/RX480 or better GPU so wonder how things will play out when SB launches.


I was thinking that the 1050Ti would have to be the bare minimum but if at all possible I’d try to go for a 1060, price depending… I’d personally rather avoid eBay and a used laptop at all costs (unless refurbished and directly from the manufacture with warranty) I’ve heard of far to many eBay horror stories to risk dropping upto a grand on something and getting stung.

What graphical upgrades are they making with the game btw? Gameplay footage from SB looks the same as ARR/HW to me?



I agree, a desktop would be much better value and offer much more power than a laptop in this price range ever could, but I already own an appropriate one for FFXIV (i5 Processor/GTX980Ti on LG 34UW), the laptop is simply to fill a gap when I work away, travel etc but would still like access to the game



Yeah, the 970m seems to be slightly sluggish for the SB Benchmark (although still gets a “Fairly High” rating… I mean, it will run it, but in high density areas with lots of other players or during dungeons and raids with lots of casting animations I can see it starting to struggle to keep up (maybe I’m wrong).

I really would love to see 1050, 1050Ti and 1060 SB Benchmark scores… surely someone in the community must have these cards and I would very much appreciate some scores to help further my research before deciding on a final laptop


No problem, I wasn’t wanting to have a go, and I’m sure you can imagine my frustration when people are offering things that are up-to double my top-end budget, no harm though

Thanks for all the replies so far
XIII

pretty sure a 970m is better then a 1050 m usually going by the past a 970m would be between a 1050 and 1060. If I could actually find test cores for 1050 laptops I can give more info but it seems I can only find desktops. Also consider processor is a huge impact performance wise, so that processor is def impacting that score.

If the min is a 750 desktop (something the 970 m is better then) you def want something x60+ for mobile.

so my final rec is 1060 M with some kind of i7 processor or get a desktop. (both need SSD 128+ gb though)

I can tell you what the score is for i7-7700 HQ, 1070 M gives a score of 12000 on max settings so 1070 blows it away, gives you an idea of the gaps of 1050,1060, and 1070

[Enjuden]

The reason why people are saying avoid the 1050 is because it is a budget card. In case you don't know, a budget card tends to be several years behind the current generation graphics cards. In this case, a 1050 is slightly worse than an 880 performance wise, and is about the same if you decide to go with a 1050TI. Not sure if you plan on playing anything other than Stormblood on your laptop, but if it is, that might be something to consider. I don't know too much about the specs for them, but maybe you do, so have some links thrown your way. There's several other sites too if you wanna use something else. Just google 'X card vs Y card'

http://gpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare...m8540vsm223242

http://gpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare...Ti/m8540vs3649

Since you asked, I did a bit of google-fu and found this. You wanted a benchmark score for the cards? Here you go. I couldn't find a 1050 though, so I have a 1050 TI/1060 link for you. My score with a 980 desktop when all settings are maxed is 11381, but since my rig is a custom rig and desktop, I don't think that would help you terribly much. My loading times are at 63 seconds with an HDD, so that can be cut down significantly with an SSD. I can let you know though that a 980 would be just fine if you're not happy with a 1050 TI but don't have the money for a 1060.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6Wb7sOP7ww 1050 TI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOOPYeAz4hk 1060

[Hamada]

The reason why people are saying avoid the 1050 is because it is a budget card. In case you don't know, a budget card tends to be several years behind the current generation graphics cards. In this case, a 1050 is slightly worse than an 880 performance wise, and is about the same if you decide to go with a 1050TI. Not sure if you plan on playing anything other than Stormblood on your laptop, but if it is, that might be something to consider. I don't know too much about the specs for them, but maybe you do, so have some links thrown your way. There's several other sites too if you wanna use something else. Just google 'X card vs Y card'

http://gpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare...m8540vsm211022

http://gpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare...Ti/m8540vs3649

Since you asked, I did a bit of google-fu and found this. You wanted a benchmark score for the cards? Here you go. I couldn't find a 1050 though, so I have a 1050 TI/1060 link for you

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6Wb7sOP7ww 1050 TI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOOPYeAz4hk 1060

This is why I keep repeating get SSD, those loadtimes are HDD.

But the benchmark I gave in that case for the 970m is def being blocked by CPU, had no idea it could be that big, id still stay away from the 1050 though. (speaking of SSD, the laptop I gave, the 12000 with the 1070 m? was 18 sec total load time, SSD matters, a LOT, it was 45 sec off the secondary HDD)


Your top link was 1050 for DESKTOP, here is mobile:
http://gpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare...m8540vsm223242

http://gpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare.../3162vsm223242
that is 750 desktop (min requirement), I did not know the gap be that big.

I was right about this though:
http://gpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare...17319vsm223242
970M is a bit better then 1050ti mobile. The problem with my 970 benchmark is the CPU, has to be

the rec spec 970 desktop vs 1060:
http://gpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare.../2577vsm164336
very close

http://gpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare.../2577vsm223242
1050 does not compare.

1070m> huge gap > 970 desktop>tiny>1060m> HUGE GAP >>>>>970m> 1050ti M

Also one last thing about the 1050ti you tube links:
Average Frame Rate: 48.169

1060m or desktop, that's my final verdict. (do not forget 128+gb SSD)

[Enjuden]

Your top link was 150 for DESKTOP, here is mobile:
http://gpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare...m8540vsm223242

Editing my post with your link then. My bad.

[savageink]

this might be of interest

https://youtu.be/H6Wb7sOP7ww