Computer help

[Kaela]

I normally don't ask for help on this on forums, but I am going to shoot anyways.

I'm currently downloading the new benchmark to test my computer and check on how well my computer will run come expansion. However, I already fear the scores will be low. For I've been having loading problems in game for quite some time. During teleports into busy zones, like Mor Dhona, it can take me several minutes to load into zone. I don't even bother with hunts cause that is even worse for me. It is almost as if I was on a ps3

See I game on a laptop. Which is currently the only real option for me. I'd rather have a desktop, but due to living arangements, there is no room for it. My boyfriend is already using the ps4 and the rest of the room is over crowded with stuff.

I am trying to figure out which would be better, upgrading bits and pieces or just getting a new laptop all together.

Here is the specs:
Windows 8.1
AMD A8-4500M APU with Radeon tm hd graphics
6GB ram

someone in my fc believes it might be hard drive causing issues. Which I am a nut I have no idea where to start. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

[Judge_Xero]

Nope, that's pretty much normal. I have the same setup, other than I'm running Windows 7. This is my laptop that I use for crafting while away from my main desktop, because it's really too weak for anything. Although I have snuck into the 24 man raids, it's hard to play at 10 FPS.

Here is a pic of the new benchmark on my machine. It's only at DX 9 because I'm running Windows 7 32-Bit. I also run an SSD in mine to help a bit with loading.

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TBH you would be better off getting a new "gaming" laptop. The only viable option for this style of laptop would be to upgrade the APU (APU is a combined CPU + GPU on the same socket)

You can find upgraded replacements on EBay A8 4500m to -> A10-5750m

But it involves taking the entire laptop apart.

[WHS]

try a small ssd and just put ffxiv on it for starters. I'm saying this cause you can get one that's 60gb or less for well under 40 dollars US. Test it out. Then take the hard drive back. If it worked you found what will help you the most and your not out the money just yet. I did this with my wife's computer and found this to be true for her. Brand new 7200rpm drive and transfers were in the dumper. SSD even the cheapest one known to man and bam awesome teleporting now. She is windows 8.1 if that's any help. Hope this helps.

[Mardel]

Three issues:
1. You are using integrated graphics (That's what an APU is - a big "no no" for gaming like this)
2. You have a normal hard drive disk (they fail easily) Also if it is over 50% full it will take a significant performance hit (causing loads to be long) gets worse the fuller it gets. (SSD don't have this issue that people can notice.)
3. If you don't have space for a normal PC I can assume you are using wi-fi. Wi-fi will also add to the lagginess.

Personally if you have the money I'd drop it on something portable geared towards gaming. (Although I hate "gaming notebooks")
However this is a costly option; this is not something you can cheap out on and not expect something that performs poorly.

[Kaela]

Yeah I just got a low 1440 score on the high laptop settings and the dx11. And yes looking at my disk space the local is less that 1/4 full meanwhile the recovery is almost full for whatever reason. I dunno what is the issue with my computer and why it is going to shit like this.

[Judge_Xero]

Yeah I just got a low 1440 score on the high laptop settings and the dx11. And yes looking at my disk space the local is less that 1/4 full meanwhile the recovery is almost full for whatever reason. I dunno what is the issue with my computer and why it is going to shit like this.

It takes these little laptops everything they have in order to just run FFXIV (if you open task manager while the gaming is playing you'll notice that the CPU usage is like 99%)

All it takes is a couple other programs running in the background, and FFXIV takes a huge performance hit, due to it being so CPU intensive.

[MatthiasS]

A SSD( Solid State Drive) would surely help with load times. I run a 256 GB SSD for my OS and games I play often. Aside from that, your real issue your graphics (I'm guessing, I wouldn't mind knowing your processor). Most laptops don't have much in the way of upgradabilty, but if you take your laptop to Geek Squad or something, and ask if it CAN be upgraded, they'll tell you, so you can then consider your options. It doesn't sound like you are a big do it yourself on computers, so I would be wary of cracking the laptop open. Of course, there is always google if you don't feel like talking to a pro.

[Kaela]

well I've been playing with the benchmark, and scores have gone up. I customized settings and went down to dx9 and it went to 2379 a standard score. Might look to see how I can dump some of this memory that is being used if possible.

And to answer your question it appears the processor is part of the graphics. Here is the copy and past of the info.

Windows 8.1 64-bit (6.2, Build 9200) (9600.winblue_r9.150322-1500)
AMD A8-4500M APU with Radeon(tm) HD Graphics
5602.262MB
AMD Radeon HD 7640G (VRAM 481 MB) 8.17.0010.1247

[MatthiasS]

I normally like AMD processors, I in fact run one in my current rig. That said, the A- series mobiles have always seemed a bit lacking. Are you keeping the Turbocore/turboboost features on? If so, don't, and swap to manually setting your processors core values. Turbocore can, and often does, cause pretty ugly FPS drops if it misreads how much power you need.

Now, I'm only passingly familiar with AMD notebook processors, so if someone else reading this has other advice, feel free to chime in. My big concern is I don't have a solid grasp on how tubrocore interacts with integrated GPU.

[Kaela]

Wait what is turbocore/boost? This is something I am not familiar with.