Best way to test if a laptop can run FFXIV

[KaivaC]

Good morning all

Just have a quick question. Other than checking the specs on a specific laptop, what is the best way to check to see if a potential purchase can run this game? I'm still in budget laptop range, so I can't spend too much on a high end laptop. To clarify, I'm not buying a laptop solely for FFXIV either, but being able to run it smoothly will influence which one I get.

Would I need to run a benchmark?

[Roda]

Benchmark is the most reliable way to know, but if you don't have the laptop yet, the only thing you can do is look at the specs.

[KaivaC]

Benchmark is the most reliable way to know, but if you don't have the laptop yet, the only thing you can do is look at the specs.

Ahh. Kinda figured. But wanted to turn this to experts first. Very well, I can do that. Thanks

[Fooldar]

If you would let us know the specific laptop models which you have narrowed down, someone might have the same laptop model and relate their FFXIV playing experience.

Alternatively, you could let us know what is your budget, so someone might be able to recommend a suitable laptop at that price point.

[Dzian]

look at the specs of what you want then google the component's for reviews / benchamark tests. if the laptop your looking at has for example an i5 8400 cpu. you'd most likely be able tofind a benchamark for that cpu on the internet. same goes for video cards. find the one your laptop has and then look at some benchmark reviews and stuff.

many review / benchmark sites allow comparisons so if you have a base spec your familier with you can compare against that. for a slightly better reference.

[KaivaC]

My willing budget is about $700. Maybe $900 at max. It's mostly for school and work, but I'd like to be able to play FFXIV while away from home - which is usually a lot.

[Fooldar]

I am currently using an Acer Aspire F-15 to play FFXIV. I would consider that it runs the game well. This is likely connected to installing FFXIV on its 250GB SSD drive, which improves loading speed of the game. However, the left side of the laptop (which I suspect is where the video card is housed) gets uncomfortably warm when I run FFXIV, which affects my typing on the keyboard. This issue may be circumvented by plugging a USB keyboard to the laptop.

I am unable to ascertain the current price of an Acer Aspire F-15, but you may also consider the comparable Acer Aspire V-15. The Aspire V-15 specs more than meet FFXIV minimum specs and is currently being sold on Amazon at USD 729.

[PandaMonium]

If we already have this topic up, is this any good for checking how my PC would run FFXIV specifically?
FINAL FANTASY XIV: Stormblood Official Benchmark

[KaivaC]

I am currently using an Acer Aspire F-15 to play FFXIV. I would consider that it runs the game well. This is likely connected to installing FFXIV on its 250GB SSD drive, which improves loading speed of the game. However, the left side of the laptop (which I suspect is where the video card is housed) gets uncomfortably warm when I run FFXIV, which affects my typing on the keyboard. This issue may be circumvented by plugging a USB keyboard to the laptop.

I am unable to ascertain the current price of an Acer Aspire F-15, but you may also consider the comparable Acer Aspire V-15. The Aspire V-15 specs more than meet FFXIV minimum specs and is currently being sold on Amazon at USD 729.

Ok. I can take a look into that. I usually go for 2-for 1 laptops, though I don't use the tablet feature. Thanks.

[KisaiTenshi]

My willing budget is about $700. Maybe $900 at max. It's mostly for school and work, but I'd like to be able to play FFXIV while away from home - which is usually a lot.

Aim higher.

If you intend to game on it:
- Geforce GTX 1050 Ti, minimum (this can do 1920x1080 at 60fps, usually, but with a fair bit of cooling fan noise)
- 16GB RAM if possible

The iGPU's (which are most 2-in-1 tablet systems) are super-weak compared to any dedicated GPU, so while it may offer sufficient video and web browser performance, it will fall over with most games. FFXIV will run on iGPU parts, but you're looking at 15-30 fps in any sub-$1000 machine, and a lot of noise.

If in doubt, bring the FFXIV benchmark on a USB stick to the store and just run it on every machine until you get one that has acceptable performance, but trust me when I say that you're better off investing a little more and hanging onto it for a few years, because buying too weak of a model will result in you having to just throw it away after 2 years.

Skip the 13" laptops though. They may be light, but they're all phenomenally weak due to compromises made to make them quiet.

I have last years version of this: https://www.lenovo.com/ca/en/laptops.../p/88GMY501020 , it's slightly overkill in the storage department, but it's not a 2-in-1. It is however designed as a gaming laptop that looks like a business laptop (even business laptops backlit keyboards now.)

If you prefer Dell, this is the absolute minimum I would consider: https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell...top/dncwgf423s , but again, it's not a 2-in-1

Here's a Sager model https://www.sagernotebook.com/Notebook-NP6853.html that is equal to that Dell but without the NVMe SSD. To bring it up to the Dell's or Lenovo's specs you'd need to add a 256GB NVMe SSD. I'd also again recommend 16GB ram. Also not a 2-in-1

From experience, all the 2-in-1 laptops are just bad for gaming (they will get more hot in tablet mode), and you're paying an additional 800$ for the privilege, eg https://www.dell.com/en-us/work/shop...smx15w10p1c412

Most people don't actually use the touch-screen on 2-in-1's, so unless you have an application for it in mind, I'd skip it. If you want to use it for art, you are better off buying the MS Surface tablet (which has a passable digitizer), but that is absolutely not a gaming machine.