$500 Gaming Laptop for Trainz?

I have an Intel integrated GPU in my Ultrabook laptop and it does run T:ANE, albeit with most of the performance sliders set at or close to minimum, but run it does. Great for when I am traveling.
 
You might want to take a second look at this...

This integrated GPU might be a problem due to there being various models with some being better than others.

http://www.notebookcheck.net/AMD-Radeon-R6-Kaveri.117382.0.html

Well, this other laptop I found was another one I might buy, but only if that's the only good laptop I can buy for gaming. Problem is, I only found it on Amazon, and not Walmart (Because Walmart has Free Shipping).

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2079475242&pf_rd_i=desktop
 
Well my experience is that TANE doesn't work very well on a laptop even with a proper graphics adaptor. Mine is an older laptop with an ATI card, which runs TS12 and TS2016 fine but TANE sends the GPU into thermal meltdown. To be brutally honest, for $500 you're not going to get a laptop (or even a desktop) that will run TANE either satisfactorily or without risk of damaging your hardware. You probably need to be budgeting at least twice that and make sure whatever GPU is fitted is of the Nvidia variety, the more powerful the better. Integrated Intel graphics aren't going to cut it.
 
Well my experience is that TANE doesn't work very well on a laptop even with a proper graphics adaptor. Mine is an older laptop with an ATI card, which runs TS12 and TS2016 fine but TANE sends the GPU into thermal meltdown. To be brutally honest, for $500 you're not going to get a laptop (or even a desktop) that will run TANE either satisfactorily or without risk of damaging your hardware. You probably need to be budgeting at least twice that and make sure whatever GPU is fitted is of the Nvidia variety, the more powerful the better. Integrated Intel graphics aren't going to cut it.

So this means only Desktop PC's can handle Trainz: A New Era, right? -_-
 
So this means only Desktop PC's can handle Trainz: A New Era, right? -_-

Pretty much, yes and even then you are up against it not exactly being the classiest piece of coding. No doubt someone will come along in a minute and say it runs fine on theirs, but so far as laptops are concerned you're going to need to consider top of the line Alienware or a custom build and even then no guarantee.
 
Have you looked at the MSI range of gaming computers which is quite extensive? I have an MSI GE 62 2QL and find that this gives me frame rates around 34-26 and no real signs of stutter. It has an i7-5700HQ CPU @ 2.7GHz, 8GB ram and nVidia GTX950M graphics, all standard. The only thing that I am not happy with is the sound which is a bit crappy but then I have not really tried to find ways around it as I usually use my desktop for T:ANE. I can't comment on prices for these in the USA but you can easily find that out and they are cheaper than Alienware.
 
Don't buy a $500 laptop and expect it to run 09, 10, 12, or T:ANE

Don't buy at BigBox stores: Wallmart, KMart, BestBuy, Staples, Office Depot ... etc ...

A laptop that will run 09, 10, 12, or T:ANE will cost @ $1200 - $1700 ... and some $1200 laptops have inferior hardware, and will melt, like the $1200 HP DV7 ... Junk !

A desktop Gaming PC for $800 - $1500 will out perform even the best of high end laptops (Alienware, ASUS ROG 753 ... etc ...)
 
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It all depends on how much you expect from TANE. My laptop is an i7 with 8Gb and the "bog standard" Intel HD integrated graphics. It does not compare with my desktop (same CPU, 24GB and Nvidia 760TI). TANE does run on the laptop but I turn shadows off, use minimal draw distance and minimise other settings.
 
Don't buy a $500 laptop and expect it to run 09, 10, 12, or T:ANE

Don't buy at BigBox stores: Wallmart, KMart, BestBuy, Staples, Office Depot ... etc ...

A laptop that will run 09, 10, 12, or T:ANE will cost @ $1200 - $1700 ... and some $1200 laptops have inferior hardware, and will melt, like the $1200 HP DV7 ... Junk !

A desktop Gaming PC for $800 - $1500 will out perform even the best of high end laptops (Alienware, ASUS ROG 753 ... etc ...)


So what does this mean? I can only find a good PC on Amazon?
 
No you do not buy from online BigBox stores like Amazon, EBay, Sears ... etc ...

You buy online from a reputable Gaming PC dealer ... I don't know them all, but NewEgg is one, but they also sell junky PC's too

Basically a ASUS ROG 753 would be a good, and expensive laptop

There are Gaming PC custom builders as far away as Ireland, that will custom build a water cooled desktop for less than $2000, and some offer free shipping, some have tech experts that help you choose the right PC

Most PC's under $1000 are worth only $500 in actual hardware ... low end laptops are lucky they even boot up, or last a year ... you get what you pay for ... you pay for what you get !

Research buying a laptop for 6 months ... Or rush right out and buy something without research, and you just bought yerself' a real "Hunk-O-Junk" brand PC
 
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No you do not buy from online BigBox stores like Amazon, EBay, Sears ... etc ...

You buy online from a reputable Gaming PC dealer ... I don't know them all, but NewEgg is one, but they also sell junky PC's too

Basically a ASUS ROG 753 would be a good, and expensive laptop

There are Gaming PC custom builders as far away as Ireland, that will custom build a water cooled desktop for less than $2000, and some offer free shipping, some have tech experts that help you choose the right PC

Most PC's under $1000 are worth only $500 in actual hardware ... low end laptops are lucky they even boot up, or last a year ... you get what you pay for ... you pay for what you get !

Research buying a laptop for 6 months ... Or rush right out and buy something without research, and you just bought yerself' a real "Hunk-O-Junk" brand PC

The Problem for me is that PC's that coast $800 - $1,500 are ridiculously expensive, and I don't want to wait 1 - 2 years to save up that much money for PC's like those.
 
Then if you buy a $400- $500 laptop, you will buy pure trash, that will only run TRS2006, or other newer versions with horrible framerates, and you will have severe overheating, and have wasted your money
 
The Problem for me is that PC's that coast $800 - $1,500 are ridiculously expensive, and I don't want to wait 1 - 2 years to save up that much money for PC's like those.

Well then don't expect to play high end games (or in the case of TANE, something that likes to pretend it's a high end game) - basically anything released in the last 5 years. If you're lucky, Solitaire and Minesweeper might run on it...
 
I run T:ANE with everything turned up, on my Asus ROG, G751. There are newer G752, out now. Mine was $1299, on sale, and nothing slows it down. It has been said, "You get what you paid for.", which is true, rewarding me with a great experience. Yeah, it is bigger and heavier than your cheaper little laptops, but easier to transport than a desktop. NEVER overheats, by the way...
 
Seems you, and some others, have previously posted links of some great online suppliers, please post them again, so he, and others, can see what there is to offer
 
The budget is tight for a laptop but I know the Acer laptops which is inexpensive but had dedicated graphics
 
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