My laptop running Arma 2

[Rangin 10]

Hello, it's been a long time since I don't buy a game for PC, I only buy them for my Xbox 360. Since Arma 2 is only for PC and I'm very interested on it, I need some help.

I downloaded the demo and been playing it but it doesn't run completely smooth on the default settings, I need to play it on quality normal or low so it can run better but I don't like the environment in that quality.

My computer's spec is:

Windows Vista

Processor: Intel® Core2 Quad CPU Q9000 @ 2.00GHz 2.00GHz

Ram. 6.00 GB

ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4650 with 1024 MB

The system rating says 5.1

This laptop is new so maybe I'm missing something to install.

I don't get games often, maybe 2 or 3 a year and I'm probably getting this as a holiday gift so if it doesn't work correctly I'm screwed up.

If anyone knows what do I need to improve on my computer specs so the game can look better I would appreciate a lot your help.

Thanks.

Edit: Ok, so you guys said that it's very hard to update a laptop, but what about those specs? Do you think I can run Arma 2 smoothly on the full version on normal or high quality?

Edited December 5, 2009 by Rangin
New information

[Mudkip 0]

Can't really do much for a laptop (except RAM upgrades which you already have plenty of).

[Zipper5 74]

I'd say that the only way you'll see an improvement there is by upgrading your processor and/or your graphics card. However, since it's a laptop, it might be very difficult for you to do so, if not impossible. If that's the case then there's not much you can do, unfortunately. Go for a desktop next time. ;)

[jasonnoguchi 11]

i gave up trying to make my laptop work for gaming, that's why I made the rig you see in my sig. Cost much lesser to put that rig together than a laptop of inferior specs.

[Fudgeblood 10]

i gave up trying to make my laptop work for gaming, that's why I made the rig you see in my sig. Cost much lesser to put that rig together than a laptop of inferior specs.

Yep, never get a laptop for gaming unless you must have the mobility.

[scruffy 22]

As already said, upgrading a laptop is nearly impossible. The biggest problem should be your graphics card, try lowering the resolution if you have a big one on your screen which you most likely have with a fast laptop as yours. The next problem might be your hard disk, most laptops have pretty slow ones and A2 is using it often. Maybe post in this thread and tell all your system rating scores, Windows only uses the lowest one as a total. And most importntly what are the settings you use and want to use? Anti Aliasing and Post Processing should be bad ideas for your graphics card and have you tried disabling shadows?

That said the demo is an older version and you might get some improvements with the full version on the latest (beta) patch. But the most important will be the mods: You could try different things to improve performance like PROPER mods reduced buildings, plants, GDT Mod plants or FPS Helper. I haven't tested most of them and can't say how much they will help.

You could also try CAA1 and play with mostly better working Arma 1 islands that have fewer objects instead of Chernarus.

But how much tinkering are you willing to do? If you want to build your own missions it's even better as you can keep the performance in mind or use other better running islands. You might not find many missions for them if you don't do some work yourself though.

If it already runs in normal quality I think you should try the full version, my laptop has an even slower graphics chip and only runs smooth with everything on lowest. That way everything more than 50m away is unrecognizable, but you will be able to play significantly better ;)

I say try it :)

[gabe_ruckus 5]

I tried Arma2 on a 1400 dollar laptop, and promptly returned it. I am playing it on a 2500 dollar alienware and most settings are on high, but I can't max out the details, still. But, I had to have the mobility, so it was a good trade-off. But you won't get decent performance unless you invest a LOT of money into your laptop.