Laptop for Civilization V
April 6, 2012 10:36 AM   Subscribe

A laptop to play Civilization V on? I have a laptop that is a few years old that will run Civ IV only if I turnt the graphics way down and I'd like to move into Civ V. Has anyone played Civ V on a laptop and, if so, what are you using? I've looked on Newegg and found a few that might work but I'd like to hear from a few people here if they have a particular model they are using that is working for them. I'd like to keep my costs under $1000.
posted by zzazazz to Computers & Internet (3 answers total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
There's a Guardian tech blog about this specific request, but it's dated, as the game is from 2010. That said, $1,000 looks ample, based on system requirements:
Minimum System Requirements

Operating System: Windows® XP SP3/ Windows® Vista SP2/ Windows® 7
Processor: Dual Core CPU
Memory: 2GB RAM
Hard Disk Space: 8 GB Free
DVD-ROM Drive: Required for disc-based installation
Video: 256 MB ATI HD2600 XT or better, 256 MB nVidia 7900 GS or better, or Core i3 or better integrated graphics
Sound: DirectX 9.0c-compatible sound card
DirectX®: DirectX® version 9.0c

Recommended System Requirements

Operating System: Windows® Vista SP2/ Windows® 7
Processor: 1.8 GHz Quad Core CPU
Memory: 4 GB RAM
Hard Disk Space: 8 GB Free
DVD-ROM Drive: Required for disc-based installation
Video: 512 MB ATI 4800 series or better, 512 MB nVidia 9800 series or better
Sound: DirectX 9.0c-compatible sound card
DirectX®: DirectX® version 11

I suggest you check the ads for any and all local shops before picking out a laptop. You can routinely save $200 from sticker prices if you don't keep to one brand or another, and every week there are laptop sales. If this week doesn't have exactly what you want and you have time to wait, see what the ads are like next week.
posted by filthy light thief at 11:07 AM on April 6, 2012 [1 favorite]


I have an HP Envy 14-1210nr from last year that plays Civ V very well. I don't think that they make that exact model anymore but there should be a next generation one available. Make sure that whatever you get has either an Nvidia or ATI Radion video card and not an Intel one.
posted by octothorpe at 1:44 PM on April 6, 2012


I just - like yesterday - bought a new laptop that plays Civ V just fine (so far at least!), it's not that difficult these days. Mine is a Toshiba Satellite L750 with an i5 processor, but I could have paid less and got an i3 which still meets the specs for the game. My previous laptop was six years old and, while most of the specs were fine, it wouldn't play this game at all just because of the graphics card. The rest of what's listed by filthy light thief is mid-range at most the the graphics is the bit you probably need to look at most carefully. But laptop graphics processors aren't crappy like they used to be, so even then it won't be difficult.

My new machine cost €580. Given that I bought more processor power, RAM, and hard drive space than is needed for Civ V with that money you should have no problems finding something suitable in your budget. Playing that one game from two years ago likely won't be the deciding factor as to which machine you buy.

(And yes, Civ V was the second thing I did with the new computer, first being installing firefox so I had internet)
posted by shelleycat at 1:46 PM on April 6, 2012


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