Can "HP dv7-7230us" run skyrim?

[redwes]

Here's the deal, folks. Currently I have a "HP Pavilion dv7-4273us" laptop that usually run Skyrim at about 15-20 fps. It's a great laptop. However, it's not so good with heat and has some minor issues. I'm thinking about getting the "HP dv7-7230us" laptop as a replacement from Staples. I can live with Windows 8, however, need to be able to run Skyrim at least as well as I currently am. Staples is preferable at this point and the replacement needs to be below $1000. If I get 20 fps... that's good. If I can get more, that's even better.

 

Is this a good laptop for running Skyrim? ...if not, I'm open to suggestions.

Edited May 18, 2013 by redwes

[Georgiegril]

Sticky thread from top of Discussions board on minimum and recognized chipsets.

[Morashtak]

The game "should" be able to be quite playable in the low to medium settings range based on this spec sheet. The 1MB of video ram will be your main bottleneck tho' the cpu is "okay".

 

As Skyrim is still heavily cpu bound you can adjust settings using the old "stand on the stairs leading up to Dragonsreach" trick;

1. Download FRAPS or similar benchmarking software. Start it up.
2. Start a new game with only the official DLC (Dawnguard, etc.). Not the Hi-Res texture packs, of course.
3. Before you hit Play go to Options and select Low.
4. Get to Whiterun and go up the steps as if to see the Jarl. Stop at the second turn and turn towards the big tree down below.
5. Note your frame rate as people and guards walk around.
6. Save the game with a memorable name (ex. "FrameRateCheck").
7. Quit and restart, go to Options and under Advanced adjust one or two settings up (or later, down) one place.
8. Reload/restart your game and note the frame rate.
9. Repeat until you get approximately 30fps as fights dealing with three or more actors will bog down your cpu.
10. Never save over this save point and you can use it to test how mods affect your computer.

Beware of any mod that uses more memory. This includes;

Hi-Res texture packs.

Additions/changes to towns and villages.

Scenery and animals texture mods.

Additional "actor" mods (More Travellers, etc).

 

TL:DR

 

Keep it simple and the laptop should do well. Not great, but well.

 

[redwes]

Thank-you Morashtak, through I was posting to this to find out about the "dv7-7230us" 's GPU. You are right that this laptop runs Skyrim "well", but its gpu is beginning to fail (occasional white screen) and its corner (which happens to be right near the fan/cpu) is starting to come apart. It still works quite well, but I'm merely curious. The GPU in question is the "AMD Radeon HD 7640G" with a "AMD Quad-Core A8-4500M Accelerated Processor" cpu.

 

In comparison to my current laptop, how well does this new laptop compare? ...about the same, worse, better? Considering my current "minor" issues, would it be worth it?

Edited May 19, 2013 by redwes