WoW on T60/T60p

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jembo · #1 Post by **jembo** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 2:06 pm

I'm buying a new laptop soon, and I want to make sure it's capable of running World of Warcraft. I've decided on a Thinkpad T series (I don't want a gaming laptop, rather a work laptop that can run games). I'm either getting a T60 (with 128MB ATI Mobility Radeon X1400) or a T60p (with 256MB ATI FireGL V5200). The 2613ETU is my current top choice.

Does anyone have experience running WoW on either of these machines with these graphics chipsets? They advertise these chipsets as being appropriate for a work environment (CAD, etc), but I can't think of a reason why they wouldn't work well with WoW, unless the drivers are deficient in some way.

Any advice/experience would be appreciated.

techflavor · #2 Post by **techflavor** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 2:15 pm

I run WoW on my T43 with only 64mb of video memory without any problems.

The T60 is more than capable of running WoW. If you end up getting the T60p with the FireGL (CAD card), I would recommend downloading the Omega ATI drivers for better gaming performance.

EDIT -- Oh yea... If you also use the SEARCH function, you will find tons of other posts about running WoW on ThinkPads.

jembo · #3 Post by **jembo** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 5:00 pm

I don't doubt that the T60 series is capable of running WoW; the specs are very impressive. A friend of mine even has a T43 that he plays WoW on. I just know that laptops use proprietary video drivers, and often simply don't work with those provided by ATI/nVidia. So if, for example, WoW worked on the T60p, but the pixel shaders didn't, or there were annoying glitches, or the framerate in certain places made raiding impossible, etc... that's the sort of thing I was trying to find out by posting.

I did run a search, but didn't find the specifics I was looking for (just more "of course it works on the T60, it works on my [other laptop] as well!")

christopher_wolf · #4 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 10:59 pm

I don't see a reason that even the P version of the T60 would cause problems, though there are specialized drivers for it.

Why don't you try it out?

kulivontot · #5 Post by **kulivontot** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 11:33 pm

WoW works fine on my T60 w/ x1300 64mb... any of these will be fine.

phlidwsn · #6 Post by **phlidwsn** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 9:09 am

I've got the T60P with the FireGL card, and I'm running WoW at 1600x1200 with all the graphics settings cranked all the way up just fine. IF stutters a bit, but that seems to be a HD bandwidth issue, not a video issue.

jembo · #7 Post by **jembo** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 9:12 am

phlidwsn wrote:I've got the T60P with the FireGL card, and I'm running WoW at 1600x1200 with all the graphics settings cranked all the way up just fine. IF stutters a bit, but that seems to be a HD bandwidth issue, not a video issue.

This was the reply I was looking for. Thanks

techflavor · #8 Post by **techflavor** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 9:21 am

jembo wrote: I did run a search, but didn't find the specifics I was looking for (just more "of course it works on the T60, it works on my [other laptop] as well!")

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... t=warcraft

The first reply says they are playing WoW on their T60p at 1600x1200 without any problems and are also reporting 50fps+...

rschauby · #9 Post by **rschauby** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 1:38 pm

I can personally confirm that WoW runs perfectly on my 2623D6U (ATI X1300 graphics) at full resolutions and settings. Please note that I have added an additional stick of RAM.

Kel Ghu · #10 Post by **Kel Ghu** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 9:23 am

I used to play WoW on my T43p at 1400x1050 with max details. It run very smoothly... Haven't tried on my T60p, but it will run much more than fine...

alanng · #11 Post by **alanng** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 9:07 pm

I just installed wow on my T60p. I am not getting the reported 50 fps, but I still get a healthy average 36 fps with all video settings maximized (1600x1200 full screen) except terrain distance which is at 50%.

Everything runs really smooth. However, my character jitters he turns by himself (ie. when I mouse look left and let go the mouse button, my character turns automatiicaly to left.. choppy not smooth like on my T41p). I have yet to solve this annoying issue. Appreciate any help.

I have 1.5G of ram, and windows and other services uses around 350 MB of memory (still trying to tone this down).

alanng · #12 Post by **alanng** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 8:40 pm

Did a clean install for the omegadriver. Fps went up quite a bit, but still getting the "jittering" issue.

To sum it up, I get the "jittering" issue on my T60p regardless of video driver. I don't have the issue on my T41p however.

Truely mind boggling.

swagott · #13 Post by **swagott** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 12:49 pm

Hi,
I've got a t60p aswell.

Tries using the omega catalyst drivers but did not see a big difference in 3dmark scores - getting 3500. I've found the latest Lenovo drivers (on the web page at Lenovo, not the ones from the update utility).

Which omega driver did you use and what are people 3dmark scores.

cheers
Rich

foodle · #14 Post by **foodle** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 1:07 pm

Anyone experiencing machine hangs after about an hour of play? The machine will just freeze often with a sound loop repeating. I think it is heat related and not related to the memory problems people have had in the past.

Do you think the Omega drivers would help here?

Machine is a 15" T60p (2623DDU).

kwramm · #15 Post by **kwramm** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 3:50 pm

foodle wrote:Anyone experiencing machine hangs after about an hour of play? The machine will just freeze often with a sound loop repeating. I think it is heat related and not related to the memory problems people have had in the past.

I had this issue with the omega drivers, but not with the original FireGL ones from software update. Catalyst also didn't give me this problem.

nelson · #16 Post by **nelson** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 5:51 pm

T60 with X1400, 30+ fps in Ironforge running at 1400x1050 in windowed/maximized mode. Just fine.

bontu · #17 Post by **bontu** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 1:21 pm

just wanted to post my wow experience with the t60p.

i got a T60p (2623DDU) also.
using the default lenovo drivers.

it plays wow just fine at maximum resolution. I havent experienced any hanging when playing for extended times.
I've been in naxx/bwl 40 man raids with it and its running just fine.

the fps is around 25-30fps in 40 man raids tho. but its like that with my 7800gt on the desktop pc as well.

I do experience the character jittering problem the other described when turning but besides the character itself the world around moves smoothly when turning.

foodle · #18 Post by **foodle** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 3:42 pm

Hmmm, maybe this is the memmory problem after all. For those who are running with no problem (especially if you have a 2623DDU), how much memory do you have in the machine?

Right now, I have 2GB (1 original, 1 Crucial). Maybe I should go back and check the threads about the memory hangs and see if my factory DIMM is in the bad serial number range ...

bontu · #19 Post by **bontu** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 4:01 pm

I'm running 2 gigs also. 2x1gig but they are both original from lenovo.

Deoge · #20 Post by **Deoge** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 11:41 am

I just received my T60P this week and I must say I am extremely frustrated with my WoW performance. I have the 2613H5U with 1 g memory. I have updated the driver from Lenovo for the ATI FireGL V5200. My character is very jittery and if I have all the settings turned up my screen will go completely black for 3-5 sec during game play and I can do nothing. Sometimes the coputer completely freezes and I have to hold down the power button and reboot. I bought this computer because I have had a long history with thinkpads and have always been very happy but wanted a high end laptop for wow. Now I am seriously questioning my decison. Any help of suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

#21 Post by **BillMorrow** » Sun Sep 10, 2006 6:28 pm

this might sound dumb and even BE dumb, but have you looked at the ATI web site for a xgeneric driver..

i remember that the early T40 series had an ibm version of the video driver that was crippled in some way while the generic universal driver from ATI with a tweak some gamer mad was the fix to allow full 1200x1600 display on an external display when running in dual display mode..

YMMV but it was worth the mention..

Deoge · #22 Post by **Deoge** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 1:51 am

I tried loading the generic ati FireGl v5200 latest driver from the ATI site but couldn't get it to recognize my system and was forced to use the one from lenovo. I am really at the end of my rope and with their new no return policy after opening I think I may be SOL. I spent all weekend working on different settings, unloading all game addons, etc. and nothing worked. Finally went back to my old R51 think pad to play the game because I could handle the lock ups any more.

davidlg16 · #23 Post by **davidlg16** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 8:38 am

off topic:

they have a new return policy now?

great, with my luck i'll probably get one with 3 dead pixels again

Deoge · #24 Post by **Deoge** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 10:15 am

Well you can get a replacement within the first 30 days, you just can't get a refund if you open the box.

mattbiernat · #25 Post by **mattbiernat** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 1:03 pm

Deoge wrote:Well you can get a replacement within the first 30 days, you just can't get a refund if you open the box.

so that's the new policy?
i thought that once you got the machine and you got 3 dead pixels you are out of luck.

Deoge · #26 Post by **Deoge** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 1:32 pm

Ok here is the latest on the return policy as of this morning conversation with them. Yesterday, 4 different tech people told me I had 30 days from the ship date, not receive date to return the laptop for a replacement. This morning when I called the return department, they informed me I had several options, I could return it for a new, exchange it for a different one, or get a credit towards a future purchase. He told me that the policy had been changed from 30 days to 21 days. He also said that in some cases, even if the box was open you could get a refund but approval would have to come from his supervisor. He also said that if you get a replacement laptop, the 21 day window resets and you get a full 21 days from the shipdate of the replacement.

This was my conversation with one return customer service rep so take it for what it is worth.

With respect to my WoW issue, it seems that it has been fixed. I was unable to install the driver on the ATI site originally so I used the think pad update utility and installed the lenovo upate. The return customer service rep walked me through mannually instaling the ATI updated driver from their site and it initally appears to have solved what 4 Tech customer service reps could not. Keeping my fingers crossed.

WoW on T60/T60p

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