Benchmark Video card question

[gza]

Hey I'm new here, but I'd like to start playing ffxi, assuming my computer can handle it. I'm at college (on t3) and have a laptop here, with a separate lcd monitor (so my monitor isn't the problem).

p4 2.66, 1 gb ram, but i have a ati radeon IGP 345m video card (32 mbs). Now, I don't know if that's going to be able to handle the game, as my benchmark scores have been INCREDIBLY low (unless I'm just interpreting it incorrectly).

I've run the benchmark thing (not the demonstration, just benchmark) on like three separate occassions and get around 750 every time, that's what it says in the lower right hand corner when it ends, anyway. This is on high resolution. Can my laptop just not handle the game due to my video card? Or is there something I can do? Or, (hopefully) am I supposed to multiply my benchmark score by 10 or so? (God that would be cool )

Final question, does anyone think I could survive in the actual game if my benchmark is 750 and there's nothing I can do about it? Or would it just be too difficult?

Thanks guys

[Discordian]

Since nobody has responded to this I'll help ya out . here's a number of questions for you before I start my opinionations.

Does the Benchmark feel slow or uncomfortable to you?
If High res mode doesn't work well, how about low res?

Your processor isn't the problem Its a straight up video card issue. If you can get some extra speed by upgrading the drives, do it. If not, I'm sorry to say that you may not be able to play this comfortably on that laptop the way it is. I have an option to make your system a tad faster but there's no guantees and the money to do it would be better spent putting together a system thats video card upgradable.

Try lowres mode and see how it handles. If it feels good to you then awesome.

[gza]

Heh, I just noticed your reply. Well, I've been playing for about 3 weeks now and although it is incredibly slow and laggy and choppy, I'm surviving for the most part. But.. I just built a new comp with a much better video card for about $500 and I'm gonna sell this laptop, so then I'll actually be able to play the game smoothly. Thanks for your reply, though.

[LikeWhoa]

Yea, i believe they posted somewhere along with the benchmark that score below 1500 (i think, maybe 1250?) wouldn't run the game smoothly.

[rewindthemovie]

wow.... I'm in the process of building a new comp. but right now i have a geforce2mx and the game is running smoothly for me.... i guess my computer is just wierd :D

[Tokitoki]

Theres a section of the FFXI website by Square Enix that shows the Ratings for EACH score range...

[ZoNicONE]

Cannot run - 999: "Too Weak" PC
Unfortunately, we assume that the specifications of your computer do not meet requirements to run FINAL FANTASY XI for Windows. If you have this score even though your computer meets the minimum system requirements, please adjust the software resident on your PC.
If your computer does not meet the minimum system requirements, please consider upgrading your machine.

1000 to 1499: "Easy Prey" PC
We assume that your computer can run FINAL FANTASY XI for Windows.
However, your frame rate may drop when in a party with lots of effects or in crowded cities.
You should set the game settings (such as resolution and texture) as low as possible.
In addition, if these symptoms bother you, you may consider upgrading your computer (such as increasing the amount of memory or upgrading your graphics card, etc).

1500 to 1999: "Decent Challenge" PC
We assume that your computer can easily run FINAL FANTASY XI for Windows with the default settings. If the frame rate bothers you when you run FINAL FANTASY XI for Windows, you may change the game settings (resolution or texture settings, etc) or adjust the display of weather effects.

2000 to 2499: "Even Match" PC
We assume that your computer can run FINAL FANTASY XI for Windows enjoyably with the default settings. You should be able to play easily with weather effects on.

2500 to 2999: "Tough" PC
We assume that your computer can run FINAL FANTASY XI for Windows enjoyably with the default settings. If your video card exceeds the recommended system requirements, we recommend that you increase the resolution of FINAL FANTASY XI for Windows. FINAL FANTASY XI might run just as smoothly as in low resolution mode.

3000 to 3999: "Very tough" PC
We assume that your computer can run FINAL FANTASY XI for Windows enjoyably with the default settings. If your video card exceeds the recommended system requirements, it may be possible to run "FINAL FANTASY XI for Windows" easily even in high resolution mode.

4000 or above: "Incredibly tough" PC
We assume that your computer can run FINAL FANTASY XI for Windows incredibly well with the default settings. If your video card exceeds the recommended system requirements, it may be possible to run FINAL FANTASY XI for Windows easily even in high resolution mode or with bump mapping enabled.

7000 or above: "Impossible to gauge"
We assume that your computer can run FINAL FANTASY XI for Windows excellently with the default settings. If your video card exceeds the recommended system requirements, we recommend that you try out various configuration settings of FINAL FANTASY XI for Windows.

[Vaiyo]

It is important to note that the ratings are given to LOW-RES benchmarks, not hi-res. My friend got an Athlon XP 2600, 512mb DDR RAM and a Geforce FX 5200 256mb .. when he told me that he only got a score of 1900 with that system, I got worried ... then he tells me that he ran it in hi-res, and in low-res he actually got 3500. So make sure that you're posting/comparing the score for low-res.