I'm running Windows 8.1
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-3632QM CPU @ 2.20GHz 2.20 GHz
Installed Memory (Ram) 8.00GB (7.87 GB usable)
System Type: 64 Bit OS, x64-based processor
Graphics Card: AMD Radeon HD 7700 series with the latest drivers just installed

the game runs fine on the menus but when i get into the game itself it looks like the attached image.

I have the neoEE patch

Thanks for the screenshot. This looks like the classic glitches happening on Intel HD graphic chips. Your laptop probably has got two graphic chips, the integrated Intel chip and the AMD Radeon. You have to force the game to use the AMD GPU. The switching capability and configuration varies from one laptop manufacturer to another, but you can try going to the Catalyst control center an look for an option to assign High Performance to the game. You may also find an option to "Configure Switchable graphics" when you right-click on your desktop. In the list you should find the game (if not, run it before and it should appear under recent apps) and set it to High Performance.
If it still doesn't work, also run it in compatibility mode for Win 7 (right-click the games shortcut => Properties => Compatibility tab).

Also try installing the latest graphic drivers for the integrated Intel HD 4000 graphics unit.

Further, you can go to the in-game Video Settings and see if you can select a certain Video Card and you can try a different 3D Acceleration setting.

no dice unfortunately. I went to the catalyst control center and switched EE to high performance, went into the game settings and switched it to used the dedicated card not intel, increased the resolution to maximum, installed the latest intel driver, and ran it in compatibility modes all the way back to windows XP.

It ran a little better but still too glitchy to be playable. thankfully even if i can't get this to work it looks like activision is reactivating Sierra. a new website is up and everything promising new games and classics so maybe they'll re release the game with new support soon.

Have you tried switching 3D Acceleration to "Direct3D Hardware TnL" in the in-game Video Settings menu.

I've also seen a rather drastic workaround by deleting some some DirectX libraries. I think it's worth a try, but I would just move them to another location instead of deleting them:
Go to the "C:\Windows\System32" folder and remove the following files if they're there:
- DX7HRDisplay.dll
- DX7HRTnLDisplay.dll
- Low-Level Engine.dll

already tried both solutions.

Then it's probably time to send a ticket to support and see what they come up with.
http://www.gog.com/support/contact/technical_issues_with_games/empire_earth_gold_edition

Sadly, I don't think they'll come up with anything in the short term, because this is an old issue and is yet to be fixed; although there are workarounds that seem to work for some people (not me :/). Look up those threads and see if they work for you:

http://www.gog.com/forum/empire_earth_series/empire_earth_1_windows_81_nvidia_geforce_gt_740_graphical_issua

http://www.gog.com/forum/empire_earth_series/empire_earth_gold_edition_graphical_problem

http://www.gog.com/forum/empire_earth_series/windows_8_empire_earth_1_help_me

http://www.gog.com/forum/empire_earth_series/graphic_problems_with_intel_4000hd_and_other_models

Great input svmariscal, hopefully something helps.
Maybe it's also a multi threading issue. I haven't seen any suggestions covering this yet.

Try running the game on a single core. See here for a general how-to:
http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/37272/set-a-programs-affinity-in-windows-7-for-better-performance/