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Hi everyone.

I need some suggestions for RPG games that will run on an old laptop. I am a carer for an elderly parent and have to spend a lot of time in the same room as them. I dug out an oldish laptop to watch Youtube/Twitch on but I'd rather be playing a game of some sort. The question is what will run on it. This is what I'm working with.

Acer Aspire E 15.
Intel Core i3-4005U (1.7Ghz, 3Mb L3 cache.
Intel HD Graphics 4400(up to 1792Mb Dynamic video memory).
12Gb DDR3 L memory.
1Tb HDD.

I'm old enough to remember Neverwinter Knights and the first Dungeon Seige as new (actually I go much further back than that) and that's the sort of thing I'd be looking for. If either of those would run I'd be happy enough.

Any suggestions would be welcome. Thanks for reading!
This question / problem has been solved by Lerouximage
Does it have to be action-oriented RPGs? I think you'd be on the safe side with all the turn-based indie RPGs by Spiderweb Software, like Geneforge, Avadon, Avernum series. The Shadowrun games should probably run on it, too. And of course, anything older than Neverwinter Nights and Dungeon Siege, if you're up for that and haven't played it yet (all the old D&D games from Pool of Radiance to Icewind Dale 2, for example, or Fallout, Arcanum etc.).

I think NWN and Dungeon Siege will run on it, too, and newer games in that vein as well, but with 3D games there's always a chance that they will make the laptop run a bit hot, reducing its life expectation. I'm far from being an expert on hardware, just my personal experience and fears.
Post edited June 19, 2019 by Leroux
Well, I`m playing on a Intel HD 3000, so the games I can play should run just fine on your laptop:

Ember
Fallout: New Vegas
Heroes of Hammerwatch
Dragon Age: Origins
Diablo
Two Worlds (Epic Edition)
Driftmoon
Neverwinter Nights Diamond Edition
Regions of Ruin
Xanadu Next
Legend of Heroes: Trails in the sky (but trees and fences are not drawn correctly)
Lords of Xulima (Movement is a bit "stuttering", but fights are flawless)
Sacred Gold
Torchlight
Torchlight II
TES IV: Oblivion


Just to mention the RPGs I have installed right now. :-) And all of them are on GoG, isn`t that fantastic, eh?
Post edited June 19, 2019 by Maxvorstadt
avatar
CaptainSokrates: I need some suggestions for RPG games that will run on an old laptop.
This applies also (and especially!) to new laptops, and your case too:

https://www.gog.com/forum/baldurs_gate_series/100_cpu_usage_modern_computer_whats_up/page1

So in short, those original Infinity Engine RPGs (list below) try to use all CPU cycles they can find for no good reason, overheating your laptop (or at least making its fans blowing noisily at full speed, using more electricity etc.).

So if you intend to play those legendary Infinity Engine RPGs, the workaround is to set Windows to use a Power Plan where you limit the max CPU speed of the laptop.

For instance, I am now playing Icewind Dale 2 on a new laptop, and whenever I play it, I use a power plan which restricts the max CPU speed to 20% (or was it even 10%) of the maximum. The game doesn't need more, it runs just as fine as it would if I let it use all CPU power, but now the fans run more quietly and the laptop runs cooler (and if I was playing on battery power, the battery would last longer too).

The affected games:

Baldur's Gate 1-2
Planescape Torment
Icewind Dale 1-2
(not sure if there are others, like Arcanum etc.)

Note: the newer Enhanced Editions of those games don't have the same issue, there you don't need to restrict the CPU speed of your laptop.

https://www.gog.com/forum/baldurs_gate_series/baldurs_gate_12_enhanced_editions_also_100_or_50_cpu_usage/page1
Post edited June 19, 2019 by timppu
Another shoutout for the infinity engine games: Baldur's Gate 1&2, Icewind Dale 1&2 and Planescape Torment. And of course Fallout 1 and 2 as Leroux mentioned, which to me at least is way better. Or Arcanum: Steamworks for the Fallout gameplay style in a weird magic+steam-tech universe.
avatar
Leroux: Does it have to be action-oriented RPGs? I think you'd be on the safe side with all the turn-based indie RPGs by Spiderweb Software, like Geneforge, Avadon, Avernum series. The Shadowrun games should probably run on it, too. And of course, anything older than Neverwinter Nights and Dungeon Siege, if you're up for that and haven't played it yet (all the old D&D games from Pool of Radiance to Icewind Dale 2, for example, or Fallout, Arcanum etc.).

I think NWN and Dungeon Siege will run on it, too, and newer games in that vein as well, but with 3D games there's always a chance that they will make the laptop run a bit hot, reducing its life expectation. I'm far from being an expert on hardware, just my personal experience and fears.
I'm intending buying a more capable laptop further down the line so life expentancy isn't necessarily a concern. I started a Shadowrun game ages ago and never finished it, might give that a go. Thanks.
avatar
Maxvorstadt: Well, I`m playing on a Intel HD 3000, so the games I can play should run just fine on your laptop:

Ember
Fallout: New Vegas
Heroes of Hammerwatch
Dragon Age: Origins
Diablo
Two Worlds (Epic Edition)
Driftmoon
Neverwinter Nights Diamond Edition
Regions of Ruin
Xanadu Next
Legend of Heroes: Trails in the sky (but trees and fences are not drawn correctly)
Lords of Xulima (Movement is a bit "stuttering", but fights are flawless)
Sacred Gold
Torchlight
Torchlight II
TES IV: Oblivion


Just to mention the RPGs I have installed right now. :-) And all of them are on GoG, isn`t that fantastic, eh?
Thank you. At least I know I can try some of these.
avatar
CaptainSokrates: I need some suggestions for RPG games that will run on an old laptop.
avatar
timppu: This applies also (and especially!) to new laptops, and your case too:

https://www.gog.com/forum/baldurs_gate_series/100_cpu_usage_modern_computer_whats_up/page1

So in short, those original Infinity Engine RPGs (list below) try to use all CPU cycles they can find for no good reason, overheating your laptop (or at least making its fans blowing noisily at full speed, using more electricity etc.).

So if you intend to play those legendary Infinity Engine RPGs, the workaround is to set Windows to use a Power Plan where you limit the max CPU speed of the laptop.

For instance, I am now playing Icewind Dale 2 on a new laptop, and whenever I play it, I use a power plan which restricts the max CPU speed to 20% (or was it even 10%) of the maximum. The game doesn't need more, it runs just as fine as it would if I let it use all CPU power, but now the fans run more quietly and the laptop runs cooler (and if I was playing on battery power, the battery would last longer too).

The affected games:

Baldur's Gate 1-2
Planescape Torment
Icewind Dale 1-2
(not sure if there are others, like Arcanum etc.)

Note: the newer Enhanced Editions of those games don't have the same issue, there you don't need to restrict the CPU speed of your laptop.

https://www.gog.com/forum/baldurs_gate_series/baldurs_gate_12_enhanced_editions_also_100_or_50_cpu_usage/page1
Thanks for the advice, noted.
avatar
Matewis: Another shoutout for the infinity engine games: Baldur's Gate 1&2, Icewind Dale 1&2 and Planescape Torment. And of course Fallout 1 and 2 as Leroux mentioned, which to me at least is way better. Or Arcanum: Steamworks for the Fallout gameplay style in a weird magic+steam-tech universe.
Thank you.
Post edited June 19, 2019 by CaptainSokrates
low rated
Have you tried WOW?
"RPG games"...
Holy necroids... 0.o
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Trooper1270: Holy necroids... 0.o
spammer on an ingratiation programme
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Trooper1270: Holy necroids... 0.o
avatar
Sachys: spammer on an ingratiation programme
Yep!. I bet even a bot likes to be liked... :P
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Sachys: spammer on an ingratiation programme
avatar
Trooper1270: Yep!. I bet even a bot likes to be liked... :P
just look at bacefook
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Trooper1270: Yep!. I bet even a bot likes to be liked... :P
avatar
Sachys: just look at bacefook
Lol, I would if I could, but I never go near it. Such a waste of most peoples time, toxic in all the wrong places, and does havoc with the scroll wheel and the finger that powers it...
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PetrusOctavianus: "RPG games"...
Let it be man, its like saying DC Comics, everyone knows what the C stands for but they dont care
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Sachys: just look at bacefook
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Trooper1270: Lol, I would if I could, but I never go near it. Such a waste of most peoples time, toxic in all the wrong places, and does havoc with the scroll wheel and the finger that powers it...
had a girlfriend like that. should have married her.