I just purchased this laptop. It has a Geforce GT335M video card, an intel i5 and 4gb ddr3 ram. I can't figure out for the life of me why I am unable to run SC2 on ultra settings or at least on high settings. I've read numerous articles and posts about an alienware laptop with the same video card, which can run sc2 on ultra without a hiccup, however as soon as I select anything above medium I get lag... (such as you would see with someone playing a sc1 map on 56k).

I would appreciate any help or advice with this problem. It is really taking away from the game since everything looks like lego blocks.

Is the Alienware one overclocked or something?

idk about the overclocking but I figured it out... apparently I have to go into my video card options and specify which video card I want certain programs to use...

Check out the specs of your graphics card. Look at the stats for the recommended graphics cards, Nvidia 8800GTX here: http://www.techarp.com/showarticle.aspx?artno=88&pgno=7

And look at your GT335M specs here: http://www.techarp.com/showarticle.aspx?artno=98&pgno=7


Anything with the 'M' suffix means "mobile" and is much less powerful than the desktop version of the same thing.

So we're comparing 10,800MTexel+3600MPixel/sec on your 335M vs the recommended 36,800MTexel+13,800MPixel recommended settings.
128bit GDDR3 @ 800MHZ vs. 384bit GDDR3 @ 900 MHZ. Your card doesnt meet the recommended specs. Nvidia fucked you over. Even my old-ass 8800M beats your card,
16000MTexel+8000MPixel/sec, 256bit GDDR3 @ 800 MHZ.

I think thats the problem. I'd wait for someone like Ex to come along and tell me this is all completely wrong, but it looks right according to that site.

Edit: or it could be what you said? idk I like my explanation better. Your card beats the "minimum" Nvidia 6600, though. so maybe I'm wrong.

A GT335M is not sufficient for SC2@Max and anyone that reports otherwise is a liar.

The nvidia 300 series is a whole bunch of rebrands and proprietary bullshit which doesn't correctly correspond to its actual usefulness. Literally the only reason the 300 series exists is because OEM manufacturers wanted a next gen name to put in their laptops, since nvidia was so slow putting out fermi.

Make sure you turn off AA/AF and follow the forceware tweakguide.

Well I've concluded after a few tests, in order to run everything on ultra settings I am forced to keep my resolution at 1280x720, which doesn't bother me much. On the other hand I have to drop down between medium and high if I want to run at 1600x900 res.