Just bought my first laptop, a Sony VAIO - can it run Dolphin?

Bent 00 · (This post was last modified: 08-19-2014, 09:55 PM by Bent 00.)

I bought a Sony VAIO FW Series laptop used, but I've never had a computer this new before. The last one I had was a fossil that ran XP and sounded like an airplane taking off whenever I turned it on.

Anyhow, I'd like to know if this Sony VAIO can run Dolphin. It's got the following specs:

Intel Core 2 Duo CPU P7350 @ 2 GHz
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4650
Windows 7 Home Edition x64
6GB of RAM
~340 GB HDD space free
Bluetooth

I tried running The Legend of Zelda: Collector's Disc using the newest version of Dolphin, but got this error:

GPU: OGL ERROR: Need GL_ARB_uniform_buffer_object.
GPU: Does your video card support OpenGL 3.1?

Sorry I'm such a PC newb. Thanks for any assistance.

natnint4000 · 08-19-2014, 10:04 PM #2

That error is from your graphics card or drivers being out of date IMO both CPU and GPU are too slow for running dolphin properly. You will need a better laptop for a good performance on dolphin.

**LordVador** · 08-19-2014, 10:13 PM #3

Your CPU is too old and weak for Dolphin.

Your GPU doesn't support OpenGL 3.1 (required for latest versions of the emulator)

**admin89** · (This post was last modified: 08-19-2014, 11:55 PM by admin89.)

Quote: I've never had a computer this new before

The CPU was made in Q3 2008 ...
If you want a laptop than can run Dolphin properly , you will have to spend $600 minimum for Core i7 4700MQ or i7 4710MQ+ Intel HD 4600 laptop

Bent 00 · (This post was last modified: 08-19-2014, 10:43 PM by Bent 00.)

That's disappointing... Oh well, thanks for letting me know. I only paid $200 for this laptop, so I didn't expect too much.

**Anti-Ultimate** · 08-19-2014, 11:08 PM #6

You can get things that are better than this for 200$ nowadays..

**pauldacheez** · 08-20-2014, 03:11 AM #7

Your GPU should support GL 3.3 just fine with updated drivers. Install them and see how awfully Dolphin runs for yourself: http://support.amd.com/en-us/download/desktop/legacy?product=legacy2&os=Windows%207%20-%2064

Bent 00 · (This post was last modified: 08-20-2014, 08:02 AM by Bent 00.)

(08-19-2014, 11:08 PM)Anti-Ultimate Wrote: You can get things that are better than this for 200$ nowadays..

Like what? I've never seen a good laptop for less than $200.

Is my Sony VAIO that bad? I can't return it. Sad

**AnyOldName3** · 08-20-2014, 08:09 AM #9

It's six years old, and wasn't a great laptop at all even back then. While you won't get a good laptop for that money, you can definitely do better than you did.

**LordVador** · 08-20-2014, 10:13 AM **#10**

(08-20-2014, 07:16 AM)Bent 00 Wrote:
(08-19-2014, 11:08 PM)Anti-Ultimate Wrote: You can get things that are better than this for 200$ nowadays..

Like what? I've never seen a good laptop for less than $200.

Is my Sony VAIO that bad? I can't return it.

Seriously. You can't expect something good with that budget