Surface Pro 3

Lumbeeslayer · 08-26-2014, 11:44 PM #1

If I get a Microsoft Surface Pro 3 Do you think I can run Dolphin Emu

Specs Below
Core i7-4650U
Quad-Core
CPU Speed
1.33GHz
CPU Brand

Graphics Intel HD 5000.

**mbc07** · 08-27-2014, 12:32 AM #2

If it doesn't get too hot, that CPU will go to aroung 3 GHz, which is sufficient for most games, except the heavy ones (Super Mario Galaxy 1/2, Xenoblade, The Last Story, Hyrule Field from Zelda TP, etc). Buuut it's a tablet, so is very likely it gets hot and the CPU will slow down, giving poor performance in Dolphin...

The Intel HD 5000 may handle 1x or 2x internal resolution (not sure)...

***Shonumi*** · (This post was last modified: 08-27-2014, 01:08 AM by Shonumi.)

Well, since we know the HD 4000 can handle 2x IR in most games, I don't see why the HD 5000 wouldn't. Really, since the Intel HD 3000, Intel IGPs have been good enough for 1x IR at a minimum. Recent versions may have eliminated the HD 3000 as being sufficient for 1x IR, but the HD 4000 shouldn't have any trouble. Unless Dolphin's GPU requirements shoot up, I think we can finally stop guessing and just flat out say the HD 5000 will be good for Dolphin up to 2x IR.

Now, about that CPU. Intel says the base clock of an i7-4650u is 1.7GHz, not 1.33GHz. Did MS do something to it? Wrong specs listed? At any rate, 1.7GHz (as an absolute minimum) is not good for Dolphin, even with a Haswell CPU (I've tried :p). To say the least, you will need Turbo Boost to get decent performance, and that's all dependent on your thermal performance. The Surface might not even be able to Turbo Boost for extended periods of time. Keep in mind that hitting the max Turbo Boost requires disabling all but one core of the CPU, which will probably result in slowdowns in Dolphin, since Dolphin will effectively run in single-core mode.

Lumbeeslayer · (This post was last modified: 08-27-2014, 10:22 AM by Lumbeeslayer.)

Now, about that CPU. Intel says the base clock of an i7-4650u is 1.7GHz, not 1.33GHz. Did MS do something to it? Wrong specs listed? At any rate, 1.7GHz (as an absolute minimum) is not good for Dolphin, even with a Haswell CPU (I've tried :p). To say the least, you will need Turbo Boost to get decent performance, and that's all dependent on your thermal performance. The Surface might not even be able to Turbo Boost for extended periods of time. Keep in mind that hitting the max Turbo Boost requires disabling all but one core of the CPU, which will probably result in slowdowns in Dolphin, since Dolphin will effectively run in single-core mode.
[/quote]

My Mistake the CPU Speed is 1.7Ghz Stock and 3.3Ghz Turbo. Also the screen resolution is 2160 x 1440. I will mostly be playing GameCube games do you think the Intel 5000 can handle 3x internal resolution?
Dont know where I got the idea of 1.7Ghz?? But these are the right specs. So do you think I can run Dolphin with 3.3Ghz.
You also said that it may throttle is there anyway to disable the throttling like in the bios or something?

**DJBarry004** · (This post was last modified: 08-27-2014, 10:28 AM by DJBarry004.)

There´s actually a program that makes that function (ThrottleStop); but keep in mind that it can be dangerous on laptops (you´re on a laptop right?). Even if you aren´t on a laptop, it´s good to watch out for any abnormal temps.

***Shonumi*** · 08-27-2014, 10:29 AM #6

You're very unlikely to hit the maximum Turbo Boost consistently. The only way you can get around it would be to get better cooling (crack it open :p). Like I said, the maximum Turbo Boost runs with a single core, which is generally not good for Dolphin compared to running at slightly lower speeds in dual-core mode. The throttling is a hardware feature; it's not something you can just turn off in software. Given the fact that it is a tablet, it's not a question of if the CPU may throttle, but how often it will.

**admin89** · 08-27-2014, 02:35 PM #7

Quote:Core i7-4650U
Quad-Core

It's a dual core CPU
2.9GHz is the maximum clock you can get
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel-Core-i7-4650U-Notebook-Processor.93177.0.html
Here is laptop performance guide
https://dolphin-emu.org/docs/faq/#my-laptop-new-gpu-not-performing-well-it-should

TehGuy · 08-28-2014, 06:59 AM #8

Don't do it, mate; you'll burn the poor thing... Fans ramp up real fast with in conjunction with the heat

source: I attempted on my surface pro 3 because reasons

Lumbeeslayer · 08-28-2014, 07:51 AM #9

Thanks Anyways Guys. I Guess I want be able to play Dolphin Emulator if i was to get one.. Anyways I just needed a Laptop or Tablet for Collage, but I wanted the best of both worlds. I Should be able to play less demanding games right? I Have a Desktop with a i7 4790K for demanding games like TwilightPrincess with LLE and SuperMarioGalaxy. So I don't really care about that, but if the Surface Pro 3 is good enough for Gamecube and N64 Games at 2160x1440 am fine with the pro 3. Because I always wanted a tablet. Plus my teacher let me play with his Surface Pro 2 and I like the fact It was especially designed for windows 8 and windows 8 on anything besides touch screens suck...
Or maybe there's a laptop I can get with a GTX880M and a i7-4810MQ 3.8Ghz Turbo, less then the price of a surface pro 3. Any ideas guys, its not coming out of my pocket anyways the government is paying for it for me for collage.

**KHg8m3r** · (This post was last modified: 08-28-2014, 08:28 AM by KHg8m3r.)

Well you can get a Sager Gaming laptop if you want, with Windows 7, for about $1200 with the i7-4810MQ
http://www.xoticpc.com/sager-np8268s-clevo-p150sma-p-6987.html

Lots of free/discounted upgrades: get at least the Copper Cooling upgrade