First of all, I am currently using a dell xps m1330 with the following specs:

Operating system: 32 bit Windows Vista Home SP 1
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo T8300 @ 2.4GHz
Memory: 4GB
Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS

However, I am still lagging even with as low settings as 800x600 and 1/4 or 1/3 on all other graphic settings.

Is this game suppose to be this demanding? Or is something wrong with my machine? Thanks

Your GPU is the killer factor. Not only do you have a mobile version of the card, it's also GS, which means a lot of things were stripped off of what you would've found on the "high-tier" card, in this case, it would've been a 8800.

Also, since you are on a laptop (m1330 according to the information you've given) I'm guessing you are using the proprietary drivers that came with your Dell laptop. In that case, that would be another dominating reason as to why you're getting poor performance.

FYI, "lagging" is not the proper word, it's "hitching" or "low framerate".

And yes, this game IS demanding. Look around you. Everything has dynamic shadows to it and there are normal map resolutions on virtually every texture. Almost nothing is flat in the game.

To answer the very last question of your post, yes, there "is" something wrong with your machine.

HOWEVER THAT IS NO REASON TO FEAR: mobile drivers. Google it. You should be able to find better graphics drivers for your card. Also considering buying from www.cyberpowerpc.com in the future. I guarantee that you'd find an equal (or even better) laptop that's better than what you have... AT LESS THE PRICE. They also come with graphics cards that use universal Nvidia drivers that you can get from Nvidia.com instead of proprietary ones (in your case, Dell )

Ok... so what I am experiencing is normal? And how do I install my graphics card with a different driver? Whenever I attempt to uninstall it using Device Manager, the screen flashes a few times and the original driver seems to be reinstalled/still installed.

Driver Version seems to be 7.15.11.5655.

Unless Dell have a newer video driver, the only way you can do it is to use a modded INF, which will allow you to use normal desktop drivers from Nvidia, check this guide and decide if you wish to try it :- Laptopvideo2go

I installed the 177.79 drivers with modded inf. Improved performance alot on my XPS M1530. A M1330 should run it. But my M1530 lags on 800 x 500 max settings. (20 - 50 fps).

Wow, in the Vegas 2 forum I would've had almost all the users say to me "Don't listen to neil he's lying hahahaha xbox rox!"

Glad that there are actually MATURE gamers on the Assassin's Creed forums

Anyway, I'm glad that someone was able to back up my post. Cheers everyone!

davo have you tried running 3Dmark tests? Because no matter what I can't get it to run smoothly even with 800x600 and medium to low settings...

My XPS M1530 has a 8600M GT, much better than a 8400M GS. 800 x 600 is a 4:3 resolution. You should run the game at 800 x 500 (16:10) as your xps M1330 has a wide format screen. 800x500 low - medium with a low framerate is normal performance for a 8400M GS as it is a low end card not designed for gaming.

As a point of reference to you both,

* RivaTuner can be used to force your GPU fan to spin faster, thus cool your GPU down more.
* Don't use laptops to play games. (I'm sure davo81 knew that already)
* Assassin's Creed is a RESOURCE HOG.

quote:

Originally posted by Sasakie:
davo have you tried running 3Dmark tests? Because no matter what I can't get it to run smoothly even with 800x600 and medium to low settings...

go to the AC folder and run the DX9 version of the exe as the 8400 altho its has the pixel shader support for DX10 it doesnt have the power to back up the extra rendering it does.