Stupid Laptop... So the video card is lacking... anything I can do?

Two for two now. I checked the compatability of my computer for Neverwinter Nights 2, (and earlier Might and Magic V, and the diagnosis was proved with a test with the demo.) Both times, everything about my laptop was fine EXCEPT its' Video HW Transform & Lighting (or lack thereof) or Vertex shader (..or lack thereof.) I don't know too much about computers, but I know if I were to open up my laptop, it'd void the warranty... but I was just wondering if there was anything I could get; perhaps an external video card or something, that would provide me with what I need? According to http://www.systemrequirementslab.com/ my computer is otherwise perfectly apt to run said games (as far as I know,) and I know Spore works perfectly find with it, so this is the only problem.

If it helps, I have a VAIO running on Vista and a Mobile Intel(R) 965 Express Chipset Family Video Card.

Let me know if anyone knows what I can do, please and thanks!

Also, sorry if this is in the wrong section! I just realized it was more of a hardware question than a question about the game itself!

 

Laptops are practically impossible to upgrade, and the integrated graphics cards they use are not good for gaming at all, especially not more recent graphics-intensive games. (Though the two you mention are recent only in the loosest sense of the word.) A straight and frank answer to your question is that if you want to play games on your computer, you need another one. Make it an upgradeable desktop tower, you can buy gaming systems for around $800 these days if you know how to put them together. Or you can spend about twice that on a gaming laptop.

 

Hmm... Well I have another older computer which was able to run NWN 2, though with choppy graphics... I should see if I can get that back I guess. If I can't do anything with the laptop, I'll have to reclaim my old clunker and upgrade it. ...Too bad money sucks for students... Nevertheless, thanks.

 

If/when you get your hands on that old computer, post the specs in the Hardware forum and we'll see what we can do about setting you up with cheap upgrades. RAM is disgustingly cheap right now and makes a surprising difference in performance, and online vendors frequently have sales on graphics cards.

I run NWN2 on a four year old system at medium-high settings, and it's runs smooth as a good scotch.