What do I need to upgrade for 5-boxing on 1 machine

[3box]

Using a Gateway 7811fx laptop. Specs are here http://computershopper.com/laptops/reviews/gateway-p-7811fx-laptop

Basically: 4gb ram, P8400 cpu, 9800M gpu, win 7 64bit

Activated a few trial accounts, and just got ISBoxer. Setup was smooth. But my framerate is pretty slow. About 20fps on whatever window I have focused, all windows have the lowest video settings. My monitor runs 1920x1080, so ISBoxer put the main window @ 1920x1000.

Is my problem not enough memory? I notice when ISBoxer starts, it says 2.6gb free memory out of 4. I can put 8gb in this laptop. Or would I need to get another system?

[3box]

Just rechecked, made sure all video settings were on bare minimum. 3 windows in ISBoxer gets me 60fps. 4 gets 30fps. 5 goes down to 20fps.

[Coltimar]

RAM. It's the one thing you always need more of.

[Owltoid]

Just rechecked, made sure all video settings were on bare minimum. 3 windows in ISBoxer gets me 60fps. 4 gets 30fps. 5 goes down to 20fps.

You really need to tell us WHERE you're getting that FPS.

If it's in Vanilla zones, then you're screwed when you get to WotLK zones.
If it's in Dalaran, then your system is fine for now, but who knows for the expansion.

[3box]

Getting that fps in Northshire, human starting zone. Stormwind, same fps.

Well, this is really bizarre. I hooked up my old system, Athlon X2 245, 2gb ram, x850xt radeon. 4 windows open at the same time, 60fps on the window that has focus, 30fps on the other windows. Same thing with 2 or 3 windows open. 1 window open stays at 60fps. Didn't install ISBoxer on it, but that can't be a resource hog, can it?

I'd imagine a 9800gt and 4gb should be way better than the old system. Not sure what the deal is. Tried looking under power management, min/max is 100%, set on high performance.

[alcattle]

Just rechecked, made sure all video settings were on bare minimum. 3 windows in ISBoxer gets me 60fps. 4 gets 30fps. 5 goes down to 20fps.
not sure about yours but my laptop has a slow HD. Makes a big difference on loading

[3box]

That's a very good point alcattle. Never considered that.

[d0z3rr]

Launch 1 window on the laptop with all the gfx settings maxed out in full resolution and see what you get.

[MiRai]

What you need to do before anything else is change your name from 3box to 5box.

[3box]

Ha, yeah that's true Fenril. Came in with the intention to 2-3 box this time around, but what the hell, caught the fever again.

d0z3rr, everything maxed in 1 window gets around 100fps, 1920x1080.

I might just put the 4 toons on the old computer and link them with ISBoxer to the laptop running one eye-candied window. I have no idea why it works well with 4 windows and 2gb of ram, but I ain't complaining.

[d0z3rr]

Just for shits and giggles, try putting isboxer out of the picture. Launch the one window maxed out like before. Then launch a second smaller window that would mimick your clones, i.e. all details lowered etc. See if you still get 100fps on the main one.

[Toned]

Things that always improve single PC multi-boxing.

1) More ram 8gb is good, 4gb is cutting it close for 5 toons.
2) Processor a decent Quad or i5/i7 and you'r set.
3) 1GB Videocard is fine, 2 1GB cards is best (but really prob overkill).
4) Harddrive speed I'd say a 7200RPM min, 10000RPM better, SSD Best (Pricey).
5) Turn the settings down on your slaves

[alcattle]

Just rechecked, made sure all video settings were on bare minimum. 3 windows in ISBoxer gets me 60fps. 4 gets 30fps. 5 goes down to 20fps.
How much will the RAM upgrade cost? You could keep the laptop as is, get the AMD deal and run two PCs to 5 box. Sounds like the laptop is fine for 1 or 2 boxing.

[3box]

Well, after borrowing my friend's machine, it got me thinking so I got my old fileserver out of storage.

E6400 stock voltage
x850xt radeon (cough)
just upgraded to 4gb from 2
5400rpm green wd drive

Configured it with Input Director and ISBoxer, both superb software.

So, I have 4 toons on this machine, main on my laptop. And guess what? With video settings turned down, this thing runs like a champ. 60fps all around so far in Shattrath, and everywhere else level my mid 60 group can go. Something my laptop can't do for some reason?? Why this dinosaur has all this power, I don't know, but I'll take it for now. Will buy some time until those i7 prices are friendlier.