CAN I INSTALL ON MULTIPLE COMPUTERS?

[Furyan]

I was just wondering if it is allowed to install the games on multiple PCs? Logically I think it is allowed, since only 1 person can access 1 Steam account at the same time, but I'm not 100% sure.

I've got a bunch of laptops and I believe at least 2 of them besides this one is up to the task. It would be interesting to see. This one is the most powerful, but the others are also very good.

- The "older" one: 2.1-2.9 Ghz Quad CPU, 12GB Ram, Nvidia 570m 1.5GB video.
- The "middle" guy: 2.3 - 3.3 Ghz Quad CPU, 16GB Ram, Nvidia 680m 4GB video.

As far as "running" the game, I've had little issues, occasional crashes, but other than that it is working.

I'm very interested, especially about the older one. If I'm allowed to install, then I could test them all and see how would they work (if at all)!

Thanks! :-)

[NocternalDaze]

you can install any steam games onto multiple computers, you can even log into your steam account from internet cafes and play , but for internet cafes i think it`s only if they allow the game to be installed.

[Satoru]

Steam allows you to install on multiple computers

YOu cannot run the game on multiple computers at the same time however. Thus if you are logged into compute 'older' then log into your 'middle' computer, you will be logged out of the 'older' one.

Note that some games do have 3rd party DRM that may have additional restrictions. Though this is mostly older games (like old school SecuROM activation limists such as some Borderlands1 DLC and Crysis) and isn't a feature of steam specifically, simply of the additional DRM the game enforces.

Also as a 'time saving' feature, you can copy the steamapps folder from one compter to another then 'install' the game. This will use the local files and download only a small amount of data. Saves some time/bandwidth, instead of having to re-download the entire game on the other computer. Note Steam's backup feature is.... fussy, and I don't really recommend you use that.

[Furyan]

I'll do that. This copy over the Steamapps folder advice is good, that will save me a ton of time and hassle. Thanks!

[Satoru]

Just dont expect any 'miracles' on the 570m. That's a pretty underpowered card

[Furyan]

Originally posted by Satoru:

Just dont expect any 'miracles' on the 570m. That's a pretty underpowered card

I want to check what the GeForce Experience recommends and test for the low, normal and maybe the high (but not highest) settings. I try to be reasonable with my expectations. At least I could have a first-hand experience with it. Can hardly wait! Copying over now as I write... :)

[Furyan]

MY FIRST EXPERIENCE with my #2 Laptop:
- Info: 3.3Ghz Turbo Quad, 16GB RAM, Nvidia 680m 4GB Video.
- Installation had some hiccups, some files would not copy.
- After installation and syncing with Steam, program launched, but only in 800/600 resolution on a full HiDef display laptop. No higher settings were available!
- Mouse became very-very laggy and slow, like I had to "drag it" accross the screen.
- Reboot, now the game started faster and gave full HiDef option in the menu.
- Set the same video options as my #1 laptop (Nvidia 780m 4GB video), but it was horrible, laggy and extremely slow, down to 18 fps on this laptop with the 680m 4GB card!
- Changed settings from Extra to High and Normal, now it runs nicely.
- Frame rate is ERRATIC to the EXTREMES! Between 24 - 109 fps (???).
- Tested the Story part and some Squads, everything works, but I immediately came across multiple bugs that I've discovered earlier with my #1 machine as well. And they are EXACTLY the same, so it is definitely NOT local hardware issue, but game issue.

Other than that, I was able to play the game with the more "optimized" settings around 45-70 fps. This was a very brief, few minutes of test only to see if it worked at all, so I have to book it as a "success", as far as operating the game goes. Of course, that does not mean "All Good", only that it works with lower settings.

But the very erratic fps is an issue, no doubt about that.

Tomorrow I'll do the same on my #3 laptop with the 570m 1.5GB card.

[Furyan]

FINAL TEST with my #3 Gaming Laptop:
- Info: 2.9Ghz Turbo Quad, 12GB RAM, Nvidia 570m 1.5GB Video.
- Installation had some issues, but nothing major.
- Game launched a little slow the first time.
- Reboot, now the game launch is faster (this PC has regular dual HDs in RAID-0, the others, #1 and #2 have dual and triple SSDs for C: drive)
- Nvidia Geforce Experience settings applied.
- Game stuttered during the intro clips before the Missions.
- Video memory used stayed around 600 MB, sometimes going up to 1GB.
- Frame rate sluggish, from enjoyable to terrible, all the way down to 15 fps.
- Video adjustments to lower settings, which helped a bit, but the fps is all over the place.
- Mouse sometimes gets "stuck", have to "drag it" to make it move.
- CPU usage is around 70%.
- GPU usage is around 90% + in Squads game mode.
- In Squads, the fps also drops from 60 to 15 and back.

If I only had this gaming laptop and tried to play Ghosts, I would explode in frustration! Even with the lowest settings, the fps kills the experience.

In comparison MW3 runs without any issues on this machine, no extreme frame drops with that game, game play is flawless and enjoyable!

Ghosts has serious issues, that is a fact! :(

[Satoru]

It sounds like you're not forcing the Nvidia card

ALso comparing this to MW3 is mroe or less like complaining that Doom1 runs well so this should. They'r enot the same game on the same engine