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I have an old laptop which has some 3D graphics support, how do I know if this will be enough for Unity to run?

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  • 1
    Just so you know, even if you can't use Unity, Unity 2d is an awesome alternative with pretty much the same features. It is a little behind the Compiz version when it comes to new features updates, but I run Unity-2d on a 10+ year old laptop perfectly.
    – bntser
    Apr 11, 2011 at 23:08

3 Answers 3

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This isn't a full answer but a good place to start including the link at the bottom. http://www.inalogic.com/component/content/article/34-general/63-demystifying-unitys-graphics-hardware-requirements

So you can run

 /usr/lib/nux/unity_support_test -p  

which should give you some detailed output about Unity's requirements and if they are met, e.g.:

OpenGL vendor string:   NVIDIA Corporation
OpenGL renderer string: GeForce 6600 GT/PCI/SSE2/3DNOW!
OpenGL version string:  2.1.2 NVIDIA 270.30

Not software rendered:    yes
Not blacklisted:          yes
GLX fbconfig:             yes
GLX texture from pixmap:  yes
GL npot or rect textures: yes
GL vertex program:        yes
GL fragment program:      yes
GL vertex buffer object:  yes
GL framebuffer object:    yes
GL version is 1.4+:       yes

Unity supported:          yes

(Note, this graphics card is six years old and I'm having no performance problems running Unity.)

Though as an anecdote I have tried unity-2d on an old laptop with a substandard graphics card (Dell D600) and to be honest I still like it. I'm not saying everyone will love the switch to Unity, but I have decided to give it a go in whatever form I can and see if I grow to like it, so far I really do.

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  • ...and the link gives a 404 Not Found. Jan 15, 2014 at 17:17
  • unity_support_test is in package “nux-tools” (at least in natty). Jan 15, 2014 at 17:33
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  • You download a live CD and test it.
  • You visit linux on laptops and read for your model, if somebody tried and succeeded
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Well you can go to unity.ubuntu.com and check the minimum requirements for unity. If you have an intel card, the minimum is the i945 and i965. Old ATi cards provide a much better performance than their Intel counterparts, Nvidia cards can pretty much handle unity 3d pretty well. Hope this works for you

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  • Is the Intel GMA 4500MHD compatible?
    – bbonamin
    Apr 28, 2011 at 18:29
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    Yes it is very much compatible
    – Mysterio
    Apr 28, 2011 at 20:56

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