@quil12 - The two games are programmed entirely differently from each other. When TS4 first came out, it was definitely lighter weight and more reliant on processor strength than graphics, TS3 was the other way around. Now with all the patches and EPs added in, TS3 remains more reliant on graphics ability but the gap has certainly lessened. Neither game would be expected to react well to a hard drive that is too full.
Back on the processor issue, we have always said that 2.4 GHz is the minimum for the heaviest of the TS3 EPs. Yours runs in normal mode at 1.8 GHz and turbos to 2.0. It's an i7 so that's better than what we often see on these laptops, but it may not be able overcome the speed/strength requirement. I still think you can run some elements of TS3 on the newer one if you can free up some space for it to maneuver, but it may not be the experience you were looking for. The older laptop I can't really comment on without seeing its specs in turn, but older doesn't necessarily mean weaker if you can somehow get it running again.
