Author Topic: Best Settings for my Set Up? (Read 662 times)

recon7 · « **on:** December 23, 2004, 12:57:14 PM »

Recently added more RAM so that I now have the following set up:

AMD Athlon 1.3G Processor
512.0 MB RAM
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 256MB Video Card
Windows 98 SE… I know…

What would be the best Texture and Pre-Load (and any other) settings for best performance?

Thanks,

Skuzzy · « **Reply #1 on:** December 23, 2004, 01:48:26 PM »

I would set the maximum texture size to 256, and preload into both video and system memory.

You can try the various preload option combinations to see which yeilds the best game play.

Flyboy · « **Reply #2 on:** December 23, 2004, 02:51:37 PM »

will a extra 512MB of ram boost my performence by a wide margin?

my current specs:
AMD athalon 2500+
512mb ram
radeon 9800pro
winXP pro

StarOfAfrica2 · « **Reply #3 on:** December 23, 2004, 03:37:17 PM »

I'd say you should get an increase in framerates at the least, probably be able to make use of some of they eye candy extras on that 9800. My setup is similar, except with a 2600+ oc'd to 2.3 Ghz and a GeForce FX5900 XT video card. My frame rates went up by about 10 - 15 fps when I increased my RAM to 1Gig; but the best thing was being able to use 1024 max textures, have my sliders ingame about 85% of the way up, and being able to turn on Antialiasing at 4x. Plus instead of having my video adapter settings all the way over to "performance" now, I can slide it to the halfway point. I never see anything below 23-24 fps, and thats taking off from a base or fighting low over a base in a furball. In the sky over land, I get about 45-60 fps, and over water I get 70-80 fps. If I turned everything back down for performance, I could keep it between 60 and 85 fps all night.

recon7 · « **Reply #4 on:** December 23, 2004, 05:00:06 PM »

Thanks, Skuzzy. That seemed to help, even on OzKansas!

WMLute · « **Reply #5 on:** December 23, 2004, 08:56:04 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by recon7
Thanks, Skuzzy. That seemed to help, even on OzKansas!

I really, REALLY don't wanna use 256 texture size. You and me got 'bout the same setup ish.

You have 256 vid card vs. my 128, but I have RDRAM, and that a bit faster.

w/ win98 you don't really wanna go over 512mb ram IIRC.

StarOfAfrica2 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 24, 2004, 12:18:41 AM »

You can use over 512 MB with Win98, you just have to make the necessary changes to your .ini file. 98's default settings dont let it work well with more than 512 MB though, its true.

recon7 · « **Reply #7 on:** December 24, 2004, 09:45:47 AM »

I may be able to adjust up to 512 Max Texture on maps where I take less of a hit on frame rate. I will play with it when we get a new map, or maybe even go to the CT.

Jaekart · « **Reply #8 on:** December 26, 2004, 09:11:21 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by StarOfAfrica2
You can use over 512 MB with Win98, you just have to make the necessary changes to your .ini file. 98's default settings dont let it work well with more than 512 MB though, its true.

Star, where could I find the info to make changes to the 98 SE .ini file in order to utilize more than 512 megs of ram ??

Current system:

Elements 693AS MB
Celeron 700 mhz CPU
2x dimm slots, currently with 1x 256meg PC100, 1x 64meg PC100
geforce2 400mx PCI 64 meg vid card
Via onboard sound chip
Win 98 SE OS
DSL connection.
NEC Multisync A500+ Monitor
nvidia driver 4.14.10 5664

current problem :
I got a 512 meg stick of PC100 for Christmas. yet if I install it by itself, the OS immediatly reboots. If I install it with any of the other sticks the system boots up, says the ram is there, then reboots if I open any app prog. AH2 let me into a H2H room one time with 768 megs installed, said I had 768 megs, was using somewhere around 300 megs, then the game locked up. I was excited up to that point, as that is the first time in 3 years I've ever gotten a 30+ framerate, while sitting in the tower, lol.

While the 320 megs of sdram let me play with this old system, FR's in the mid teens just let me play around some in H2H. It's way to frustrating to fly in the MA or CT.

Any advice or hints (other than to buy a newer system) will be greatly appreciated.

StarOfAfrica2 · « **Reply #9 on:** December 26, 2004, 01:23:35 PM »

Here are two links to threads on the BBS here where guys posted their solutions. Be advised, I am not telling you this will solve your problems. Older PC100/133 RAM was often very picky about what slot it was installed in vs the other sticks, sometimes required if any other sticks were installed they be the same size, etc. You could have other issues besides the Win98 512MB limitation. Not the least of which is that I dont think any part of your system meets the minimum requirements for AHII.

Anyway, this thread has a link Roscoroo posted once that goes to a website with a downloadable "service pack" some guy made up for Win98SE. It does fix the 512MB issue. It also installs alot of other stuff you may not need and that may or may not cause you problems down the road. Read through everything it installs and decide if you want to go the "automatic" route.

http://www.hitechcreations.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=121133&highlight=Win98SE

This next one has an example of a manual modification of the windows.ini file. Again, I dont make a recommendation that anyone go messing around in the .ini files unless you are experienced and know what you are doing, or you are sure you trust the instructions and you follow them exactly. I trust the source well enough, or as well as I trust anyone on the BBS here I suppose, and it seems harmless enough. It also has the benefit of not installing a bunch of extra stuff you might not need. Anyway, here you go.

http://www.hitechcreations.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=137727&highlight=Win98SE

Good luck!

Roscoroo · « **Reply #10 on:** December 26, 2004, 01:39:52 PM »

use the offshore service pack 1.5 for win 98se . (Dont use 1.6 ) as for 1.6 crashed my messenger and fubared a few other programs and i had to use a backup to restore my pc.

Had to add these lines after running sysedit...

[VCache]
MinFileCache=30720
MaxFileCache=30720
ChunkSize=1024

[386Enh]
ConservativeSwapfileUsage=1

the above works also .... sp1.5 wont mess up win98se at all ive got it on 7 pc's so far with no problems and it doesnt really add much extra to it

use 1.5 thats at the bottom of the page.

http://exuberant.ms11.net/98sesp.html

StarOfAfrica2 · « **Reply #11 on:** December 26, 2004, 01:40:51 PM »

Just a couple other thoughts on your current setup (and no I wont tell you to buy a new one lol, although thats really what you need).

Your video drivers are way out of date. Like probably a year and a half to 2 years old. Still, if you can get into the game and make it work, the old saying goes "if it aint broke, dont fix it." I dont know how you get in, as I didnt know they ever made a GeForce2 card that would be Dx 9.0 compatible. But maybe if you dont tell it that its not supposed to work, it will keep going.

The onboard sound is probably eating up CPU time. If I were you I'd seriously consider finding a cheap soundcard somewhere. The low end SB cards are not expensive, and most computer stores sell even cheaper knockoffs of the SB cards. Just make sure you download the newest drivers from the company's website, and I'd turn down the "hardware acceleration" on the sound to 3/4 or 1/2.

Most important (from my POV) is, if you can, upgrading that CPU to at least an 850 or 900mhz. At least you will be within the minimum specs and can be more sure its not a CPU problem when you crash. AHII is very CPU dependant, and the better CPU you have, the better the game will perform. You should be able to find one of these fairly cheap.

Finally, if the 512MB issue is fixed for you at this point, (IMHO) you should seriously consider finding another 512MB stick and bumping your system up to 1 gig. Preload textures to memory, to help save some CPU and VPU lag and "stutters". Regardless of the age of your video card, with only 64MB of memory it is going to be hitting your processor all the time to help it out. Having the extra memory so that you can preload some of it will help. Having the newer drivers would probably help some more (although I'd make sure I have the old ones ready to reinstall if you have trouble).

Again, just my opinions. If your setup works as it is, ignore me. Playing around with it might just put you over the edge into unplayability. But if you are having problems getting in, maybe this will help.

StarOfAfrica2 · « **Reply #12 on:** December 26, 2004, 01:45:12 PM »

Thanks for posting the link Roscoroo. I just picked up the other one from your previous post. The only reason I felt I had to warn him on the download is because it installs the VB runtime librarys. There are viruses out there that specifically hunt for the 6.0 runtime librarys and will twist them to create total havoc on your computer. Its an old habit, but I try never to recommend things to people that install things they dont need. Overall the SP seemed to be very helpful for the average user that might not download and install the Windows updates on a regular basis. Anyway, hope this works for him.

Roscoroo · « **Reply #13 on:** December 26, 2004, 02:05:46 PM »

yea the vb isnt a great thing , but if your settings are tight and or ur behind a firewall your still pritty safe ... exspecially if you use the mozilla firefox browser ..

I'm not running a firewall and i can pass the symantec security check with flying colours .and havent had my AV program catch a single bug trying to get onboard since i went to mozilla . (i even went and tried to catch one )
My old gamer is on 2 years now with out a reformat and hasnt caught a single bug ,and its been running sp 1.5 about that long .

now about gf 2 cards yes a good one will play ah2 at low settings (256 textures )
but dont try to push it,, also try to run the latest drivers on it (trial and miss type thing some work fine others dont)
A $100 dollar video card will really wake up your game though . AE ati 9550 256, 9600 pro 128, fx5600 or better cards (these are my recomendations for bottem line good cards that play ah2 nicely ) basically its best to get into a dx 9 type card .

note ; im back to recommending "only stuff that i myself have tested and tried ... " I test on pc's from 800mhz up to 2.4ghz amds and a few pents

Jaekart · « **Reply #14 on:** December 26, 2004, 03:22:27 PM »

Thanks Fellas, that was the type info I was looking for.

I know full well my system is nowhere near the minumums, and I"m doing what I can when I can. The 700 mhz is an upgrade from a 400 mhz, that still let me into the H2H arena to fly around a little. Beleive it or not, I could fly and fight ( not very well at all) with the 400 mhz and 98 megs of ram. the FR's were in the 8-10 fps range

, and surprisingly, I have even managed to land a few kills.

.

As soon as I play with a few of the fixes, I'll let ya'll know how it went.

Roscoroo, one question. Did you add the lines with sysedit as well as use the SP1.5 ??

[VCache]
MinFileCache=30720
MaxFileCache=30720
ChunkSize=1024

[386Enh]
ConservativeSwapfileUsage=1