Looking For A Machine That Smoothly Runs AH2

[BamaGuy]

All.  I've been looking to get started in AH for a while, but my computer is a dinosaur.  Besides gaming, this comp works just fine for me, but I need something that can run AH2.  The last flight sim that I played was AW3:MV, which didn't require much graphically.  I'm looking to spend between $500-750.  Is that enough for a machine that runs AH2 or should I up my budget?  Keep in mind that I'm not looking for anything fancy.  Just something to use so that I can get my flight sim fix.

[Slash27]

This one would play AH pretty good.  I would upgrade the RAM and the video card ( 7600GT would work well from what I understand) and still come close to your budget. They have quite a few to choose from on this site.





http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/system/cfgam2.asp?v=d

[BamaGuy]

Thanks....I'll give it a look.

[bandit752]

I am also upgrading my computer. Except I am changing out the motherboard. I am looking into the ATI crossfire. From what I understand is that there are two video cards. One is the graphics and the other does the physics. The Mobo has to be crossfire and the video cards have to be the same.

[sonicboom970]

your not quite right on that bandit.....
first of all redering scenes is an extreamly difficult task so much so that 2 video cards are totally consumed in drawing it leaving little left for physics, in fact they have Quad-SLI 4 video cards working to render. Even the best mobo's only have 3 Pci-e slots, so 2 cards are stuck together and another card with 2 is inserted. Also if you are planning running under 1600x1200  resolution, you dont need SLI or CrossFire. (there is i mobo with 3 PEG slots, and its crossfire, 2 cards render, 1 works on physics,) due to the way GPU manufacturing differs from CPU manufacturing and design, a GPU is much better suited for physics calculations. SO if you are looking for a physics acceleratior go to

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814121015&ATT=14-121-015&CMP=OTC-pr1c3watch

NOTE that is expensive, but still cheaper than an X1900XTX or an 1950XTX
that will only work on physics calculations.

[bandit752]

Thanks sonicboom!
I am only now looking into the crossfire details. From what you are saying is you can get a physics accelerator? I didnt get the website you posted, can you post again!
Yes, I do plan to go above the 1600X1200 res.

[sonicboom970]

yes you can get a physics accelorator, but it will only work certain games, if you go to ASUS.com or just visit the site, (i fixed the link.) it has a list. but i doubt that it will help any w/ AH2.. but if you happen to play GRAW or splinter cell, you may like it if you got a deep pocket...

What res. are you planning on running at bucause you may not need 2 1950xtx or even 1900's in crossfire, if you are only running at 1600x1200. Instead maby 2 1800's (unless you plan on running somthing that uses HDR or lots of antiscopic filtering, And  Anti-Aliasing.

just as my opinion if  they made that physx accelerator in a PCI-E x4 slot,(rather than pci slot)and had 256 MB of GDDR3 or GDDR4 instead of 128 MB of GDDR3, if would be awesome.

[bandit752]

Yes, I am going to purchase I high res montior, wide screen. I would like to take full advantage of the HDR or lots of antiscopic filtering, And Anti-Aliasing! Pretty Much,  I would like to bring my AH up to the Max. I have the x850 ATI card right now running two montiors. of course, AH doesnt support the multi-monitors.
This accelerator card might be better solution. I do plan to upgrade the mobo to a 939 socket. I did have a post on here, on any suggestions on Cross-fire.
Thanks for the help!

[sonicboom970]

ok then you may want to ask other people because well, i have never used an ATI video card, only NVidia but from reviews in several magazines and over the net, 2 1900xtx if  you are planning running dual monitors but if you decide to skip on the dual monitors, 1900XTX would be fine if you play less graphics intensive games, because even an 1800 will max out ah2 on settings and get 60 plus FPS w/ 4x AA  (my lil 6600 AGP will run it at max 50+ FPS @ 1024x768 with 4x AA a low resolution but still.) If you are planning 30 in Dell or apple displays(2500,1600 [those are the large numbers, its just the numbers i remember]) 2 1950xtx in crossfire, of 2 7950 GTX in Quad SLI is a must becasuse that is HARD to draw..

(NOTE as you probibly already know AH@ does not support HDR to the fullest extent of my knowledge and as i have just recently learned ah2 automattically applies AF, so forcing it only makes it look a lil worse. BUT as for AA you could if you wanted to go 16x AA and it would look great but w/ bad FPS 20 or so.. or if you want to get 2 7950's you could make it run at 32x SLI AA.)

the only thing i dont like about what you want is 939... AM2 supports DDR2, the newest FX and the new AMD Athlon X2 5000+ are only supported on AM2 boards plus 939 is going out of style (all i mean by that is that it wont be cutting edge or preform quite as well.) and it may preform just as well, but youll be yearning for cutting edge, if your like me.

[DAVENRINO]

Originally posted by bandit752
Yes, I am going to purchase I high res montior, wide screen. I would like to take full advantage of the HDR or lots of antiscopic filtering, And Anti-Aliasing! Pretty Much,  I would like to bring my AH up to the Max. I have the x850 ATI card right now running two montiors. of course, AH doesnt support the multi-monitors.
This accelerator card might be better solution. I do plan to upgrade the mobo to a 939 socket. I did have a post on here, on any suggestions on Cross-fire.
Thanks for the help!

I am not sure, but I thought crossfire only worked with specific ATI cards on specific Intel chipsets.  I also don't think ATI cards work with SLI.  In addition, I don't believe Sonic's statements bout large monitors requiring huge graphics power.  My lowly single 6800GT does a beautiful job drawing on my 58 inhcer @ 1920x1080p.

[sonicboom970]

ATI cards dont run in SLI, i was just saying both options.

[moneyguy]

i paid about $800 for my comp a year ago from a local custom computer shop. came with everything but the monitor (i already had one).  AMD Athlon 64 processor, 2.0 GHz, 1GB ram.  stock vid card work well, vid mem was a little low. bought an ATI X1600 vid card for $180. made huge difference. got a 19in widescreen LCD monitor last week and made it even better. i have all my sliders in the game cranked up. i use only 60 MB or so of vid mem with frame rates solid at 60.  hope this helps.