I'm probably going to get slammed for this or the question isn't going to get answered but here goes:
I just did a "clean" re-install of AH2131 on my old desktop with these specs:
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System Information
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Time of this report: 7/29/2009, 18:34:54
Machine name: BLADE
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.090206-1234)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: INTEL_
System Model: D865PERL
BIOS: BIOS Date: 02/13/05 22:02:08 Ver: 08.00.10
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.40GHz (2 CPUs)
Memory: 2046MB RAM
Page File: 412MB used, 3529MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.5512 32bit Unicode
Display Devices
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Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce 7300 GT
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_02E2&SUBSYS_04E319F1&REV_A2
Display Memory: 512.0 MB
Current Mode: 1280 x 720 (32 bit) (72Hz)
Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0011.7824 (English)
DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 10/7/2008 14:33:00, 6058112 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: n/a
WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
VDD: n/a
Mini VDD: nv4_mini.sys
Mini VDD Date: 10/7/2008 14:33:00, 6133856 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-41A2-11CF-D164-E82403C2CB35}
Vendor ID: 0x10DE
Device ID: 0x02E2
SubSys ID: 0x04E319F1
Revision ID: 0x00A2
Revision ID: 0x00A2
When I first opened the game up I noticed that it started pre-caching the base plane models and terrain/object models. I assume it goes into a file that my video card can read when I start the game. Then I went into the video settings panel and noticed some things that are distinctly missing in the new version:
Is the game now caching the models and terrains/objects differently? If so could that be "a source" of some of the issues people are having. AGP has a slower bus rate than PCI express 1.0 and PCI express 2.0 is faster than either.
On my old system loading the terrains and objects takes notceabley longer than my new system...and the frame took a noticable hit even though both video cards have the same amount of video ram.