how good can I go?

[fbWldcat]

I want to get the most out of AH graphically, can anyone recommend settings for me?

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 6/6/2010, 12:18:50
       Machine name: HP-HOME
   Operating System: Windows Vista™ Home Premium (6.0, Build 6001) Service Pack 1 (6001.vistasp1_gdr.100218-0019)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: HP-Pavilion
       System Model: NC692AA-ABA m9510f
               BIOS: BIOS Date: 01/12/09 14:57:49 Ver: 5.36
          Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad  CPU   Q8200  @ 2.33GHz (4 CPUs), ~2.3GHz
             Memory: 8190MB RAM
          Page File: 2125MB used, 14430MB available
        Windows Dir: C:\Windows
    DirectX Version: DirectX 10
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
     DxDiag Version: 6.00.6001.18000 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
      Display Tab 1: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 2: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 3: No problems found.
          Input Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D:    0/4 (retail)
DirectDraw:  0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (retail)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (retail)
DirectPlay:  0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow:  0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
        Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 9500 GS
     Manufacturer: NVIDIA
        Chip type: GeForce 9500 GS
         DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
       Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0644&SUBSYS_13301462&REV_A1
   Display Memory: 2544 MB
 Dedicated Memory: 497 MB
    Shared Memory: 2046 MB
     Current Mode: 1280 x 800 (32 bit) (60Hz)
          Monitor: Generic PnP Monitor
      Driver Name: nvd3dum,nvd3dumx.dll,nvwgf2um, nvwgf2umx.dll
   Driver Version: 7.15.0011.7578 (English)
      DDI Version: 10
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
 Driver Date/Size: 10/15/2008 15:03:00, 5693440 bytes
      WHQL Logo'd: n/a
  WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-4504-11CF-486A-3B3301C2CA35}
        Vendor ID: 0x10DE
        Device ID: 0x0644
        SubSys ID: 0x13301462
      Revision ID: 0x00A1
      Revision ID: 0x00A1
      Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_C ModeVC1_C ModeWMV9_C ModeVC1_B ModeWMV9_B ModeVC1_A ModeWMV9_A
 Deinterlace Caps: {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
                   {B338D50D-A64A-4790-AC01-475B64252A78}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
                   {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
                   {B338D50D-A64A-4790-AC01-475B64252A78}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
                   {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
                   {B338D50D-A64A-4790-AC01-475B64252A78}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
                   {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
                   {B338D50D-A64A-4790-AC01-475B64252A78}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
                   {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC1,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                   {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC1,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC1,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                   {B338D50D-A64A-4790-AC01-475B64252A78}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC1,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                   {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC2,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                   {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC2,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC2,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                   {B338D50D-A64A-4790-AC01-475B64252A78}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC2,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                   {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC3,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                   {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC3,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC3,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                   {B338D50D-A64A-4790-AC01-475B64252A78}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC3,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                   {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC4,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                   {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC4,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC4,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                   {B338D50D-A64A-4790-AC01-475B64252A78}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC4,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                   {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(S340,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                   {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(S340,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(S340,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                   {B338D50D-A64A-4790-AC01-475B64252A78}: Format(In/Out)=(S340,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                   {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(S342,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                   {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(S342,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(S342,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                   {B338D50D-A64A-4790-AC01-475B64252A78}: Format(In/Out)=(S342,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
     DDraw Status: Enabled
       D3D Status: Enabled
       AGP Status: Enabled

[The Fugitive]

each system is different. Depends on which programs you have running in the background and so on. The best thing to do is add a bit of eye candy and then test it. The shadows take a lot of power to run, so save those for last. Add some in and then fly over and around a base with a bunch of smoke and fire. Check your frame rate and go from there.

Some people are happy with 30 fps and a bunch of eye candy, where others like 60 fps and minimum eye candy.

[gyrene81]

Integrated video chip, uses part of the system memory.

256 textures max
You're going to have to tweak your Nvidia control panel settings to force control to AH on some things.
No shadows
Detailed terrain
No detailed water
Bump map terrain
Set your sliders for max performance and about 2 miles object rendering

Your frame rates may fluctuate in heavy activity.

[Spikes]

If you can get a dedi VC you would be golden.

[TequilaChaser]

how do you know he has an onboard/integrated video???

[fbWldcat]

If you can get a dedi VC you would be golden.

Yes, I know, is there a way to add it without frying the motherboard with static?

Integrated video chip, uses part of the system memory.

256 textures max
You're going to have to tweak your Nvidia control panel settings to force control to AH on some things.
No shadows
Detailed terrain
No detailed water
Bump map terrain
Set your sliders for max performance and about 2 miles object rendering

Your frame rates may fluctuate in heavy activity.

1024 with 4.3 miles obj rendering, bump mapping, detailed terrain and water, horizon, all special effect and I still run with 58-61 fps.

[Spikes]

how do you know he has an onboard/integrated video???

Oops...I saw Integrated DAC and mistook it for the video card.

Well that card isn't the greatest but it should run what gyrene posted fine...possibly detailed water. You'd have to see by trial and error.

But with a system like that I think the vid card could be a bit better.

And yes you can easily take out and put in video cards. It's like Legos

[gyrene81]

1024 with 4.3 miles obj rendering, bump mapping, detailed terrain and water, horizon, all special effect and I still run with 58-61 fps.

Then you're getting better peformance than I did with mine. It got replaced by a 250GTS.

[TequilaChaser]

Then you're getting better peformance than I did with mine. It got replaced by a 250GTS.

heya gyrene,
that PC I was able to build for an AH member in need, with the AH Community member donated parts actually turned out real well

Gigabyte soctet 939 AMD type MB with (2) PCI-E slots capable of SLI-Mode (used)

AMD Opteron 185 dual core processor 2.6GHz cpu (used)

BFG Tech 650 watt PSU with (2) PCI-E power plugs for video cards ( used)

(4) 1 gig sticks of Patriot PC3200 DDR1 Memory sticks ( Used )

Antec 1200 case ( used )

Hitachi 320 gig SATA II HD ( only new item )

onboard sound

Nvidia 9500 videcard PCIE ( used )

Windows 7 64 bit Ultimate


the build which other AH Community members donated the parts, is capable of running Aces High with everything turned up to maximum and shadows in the Advanced graphic settings ingame runs at 2084 shadows using hi-res text package

and the FPS is locked at 75 /74 fps

all this on a PC that is built using 2 to 3 generations older typed PC parts that had all be previously used in all different PCs

incase someone wanted to compare with

will post a DXDIAG and a few screen shots later on.....

but htis completely donated by the community PC parts PC BUILD is outstanding

and scores a modest overall 6.7 on the Windows 7 performance index

also, this particular MB is only able to utilize only 3 Gigs of the memory because of a glitch in the Gigabyte Board, which is noted in the Gigabyte forums

[gyrene81]

Dang TC, that's surprising. That video card didn't work worth a poop in my system running WinXP. I'm very glad to hear the person who has it now is getting good performance out of it.

  I'm wondering if I might get better performance all the way around with Win7. Mght be time for a format and reload, I have a copy of Win7 Enterprise 64bit.

[Skuzzy]

Yes, I know, is there a way to add it without frying the motherboard with static?
1024 with 4.3 miles obj rendering, bump mapping, detailed terrain and water, horizon, all special effect and I still run with 58-61 fps.

In a busy area of the arena, surrounded by 20 or 30 bad guys (also assuming a stock installation of Vista)?

[fbWldcat]

In a busy area of the arena, surrounded by 20 or 30 bad guys (also assuming a stock installation of Vista)?

Actually, yes, the fps may drop down to about 47 for a few seconds, but it will normally go back to 58-61 fps. A few times it hasn't, but that was during TT.

[Skuzzy]

So you do take a bad frame rate hit in really busy areas.  Sounds about right for the settings you are using.

[fbWldcat]

I take a frame rate hit, yes, and when I am at about 47 fps, it is usually moderately jittery.

The hit is normally only for a few seconds though, then it goes back to normal.