Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Aces High General Discussion => Topic started by: dedalos on February 14, 2005, 10:08:59 AM
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K, after getting the new drivers for my FX5500, overclocking the card and bringing the object sizes down to 128 (does not look bad at all), I can maintain 20fps in a furbal. More over, even when the FPS drops, the game still runs smothly and I can now hit as I could a while back.
The question I have is that when I checked my CPU usage, it was at 100% with AH usin 98%. Its a 1.8G cpu. Is that not enough or are there any conf seting I need to check?
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I wouldn't be surprised. 1.8 is kind of slow.
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1.8 Should be pleanty. AH will always take all the cpu that is available no mater how fast your cpu is.
HiTech
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Originally posted by hitech
1.8 Should be pleanty. AH will always take all the cpu that is available no mater how fast your cpu is.
HiTech
Thank you,
Thats what I was thinking too. After lowering resolutions, overclocking, performance settings, etc I see an improvement of 5 maybe 10 fps (but smother running). I guess what I am saying is I can go back to 1024 x 768 x 512 and push the sliders up in the graphics set up, and only suffer a loss of 5 to 10 fps until I enter an area with lots of fighters.
It seems that the video card is not the limiting factor. Is there anything else I can check?
FX5500 overclocked 256M
Omega drivers
256 RAM
1.8G CPU
edit
Current fps around 30. Range 22 to 35
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Dedalos: up your ram from the measley 256Mb to 1.0Gb. I would say that is your biggest issue.
I run AH on an ATI 9700Pro with Omega drivers on a 1.8GHz Athlon CPU (2500+), with 1.0Gb ram and consistently get 50-80fps with 1024 textures...
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You might be doing a lot of mem swaping with 512 texture size and only 256meg of mem.
HiTech
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I noticed a big difference in frame rates when I upgraded from 512MB to 1GB. I'm sure if you only have 256MB, upgrading would help alot.
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I was afraid of that. More mem is out of the question since it will cost more to upgrade mem than to buy a new computer (its a Gateway, don't ask). So, until I convince the wife that she needs a new computer :D (and I will), are there any tricks? Defrag the disk, faster HD controler with biger buffers, anything?
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Maybe I missed it but is there a tuning thread? I'm running a pretty nice system and it still hogs down as if the game is sucking up more resources than I would think it should for what I see. I'm showing only 40 out of 128 megs video and 700 megs out of 1 gig of ram with things cranked mostly up but FPS drop to the teens from maxed at 60 frequently and if I drop things down I don't notice much improvement. The game seems to chug 100 percent of the 3800 cpu no matter what the FPS is. Any pointers on what really affects FPS?
It would be really nice if the game itself would give up stuff at certain performance cutpoints. For example, if FPS drops below 25 then graphic detail drops down etc.. Not sure if this is viable but it sure would be a help.
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Originally posted by dedalos
I was afraid of that. More mem is out of the question since it will cost more to upgrade mem than to buy a new computer (its a Gateway, don't ask). So, until I convince the wife that she needs a new computer :D (and I will), are there any tricks? Defrag the disk, faster HD controler with biger buffers, anything?
Not sure why you think that, go to newegg or tigerdirect. Heck, just last week Tiger Direct had a 1 day special 39.99 for 512MB of RAM (1 stick, limit 5 on the order I think). Name brand too. Might not be hot, O'Cable, low-latency stuff, but what you need is more of it, not necessarily faster. Newegg.com offers daily specials every day, I'm sure you could at the very least double your RAM to 512 fairly cheaply.
You made mention you have a Gateway.........so? Require ECC RAM? Registered RAM? ECC and Registered? Newegg still has sticks of RAM cheap. I dont know what bus speed you have. With a 1.8Ghz processor I'm guessing you are using PC 2700, maybe the older PC 2100. 60 bucks will buy you another 256MB stick of RAM. Have 2 x 128MB now and no open slots? Buy a 512MB stick for 90 bucks. Thats still nowhere near the cost of a computer.
You can do it!
(sorry, had to say it)
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Originally posted by dedalos
I was afraid of that. More mem is out of the question since it will cost more to upgrade mem than to buy a new computer (its a Gateway, don't ask). So, until I convince the wife that she needs a new computer :D (and I will), are there any tricks? Defrag the disk, faster HD controler with biger buffers, anything?
you should have no problem adding ram...what specific system to you have???
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lol, I will give it an other try. I don;t remember the models and numbers but last time I checked, on other 256 was going for $260. I'll check model types and post them.
Thanx
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Dedalos - I had a gateway computer. All the memory are just standard sticks - you're not forced to buy Gateway memory.
What kind of Gateway computer is it (model)? I can look it up for you and recommend something (it's what I do in my real life job - I'm an IT Customer Service Manager)
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Its a Little more involved then adding tons of ram. I'm no expert for sure, but what i do know from years of experience and pissing off money on parts that now sit in a file cabnet, waiting to be collecter items. :)
Its more like the type ram your using (66mhz, 100mhz or 400mhz ddr duel channel etc.). Your mother board type (bus size, type ram support, video slots pci or agp 1x or 8x etc.) , your cpu ( how fast , bus size, how new , etc..), sound card( type, brand, and the compatibilty ..) Video card (not so much how new it is or amount of ram it has) , but type ram , pci or agp, what settings the video card maker supplies you in display settings. Some have more then others, you should not have to "over clock" any video card if your computer parts jive.
The thing to remember is the games of today are becoming more and more demanding, online gaming as well as store bought games. You want decient graphics and more then Pong style games. And if Ya want to GAME as a HOBBY, you Must upgrade your tools to do so, and upgrade as a whole .
Think of it like this, (guy talk :p ) a stock 426 hemi motor is no where near as fast as a built 426 hemi, But you also have to buy the correct matching parts for the built hemi or its just as slow or slower as a stock hemi. ei.. big tunnel ram and two carbs without the cam and head work is just gunna slow you down and make for disappointment in the end.
So its all about what and how you mix the ingredients that makes for a good computer to get the performance your wanting. Dont blame the game if you run 87 octane when you really need 104 racing fuel. :)
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OK happy people. Its using Rambus or simillar spelling, lol, memory
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Originally posted by dedalos
OK happy people. Its using Rambus or simillar spelling, lol, memory
That explains the outrageous price. Rambus is the correct spelling. The bus ain't what's getting rammed. I'm sure you know what is.
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Originally posted by dedalos
OK happy people. Its using Rambus or simillar spelling, lol, memory
My condolences. Do you have open slots? And what is your current configuration? Do you have 1x256MB or 2x128MB? All may not be lost even with Rambus, it depends on your needs. If you have room for another 256MB stick, its about 85 bucks. Expensive, but not outrageous.
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Originally posted by StarOfAfrica2
My condolences. Do you have open slots? And what is your current configuration? Do you have 1x256MB or 2x128MB? All may not be lost even with Rambus, it depends on your needs. If you have room for another 256MB stick, its about 85 bucks. Expensive, but not outrageous.
2 128s. I have two open slots. i think the sticks go in 2s.
No all is not lost but last I checked it was over $200 for 512M. I'd rather convince the wife she needs a new computer to mach her shoes or something, lol
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Well, I did some reading on this memory. All this time I was thinking it was just different, lol. It said that games would greatly benefit from this memory since it is faster than the other stuff.
Here is the tuff question. If I get the extra mem, 1G or more, would I be able to run at full graphics? What do you think HT? Save the money for a new PC or get the mem?
Resulting system:
1.8G CPU
256M FX5500 overclocked
1G+ RAM
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This one's easy, save for a new PC :)
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Originally posted by Kaz
This one's easy, save for a new PC :)
Agreed. I doubt even a Gig of memory will give you what you want.
I'd suggest you have a custom rig built, or build your own. The name brands are way too high and not really well suited for "gaming". And true storebought "gaming" rigs are outrageous in price.
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$200 for memory is sure a whole lot cheaper than $1500 for a new machine... and yes, chances are you'll be able to increase your graphics options.
Dedalos - you're running XP correct? 256Mb is not enough. It'll slow it down.
Sorry to hear about the RAMBUS - it's fast memory. Upgrading to 512Mb total, or anything higher is definately worth the money you spend... more expensive, but it's fast memory too.
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do it yourself it will only cost you about 500.00 +- depending what you use from old system, even if you buy all new stuff it should only cost 650.00 to 700.00 for a pretty bad arse unit. just look for sales and rebates. and dont!! I repete Dont! buy the just out video cards for 300.00 + stuff like that, its not necessary.
I bought a computer from a store twice and spent 2000+ dollars first time 750 dollars the second time way back when windows 95 was the thing to have and a 1.2 gig hard drive was a huge hard drive and people told you you will never fill that hard drive up! :p and packerbell was in business. lmao!!! That was the last time i did that. Made my own since then
and got 10 times the pc that you could get from a computer company. new everything never cost more then 750.00+- when parts were high dollar. and the parts are not high dollar any more unless you buy the just out stuff. and ill say it again no need to get that just out crapola.