Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: WMLute on January 16, 2008, 09:41:55 AM

Title: question about computer build
Post by: WMLute on January 16, 2008, 09:41:55 AM
I have been using (brace yourself) a p4 1.3 CPU, 512RDRAM system for most the past 6=8 months after lightning took out my main, and backup systems in 2007.

The above was my "backup" backup system.

Money is super tight, but I finally broke down and bought @ newegg...

P4 3.0 ghz Cedar Mills cpu
2 gigs Corsair DDR2 667 ram
mobo that supports AGP and PCI-e
Case and 510watt powersupply.

My question is this.

Would the above run AH "smooth" w/ the 512 textures and most settings to the left (on detail etc)?  (the vid. card is a lowly 6200 NVidia 256 ram card)

Dare I dream @ using 1024 textures?

How do you think it will run AH?

Bear in mind, this was just a temp. fix and i'll end up building something "better" later this year.
Title: question about computer build
Post by: Getback on January 16, 2008, 09:52:36 AM
Wow nice temp!

Sounds like it to me. Make sure you're not running too many back ground processes. Just try the 1024 text and see.

I've been told over and over that the game is more cpu driven than video driven.
Title: question about computer build
Post by: Blammo on January 16, 2008, 10:35:18 AM
Sounds like a good solid system, but I don't know if you will run smoothly with the sliders all the way to the left.  Two-thirds or three-quarters probably @ 512 for textures.  Full sliders will work good if not a lot of con or ground details near.

I was using a P4 3.0 GHz, with 1 GB RAM and FX5900 before I built my new system.  It ran pretty enough for me to enjoy it and be comfortable.

Anyway, I think what you bought will get the job down for the most part, but I think 1024 textures are out.
Title: question about computer build
Post by: Skuzzy on January 16, 2008, 01:02:53 PM
The 6200 is not going to run the game well.  256 texture size would be the correct setting and most of the sliders moved towards performance.
Title: question about computer build
Post by: WMLute on January 16, 2008, 01:21:24 PM
hey Skuzzy, how would a GeForce 7300GT 512MB do then?
Title: question about computer build
Post by: Skuzzy on January 16, 2008, 01:27:25 PM
Slightly better.  You need to get to the 7600, or higher, to get in good video card territory.  In the 8xxx line, you need to go passed the 8600 before you get into good video card territory.

Any video card which uses system RAM for any part of its memory should really be avoided.
Title: question about computer build
Post by: bj229r on January 16, 2008, 05:54:52 PM
Hmm if a 6200 sucks then that splains much about my 5700

(Lol I can imagine Skuzzy as  doctor..."So doc....what have I got?..."  

"Dunno, we'll know more after the autopsy":rofl )
Title: question about computer build
Post by: Emu on January 16, 2008, 08:57:02 PM
my 7900 GT with 256MB runs the game just fine with 1024 and sliders to the left.  maybe you can find cheap ones still around?
Title: question about computer build
Post by: WMLute on January 16, 2008, 09:16:49 PM
my "backup" was a 2.0 ghz w/ 1 gig ram and a 6200 256mb card.

I was running 512 textures w/ the sliders 3/4 to the left @ a rock solid 70fps.

The LOWEST fps I ever saw was in the 40's.

I was hoping that goin to the 3.0 ghz and 2 gigs ram would handle it all no problem with max detail.

I run a SUPER clean system.

14 ish services running and only essential windows processes (with firefox I got 17 running).

I'll prob. give 1024 a try and see, but i'm betting i'll just run 512.

I'm gonna freak out if 1024 works.  Going from 128 to 1024 will be a drastic change indeed.
Title: question about computer build
Post by: Skuzzy on January 17, 2008, 05:40:49 AM
Frame rate is not everything.  The 6200 does not have the fill rate to keep up.  The faster your CPU, the higher the fill rate of the video needs to be in order to keep up.  

The manifestations of issues can run from UDP losses to stutters to lag to warps as the video cards that make use of system RAM are all run by the CPU.  There is little in the way of coprocessers available on those video cards/chips.
Title: question about computer build
Post by: bj229r on January 17, 2008, 06:10:26 AM
My vid card has 256 meg, (not sure of speed) HOW does one know what sort of drag it is upon the cpu? (Since I lost mobo, I bought what I THOUGHT was a direct replacement...turns out it has a slower FSB, and now I get the occasional 5 second freeze (typically near ground while in a dive:mad: )
Title: question about computer build
Post by: WMLute on January 17, 2008, 09:20:46 AM
Just found a GEFORCE-7600GS-512-AGP for $115.00.

I'm getting my "stuff" today, and if nothing is DOA I will give AH a go w/my lowly 6200 card, and keep the 7600GS in mind.

$115.00 w/ free shipping is "tempting" tho'.
Title: question about computer build
Post by: WMLute on January 17, 2008, 02:39:15 PM
built, updating windows as we speak.

give me a couple hours to tweak and i'll give AH a go.
Title: sytem performance
Post by: gurinski on January 17, 2008, 04:25:38 PM
I use a dell 531 inspiron 2gigs ram and evga 8600gt 256 540 core clock dx10 ddr3 and it runs AH flawlessly. I overclock it only when I play AH but I dont think it makes much of a difference from when I didnt Note: $99 @ newegg with $10 rebate cant beat that.
Title: question about computer build
Post by: AKDogg on January 17, 2008, 05:07:19 PM
Lute, stay away from the GS series, Go with the GT series.  example: 7600 GS (no), 7600gt (yes)

Check this site out just for comparison.  Look at the fill rate difference.  As u can see the GT has about 30-40% more fill rate then the GS.

http://www.gpureview.com/show_cards.php?card1=387&card2=385
Title: question about computer build
Post by: AKDogg on January 17, 2008, 05:16:35 PM
Quote
Originally posted by AKDogg
Lute, stay away from the GS series, Go with the GT series.  example: 7600 GS (no), 7600gt (yes)

Check this site out just for comparison.  Look at the fill rate difference.  As u can see the GT has about 30-40% more fill rate then the GS.

http://www.gpureview.com/show_cards.php?card1=387&card2=385


My system specs are as follows:

AMD64 4000+ (2.4ghz)
2 gig on Cas 2 OCZ ram dual channel
3 SATA HD's (c: is a 74gig Raptor, d: is a 320 WD sata3.0 and e: is a 120 gig sata WD)

c:= system drive
d:= game drive
e:= Backup files, virtual memory, Drivers and various junk.

7900GT 256 meg video card
SB Audigy 2ZS sound card.

In game settings:

1280x1024x32
Texture size= 512
AA= 4x
All Sliders full left

FPS = 50-75 (50 in a furball and burning fields or in GV's)
Title: question about computer build
Post by: hubsonfire on January 17, 2008, 05:29:40 PM
Replaced my 6200 with a 7600GS, very pleased with the results. For $100 bucks, it was money well spent IMO.
Title: question about computer build
Post by: AKDogg on January 17, 2008, 05:37:54 PM
Here is a 8600GT for $99.99 (89.99 after rebate).

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150247

Here is a ATI 2900GT for 119.99.  It OEM though so U won't get no discs or anything with it.  But its compariable to my 7900GT as far as performance.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102712
Title: question about computer build
Post by: WMLute on January 17, 2008, 06:07:22 PM
just took a hop in the MA.

landed 17 kills (woot)

512 textures.

FPS was 50-65 whole time, no stutters.

I'm "ok" with this for now.  Heck, I went from 128 texture and 20-40 fps so i'm borderline "happy".

I wasn't expecting a world beater.  Just something a bit more "solid".

I will keep my eye out for some cheapo AGP cards as the price keeps dropping.
Title: question about computer build
Post by: bj229r on January 19, 2008, 08:46:26 AM
Are AGP cards considered obsolete?
Title: question about computer build
Post by: Chapel on January 19, 2008, 11:32:57 AM
Yea, I think PCI-e cards are the norm now.
Glad your new system rocks for ya!
Title: question about computer build
Post by: WMLute on January 19, 2008, 12:20:01 PM
Quote
Originally posted by bj229r
Are AGP cards considered obsolete?


IIRC the main reason AGP cards are going bye bye has to do with not enough voltage.

Somethin about the AGP slot not havin' 'nuff juice.
Title: question about computer build
Post by: AKDogg on January 19, 2008, 01:06:52 PM
AGP are at there limit as far as throughput of information.  Thats were PCI-E comes in as it can put alot more information through it at 1 time then what AGP can.  Games and Video cards today can and will exceed the limits of AGP and thats why PCI-E has come into play.
Title: question about computer build
Post by: WMLute on January 26, 2008, 12:28:27 PM
Bought an GeForce 8600GT pci-e today.

($110.00   not bad for a local store.  no wait time on shipping)

WHAT A DIFFERENCE!!

Now I think I COULD run the 1024 textures (hi res maybe?  Skuzzy?)