SH4 with these specs--advise please.

[supposedtobeworking]

Ok I really want to get this game but I dont want to spend $50 on it if its going to run like a slideshow for me:

here are my specs:

AMD Athlon 3200+
1 Gig of RAM
Geforce 6600 TD (vanilla I guess)
Onboard Sound

Can anyone give me an estimate of how the game might run? maybe well with some graphics options turned off or to low? am I dreaming? thx

[Bort]

I wouldn't worry about your game not running, my specs are very similar to yours only my graphics card is a little better.

My Specs:

P4 3.2 Ghz
ATi X1800XT 512 MB
1 GB DDR2

I run the game with all options all the way up except for particle density which is a couple notches down. With these settings I get ~30 frames per second. With medium to high graphics settings on your machine, you'll be running fine! :arrgh!:

[supposedtobeworking]

hmm sounds good so far...thanks bort

anyone else with similar specs?

[Kresge]

I just cobbled together a barebones system for my buddy from some leftover parts and it works just fine.

P4 2.8GHz
1GB DDR400 RAM
GeForce 6800 128MB RAM
El Cheapo sound card

A nice feature is that you can 'detune' SH4. You can take out glare, transparent water, lower the particle density, etc. The beauty of it is that the models, etc. still look great!

[supposedtobeworking]

ok thanks kresge thats good to know. I think I'll be okay with my processor and ram though they could be better. What worries me is the video card and to a lesser extent the onboard sound. In another thread, I read post after post about the importance of a decent video card for SH4 to run ok. All I have is the geforce 6600 vanilla. its better than some of the cards people have who've posted about having frame rate problems, but most people seem to think that a 6800 or 6600GT is the mininum to run it relatively smoothly. I'm getting close to getting the confidence to spend the 50 friggin dollars on this game, but before that, does anyone run this using a 6600 vanilla card or equivalent with any success??

[CaptainChunk]

I've got a system fairly similar to yours.

AMD 64 3300~2.4ghz
BFG 128mb 6600 OC
2 gigs of DDR400
Sound Blaster Audigy Zs 2

It runs fairly well, about 30-40 FPS outside but inside (command room) it lags horribly when I look at the navigator and his map. I've run into others who have nearly the same card and they seem to have the same issue. Game runs at medium settings for me though I'm in the market to upgrade the video card soon.

Hope this helps.

[GlobalExplorer]

I am using an overclocked system of about the same generation:

Mobile XP 2500+ @~3200 level
1GB DDR400 RAM
GeForce 6800 @~GT level (all vertex/pixel units unlocked)

Performance is very bad, even on a clean installation that runs pretty heavy sims w/o problems (Stalker, OFF, LOMAC ..). A very annoying thing is a very bad response to input, i.e. it takes up to several seconds if I switch stations.

My problems might be due to a number of reasons, maybe it is because of a partially defective pixel unit, the usage of SP1, or the fact that I use an external DVD drive. But the most likely cause is SHIV itself. Time will tell, but so far this game is really a dissapointment for me. I must also state that the graphics not only run slower, but look less sharp and believable in comparison to SHIII.

[supposedtobeworking]

thanks capt chunk--now i know somone pays it on a 6600, though you have a sound card, and i have onboard sound. I'm still a little weary about spending that kind of money on the game--its alot for me and upgrading my rig is not an option at this point. Unless anyone else with a similar system to mine runs it ok, I am leaning on waiting until I can afford a new card or sound card. global i'm sorry to hear about your situation, and your system is similar to mine it sounds like but I don't have an external drive, etc. I'd say I have a 60% chance of running this game at a playable level...for $50 that's not good enough for me. I thought they said that this game would have similar specs to SH3 (which runs great on my PC)....oh well.

[supposedtobeworking]

i just placed a bid on ebay for it...somebody stop me.

[macky]

i dont think onboard sound is the problem it used to be in the old days, most pc onboard sounds run all games admirably now.

Havent got your graphic card, but had the min ati 9600 one. The fps was awful for me but since the advent of pci-e graphic cards, agp ones have practically fell to the floor. Picked up an nvidea 7600 with 512mb ram for £90 and now I have great graphics all on high res, no lag whatsoever:yep:

I would recomend that youensure a min of 256mb on your video card if poss for trouble free viewing

[supposedtobeworking]

the 6600TD I have now has 256 MB but I've read that the memory is not as important as pixel lines/pipes etc. on the card. According to what I've read, a 6600GT 128 MB out performs a 6600TD 512 MB just because of the way it is built and the number of pipes if I remember right--I don't understand it, but I read it off of a graphics guru site. Anyways my bid for SH4 on ebay is still standing so I hope it runs ok.

[stabiz]

I`m guessing it`ill run okay at the lower settings.

And your guru is right, too many get all tangled up in MB when it comes to graphics cards. A Geforce 5200 wouldnt run the game if you put 1GB ram in it. The gpu (brain) and other components are of equal if not greater importance. (Of course, a 8800 with 5MB memory wouldnt run it either, but you get my drift)

What I have been told (and read) is that the only performance difference - or close to - between say a 7950GT 256MB and a 7950GT 512MB is to be seen when resolutions are high. (Above 1280x1024)