Any opinions? Is my PC capable?

[Akula4745]

After posting in another thread I began to wonder what the community thought my odds were on being able to run SH4 on my current system (4 year old gaming PC). 3.2GHz p4 CPU, 2 Gb RAM, ATI Radeon 9600/X1050 w/256 video memory, Creative SB Audigy sound. I am already considering a new system - but hoping to get a few sorties in on this one first. Just wondered what the experts thought...


PS - I cannot believe what a great community you have here. So many modders particpating and WOW what great mods... the forums are full of info and there is so much to read up on while I am waiting for mister postman. I am hooked already and I don't even have the game yet! I stumbled across a cheap copy of SH4 when I was looking for an old copy of Jane's Fleet Command... lucky me!

Jim
Akula4745

[neosnk35]

i think your rig could run sh4 pretty much... i doubt your vga card.. but still i know nothing about ati radeon...

and BTW welcome to subsim...

[Peto]

I'm afraid you're going to have problems with your video card. I used that one for SH3 but not 4...

But it doesn't really hurt to try ;).

Cheers!

[irish1958]

I had exactly the same specs on my old computer and I could just run the game with the lowest settings possible.
Even so, the frame rate was very poor and ground to 1 or 2 fps with any action.
I gave up until I could get a decent computer.:damn:

[banjo]

Try it and see, but do two things--get a free program called AlacrityPC, this will help a lot, and turn off all the options in the right column of graphic options. You might be okay then.

[SteamWake]

Connect that pc to the internet and visit this site.

http://www.systemrequirementslab.com/referrer/srtest

select SH4 from the list... good luck.

[CapnScurvy]

3.2GHz p4 CPU, 2 Gb RAM, ATI Radeon 9600/X1050 w/256 video memory, Creative SB Audigy sound.

Sounds like my old system, but with an ATI x1650 card w/512 mb. My system had a few problems with the larger convoys, like slow downs in frame rates with a lot of objects being displayed. As a gamer, staying on the cutting edge is ridiculous to do. You would have to constantly be upgrading when the next best thing comes along (which is every couple of months). So putting a 4 year old system out to pasture isn't a bad idea. You've gotten your mileage out of her.

The next system should be expandable. Make sure you have the capability to have 2 video cards installed. One for now, until you get over the sticker shock of the purchase. An additional slot available when you want to upgrade. Don't scrimp on the first video card though. This is your base for the future purchase of a twin.

Just moving up from the Pentium 4 CPU is going to give you a boast in performance. To keep the purchase price manageable get a CPU that has had a large price drop recently. Last fall I bought a Quad 6600 for $180.00
U.S. Gave me a great performance boost and I still could take out the wife for dinner. When I pick up that second Video card (maybe late this year or next), the CPU will get an upgrade too.

[AVGWarhawk]

I had the ATI 1300 and it ran SH4 just OK. I moved up to Nvidia 7800 and things improved. My other specs were AMD3200+ and 2 gig DDR 400 RAM. Consider a better card if cash is tight for new rig:up:

[Armistead]

You can get some decent video cards for under a $100.00.

One thing I quit doing was trying to upgrade the dead. No matter what you add, you just don't get much bang. I'm afraid no matter what you do, your gaming experience is not going to improve to the point the game is enjoyable.

You always have to be careful, but with people needing money these days, I picked up a nice gaming system on Craig's list for $300.00. Just check it out good before you buy it.

[CapnScurvy]

You can get some decent video cards for under a $100.00.

One thing I quit doing was trying to upgrade the dead. No matter what you add, you just don't get much bang.

This is a point I didn't make, but well worth repeating. With the old system I had the limitation for the video card was an 8 AGP interface. If you can find one, the price is about double a PCI Express x16 version. It makes much better sense to put the money into a newer mother board, than to pay through the nose for an older video card (or any other older device that is sub par to what's out on the market now). Yes, this means new memory, probably a new DVD burner, new Hard Disk (just because SATA connections need to be made). But the end result is you'll get your head above water with a faster system that can be upgraded for a fair price in the future.

[Akula4745]

Thanks for all the input, gentlemen. Yes... I am worried about the video card too.

Thanks for the link to Can you run it?, SteamWake - I had seen that site in the forums but then could not locate it again later. I posted the results of both the minimum and recommended tests. Anyone else find it curious that my video card rated higher on the recommended side than it did on the minimum side? Wierd.
http://img176.imagevenue.com/loc365/th_02731_runtest_min_122_365lo.jpg (http://img176.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=02731_runtest_min_122_365lo.jpg) http://img165.imagevenue.com/loc199/th_03981_runtest_rec_122_199lo.jpg (http://img165.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=03981_runtest_rec_122_199lo.jpg)

Oh don't fret for a minute, gentlemen... I learned my lesson long ago about trying to add a new video card (or any other major component) to an existing platform. Sure it can be done - but it is often much more than you bargained for. My next one will be a homebuilt like my last... got 4 great years out of the ol' girl. Need to get off my butt and start ordering the pieces and parts for the new one very soon.

One other question: Does the game have a no-CD option available? Is the DVD drive required for anything other than installation?

Now if I can just get the Post Office to cooperate...

[AVGWarhawk]

No, there was an exe file given with patch 1.4 or 1.5. I do not remember.

[SteamWake]

Once the game is fully installed and patched no CD is required.

About the 'upgrade' I went out and got a 8800 card and plugged it in, installed new drivers, and it ran fine, for about an hour when POP a loud snap and a whiff of ozone.

The fuse in the PSU blew out in an overcurrent situation.

I replaced the PSU with a larger one and everythings been fine since. But Ill tell you it scared the hell out of me.

[Akula4745]

LOL SteamWake - my learning experience was very similar: Bought a bigger faster video card many years ago and it cooked the motherboard and power supply... live and learn. Sometimes the more expensive way actually saves you money!

[Max2147]

After posting in another thread I began to wonder what the community thought my odds were on being able to run SH4 on my current system (4 year old gaming PC). 3.2GHz p4 CPU, 2 Gb RAM, ATI Radeon 9600/X1050 w/256 video memory, Creative SB Audigy sound. I am already considering a new system - but hoping to get a few sorties in on this one first. Just wondered what the experts thought...
I've got a slower processor, same RAM, and less video card RAM, and I can run SH4 without too much trouble. I have to turn most of the graphics settings all the way down, and sometimes the FPS gets a bit slow, but it's still playable. I've only had it unplayably slow once.

The game crashes on me every once in a while, so I save pretty frequently, but other than that it's fine.

[Akula4745]

Hey Max - are you running the game with mods? Or just the straight game? Wondered if a slower system restricted what mods we could use too...

Thanks sir.

[Max2147]

The only mod I have now is RSRDC.

[Akula4745]

Thanks max... but is the reason you only have the RSRDC mod because of performance or by choice? Sorry... I am just curious.

Thanks again for the info. :)

[Max2147]

Just choice. I'm a noob, and I heard that the mods made the game harder. I'll give them a try after I'm done with my current career.

[Akula4745]

Thanks Max... I'm a noob too. Just trying to figure out as much as I can.

[Akula4745]

Ok, here is the way it finally worked out - my new PC - just ordered it tonight:

Intel Core 2 Quad Processor Q9550 (4x 2.83GHz/12MB L2 Cache/1333FSB)
Asus Rampage Formula Intel X48 Chipset
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285 1Gb
4 Gb [2 Gb X2] DDR2-800 PC6400 Memory
500 Gb primary + 320 Gb secondary HD

So no worries about "if" my system will be able to run the game. But this better do the trick... I think I spent my PC budget for the next couple of years! LOL