What a difference a card makes.

[Boats]

A few minutes to install.
From 3 FPS to 35,
oh what a joy the game is,
no longer a slide showwww.

I forgot the name of the original song, disco sucks anyway.

Anyway, I took the plunge and replaced my aging Nvidia 7900 256 video card with an ATI XFX HD 5570. I wasn't sure it was going to do me any good with only a dual core 6300 @ processor of only 1.86 GHz. It was either do a new video card or wait for the money for a whole new system. Which would take some time to accumilate. But lo and behold I'm set for as long as my processor holds out. Now I can run SH5 on max with decent FPS'.

My condolences to those, who for one reason or another, choose or can't, play SH5, it really is graphically stunning. Many have other games to keep them busy, this is the only game I have, so it was this or nothing.

The DRM is still a bug, in my opinion. The "advantage" to be automatically updated is bull. I downloaded the patch from the web site itself in half the time it took for the automatic update do its thing (I've installed the game twice now). And the time it takes to load an "offline" game is also a long process. AND, the way the game saves itself is a step back in time to the days when the game would pause for a few seconds and the saving point would annouce itself. Killer of the mood.

The instructions (or lack thereof) have been made mention here already. I'll just add, I was stuck at the periscope station for the longest time while I searched for the key to back away from it. It's the esc. key, but the help menu only describes the esc. key as the old method of leaving the game. Frustration abounded for awhile.

I'm look forward to the DRM going the way of the dodo bird. It's CRAP. But the game, that's another story.

[TwistedFemur]

As I said before graphics is the ONLY thing SH5 has got going for it IMO

[LIONPRIDE]

.

Gratz - You could probably OverClock that CPU to get about 2.4 out of it and be sitting even better. Just make sure you have good cooling. I'm running my E6600 (2.4 originally) up to 3.5 right now with two 9600GT cards in sLi. It's pretty decent for SH5.

Just don't try to run Black Shark or the Flaming Cliffs-2 right now. There's so much computing going on in the background you'll be back down to single digits in those sims.


.

[TwistedFemur]

Originally Posted by LIONPRIDE

.

.

Just don't try to run Black Shark or the Flaming Cliffs-2 right now. There's so much computing going on in the background you'll be back down to single digits in those sims.


.

whats the ETA of the new A-10 sim?

[LIONPRIDE]

.

Sorry, I don't follow it that closely. The FC2 is suppose to run in tandem with the Black Shark sim so fast movers and helos can run missions together. Haven't tried it yet or seen anything backing it up. I know you can fly the A-10 in FC2 but as for a separate sim, I haven't heard any news. I jump on thier forums to see if there's any patches, etc ... maybe once a week or so.

.

[Boats]

What's the best way to overclock my CPU?

[Diopos]

Originally Posted by Boats

What's the best way to overclock my CPU?

Uhmm.... Move the mouse real slowly?

Sorry couldn't resist the comment!

Please somebody answer Boats question ....

[TwistedFemur]

Originally Posted by Diopos

Uhmm.... Move the mouse real slowly?

Sorry couldn't resist the comment!

Please somebody answer Boats question ....

CPU

[badaboom]

Wow!! You went from an Old Slow Buick to a fast sleek BMW!!!!! The difference must be Amazing!!!!!!!!!

I recently upgraded my RAM on my Laptop and now SHIV is just spectacular!!! SHV is still a bit Laggy inside the ship but it's better,I'm hoping the patch will help performance even more!!

Congrats on your new card!!

[LIONPRIDE]

.

For now, hold off on the OC till we see what the patch does. OC'ing your CPU can be tricky-especially since many tutorials don't always match the BIOS you may be running on your motherboard .... so things may be slightly different. Some boards have a built in OC'ing feature built into the BIOS that could make it easier, but again, the patch may really help out.

Seems the game hasn't been optimized yet. This is common with smaller projects such as SHV.

Did some research on the A-10 deadline and found some hints ... They talked about releasing aircraft about every 9-months after BS was released. Of course this was a loose figure. Judging from the boards and some features on other sites, that would put the A-10 somewhere late this summer. But again, subject to change and unforeseen speed-bumps.



.

[Boats]

Originally Posted by LIONPRIDE

.

For now, hold off on the OC till we see what the patch does. OC'ing your CPU can be tricky-especially since many tutorials don't always match the BIOS you may be running on your motherboard .... so things may be slightly different. Some boards have a built in OC'ing feature built into the BIOS that could make it easier, but again, the patch may really help out.

Seems the game hasn't been optimized yet. This is common with smaller projects such as SHV.

Did some research on the A-10 deadline and found some hints ... They talked about releasing aircraft about every 9-months after BS was released. Of course this was a loose figure. Judging from the boards and some features on other sites, that would put the A-10 somewhere late this summer. But again, subject to change and unforeseen speed-bumps.



.

Right you are. I'm getting an average of 55 FPS topside in open water so I can live with that for the time being. Still, it'd be nice to know I'm squeezing all the juice I can out of my machine.

I just hope the patch doesn't go the way of the IL2 patches, it seemed with every new patch the specs changed.

Overclocking is not that hard really, just time consuming plus an initial learning curve on the core concepts.

The goal is to boost your system for better game playing so you have three main areas to OC

1. The Graphics Card....easiest to OC in my oppinion. Use the BIOS or a fan control program to set the fans to 100%. Then use another program to OC the graphics card till you see artifacts, then either increase voltage or decrease the OC. Of course more voltage means more power and hence more heat. Once your graphics card starts hitting the 70 degress then you'll need to improve your cooling.

2. The CPU...again, bump all the fans to 100% then increase FSB till the PC becomes unstable. Then try to increase core voltage (but no more than 2V). Again, more power equals more heat. You don't really want to push it beyond 60 degrees.

3. The Memory....you wont get much of an improvement unless you acheive 1:1 parity with your FSB. Dooable but again watch the voltages - largely depends on mem chip manufacturer.

Okay, now the caveat....OCing risks melting your rig, so the only way to do it well is to learn the capabilities of your bios, your motherboard, your graphics cards and your memory. Then learn the core concepts to overclocking. Then download the right programs (CPU-ID, GPU-Z, RealTemp, CoreTemp, TheListIsEndless etc). Then accept that the temp sensors in modern PCs are mainly diode temp sensors and thus not very accurate. For example, my PC provides temp readings which differ by as much as 12 degrees depending on what temp monitor program I use....so you have to develop a 'feal' for your rig.

And lastly, Little Steps Elly, Little Steps!

You should tweak a little and run it a lot to test stability whilst ALWAYS keeping an eye on your temps. Its all about the temps at the end of the day.

The good news is most CPUs and GPUs will start moaning before they blow. so if you suddenly get BSODs then you're either running the CPU too hot or not enough voltage. If you get graphic artifacts then the same applies to the GPUs. Memory stability is a little harder to test.

I got my 2.4Ghz E6600 to run at 3.5Ghz by buying a CPU fan for 30 bucks...but if you're getting 50fps in open water then thats pretty good already. You can bump this by getting rid of dynamic shadows, lowering your anti-aliasing and switching of V-Sync.

Now get reading :-)

[Bilge_Rat]

Boats, enjoy your new card. I have a ATI 4890 and the game runs great. If you are in the mood, post some screenshots so we can see what your new baby can do.

[Steeltrap]

ATi RADEON HD-5970

[Commie]

Originally Posted by Boats

A few minutes to install.
From 3 FPS to 35,
oh what a joy the game is,
no longer a slide showwww.

I forgot the name of the original song, disco sucks anyway.

Anyway, I took the plunge and replaced my aging Nvidia 7900 256 video card with an ATI XFX HD 5570. I wasn't sure it was going to do me any good with only a dual core 6300 @ processor of only 1.86 GHz. It was either do a new video card or wait for the money for a whole new system. Which would take some time to accumilate. But lo and behold I'm set for as long as my processor holds out. Now I can run SH5 on max with decent FPS'.

My condolences to those, who for one reason or another, choose or can't, play SH5, it really is graphically stunning. Many have other games to keep them busy, this is the only game I have, so it was this or nothing.

The DRM is still a bug, in my opinion. The "advantage" to be automatically updated is bull. I downloaded the patch from the web site itself in half the time it took for the automatic update do its thing (I've installed the game twice now). And the time it takes to load an "offline" game is also a long process. AND, the way the game saves itself is a step back in time to the days when the game would pause for a few seconds and the saving point would annouce itself. Killer of the mood.

The instructions (or lack thereof) have been made mention here already. I'll just add, I was stuck at the periscope station for the longest time while I searched for the key to back away from it. It's the esc. key, but the help menu only describes the esc. key as the old method of leaving the game. Frustration abounded for awhile.

I'm look forward to the DRM going the way of the dodo bird. It's CRAP. But the game, that's another story.

I know the feeling. I upgraded 6 months ago from a 7900GT 256 to a ATI 4770 just to get a bit more mileage from a 3 year old system(a more powerful card would have been overkill) and it was like getting a new computer! Never had ATI before in 12 years, but considering this card was a third of the price as the 7900gt when new and it still runs pretty much everything on max and 1600x1200 it is probably the best price/performance card I've ever had. now I just need the computer to stay alive for another year or more, at least until the next big leap in graphics which will only really happen with DirectX 12 and the new console generation.