A problem with minimum specs

[Reckall]

I got the full boxed copy of Silent Hunter IV from my magazine, for review purposes, on March 15th (so I can imagine how some stores had it earlier ). However, since my main PC is at the repair shop, I had to try it on my older one (a desktop).

And here comes the problem. With these specs:

Intel P4 3,04 GHz
1GB RAM
Radeon 9800 SE 128MB RAM
latest drivers for everything, fully defragged HD

the game is totally unplayable.

I'm talking about a framerate <1 with *all the graphic options turned down*

If I go to a screen with no 3D rendering (i.e. the map screen) fluidity returns normal, but as soon as the game has to show a 3D ambient on screen (periscope, sub interior, bridge...) fluidity drops again like a rock. I would stress again how this happens with all graphic options turned down - included the screen resolution.

On the same system I played SH3 without problems, and I actually reinstalled it just to check: fluidity for SH3 is just fine - so it is for other games ranging from IL-2 Sturmovik to Neverwinter Nights 2 (of course by reducing the graphic quality accordingly)

So, while waiting for my "monster" to return from the repair shop, my doubt is: should I look for some problem specific to my system, or the minimum specs printed by Ubisoft on the box simply are not enough? According to them, you should be able to play SHIV on a 2GHz PC with a Radeon 9600 - but it doesn't seem to be the case

Of course, since I'll review the game, I'll do some extensive checks on a variety of systems - but what is the general experience on the forum just now?

Thanks,

Vince

[StandingCow]

This is one thing I forgot to mention in the piracy thread.. another reason the game market is hurting is incorrect min specs on games... people go out, spend whatever on a game, and cannot play it.

[TDK1044]

In Ubisoft's defence, there is another poster who is playing the game with an Nvidia 6800 series video card, a P4 3.0 processor and 1 GIG of RAM, and his game plays fine according to him.

[Gammel]

If you know how to switch to a different driver for your graphics card without wrecking your whole system (use ati`s uninstall all tool in your prg. files folder)
try a different version.
This link has several catalyst version listed, first give the 5.10 version a try, after that try 6.5 beta
edit - heres the link: ;-)
http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?id=18
I´d also make a directx reinstall.

Even with your not so up to date VGA you should see more than one frame, sound like a driver bug / incompatibility

Do you have SH3 too on the machine installed? Does it run well?
Sorry, should have read your posting better, indeed you have SH3 installed...

[Reckall]

Originally Posted by Gammel

If you know how to switch to a different driver for your graphics card without wrecking your whole system (use ati`s uninstall all tool in your prg. files folder)
try a different version.
This link has several catalyst version listed, first give the 5.10 version a try, after that try 6.5 beta
edit - heres the link: ;-)
http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?id=18
I´d also make a directx reinstall.

Gammel,

thanks for the hints. I uninstalled my current Catalyst drivers (dated Feb 2007) and tried both you suggestions: no joy, the game still runs at 1 FpS (or less!) on my system.

Now, since I'm playing it for a review, I'll have to test it on different systems, so to check if the problem is due to some uncompatibility specific to my PC or it is due to a more general incompatibility of the software to some combinations of hardware/drivers.

To reallydedpoet,

I didn't buy the game, it was sent to me by my magazine for the review, sorry!

However, this is the very reason why I must investigate any possibile technical problems so to warn the readers about them. I have it since Mar, 15th and I still wasn't able to play it on a PC formally within the specs. My main PC will be back this evening, so I hope to be able to finally enjoy it.

[Onkel Neal]

Ahoy Reckall,

Drebbel listed my system specs above, it's a 4 year old PC (don't ask, I'm poor). There must be some problem. I played all week and weekend and have not experienced any sustained, significant slowdowns. Once in a while it will bog down some, to 10-15 fps or so, but only when there are lots of planes and ships (Midway). I have the graphics options set about midway; sliders on left side in the middle, some of the check boxes checked. Can't say which exact ones, I have been experiementing.

Neal
Subsim

[ReallyDedPoet]

Originally Posted by Reckall

Gammel,

thanks for the hints. I uninstalled my current Catalyst drivers (dated Feb 2007) and tried both you suggestions: no joy, the game still runs at 1 FpS (or less!) on my system.

Now, since I'm playing it for a review, I'll have to test it on different systems, so to check if the problem is due to some uncompatibility specific to my PC or it is due to a more general incompatibility of the software to some combinations of hardware/drivers.

To reallydedpoet,

I didn't buy the game, it was sent to me by my magazine for the review, sorry!

However, this is the very reason why I must investigate any possibile technical problems so to warn the readers about them. I have it since Mar, 15th and I still wasn't able to play it on a PC formally within the specs. My main PC will be back this evening, so I hope to be able to finally enjoy it.

Ok Reckall, thanks for the clarification. I posted this earlier, I wish companies would post recc. settings as opposed to general or minimum specs I know I am dreaming here, but it would be nice.

[Prientje]

Originally Posted by Reckall

I got the full boxed copy of Silent Hunter IV from my magazine, for review purposes, on March 15th (so I can imagine how some stores had it earlier ). However, since my main PC is at the repair shop, I had to try it on my older one (a desktop).

And here comes the problem. With these specs:

Intel P4 3,04 GHz
1GB RAM
Radeon 9800 SE 128MB RAM
latest drivers for everything, fully defragged HD

the game is totally unplayable.

I'm talking about a framerate <1 with *all the graphic options turned down*

If I go to a screen with no 3D rendering (i.e. the map screen) fluidity returns normal, but as soon as the game has to show a 3D ambient on screen (periscope, sub interior, bridge...) fluidity drops again like a rock. I would stress again how this happens with all graphic options turned down - included the screen resolution.

On the same system I played SH3 without problems, and I actually reinstalled it just to check: fluidity for SH3 is just fine - so it is for other games ranging from IL-2 Sturmovik to Neverwinter Nights 2 (of course by reducing the graphic quality accordingly)

So, while waiting for my "monster" to return from the repair shop, my doubt is: should I look for some problem specific to my system, or the minimum specs printed by Ubisoft on the box simply are not enough? According to them, you should be able to play SHIV on a 2GHz PC with a Radeon 9600 - but it doesn't seem to be the case

Of course, since I'll review the game, I'll do some extensive checks on a variety of systems - but what is the general experience on the forum just now?

Thanks,

Vince

your pc specs are ok and good enough to play the game

it can only be a driver incompatibility

check your graphic with dxdiag

[Drebbel]

I know a guy who has a P4 2.4 GHz cpu and the game plays fine with 1 GB mem.

He did upgrade his AGP video card for a fast on. A X1650 Pro with 512 mem, for about 120US$

I do not know how high he has the settings in the graphics menu.

[ReallyDedPoet]

You should expect what you get when buying based on minimum specs

[TDK1044]

Originally Posted by reallydedpoet

You should expect what you get when buying based on minimum specs

I kinda agree with you, but let's remember that we in the subsim Forums represent about 3 percent of total sales based on the Silent Hunter 3 figures. The vast majority of the other 97 percent pick up the box in a retail store and buy it because it would be fun to play a WWII submarine game. To those people, the minimum specs on the box means 'my machine will play this game with no problems'.

Most of those folks have no concept of patches, mods, driver upgrades etc. All they know is that they have what it says on the box, and they purchase based on that fact.

[ReallyDedPoet]

Originally Posted by TDK1044

To those people, the minimum specs on the box means 'my machine will play this game with no problems'.

Good points TDK. Hopefully more people will come to understand minimum specs means that the game will play on min settings. A hard lesson to learn, but when buying any game, this one or others, specs to play the game are usually are at their lowest as to drive sales.

This is a pipe-dream, but it would be nice to see companies post rec. settings more often.

[P_Funk]

Originally Posted by TDK1044

I kinda agree with you, but let's remember that we in the subsim Forums represent about 3 percent of total sales based on the Silent Hunter 3 figures. The vast majority of the other 97 percent pick up the box in a retail store and buy it because it would be fun to play a WWII submarine game. To those people, the minimum specs on the box means 'my machine will play this game with no problems'.

Most of those folks have no concept of patches, mods, driver upgrades etc. All they know is that they have what it says on the box, and they purchase based on that fact.

I think that out of the box running the minimum specs I should be able to get a complete experience.

To use a metaphor: minimum specs are like Apocalypse Now on your TV. recommended and above is like watching Apocalypse Now Redux in the theatres with sound so lound that your ears bleed.

But also compaticility is as big if not bigger of an issue as specs. If a recent ATI driver on a standard card (a 9800 series for heaven sake) then thats not very good. I mean most people use that little disc that comes with their motherboard and then they never upgrade unless their geek friend is over or something.