What is your ideal spec?

Thaum · 03-17-08, 08:37 AM

Ahoy,

I'm in the market for upgrading my computer, but wary that I won't be able to use SHIII (+GWZ) anymore.

I recall reading elsewhere that upgrading to some graphics cards/drivers can create glitches and/or make SHIII unusable.

I'm assuming that any faster processor and more memory will be good, so really it boils down to what graphics card and driver. (Oh, and I'm avoiding Vista).

Anyone any thoughts, on what works best?

It's all getting a bit silly; I returned to SHIII when GWX 2.0 was released after a lengthy flirtation with SH4. Now I'm spending several hours on most nights trying to sink Tommy and his pals.

To lose SHIII would be a price too high to pay for an upgraded computer (although I wouldn't miss the SHIII-induced sleep deprivation)!

Thaum.

Thaum · 03-17-08, 10:40 AM

Hehe,

I can answer my own post.

Just done another search and found this among many others:

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...s+card+upgrade

Still be interested in hearing any more opinions.

Thaum

Sailor Steve · 03-17-08, 11:22 AM

Of course you can answer your own post. Many here have done it many times. Of course we keep a close eye on them, and talk about them when they're not around...

Oh, and in case I missed you before, WELCOME ABOARD!

Or should I say "Welcome to the nuthouse?"

Jimbuna · 03-17-08, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thaum

Hehe,

I can answer my own post.

Just done another search and found this among many others:

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...s+card+upgrade

Still be interested in hearing any more opinions.

Thaum

It really depends on how much your budget is.

As a yardstick (I'm currently running GWX2.1 with absolutely no problems) and I'm sure there'll be people here running the game on differing specs, some higher, some lower:

XP Pro

Athlon XP 3.2+Ghz

BFG Nvidia 7800GS

2GB RAM

Kristian2 · 03-17-08, 02:53 PM

You are talking about upgrading your computer, perhaps I've missed something but I have no knowledge of your current specs. I assume you are aiming at running Windows XP and shiii+gwx comfortably.
My specs are:
P4 (3Ghz), 1GB Ram, Nvidia 7600GS (256MB)
This runs the game quite comfortably, with the only performance problems when you are with your camera too close to an explosion (dangerous too

).

I also have a slimmed version of Windows XP (SP2), see e.g. www.bold-fortune.com/forums/ on how to do this. I have used this information in addition to using XPlite.
All Windows are essentially clutter generating OS's. Less Windows is (in my view) always better.
Personally I would avoid Vista altogether, Windows 7 might be a serious option as it promises to be a small footprint OS, but we have to see what that means in MS standards.

[Somewhat off topic]
Directx10 is not downwards compatible with Directx9, but you can run DX9 games with DX10 hardware, and processing DX9 graphics software with DX10 hardware is not very efficient (so I've read somewhere). However, I presume one does not seem to suffer performance loss, on the contrary, which means that there is enormous processing power in DX10 cards that compensates for the inefficient processing sequence, correct me if I'm wrong. In the not too distant future everyone will have DX10 hardware, despite still DX9 games being around, and since there is still no interesting successor for SHIII(GWX)...

Thaum · 03-17-08, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kristian2

In the not too distant future everyone will have DX10 hardware, despite still DX9 games being around, and since there is still no interesting successor for SHIII(GWX)...

...and there's the rub. I remember some years ago I was a big fan of Jane's Longbow (helicopter sim). When I upgraded my machine I was no longer able to use the sim although these days is it possible, with a good deal of jiggery pokery, (and the same goes for Chuck Yeager's Air Combat, and SWOTL, but in computer terms, that's a VERY long time ago).

I'm not very technically minded, but it seems to me that SHIII + GWX is here to stay for a very long time - that is unless SH4 with its U-boat add-on gets modded by this very clever community into something special.....

So, if I'm going to upgrade, then it may as well be done properly (DX10 compliant) - I'm just concerned that it may prejudice my SHIII enjoyment.

Thanks for the welcome to the forum folks. My avatar picture looks about 25 years younger than I really am which is very nice. I rarely post, but I've been lurking on this forum for quite a long time. I Used to use SH2, then SH3 with various mods, then SH4, but was still drawn back to the Atlantic.

Thaum

Thaum · 03-17-08, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbuna

As a yardstick (I'm currently running GWX2.1 with absolutely no problems)

...hang on Jimbuna, I've just re-read your post - is GWX2.1 released now? Last I read was that 'it will be released when it is ready'.

Are you beta testing or have I missed something? :hmm:

Thaum

Sailor Steve · 03-17-08, 05:34 PM

Don't let Jim yank your chain. Take a look at his sig; he's a member of the team.

Thaum · 03-17-08, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thaum

My avatar picture looks about 25 years younger than I really am which is very nice. I rarely post, but I've been lurking on this forum for quite a long time.

Thaum

Lol, I've just spotted that my avatar pic has changed. It now looks a lot older and more grizzled than I really am (ahem). :rotfl: :rotfl:

I gather it changes as my number of posts increases.

I wonder if I can beat the record for the number of replies to my own thread????

Thaum

Thaum · 03-17-08, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Don't let Jim yank your chain. Take a look at his sig; he's a member of the team.

Ah yes. So come on then Jimbuna, when will it be released??

Jimbuna · 03-18-08, 03:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thaum

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Don't let Jim yank your chain. Take a look at his sig; he's a member of the team.

Ah yes. So come on then Jimbuna, when will it be released??

@Steve and Thaum.....I was being truthful. Absolutely no intention at 'chain yanking'. (got a great smilie for that but wouldn't be appreciated by some)

Been playing 2.1 for a while now, it is still in the testing stage and as I'm sure you'll appreciate, it takes time.

As for the release date..........not tooooo far away. It'll be ready when it's ready.

One thing I am confident of is that if you were impressed with 2.0, you'll be even more so with 2.1.

Hint: Keep an eye to the sky.

TarJak · 03-18-08, 04:42 AM

Wilkommen zum Subsim Herr Kaleun.

I see you've met some of the other reprobates that hang around these parts. (Forgive me gentlemen for the editorial but I feel I know you well enough to be this familar and we all know how familarity breeds content

), You should be fine with most new kit but your most likely pain will come in the GRF card department.

I can't speak for the current crop of DX10 cards on the market as I don't have one but if you will be OK with most of the lesser cards that are available.

Gute Jagd!

03-17-08, 08:37 AM	#1
Thaum Watch Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 21 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	What is your ideal spec? Ahoy, I'm in the market for upgrading my computer, but wary that I won't be able to use SHIII (+GWZ) anymore. I recall reading elsewhere that upgrading to some graphics cards/drivers can create glitches and/or make SHIII unusable. I'm assuming that any faster processor and more memory will be good, so really it boils down to what graphics card and driver. (Oh, and I'm avoiding Vista). Anyone any thoughts, on what works best? It's all getting a bit silly; I returned to SHIII when GWX 2.0 was released after a lengthy flirtation with SH4. Now I'm spending several hours on most nights trying to sink Tommy and his pals. To lose SHIII would be a price too high to pay for an upgraded computer (although I wouldn't miss the SHIII-induced sleep deprivation)! Thaum.

03-17-08, 11:22 AM	#3
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	Of course you can answer your own post. Many here have done it many times. Of course we keep a close eye on them, and talk about them when they're not around... Oh, and in case I missed you before, WELCOME ABOARD! Or should I say "Welcome to the nuthouse?" __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

03-17-08, 05:34 PM	#8
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	Don't let Jim yank your chain. Take a look at his sig; he's a member of the team. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

03-17-08, 10:40 AM	#2
Thaum Watch Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 21 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	Hehe, I can answer my own post. Just done another search and found this among many others: http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...s+card+upgrade Still be interested in hearing any more opinions. Thaum

03-17-08, 02:53 PM	#5
Kristian2 Sailor man Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Netherlands Posts: 46 Downloads: 13 Uploads: 0	You are talking about upgrading your computer, perhaps I've missed something but I have no knowledge of your current specs. I assume you are aiming at running Windows XP and shiii+gwx comfortably. My specs are: P4 (3Ghz), 1GB Ram, Nvidia 7600GS (256MB) This runs the game quite comfortably, with the only performance problems when you are with your camera too close to an explosion (dangerous too ). I also have a slimmed version of Windows XP (SP2), see e.g. www.bold-fortune.com/forums/ on how to do this. I have used this information in addition to using XPlite. All Windows are essentially clutter generating OS's. Less Windows is (in my view) always better. Personally I would avoid Vista altogether, Windows 7 might be a serious option as it promises to be a small footprint OS, but we have to see what that means in MS standards. [Somewhat off topic] Directx10 is not downwards compatible with Directx9, but you can run DX9 games with DX10 hardware, and processing DX9 graphics software with DX10 hardware is not very efficient (so I've read somewhere). However, I presume one does not seem to suffer performance loss, on the contrary, which means that there is enormous processing power in DX10 cards that compensates for the inefficient processing sequence, correct me if I'm wrong. In the not too distant future everyone will have DX10 hardware, despite still DX9 games being around, and since there is still no interesting successor for SHIII(GWX)...

03-18-08, 04:42 AM	#12
TarJak Fleet Admiral Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 17,052 Downloads: 150 Uploads: 8	Wilkommen zum Subsim Herr Kaleun. I see you've met some of the other reprobates that hang around these parts. (Forgive me gentlemen for the editorial but I feel I know you well enough to be this familar and we all know how familarity breeds content ), You should be fine with most new kit but your most likely pain will come in the GRF card department. I can't speak for the current crop of DX10 cards on the market as I don't have one but if you will be OK with most of the lesser cards that are available. Gute Jagd!