Need to upgrade?

[Sir Big Jugs]

Hi,
I just bought SHIV, and now I'm regretting it already...
I installed, restarted the computer, patched it up (1.2) and started.
After setting most GFX settings to quite low (so my rig could run it as good as possible) I started a random single mission, and the game runs terribly! I get something like 5fps with very poor image quality.
My main query is if there might be something other affecting my performance, as my computer fills all minimum specs and I have no other applications running at the same time. IMO it *should* work a bit better than it does now at least.

Thanks for any assistance;
-SBJ


My rig:
AMD Athlon 64 3200+ 2.01ghz processor
1gb RAM
ATI Radeon X700SE 256mb video card
Windows XP home edition Finnish

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by Sir Big Jugs

Hi,
I just bought SHIV, and now I'm regretting it already...
I installed, restarted the computer, patched it up (1.2) and started.
After setting most GFX settings to quite low (so my rig could run it as good as possible) I started a random single mission, and the game runs terribly! I get something like 5fps with very poor image quality.
My main query is if there might be something other affecting my performance, as my computer fills all minimum specs and I have no other applications running at the same time. IMO it *should* work a bit better than it does now at least.

Thanks for any assistance;
-SBJ


My rig:
AMD Athlon 64 3200+ 2.01ghz processor
1gb RAM
ATI Radeon X700SE 256mb video card
Windows XP home edition Finnish

Do not give up man! I run:

AMD Athon 64 3200+
1 gig RAM
ATI X1300 XGE 512MB card/ 7.3 catalyst
Onboard sound

Runs beautifully. All slides either at max or 1/2. EE check, 3d wave check, all the ships textures/caustic checked. Post process filter on! Excellent frame rates....20-40 depending what I'm looking at. Took some tweeking and testing for about an hour to get it right. Work with it a bit and do not throw in the towel.

[Gizzmoe]

The X700SE is a very low-end card, with only 128MB real video memory (64-bit memory bus) and 128MB shared memory, so it takes those 128MB from your 1GB system RAM.

Set Graphic Settings to Low, make sure that AA and AF isn´t activated in the ATI control panel and install the Omega driver to squeeze out a few more FPS:
http://www.omegadrivers.net/

[WernerSobe]

its the video card.

I`d guess it is not compatible with directx 9.0 so your machine has to emulate its features and that costs a lot of resources.

[AVGWarhawk]

What does all this mean?...you are well over half way there. Start investigating a new card. I dumped my Nvidia 6200oc 256mb card for the ATI. Not the best ATI but much better than the 6200. I'm very pleased with this card.

[Gizzmoe]

Originally Posted by WernerSobe

I`d guess it is not compatible with directx 9.0 so your machine has to emulate its features and that costs a lot of resources.

The card is fully DX9 compliant, it´s just very slow.

[BlackSpot]

edit. sorry double post

[BlackSpot]

Another stick of RAM and a new graphics card and you'll be ok

[livewire68]

I started playing SH 4 on the Ati x700pro 256mb. It ran with most things on full (had enviorment effects off, sun glare off, and 3d wakes off). FPS were 16-20 in command room and in a crowded port and around 60 everywere else. This was before 1.2 patch, and had CCC (7.2 and then 7.3 later) set to application controled. Worked well, very playable. Haven't used it yet with 1.2 patch and fsaa and aa.

[Sir Big Jugs]

Thanks for your replies, seems like an upgrade is necessary. (Dang, there goes the $$$ for some more camera equipment...)

Anyway, a thread discussing the upgrade is HERE!

Thx,
-SBJ