oddity

[ABBAFAN]

what is the best card to get for this game?if i also upgrade the processor to say 3000mhz will that be ok without changing any other parts of the computer?it wont cause some weird sort of conflict will it?

[Potoroo]

Originally Posted by ABBAFAN

what is the best card to get for this game?

The best available video card for an AGP system is the Geforce 7800GS (US$250-US$300). However, the 7600GT AGP (US$180-US$200) and 7600GS ($US125-US$150) would run SH3 comfortably.

if i also upgrade the processor to say 3000mhz will that be ok without changing any other parts of the computer?it wont cause some weird sort of conflict will it?

Assuming your motherboard and BIOS will support the faster processor then any upgrade should be transparent (overclocking your existing CPU is a different story).

However, I don't understand where you get "3000mhz" from. The fastest Athlon XP was the 3200+ (Barton), which runs at 2200Mhz. Since the Athlon XPs use Socket A you'd have to also replace your motherboard to upgrade to a later, faster Athlon 64 (whether Socket 939 or AM2).

Aside from upgrading your video card you'd do well to at least double your DDR from 512MB to 1GB for SH3. 2GB would be better still, but you'd notice the difference even going to 1GB.

Originally Posted by Oldgamer48

Now, I understand why I didn't have water before I got my new card

As a side note on pixel shaders and water, check out the example images at http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/01/...006/page3.html.

[ABBAFAN]

what about using a pentium card instead?
the spec checker on the game said my card was only 1005mhz??

[Potoroo]

Originally Posted by ABBAFAN

what about using a pentium card instead?
the spec checker on the game said my card was only 1005mhz??

Look, comparing raw CPU frequencies between different architectures is meaningless. You're comparing apples to oranges. Throw that worthless spec checker in the bit bucket.

If you have an Athlon XP 3200+ 2.2Ghz Barton (there never was an XP 3400+) then it's roughly equivalent to a P4 2.8GHz Northwood.

If you're unsure what you have then download CPU-Z from http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz. When you run it it will take several seconds before the window shows as it gathers system information, but the CPU tab will tell exactly what you've got and how it is running.

[Oldgamer48]

Originally Posted by Potoroo

Look, comparing raw CPU frequencies between different architectures is meaningless. You're comparing apples to oranges. Throw that worthless spec checker in the bit bucket.

If you have an Athlon XP 3200+ 2.2Ghz Barton (there never was an XP 3400+) then it's roughly equivalent to a P4 2.8GHz Northwood.

If you're unsure what you have then download CPU-Z from http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz. When you run it it will take several seconds before the window shows as it gathers system information, but the CPU tab will tell exactly what you've got and how it is running.

Once again, thanks for the information.

I downloaded CPU-Z, and it showed my system to be exactly what I thought it would be ... a Pentium 4 (no hyperthreading) running at between 1600.2-1600.5 mghz. Exactly as adverstised. In spite of a CPU speed under 2000mghz, this computer runs SH3 with no lag at all, with particle density set to 100. I have 1gig of RAM, and decided the other day to go with a $125 US nVidia GeForce 6600GT. I couldn't be more pleased with the way this system is operating.

Also, with Pixel Shading 3, I'm no longer "flying" my Type VII through space!