Slooow SH4

[peabody]

Originally Posted by DrBeast

I have the exact same CPU as you, and the AGP version of the card you mentioned (with 256MB DDR 3 memory). Running both the CPU and the graphics card overclocked, I can get playable FPS most of the times, with 2xAA and 4xAF, and with settings pretty much maxed at 1024x768, plus the whole ROW package except hi-res seafoam (this may answer peabody's question). It does get ugly in stormy weather, though. My verdict is your CPU will bottle-neck the graphics card, so if I knew better before throwing away 75 Euros for that graphics card a couple of months ago, I'd start saving money for a new rig. At least, I get to see some of the late LeoVampire's work in (almost) its full glory, and just for that it was well worth it.

Dr Beast:
Thanks for helping, interesting comment of yours, I never thought of overclocking, that may help....I'll have to check that out. The motherboard I have is suppose to be an overclockers dream but I am not sure about the video card. But one question, I understand AA (antialiasing, right?) but is AF the Anisotropic Filtering? (Whatever that means) I have something a bit strange on my video card settings I can set 2x,8x,16x or Application controlled. The 4x is there but when I select it, it changes to something else, it won't let me select 4x. Strange. Do you know, I don't, what this does?
Peabody

[-Pv-]

Anisotripc filtering improves texture rendering at oblique angles to the view at increasing distances. Most games perform best when the card is set to application controlled. The effect is most noticible in flight sims where you are watching flat or mip mapped terraign at a distance from a high altitude. In SH4 it's not much of a factor since you are viewing nearly everything from near surface level.
-Pv-

[kriller2]

Try to uncheck the dynamic fog in video options, that helps alot when in storm.

[ReallyDedPoet]

Originally Posted by kriller2

Try to uncheck the dynamic fog in video options, that helps alot when in storm.

Nice thing about doing this is that you can do it while in game ( as with all the other graphic options ), no need to save game, etc.


RDP

[Rockin Robbins]

You'll have no problem with ROW so long as you leave out the hi-res seafoam. You might even see a slight improvement in frame rates.

[DrBeast]

Originally Posted by peabody

I never thought of overclocking, that may help....I'll have to check that out. The motherboard I have is suppose to be an overclockers dream but I am not sure about the video card.
Peabody

I run my CPU overclocked at 2.6GHz ever since I got the computer. During summer, it's back to stock settings because summers in Greece can get pretty HOT, and the house isn't properly air conditioned. Frankly, even o/cing the video card doesn't help all that much, I gain about 2-3 FPS and that's it.
You don't mention your processor type; if it's a newer generation Intel (Core2Duo or AMD X2), you might squeeze some extra juice off it.
Kriller2 is spot on about turning off Volumetric Fog during storms, the FPS literally jumps back to playable FPS. Turning off Environmental Effects also helps in those conditions.