My opinions on GW and NYGTW - Page 2

Gizzmoe · 07-23-06, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr chris

Gizmoe, My music is my song itunes i have nearly 2000 songs on there about 5Gb.

That doesn´t influence your system as long as you don´t play the music while playing SH3.

Quote:

if i was to update my graphics card which one do you recomend? And how much would it cost?

How much do you want to spend?

Wulfmann · 07-23-06, 01:03 PM

No, MC, the music is not running at the time the game is. Anti-Virus, and other programs that run in the background are big game killers. Many programs are added running by MS and by spyware that you may not even know about.
However, if the HD is full another HD to put most stored things is a good idea allowing the C-Drive to have the programs alone to run.
Defragging may also help

The x300 VC, is weak, no offense and not even close to state of the art. Being it is an X300 that means it is PCIex???? or AGP. (I never look at x300 specs but only find PCIexp so assume))
I would seriously upgrade the VC. Because of the flood of new cards the prices have dropped a great deal on VCs. You can get an X800 PCIex for around $100.00 USD which is half what they were a year ago.
Saying you have 2GB of RAM is not enough. What type of RAM is it (DDR PC3200, PC2700, PC 2100 or PC133 or PC100)
The X300 is 128MB memory with 64MB of interface memory, 325 core speed and 400 corclock with 4 pixel pipelines. Basically that is your bottleneck. You need a better card to run SH3 even at stock to run it right, IMO

Here is a basic X800 GTO at Newegg for $89.00 plus shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814131007
(I realize you are not in the USA but as an idea) It has 256 memory and interface, 12 pixel pipelines and a core clock of 400 (easily overclocked with the easy to use ATI tool, I would bet at least 500 core) and 980 memory clock speed (Which I would bet easily OCed to 1100)
This would have you cheering.
Mind you, there will always be areas where too much happens in SH3 and slows down like when 2 tankers are buring in the same view or you up your TC to 2048 and you get near a convoy but those areas are also much improved with a better balance in the system which for you means a better VC, IMO
I do not recommend a super VC now (X1900 or 7900) because they will all be obsolete in a year or so and an X800 will run it well enough until the new MS OS and DX10 is released when, no matter what one has now, all our state of the art will be old hat then!

Wulfmann

mr chris · 07-23-06, 01:04 PM

I will spend what it takes to get the game playing well on my computer. How much cash do you think i should look at spending?

Gizzmoe · 07-23-06, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr chris

I will spend what it takes to get the game playing well on my computer. How much cash do you think i should look at spending?

Around 150-200€. Does your computer have AGP or PCI-Express?

mr chris · 07-23-06, 01:08 PM

PCI - EXPRESS

mr chris · 07-23-06, 01:16 PM

Wulfmann, I know this may sound stupid but iam not that cumputer friendly but am getting better by the day. how easy would this graphics card install and wouldi be able to do i myself?

poor sailor · 07-23-06, 01:21 PM

nVidia GeForce NX7600GT is also a very good choice. High in the middle-class. I'm very satisfied with her.

Wulfmann · 07-23-06, 01:49 PM

It is actually very easy once you figure out it is just a plug in. Dell support should be able to help you. I say this because I do not know if your x300 is onboard or an actual card and if onboard, built in it has to be disabled. This usually happens by simply installing a new card in the slot but you should ask Dell first their opinions on your system.
If it is a regular x300 VC when you open your case you will see that there is a little lever that locks the VC and (after you have removed the set screw that hold the VC to the back of the case) when you push that in you can slip the x300 out of the PCIex slot.
Putting in the new VC is even easier. You just slide it into the slot (carefully making sure it goes in straight, no hard force is required). Screw in the screw again and if it has a separate power cord (X800 usually do not) then make sure that is attached.
I suggest when you put in the CD Drivers you click uninstall all ATI drivers first, restart the PC (it will look terrible) then run the ATI express install. Your CD should also have the ATI tool which you can over clock the VC with simple sliders. Post what you buy and we can suggest or simply post at the geek site where I run to get help.

http://forums.firingsquad.com/firing...rd.id=hardware

The 7600 is a great card as well. I would simply look at price verses performance per dollar. Compare pipes core interface etc.
For some reason ATI works better on SH3 than Nvidea. Other games it is the opposite. SH3 is very sensitive to different Nvidea drivers and properly done it works fine but ATI has had much less difficulty in SH3.
I have the X850XT and it runs everything maxed including CoD2 and MoHPA. I have it slightly over clocked. It has 16 pipes compared to 12 for the X800 and a little more speed. It has dropped a lot in price and you can save more by getting the OEM rather than the "retail" boxed which gives you stuff you usually do not need extra.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102483
This is $145.99 OEM compared to $169.00 for retail box
Note, this card comes with the fan set at a low speed and some freek on this because they don't know how to open the ATI Tool and set the fan. Once one learns how to do that it is super because you can set the speed of the fan for a variety of temps allowing it to be near silent when not taxed but revving fast when your graphic require more cooling. This scares some but is much better after it is understood. Poor explaining by ATI on this, IMO
Wulfmann

mr chris · 07-23-06, 02:07 PM

Wulfmann have had a short look but this one caught my eye. What do you think?

ModelBrandSAPPHIREModel100106SR-RDInterfaceInterfacePCI Express x16ChipsetChipset ManufacturerATIGPURadeon X850XTCore clock520MHzPixelPipelines16MemoryMemory Clock1080MHzMemory Size256MBMemory Interface256-bitMemory TypeGDDR33D APIDirectXDirectX 9OpenGLOpenGL 2.0PortsD-SUB1DVI1TV-OutHDTV/S-Video/Composite OutVIVONoGeneralTunerNoneRAMDAC400 MHzMax Resolution2048x1536@85HzCoolerHeatsink and FanOperating Systems SupportedWindows 2000/XPSystem Requirements300-Watt Power Supply or higher recommended
Intel Pentium 4 / AMD Athlon or higher CPU
One available PCI Express x16 slot
One power extension cable
128MB system memory
CD-ROM drive

Wulfmann · 07-23-06, 02:39 PM

I assume you posted this before you saw my reply.
Since that is the card I have.
It does everything great and cost 3 times as much a year ago.
If you buy that card when you install the driver, install the ATI Tool and set the fan speeds before you run any games.
Click the ATI tool open.
At the bottom right of the box click "settings"
The small window at the top (likely will say "Overclocking") click the pull down arrow which will open a window.
Click "Fan Control"
It will start with 5% on the first line (dumb, IMO). Simply change that and save the changes. Play with it.
I have it set at 31% start with
50% above 60C,
60% above 65C
70% above 70C
80% above 75C

It never reaches 75 in SH3 (Usually about 60-65) but can in CoD2 and MoHPA with them set at absolute max settings for everything (except bodies I have set to average in COD2).

Don't let this fan control scare you. This fan exhaust out the back of the case (it takes up two slots) and that is better for your case temps and the control allows you to dictate your noise and cooling levels as you require.
When you start playing with the OC sliders just turn on the 3D image and do it slowly making sure there are no anomalies. If you start seeing any back off 10 points lower.
After you save the new setting you must go to that same window where the fan control is (settings) open "start up" and then put the saved new speeds name (You save your speed changes and name them) so when you start up the PC that set of speeds will run. Or, you can let it default and go to the ATI tool and run the higher speeds when you play a game.
You have choices in control you never imagined with the X850XT and the ATI Tool.

Wulfmann

Seminole · 07-23-06, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayW.

Both are good but I discovered something fundamental wrong with both mods.

Meanhile, I am strongly considering going back to The Real U-Boat 1.45 mod.

JayW.

Why not do like many of us are...make the game into what you want?

Using Mission Editor and as many of the smaller individual mods as you like you can make it into anything that suits your fancy.

The mega mods are mostly conglomerations of individual contributions that have been coming out since the game was first released. You don't have to settle for one over the other.

It does require a certain level of understanding of how the mods interact with each other to affect the game as a whole but it isn't difficult....and if you are unsure about anything there are many on this board more than willing to explain things for you.

07-23-06, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayW.

Meanhile, I am strongly considering going back to The Real U-Boat 1.45 mod.

Way back when I first downloaded RUB 1.45 I opened up the readme and started going through it file by file. There were parts I didn't want and parts I did. I then put HT 1.47 on top of it, as all it changed were the Campaign, Sea and Roster files.

When NYGM Tonnage War came along I took a look through it and started doing the same thing.

Grey Wolves? I took the Campaign, Sea and Roster files from that, since that's where the latest Harbour Traffic mod lies.

I've also taken the Bordinstrument mod (included in GW but I installed it separartely) and a host of different graphics and sound-related mods.

Like JayW, I suffer from slow, choppy frame rates when the graphics first start up, but within a minute everything is fine.

I have a Gateway Pentium 4, 3 Ghz, ATI Radeon something video card (I'm not in a position to look it up right now), onboard sound only and only 512 MB RAM.

It can be done.

07-23-06, 03:15 PM

I realy realy think these suposed "State of the Art" PC's must be CRAP ! Why - Because I'm playing SHIII + GW + My own Mods on a PIII 1.2GHz PC. I have AA @ 8 and AF @ 8 and I get 24 FPS in Port as I sail out to sea. Once at Sea I get 50-70 FPS and when I come across a large convoy (40 plus ships) I get 30-40 FPS.

So with my measley 133 FSB an 1.2GHz CPU an 4 x AGP slot I'm basicaly wondering why I should invest in a P4!

spork542 · 07-23-06, 04:29 PM

My CyberPower computer, and not trying to brag here:

AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+
2 GB DDR400 RAM
NVidia GeForce 7800GT

I have no problems with Grey Wolves. Then again, my specs should be more than good enough anyway. 2 GB of RAM is apparently unnecessary, as is a 4800+. Before I get ridiculed for getting this computer to play SH3, I didn't. I got it because my previous Dell overheated (105 degrees C for the X600 graphics card) and also to play Battlefield 2.

Deep Six · 07-23-06, 05:01 PM

Well I'm running a 2.4 gig Northwood clocked at 2.75 and stable with air cooling 2X120mm fans and a 80mm cut into the side to provide air to the cpu.
PNY Gforce 6600gt stock running at core clock 500mhz and Mem clock at 900mhz.
To this I have 1 gig of branded Adata pc2700 Ram.
Mobo is a gigabyte GA-8IPE-1000G Rev 4.

This rig is by no means "State of the Art" yet leaving port with AA@4S and anisotropy @forceware 8 I get FPS at between 20-30 in mid ocean 12m waves and driving rain I still get a decent 40fps .....Its only when I'm zoomed in quite close to burning wrecks that I get a frame hit using Dowleys Oblivion smoke mod where it will drop to about 17-19 fps but that's still very playable.

Just one thing to add get yourself a little program still out there on the net called "End it all", great little app for closing down all those unwanted programs running in the background.

Cheers

Deep Six

07-23-06, 01:03 PM	#17
Wulfmann Ace of the Deep Join Date: May 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 1,010 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	No, MC, the music is not running at the time the game is. Anti-Virus, and other programs that run in the background are big game killers. Many programs are added running by MS and by spyware that you may not even know about. However, if the HD is full another HD to put most stored things is a good idea allowing the C-Drive to have the programs alone to run. Defragging may also help The x300 VC, is weak, no offense and not even close to state of the art. Being it is an X300 that means it is PCIex???? or AGP. (I never look at x300 specs but only find PCIexp so assume)) I would seriously upgrade the VC. Because of the flood of new cards the prices have dropped a great deal on VCs. You can get an X800 PCIex for around $100.00 USD which is half what they were a year ago. Saying you have 2GB of RAM is not enough. What type of RAM is it (DDR PC3200, PC2700, PC 2100 or PC133 or PC100) The X300 is 128MB memory with 64MB of interface memory, 325 core speed and 400 corclock with 4 pixel pipelines. Basically that is your bottleneck. You need a better card to run SH3 even at stock to run it right, IMO Here is a basic X800 GTO at Newegg for $89.00 plus shipping http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814131007 (I realize you are not in the USA but as an idea) It has 256 memory and interface, 12 pixel pipelines and a core clock of 400 (easily overclocked with the easy to use ATI tool, I would bet at least 500 core) and 980 memory clock speed (Which I would bet easily OCed to 1100) This would have you cheering. Mind you, there will always be areas where too much happens in SH3 and slows down like when 2 tankers are buring in the same view or you up your TC to 2048 and you get near a convoy but those areas are also much improved with a better balance in the system which for you means a better VC, IMO I do not recommend a super VC now (X1900 or 7900) because they will all be obsolete in a year or so and an X800 will run it well enough until the new MS OS and DX10 is released when, no matter what one has now, all our state of the art will be old hat then! Wulfmann __________________ "The right to keep and bear arms should not be infringed upon, if only to prevent tyranny in government" Thomas Jefferson,; Constitutional debates

07-23-06, 01:21 PM	#22
poor sailor XO Join Date: May 2006 Location: Serbia Posts: 420 Downloads: 15 Uploads: 0	nVidia GeForce NX7600GT is also a very good choice. High in the middle-class. I'm very satisfied with her. Last edited by poor sailor; 07-23-06 at 01:50 PM.

07-23-06, 01:49 PM	#23
Wulfmann Ace of the Deep Join Date: May 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 1,010 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	It is actually very easy once you figure out it is just a plug in. Dell support should be able to help you. I say this because I do not know if your x300 is onboard or an actual card and if onboard, built in it has to be disabled. This usually happens by simply installing a new card in the slot but you should ask Dell first their opinions on your system. If it is a regular x300 VC when you open your case you will see that there is a little lever that locks the VC and (after you have removed the set screw that hold the VC to the back of the case) when you push that in you can slip the x300 out of the PCIex slot. Putting in the new VC is even easier. You just slide it into the slot (carefully making sure it goes in straight, no hard force is required). Screw in the screw again and if it has a separate power cord (X800 usually do not) then make sure that is attached. I suggest when you put in the CD Drivers you click uninstall all ATI drivers first, restart the PC (it will look terrible) then run the ATI express install. Your CD should also have the ATI tool which you can over clock the VC with simple sliders. Post what you buy and we can suggest or simply post at the geek site where I run to get help. http://forums.firingsquad.com/firing...rd.id=hardware The 7600 is a great card as well. I would simply look at price verses performance per dollar. Compare pipes core interface etc. For some reason ATI works better on SH3 than Nvidea. Other games it is the opposite. SH3 is very sensitive to different Nvidea drivers and properly done it works fine but ATI has had much less difficulty in SH3. I have the X850XT and it runs everything maxed including CoD2 and MoHPA. I have it slightly over clocked. It has 16 pipes compared to 12 for the X800 and a little more speed. It has dropped a lot in price and you can save more by getting the OEM rather than the "retail" boxed which gives you stuff you usually do not need extra. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102483 This is $145.99 OEM compared to $169.00 for retail box Note, this card comes with the fan set at a low speed and some freek on this because they don't know how to open the ATI Tool and set the fan. Once one learns how to do that it is super because you can set the speed of the fan for a variety of temps allowing it to be near silent when not taxed but revving fast when your graphic require more cooling. This scares some but is much better after it is understood. Poor explaining by ATI on this, IMO Wulfmann __________________ "The right to keep and bear arms should not be infringed upon, if only to prevent tyranny in government" Thomas Jefferson,; Constitutional debates

07-23-06, 02:39 PM	#25
Wulfmann Ace of the Deep Join Date: May 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 1,010 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	I assume you posted this before you saw my reply. Since that is the card I have. It does everything great and cost 3 times as much a year ago. If you buy that card when you install the driver, install the ATI Tool and set the fan speeds before you run any games. Click the ATI tool open. At the bottom right of the box click "settings" The small window at the top (likely will say "Overclocking") click the pull down arrow which will open a window. Click "Fan Control" It will start with 5% on the first line (dumb, IMO). Simply change that and save the changes. Play with it. I have it set at 31% start with 50% above 60C, 60% above 65C 70% above 70C 80% above 75C It never reaches 75 in SH3 (Usually about 60-65) but can in CoD2 and MoHPA with them set at absolute max settings for everything (except bodies I have set to average in COD2). Don't let this fan control scare you. This fan exhaust out the back of the case (it takes up two slots) and that is better for your case temps and the control allows you to dictate your noise and cooling levels as you require. When you start playing with the OC sliders just turn on the 3D image and do it slowly making sure there are no anomalies. If you start seeing any back off 10 points lower. After you save the new setting you must go to that same window where the fan control is (settings) open "start up" and then put the saved new speeds name (You save your speed changes and name them) so when you start up the PC that set of speeds will run. Or, you can let it default and go to the ATI tool and run the higher speeds when you play a game. You have choices in control you never imagined with the X850XT and the ATI Tool. Wulfmann __________________ "The right to keep and bear arms should not be infringed upon, if only to prevent tyranny in government" Thomas Jefferson,; Constitutional debates

07-23-06, 05:01 PM	#30
Deep Six Ensign Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: England, Manchester. Posts: 235 Downloads: 104 Uploads: 0	Well I'm running a 2.4 gig Northwood clocked at 2.75 and stable with air cooling 2X120mm fans and a 80mm cut into the side to provide air to the cpu. PNY Gforce 6600gt stock running at core clock 500mhz and Mem clock at 900mhz. To this I have 1 gig of branded Adata pc2700 Ram. Mobo is a gigabyte GA-8IPE-1000G Rev 4. This rig is by no means "State of the Art" yet leaving port with AA@4S and anisotropy @forceware 8 I get FPS at between 20-30 in mid ocean 12m waves and driving rain I still get a decent 40fps .....Its only when I'm zoomed in quite close to burning wrecks that I get a frame hit using Dowleys Oblivion smoke mod where it will drop to about 17-19 fps but that's still very playable. Just one thing to add get yourself a little program still out there on the net called "End it all", great little app for closing down all those unwanted programs running in the background. Cheers Deep Six __________________

07-23-06, 01:04 PM	#18
mr chris Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Herefordshire, England Posts: 3,562 Downloads: 216 Uploads: 0	I will spend what it takes to get the game playing well on my computer. How much cash do you think i should look at spending?

07-23-06, 01:08 PM	#20
mr chris Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Herefordshire, England Posts: 3,562 Downloads: 216 Uploads: 0	PCI - EXPRESS

07-23-06, 01:16 PM	#21
mr chris Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Herefordshire, England Posts: 3,562 Downloads: 216 Uploads: 0	Wulfmann, I know this may sound stupid but iam not that cumputer friendly but am getting better by the day. how easy would this graphics card install and wouldi be able to do i myself?

07-23-06, 02:07 PM	#24
mr chris Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Herefordshire, England Posts: 3,562 Downloads: 216 Uploads: 0	Wulfmann have had a short look but this one caught my eye. What do you think? ModelBrandSAPPHIREModel100106SR-RDInterfaceInterfacePCI Express x16ChipsetChipset ManufacturerATIGPURadeon X850XTCore clock520MHzPixelPipelines16MemoryMemory Clock1080MHzMemory Size256MBMemory Interface256-bitMemory TypeGDDR33D APIDirectXDirectX 9OpenGLOpenGL 2.0PortsD-SUB1DVI1TV-OutHDTV/S-Video/Composite OutVIVONoGeneralTunerNoneRAMDAC400 MHzMax Resolution2048x1536@85HzCoolerHeatsink and FanOperating Systems SupportedWindows 2000/XPSystem Requirements300-Watt Power Supply or higher recommended Intel Pentium 4 / AMD Athlon or higher CPU One available PCI Express x16 slot One power extension cable 128MB system memory CD-ROM drive

07-23-06, 03:15 PM	#28
Cdre Gibs Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	I realy realy think these suposed "State of the Art" PC's must be CRAP ! Why - Because I'm playing SHIII + GW + My own Mods on a PIII 1.2GHz PC. I have AA @ 8 and AF @ 8 and I get 24 FPS in Port as I sail out to sea. Once at Sea I get 50-70 FPS and when I come across a large convoy (40 plus ships) I get 30-40 FPS. So with my measley 133 FSB an 1.2GHz CPU an 4 x AGP slot I'm basicaly wondering why I should invest in a P4!

07-23-06, 04:29 PM	#29
spork542 Chief Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 328 Downloads: 18 Uploads: 0	My CyberPower computer, and not trying to brag here: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+ 2 GB DDR400 RAM NVidia GeForce 7800GT I have no problems with Grey Wolves. Then again, my specs should be more than good enough anyway. 2 GB of RAM is apparently unnecessary, as is a 4800+. Before I get ridiculed for getting this computer to play SH3, I didn't. I got it because my previous Dell overheated (105 degrees C for the X600 graphics card) and also to play Battlefield 2.