Allowance coming, what should I upgrade?

wetwarev7 · 10-13-05, 10:59 AM

Ok, I've got 50-100 dollars coming up, and I'm wondering whether I should upgrade my memory or my video card.

Right now, I've got:

P4 3.0 Ghz
512MB RAM
Geforce 5500Fx (256MB ram I think)
PCI 512 SB sound card
WinXP

I've got decent framerates, it only stutters slightly when first loading, i.e. when I launch a patrol or load a game, it stutters a little till I make a 360 sweep with the camera, then it's fine. The mouse seems to be a but slow on the crew screen and stuff, but that may not be the video card, dunno. I haven't seen any convoys yet, so I've no idea what that will be like.

Would I get better performance upgrading to 1GB RAM, or should I go for a video card(And can I get a better video card for under 100 dollars)?

TDK1044 · 10-13-05, 11:10 AM

I'd upgrade your RAM for overall system performance boost, and save up for decent ATI video card in the future.

Teufelschiff · 10-13-05, 11:13 AM

Definitly RAM upgrade. You can find good prices online within your $100 budget.

Upgrading your video card will cost you significantly more money, so in the meantime, just make sure your video driver is up to date.

Deep-Six · 10-13-05, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teufelschiff

Definitly RAM upgrade. You can find good prices online within your $100 budget.

Upgrading your video card will cost you significantly more money, so in the meantime, just make sure your video driver is up to date.

I concur, what he said. Buy the RAM and bring it up to a 1gig.

Kpt. Lehmann · 10-13-05, 12:11 PM

RAM!!!! and match it with your current ram card... then get it dual-channelled in BIOS.

wetwarev7 · 10-13-05, 12:20 PM

Okie dokie! RAM it is!!!!

Incidently, when discussing video cards, why do people allways recommend ATI? I've allways gotten Geforce cards, and never had any problems, and they look great. The reason I've never tried ATI, is because I allways see people post ATI specific problems with all these different games. What gives?

I'm not trying to start a Nvidia/ATI debate. I was just wondering why people like ATI so much if they seem to have so many problems?

StdDev · 10-13-05, 12:33 PM

WAIT WAIT WAIT!!!!!!!!
Do something meaningfull with yer $$s
spend it on beer and women!

ATI and Gforce are fairly similar.. I think ATI has better driver support..

Gizzmoe · 10-13-05, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wetwarev7

I'm not trying to start a Nvidia/ATI debate. I was just wondering why people like ATI so much if they seem to have so many problems?

"So many problems"? :hmm: I have more than 30 games installed and I donÂ´t have any problems...

CWorth · 10-13-05, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wetwarev7

Okie dokie! RAM it is!!!!

Incidently, when discussing video cards, why do people allways recommend ATI? I've allways gotten Geforce cards, and never had any problems, and they look great. The reason I've never tried ATI, is because I allways see people post ATI specific problems with all these different games. What gives?

I'm not trying to start a Nvidia/ATI debate. I was just wondering why people like ATI so much if they seem to have so many problems?

Same here.I have never owned an ATI card and swear I never will.But since Nvidia cant seem to get their heads out of their rumps and release drivers that will actually work with games without causing big problems in others.There has not been a decent driver since version 71.89.

Biggest thing is those ATI issues with other games are reversed with SH3..here Nvidia cards have the issues and ATI runs great.

wetwarev7 · 10-13-05, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StdDev

WAIT WAIT WAIT!!!!!!!!
Do something meaningfull with yer $$s
spend it on beer and women!

ATI and Gforce are fairly similar.. I think ATI has better driver support..

Been there, done that, woke up married......

Quote:

"So many problems"? I have more than 30 games installed and I donÂ´t have any problems...

It just seems that every message board I visit, there is allways a thread about the game having a particular problem specific to ATI. Granted, it's usually just a minor glitch, but there just seems to allways be an ATI sticky thread.

(EDIT: Or maybe NVidia cards don't get enough respect to rate a sticky?

)

wetwarev7 · 10-13-05, 12:49 PM

Heh...I just noticed that there wasn't a sticky ATI thread here, or at UBI. I'm just so used to seeing it, when I saw the ATI thread that is currently just below this one, I just naturally assumed....

TDK1044 · 10-13-05, 12:51 PM

The ATI Catalyst Drivers are the best out there right now, and ATI Drivers are also proving to be the most stable Drivers in the BETA testing of the Vista OS.

Curval · 10-13-05, 01:46 PM

"Been there, done that, woke up married...... "

To a woman that gives you an allowance?

You have it all wrong in that house...SHE is the one who gets an allowance...to buy groceries and lingere.

wetwarev7 · 10-13-05, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curval

"Been there, done that, woke up married...... "

To a woman that gives you an allowance?

You have it all wrong in that house...SHE is the one who gets an allowance...to buy groceries and lingere.

It's a trade off - I give her my paycheck minus a little for games/upgrades, and she leaves me alone to play video games. It's a sweet deal!

Sure I'm all pasty white and covered with moss from not seeing the sun in a while, but you just have to make some sacrifices if you want a marraige to work.

Dowly · 10-13-05, 02:08 PM

Yup, I`d go for the RAM. Last time I bought a 512mb DDR made by Kingston it was around 50â‚¬.

10-13-05, 10:59 AM	#1
wetwarev7 Grey Wolf Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Deep Waters Posts: 871 Downloads: 31 Uploads: 0	Allowance coming, what should I upgrade? Ok, I've got 50-100 dollars coming up, and I'm wondering whether I should upgrade my memory or my video card. Right now, I've got: P4 3.0 Ghz 512MB RAM Geforce 5500Fx (256MB ram I think) PCI 512 SB sound card WinXP I've got decent framerates, it only stutters slightly when first loading, i.e. when I launch a patrol or load a game, it stutters a little till I make a 360 sweep with the camera, then it's fine. The mouse seems to be a but slow on the crew screen and stuff, but that may not be the video card, dunno. I haven't seen any convoys yet, so I've no idea what that will be like. Would I get better performance upgrading to 1GB RAM, or should I go for a video card(And can I get a better video card for under 100 dollars)? __________________ Guess I should change my sig since SH5 has an offline mode now

10-13-05, 11:13 AM	#3
Teufelschiff Mate Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 53 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Definitly RAM upgrade. You can find good prices online within your $100 budget. Upgrading your video card will cost you significantly more money, so in the meantime, just make sure your video driver is up to date. __________________ \"Not bad in here, is it? No mail, no telephone. Solid wood paneling. Well-ventilated boat. Free food, too. \"Rolling in clover\" we are.\"

10-13-05, 12:11 PM	#5
Kpt. Lehmann GWX Project Director Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: The Republic of Texas Posts: 6,992 Downloads: 124 Uploads: 0	RAM!!!! and match it with your current ram card... then get it dual-channelled in BIOS. __________________ www.thegreywolves.com All you need is good men. - Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock

10-13-05, 12:20 PM	#6
wetwarev7 Grey Wolf Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Deep Waters Posts: 871 Downloads: 31 Uploads: 0	Okie dokie! RAM it is!!!! Incidently, when discussing video cards, why do people allways recommend ATI? I've allways gotten Geforce cards, and never had any problems, and they look great. The reason I've never tried ATI, is because I allways see people post ATI specific problems with all these different games. What gives? I'm not trying to start a Nvidia/ATI debate. I was just wondering why people like ATI so much if they seem to have so many problems? __________________ Guess I should change my sig since SH5 has an offline mode now

10-13-05, 12:49 PM	#11
wetwarev7 Grey Wolf Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Deep Waters Posts: 871 Downloads: 31 Uploads: 0	Heh...I just noticed that there wasn't a sticky ATI thread here, or at UBI. I'm just so used to seeing it, when I saw the ATI thread that is currently just below this one, I just naturally assumed.... __________________ Guess I should change my sig since SH5 has an offline mode now

10-13-05, 11:10 AM	#2
TDK1044 Ocean Warrior Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Georgia, USA Posts: 2,674 Downloads: 25 Uploads: 0	I'd upgrade your RAM for overall system performance boost, and save up for decent ATI video card in the future.

10-13-05, 12:33 PM	#7
StdDev Legend of the Sea Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: the Great Wet North Posts: 635 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	WAIT WAIT WAIT!!!!!!!! Do something meaningfull with yer $$s spend it on beer and women! ATI and Gforce are fairly similar.. I think ATI has better driver support..

10-13-05, 12:51 PM	#12
TDK1044 Ocean Warrior Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Georgia, USA Posts: 2,674 Downloads: 25 Uploads: 0	The ATI Catalyst Drivers are the best out there right now, and ATI Drivers are also proving to be the most stable Drivers in the BETA testing of the Vista OS.

10-13-05, 01:46 PM	#13
Curval Navy Dude Join Date: May 2005 Location: Bermuda Posts: 177 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	"Been there, done that, woke up married...... " To a woman that gives you an allowance? You have it all wrong in that house...SHE is the one who gets an allowance...to buy groceries and lingere.

10-13-05, 02:08 PM	#15
Dowly Lucky Jack Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 25,052 Downloads: 32 Uploads: 0	Yup, I`d go for the RAM. Last time I bought a 512mb DDR made by Kingston it was around 50â‚¬.