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System Specs
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Posted by: Bunmiadefisayo
Ok, i'm someone who isnt really into PC gaming. I usually stick to consoles. The problem is this; i just got a PC with an AMD-Athlon 2400, 256MB and 40GB hard drive. FSB is 266mhz and it has a 64MB Geforce 4 MX graphics card. I have a Creative sound blaster Audigy sound card and a 3-piece speaker system with a subwoofer. I want to know if this is an ok system for gaming and can it handle most of the recent games (vice-city, UT 2003). If not, what do i need?
Posted by: SKYHN
Well you definitely need a new video card. The GeForce4 MX is basically a GeForce2 MX, only slightly faster. Theres many many options to what video card you should replace it with. It depends on how much you would want to spend.
And you would also want to at least double your ram.
Posted by: redwench
that system will play any game currently on the market. but as skyhn indicated, your video card and ram will impair performance on some. the impairment might be to the point that you consider it unplayable.
Posted by: Bunmiadefisayo
OK so basically the processor is fine, all i have to do is get a better video card adn double my RAM?
Posted by: Bunmiadefisayo
Oh and one more thing, can you change the motherboard on a PC or are you stuck with the one that came with it?
Posted by: TotalRecall
You should be able to change it, unless the case is heavily proprietary and will not accept another standard ATX board.
Posted by: Kdr Kane
Why don't you just wait until you install the games to see if you really need an upgrade?
I find your system to be satisfactory. Although, it never hurts to use 512 MB of RAM with XP.
Posted by: Blackknight
 Quote:
Originally posted by Kdr Kane
Why don't you just wait until you install the games to see if you really need an upgrade?
I find your system to be satisfactory. Although, it never hurts to use 512 MB of RAM with XP.
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I'm with Kane. Install, and then see what problems you have with the games you get.
Posted by: Null Actor
Quote:
Originally posted by Kdr Kane
Why don't you just wait until you install the games to see if you really need an upgrade?
I find your system to be satisfactory. Although, it never hurts to use 512 MB of RAM with XP.
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UT2003 will run like warmed over ass on a GF4MX.
Posted by: Bunmiadefisayo
Funny, RPGs like Neverwinter Nights, dungeon siege and diablo 2 run just fine. Splinter cell is soooo slow it's painful to even look at.
Posted by: Kdr Kane
I ran Splinter Cell fine with a 1Ghz/133 FSB Celeron, 512MB, 64MB Geforce 4 MX graphics card on Windows 2000.
In fact, I played through it twice.
Maybe you have some other problems. Or you could simply add the memory as suggested.
Posted by: Bleyn
Quote:
Originally posted by Bunmiadefisayo
Funny, RPGs like Neverwinter Nights, dungeon siege and diablo 2 run just fine. Splinter cell is soooo slow it's painful to even look at.
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That's not exactly unusual. I've got a 800Mhz P3 with 256MB ram, and both NWN and DS run just fine for me. Admittedly, I am on 98, so my OS overhead is much lower.
Among other things, the minimum reqs. for these RPGs are a lot lower than for Splinter Cell. Which is fairly normal. Most RPGs are using some variation of isometric 2d-3d views that require a lot less CPU than the full-on in your face use every effect imaginable and more 3d of the average FPS.
But I would agree with Kane. Doubling that memory can't hurt.
Posted by: Null Actor
Quote:
Originally posted by Kdr Kane
I ran Splinter Cell fine with a 1Ghz/133 FSB Celeron, 512MB, 64MB Geforce 4 MX graphics card on Windows 2000.
In fact, I played through it twice.
Maybe you have some other problems. Or you could simply add the memory as suggested.
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Some people have radically different ideas of what is playable. Also, some people don't like being forced to turn down details.
And also, Splinter Cell isn't indicative of performance of UT2003 or other games. The Splinter Cell team was forced to make a lot of optimizations that carried over from the xbox, and few PC games have that level of optimization.
Posted by: Bunmiadefisayo
Thanks a lot for all the advice. Vice city runs like a dream and i was never a big fan of all those stealth games ( never bothered playing Metal gear or opthers. I'll double the RAM and leave the motherboard alone. A new video card wouldnt be too bad either. Thanks.
Posted by: arturo238
Your computer should be fine for games like Vice City. But when it comes to the games like UT03, Half-LIfe 2, and Doom 3 you are going to want to upgrade your videocard to something with pixel shaders and a bit more spunk. I would recomend the Radeon 9600 Pro w.128 megs DDR memory, its the best value for graphics at this point. If money is no object then get a GeForce FX 5900 Ultra w/256 megs of DDR II
Posted by: uh...ok
IMO Neverwinter Nights is pretty graphics-intensive (not to mention that it's a really pretty game)... I get slowdowns even on my current desktop (Athlon 2000, 512 RAM, GF4 Ti4400). But then I do have everything maxed out. 
Posted by: Bunmiadefisayo
funny thing is this, i played NWN on a PC with 256MB and intel extreme 3d graphics card ( integrated) and it played fine. Also i played Mafia on that same system with the same results, almost flawless gameplay. Please explain.
Posted by: uh...ok
Did you have details and resolution turned down on one and not the other?
Posted by: Bunmiadefisayo
well to tell the truth i had to tone down the res and detail for both
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