Allright, so I give up! - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

KrazyKracka · 12-31-2004, 12:19 PM

Hey everyone!

Just decided to rant, maybe someone has an idea or two to try....

I built my latest PC with performance in mind, hoping to have a nice desktop with some good gaming capabilities. So far, I haven't been disappointed, except for this:

I picked up Need For Speed Underground 2, (first game to be used on this machine) and I have to keep all the settings disappointingly low for it to run properly. I'm running 1024x768 resolution on the monitor, but I have to keep all the game "details" (road detail, lights, etc.) low or else performance becomes very choppy, slow to respond, and I get disgustingly low frame rates.

Here's my system specs:

Pentium 4 @ 3.5 GHz (1MB L2 cache)
ASUS P4C800E Mobo
1.5 GB PC2700 RAM (512x3) << I originally had 1GB in dual channel, but
hoping for better performance, I opted
to run 1.5GB in single channel. It didn't
make much of a difference

Nvidia GeForce 5200 256MB AGP card (with the latest driver)
Finally, a 200GB ultra ATA/133 maxtor HDD

I recently (3 days ago) reformatted and reinstalled my OS, and all the updates and drivers available for my machine.

Anyone know why performance is sluggish, or is my machine just "not enough"?

Either way, I'm ready to give up! Thanks for reading, and any assistance appreciated!

docbungle · 12-31-2004, 01:09 PM

You definitely need a better video card. And instead of going for more ram you might go fer better ram, i.e. 3200.....

shadowalker · 12-31-2004, 01:12 PM

Its your video card slowing you down this time, I was getting the same problem when i had that card with that game, I am now running a 5900 ultra, and i can run it will everything on max and the game looks fan-fucking-tastic.

I know the 5200 can handle DX9 but i'm not sure how it handles the new 9c.

MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
===========================
Windows 98, 98 Second Edition, ME, 2000 Professional, XP Professional,
or XP Home operating system
Intel Pentium III (or equivalent) CPU running at 933MHz or higher
32MB DirectX 9.0c compatible video card
256 MB RAM
DirectX compatible sound card
900 MB of HD space
8X CD-ROM

Other than that it looks like you meet the minimus system requirements for it.

KrazyKracka · 12-31-2004, 01:17 PM

really? hmm... so a GeForce 5900 ultra? What does one of those run? Or can someone recommend a better video card? (I'm trying to keep cost in mind this time

) Thanks for the replies!

KrazyKracka · 12-31-2004, 01:18 PM

oh, and I stayed with the PC2700 mainly because I didn't want to run out and buy all new PC3200 series, otherwise I definitely would have! The new stick is 3200/2700 compatible.

shadowalker · 12-31-2004, 01:20 PM

Frist ultra that pops up on newegg runs 177. But you can look around and find other deals also.

spindles · 12-31-2004, 09:05 PM

Which video card?
Look here:
http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthread.php?t=68344

AngelicVampire · 01-01-2005, 05:15 AM

Ok the problem is definately that graphics card, swap it out for an fx5900 or a Radeon 9800 or better card, these types can be picked up for £90-120 and better cards for more. Overclockers is doing some nice deals on graphics cards normally.

Slavakion · 01-01-2005, 06:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AngelicVampire

Ok the problem is definately that graphics card, swap it out for an fx5900 or a Radeon 9800 or better card, these types can be picked up for £90-120 and better cards for more. Overclockers is doing some nice deals on graphics cards normally.

9800 Pros were on sale a couple months ago. Marked up to $150 at Best Buy, you got something like $60 back after instant and mail-in rebates. Since it's post-holiday season, look for sales around you.

KrazyKracka · 01-01-2005, 11:51 AM

Thanks for the replies everybody, and thanks for the link! Looks like I'm off to best buy in the near future!

I was always under the assumption that more RAM= Better performance. I see that's not the case though. I'll have to do my homework this time around!

soccerchamp76 · 01-01-2005, 12:40 PM

Usually more RAM gives you better performance, but only in certain cases. Ging from 128MB to 512MB is a bigger difference than going form 512MB to 1024MB.

But in your case, your video card was the bottleneck. Why did you have everything nice and a $30 video card?

omega2K4 · 01-01-2005, 02:58 PM

You could get a NVIDIA GeForce 6600GT for close to $180-$200, and they are great cards.

KrazyKracka · 01-03-2005, 04:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soccerchamp76

Usually more RAM gives you better performance, but only in certain cases. Ging from 128MB to 512MB is a bigger difference than going form 512MB to 1024MB.

But in your case, your video card was the bottleneck. Why did you have everything nice and a $30 video card?

I bought the tower with older components, and upgraded the Mobo, CPU, and RAM... the video card in there came with the machine, I just assumed it was a good card.

KrazyKracka · 01-03-2005, 04:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by omega2K4

You could get a NVIDIA GeForce 6600GT for close to $180-$200, and they are great cards.

How does that compare to the 5900 Ultra card? better? worse? I'm sorry but I'm not very literate when it comes to these...

oh, would this be worth it? Just wondering....

12-31-2004, 12:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
KrazyKracka Crazy Location: PA	Allright, so I give up! Hey everyone! Just decided to rant, maybe someone has an idea or two to try.... I built my latest PC with performance in mind, hoping to have a nice desktop with some good gaming capabilities. So far, I haven't been disappointed, except for this: I picked up Need For Speed Underground 2, (first game to be used on this machine) and I have to keep all the settings disappointingly low for it to run properly. I'm running 1024x768 resolution on the monitor, but I have to keep all the game "details" (road detail, lights, etc.) low or else performance becomes very choppy, slow to respond, and I get disgustingly low frame rates. Here's my system specs: Pentium 4 @ 3.5 GHz (1MB L2 cache) ASUS P4C800E Mobo 1.5 GB PC2700 RAM (512x3) << I originally had 1GB in dual channel, but hoping for better performance, I opted to run 1.5GB in single channel. It didn't make much of a difference Nvidia GeForce 5200 256MB AGP card (with the latest driver) Finally, a 200GB ultra ATA/133 maxtor HDD I recently (3 days ago) reformatted and reinstalled my OS, and all the updates and drivers available for my machine. Anyone know why performance is sluggish, or is my machine just "not enough"? Either way, I'm ready to give up! Thanks for reading, and any assistance appreciated! Last edited by KrazyKracka; 12-31-2004 at 12:20 PM.. Reason: grammar

12-31-2004, 01:09 PM	#2 (permalink)
docbungle It's all downhill from here Location: Denver	You definitely need a better video card. And instead of going for more ram you might go fer better ram, i.e. 3200..... __________________ Bad Luck City

12-31-2004, 01:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
shadowalker Psycho Location: Firefox yourself and change the world!	Its your video card slowing you down this time, I was getting the same problem when i had that card with that game, I am now running a 5900 ultra, and i can run it will everything on max and the game looks fan-fucking-tastic. I know the 5200 can handle DX9 but i'm not sure how it handles the new 9c. MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS =========================== Windows 98, 98 Second Edition, ME, 2000 Professional, XP Professional, or XP Home operating system Intel Pentium III (or equivalent) CPU running at 933MHz or higher 32MB DirectX 9.0c compatible video card 256 MB RAM DirectX compatible sound card 900 MB of HD space 8X CD-ROM Other than that it looks like you meet the minimus system requirements for it. __________________ I'll make ya famous! Last edited by shadowalker; 12-31-2004 at 01:19 PM..

12-31-2004, 01:20 PM	#6 (permalink)
shadowalker Psycho Location: Firefox yourself and change the world!	Frist ultra that pops up on newegg runs 177. But you can look around and find other deals also. __________________ I'll make ya famous!

12-31-2004, 09:05 PM	#7 (permalink)
spindles Mine is an evil laugh Location: Sydney, Australia	Which video card? Look here: http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthread.php?t=68344 __________________ who hid my keyboard's PANIC button?

12-31-2004, 01:17 PM	#4 (permalink)
KrazyKracka Crazy Location: PA	really? hmm... so a GeForce 5900 ultra? What does one of those run? Or can someone recommend a better video card? (I'm trying to keep cost in mind this time ) Thanks for the replies!

12-31-2004, 01:18 PM	#5 (permalink)
KrazyKracka Crazy Location: PA	oh, and I stayed with the PC2700 mainly because I didn't want to run out and buy all new PC3200 series, otherwise I definitely would have! The new stick is 3200/2700 compatible.

01-01-2005, 05:15 AM	#8 (permalink)
AngelicVampire Insane	Ok the problem is definately that graphics card, swap it out for an fx5900 or a Radeon 9800 or better card, these types can be picked up for £90-120 and better cards for more. Overclockers is doing some nice deals on graphics cards normally.

01-01-2005, 11:51 AM	#10 (permalink)
KrazyKracka Crazy Location: PA	Thanks for the replies everybody, and thanks for the link! Looks like I'm off to best buy in the near future! I was always under the assumption that more RAM= Better performance. I see that's not the case though. I'll have to do my homework this time around!

01-01-2005, 12:40 PM	#11 (permalink)
soccerchamp76 Go Cardinals Location: St. Louis/Cincinnati	Usually more RAM gives you better performance, but only in certain cases. Ging from 128MB to 512MB is a bigger difference than going form 512MB to 1024MB. But in your case, your video card was the bottleneck. Why did you have everything nice and a $30 video card? __________________ Brian Griffin: Ah, if my memory serves me, this is the physics department. Chris Griffin: That would explain all the gravity.

01-01-2005, 02:58 PM	#12 (permalink)
omega2K4 Natalie Portman is sexy. Location: The Outer Rim	You could get a NVIDIA GeForce 6600GT for close to $180-$200, and they are great cards. __________________ "While the State exists there can be no freedom. When there is freedom there will be no State." - Vladimir Ilyich Lenin "Reason has always existed, but not always in a reasonable form."- Karl Marx