Curse

LLL · Jun 09, 2005, 04:38 AM // 04:38

Thanks Dirk. I'll probably get some more RAM pretty soon. But is Guild Wars still playable with under 512 RAM and no other programs running? Or should I just wait until I get more RAM?

Dirkiess · Jun 09, 2005, 11:49 AM // 11:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by LLL

Thanks Dirk. I'll probably get some more RAM pretty soon. But is Guild Wars still playable with under 512 RAM and no other programs running? Or should I just wait until I get more RAM?

It's not so much whether the game runs on that amount of ram or not, it's how much resources you have left that is the concern.

With that amout of ram and XP running(I presume you have that) and any other software, you gradually eat up the Physical Ram. This then causes mass HDD thrashing as the OS tries to swap data between Ram and Page File if there is not enough resources, as different apps are used. Ram is the only place that data can truly be accessed for running programs.

Think of it this way. The Page File(Located on HDD) is like a Hard Shoulder on a Motorway/Highway and the Ram is a certain length of Highway. The cars on the Highway and hard shoulder is the data.
As more data is fed into the highway, you start to run out of space and things slow down. Only programs that are accessed stay on the highway and those less used are put on the hard shoulder until they need to move off and be used again.
Now imagine a Taffic Jam caused by lack of Ram(Length of the Highway) and more programs trying to access the Ram. The traffic starts to build up and get congested. As this happens, the length of the hard should increases but the highway stays the same length.
Now imagine trying to get that traffic from the hard shoulder and onto the highway and the trouble this causes insues. I think you get the picture when you try to imagine the difficulty that would cause.
It's what the HDD(Hard Shoulder) has to go through when you have lack of Ram(Motorway/Highway) and thrashes like crazy trying to move these cars around into spaces that don't exist on the highway, as the length is constant but the pagefile can be whatever size it needs to be to store that data as it's based on the HDD.

That was the easiest way i could explain it, and for some, I have found that way of explaining things when it comes to IT and Computers actually helps them understand some things in a PC.

If you want to run other software alongside GW, I wouldn't even attempt to play GW. It will just grind to a halt with all the thrashing and could cause problems and corrupt files to occur on your HDD. (A big pile up on the Highway.

)

I would get the Ram upgrade and then play GW. This will help performance overall, and make gaming much smoother. With regards to other Apps though, I would also close anything in the background down, especially on a laptop due to lack of space and cooling ability to reduce overall stress on the laptop, no matter how much Ram I have when playing games.

Ok, laptops are improving for gaming, but they just don't have the space that Desktop/Towers do for airflow.

Principa Discordia · Jun 09, 2005, 12:27 PM // 12:27

I suggest 512mB RAM, minimum, period. No less. lol.

Dirkiess · Jun 09, 2005, 03:27 PM // 15:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Principa Discordia

I suggest 512mB RAM, minimum, period. No less. lol.

Short and sweet.

lol

Entropius · Jun 10, 2005, 05:20 PM // 17:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Principa Discordia

I think that your processor and RAM should be fine, as for your graphics card I think that you should ask Serafita Kayin as he's somewhat of an aficionado of non-mainstream graphics cards.

With 32mB video memory, though, I can't say I'm the slightest bit optimistic. I've had limited success running this game on 64mB graphics cards.

I've got a 64 MB (Mobility) Radeon 9600 that runs the game at near-max detail (had to turn shadows down one step) at acceptable framerates at 1280x800 everywhere except in crowded towns.

However, 32 MB on an integrated card is probably a no-go.

VRViperII · Jun 17, 2005, 02:18 AM // 02:18

Ok, I haven't bought Guild Wars yet, but I read the minimum and recommended system requirements. My video card is ATI Radeon 9200, my CPU is around 1.5 Ghz, BUT my ram is only 256 DDR SDRAM. This is my first online game that I might play, where my computer is only good for the minimum =/

Can anyone tell me if that 256 RAM part is gonna make me lag in game? And is my video card good enough? Would my GW actually be playable?

Thanks

Dirkiess · Jun 17, 2005, 11:08 AM // 11:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by VRViperII

Ok, I haven't bought Guild Wars yet, but I read the minimum and recommended system requirements. My video card is ATI Radeon 9200, my CPU is around 1.5 Ghz, BUT my ram is only 256 DDR SDRAM. This is my first online game that I might play, where my computer is only good for the minimum =/

Can anyone tell me if that 256 RAM part is gonna make me lag in game? And is my video card good enough? Would my GW actually be playable?

Thanks

Full system specs is always a good thing. Plus, which OS are you running?

UseLessPuppet57 · Jun 17, 2005, 11:21 PM // 23:21

You think my comp will work?
700MhZ
96 RAM

UseLessPuppet57 · Jun 17, 2005, 11:23 PM // 23:23

woops scratch the 96 RAM part that was before I upgraded
its : 512RAM

johnisme · Jun 18, 2005, 12:29 AM // 00:29

700mhz will work as long as you have a good video card,geforce ti4200 128mb or higher,my niece has it installed on her 700mhz athlon with 768mb of system ram and geforce4 ti4600,plays chunky at times but her boyfriend says its playable and fun.

VRViperII · Jun 18, 2005, 04:07 AM // 04:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dirkiess

Full system specs is always a good thing. Plus, which OS are you running?

win XP

so I'll take that as a yes?

UseLessPuppet57 · Jun 18, 2005, 08:10 PM // 20:10

Thank you

l)l2UNl( · Oct 14, 2006, 02:18 AM // 02:18

hm i just started but its sorta laggy but it may just be connection heres specs:

1.6 Ghz P3
Radeon 7000 64mb
512 RAM(eh low...)
Dsl

im most worried about the RAM and video card... any feedback would be great

Mushroom · Oct 14, 2006, 02:00 PM // 14:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by l)l2UNl(

hm i just started but its sorta laggy but it may just be connection heres specs:

1.6 Ghz P3
Radeon 7000 64mb
512 RAM(eh low...)
Dsl

im most worried about the RAM and video card... any feedback would be great

Well, that has to be a P4, not a P3. P3 never went above 1.1 GHz.

The problem is not the RAM, but the video card. The requirements for the game list a Radeon 8500 as a minimum. The prefered is a Radeon 9000 or higher.

Bump yourself up to a newer video card with more RAM (128 or 256 MB) and you should be fine. I would not go above a Radeon 9550 or the equivelent GeForce, because then you will see lags because of the CPU speed.

If you want to do some more upgrading, you might want to check into a faster processor and a bit more RAM. Used P4 processors from 2-2.6 GHz are getting pretty common now, and are rather cheap. And most P4 motherboards allow you to upgrade to that fast with nothing else needed but replacing the processor. The only problem I have seen is in some older Dell and HP-Compaq units, where they put in a lock to prevent this.

But I would not reccomend going above 1 GB RAM. That is about the most a unit like that can effectively use. Going above 1 GB will quickly turn into a lot of money spent for smaller performance gains.

jesh · Oct 14, 2006, 06:41 PM // 18:41

Yes but 256mb for windows xp? Just windows itself eats like 190mbs of that. Might be acceptable for people that won't touch games but.. x_x

I don't know, it makes me cringe.

Fluffyx · Oct 15, 2006, 07:58 AM // 07:58

I was wondering if my computer is running GW slower then it should be lately.
I remember contacting GW support and them raising the requirements awhile back. Now I'm wondering if it is my computer having a problem, or if its just that my computer is not able to run the game better. Because I was able to play it before with no problems.

Currently I'm running at 4-20fps
Detail - High
Shaders - medium
Shadows - none
Reflections - default
Terrain - medium

AA - 0x

Rendering in dx8

My computer:
Intel celeron (r) 2.20ghz
Mem 504mb ram

Video card:

Radion 9200
Total memory 256.mb
current display 1024x768 32bit (75hz)

OS:Win xp

dronex · Oct 15, 2006, 09:00 AM // 09:00

^ well i have one old pc here athlon 2000+ 768mb ram and radeon 9000 pro and its almost imposible to play gw on it ... even on low its choppy like hell so i guess thats normal =)

l)l2UNl( · Oct 16, 2006, 01:31 AM // 01:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mushroom

Well, that has to be a P4, not a P3. P3 never went above 1.1 GHz.

The problem is not the RAM, but the video card. The requirements for the game list a Radeon 8500 as a minimum. The prefered is a Radeon 9000 or higher.

Bump yourself up to a newer video card with more RAM (128 or 256 MB) and you should be fine. I would not go above a Radeon 9550 or the equivelent GeForce, because then you will see lags because of the CPU speed.

If you want to do some more upgrading, you might want to check into a faster processor and a bit more RAM. Used P4 processors from 2-2.6 GHz are getting pretty common now, and are rather cheap. And most P4 motherboards allow you to upgrade to that fast with nothing else needed but replacing the processor. The only problem I have seen is in some older Dell and HP-Compaq units, where they put in a lock to prevent this.

But I would not reccomend going above 1 GB RAM. That is about the most a unit like that can effectively use. Going above 1 GB will quickly turn into a lot of money spent for smaller performance gains.

sorry my bad on the processor its 1.7ghz P4 not much better but ill be getting new mobo and ram for xmas and the video card wont be that hard to come by but idk bout processor

Wrath Of Dragons · Oct 16, 2006, 02:42 AM // 02:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fluffyx

I was wondering if my computer is running GW slower then it should be lately.
I remember contacting GW support and them raising the requirements awhile back. Now I'm wondering if it is my computer having a problem, or if its just that my computer is not able to run the game better. Because I was able to play it before with no problems.

Currently I'm running at 4-20fps
Detail - High
Shaders - medium
Shadows - none
Reflections - default
Terrain - medium

AA - 0x

Rendering in dx8

My computer:
Intel celeron (r) 2.20ghz
Mem 504mb ram

Video card:

Radion 9200
Total memory 256.mb
current display 1024x768 32bit (75hz)

OS:Win xp

Is it possible for you to run in dx9? that may help, or at least look prettier
the processor is....capable.
the ram is the minimum i would recomend for the game.
the vid card......i believe that one should be fine. i dont know ati too well, but 256 is actually pretty good. do you know if the ram on the vcard is shared, or dedicated? if shared, that is very bad/slow, and would definitely explain a lot of choppyess

Fluffyx · Oct 16, 2006, 07:13 PM // 19:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wrath Of Dragons

Is it possible for you to run in dx9? that may help, or at least look prettier
the processor is....capable.
the ram is the minimum i would recomend for the game.
the vid card......i believe that one should be fine. i dont know ati too well, but 256 is actually pretty good. do you know if the ram on the vcard is shared, or dedicated? if shared, that is very bad/slow, and would definitely explain a lot of choppyess

I can allow it to use dx-9 but I've heard that it runs better in 8.
I'm unsure about the ram, how would I check that? Take out the card and look?
Also, if I remember right everything is PCI which I also heard wasn't as fast as agp or pci e? Not sure if that would have an effect on performance.