Curse

doomhorn · Jul 17, 2005, 06:16 AM // 06:16

This information is outdated. Do not use. If you need assistance please start a new thread.

for all i know, its a miracle my computer is even running. i'll just cut to the chase and show u my specs. Maybe it will be of some help for sum1 to suggest wut i should do to improve performance cause its choppy on the world map, and lagmillion in town(btw, im running on 56k ATM, but im planning on getting my DSL in a few). permission is granted to laugh ur azzes off...

AMD Athlon(tm) Processor, MMX, 3D Now 1.4GHZ
Microsoft Windows ME
128MB RAM
40GB Memory
Sony 19" SDM-HS73
Radeon 9200
Creative Sound Blaster PCI

I think thats it.

AceSnyp3r · Jul 17, 2005, 07:16 AM // 07:16

RAM. RAM, RAM, and more RAM! Everything else is pretty reasonably low-mid end, but more than capable of running the game. You RAM on the other hand is, well, pitiful. I'd upgrade to at least 512MB, which will probably cost less than $100. Also, you are going to lag pretty hard on 56k no matter what, but your loading times, game pauses, etc. will be noticably less. Other than that, I'd just suggest building a new computer with Windows XP and all, something more up to date. I have a P4 2.8 system, 1GB DDR400, GeForce 6600GT, 120GB HDD, built it from scratch for about $1000. I keep it maintained well, and I can run GW at max settings, 1024x768, 2xAA/8xAF pretty smoothly (haven't tried any higher than that, because it suits me just fine at these settings.)

doomhorn · Jul 17, 2005, 06:02 PM // 18:02

do u think i should just go buy microsoft XP and more ram rather than get a new computer all together?

StephenD · Jul 17, 2005, 06:15 PM // 18:15

I would build a new system altogether...but maybe keeping the graphics card for a little while longer until you can get the money for a new one, say a Radeon 9800/Geforce 6600GT at the bare minimum now really, my system runs Guild Wars fine:

Athlon 2500+ Overclocked to 3200+
1GB PC3200 DDR RAM (Another 512MB stick is coming in a few days, I have 512MB at the mo though and it runs fine)
120GB SATA Maxtor HDD
Radeon 9600 Pro 128MB

I can run it at 4X AA at 1152X864 from the ingame options. Never tried AF with this.

But IF you really wish to play GW on that system, then get more RAM. As recommended above.

MadeInChina · Jul 17, 2005, 06:50 PM // 18:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by doomhorn

do u think i should just go buy microsoft XP and more ram rather than get a new computer all together?

If you do decide to buy a new computer, try to buy one that doesn't come with an Operating System. It's a lot cheaper if you find a cheap copy yourself or better if you get the CD/software for free ;D.

Loviatar · Jul 17, 2005, 07:58 PM // 19:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by MadeInChina

If you do decide to buy a new computer, try to buy one that doesn't come with an Operating System. It's a lot cheaper if you find a cheap copy yourself or better if you get the CD/software for free ;D.

NO

any *cheap*os is most likely pirated with who knows what extra nasties you dont know about and dont want.

if a new pc price is out for now get more ram.

it you get win xp get twice as much ram.

the recommended minimum ram to use with win xp for the game is 512

recommended for good game performance with win xp is 1 gig memory

both the game and win xp are ram hogs

StephenD · Jul 17, 2005, 08:19 PM // 20:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loviatar

NO

any *cheap*os is most likely pirated with who knows what extra nasties you dont know about and dont want.

Not entirely true. OEM copies aren't usually pirated, it is just when the company which is selling them bought the copies in bulk, for computer manufacturers to customize. They're sold cheap because they don't come with packaging, and usually just a manual.

When I bought a copy of Windows XP Home from htp://www.overclockers.co.uk it was OEM, and it was cheap, and didn't come with any nasties, it came with Service Pack 2 installed on it, and nothing bad. It was a totally genuine copy.

MadeInChina · Jul 17, 2005, 11:20 PM // 23:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loviatar

NO

any *cheap*os is most likely pirated with who knows what extra nasties you dont know about and dont want.

if a new pc price is out for now get more ram.

it you get win xp get twice as much ram.

the recommended minimum ram to use with win xp for the game is 512

recommended for good game performance with win xp is 1 gig memory

both the game and win xp are ram hogs

Well I guess I didn't really elaborate on what I said. But since I'm doing an internship at a government agency right now, I can get all the Windows XP CD keys that I want. All the computers still use Windows 2000 but they came with XP codes. All I needed was a Windows XP Professional CD and there was my free OS. So if you have a friend or family friend who works with the government, you can just get a copy for free =). I wasn't talking about pirated ones (sorry about that).

doomhorn · Jul 18, 2005, 01:25 AM // 01:25

Wow, this information is great! thanks a lot everyone!! Just wondering, what would be the estimate cost of windows XP and 1gig of ram? (and possibly a nice video card). I have 300+ dollars to spend ATM, probably going to Fry's or Best Buy to look for some reasonable prices in a few minutes.

AceSnyp3r · Jul 18, 2005, 01:30 AM // 01:30

Well, WinXP Pro cost me $200, but I doubt a new OS will really increase your performance. For your RAM, it depends on the speed. Older stuff like SDRAM I've seen go for up to twice as much as newer DDR stuff. My 2 sticks of 512MB DDR400 cost $160, so if your computer isn't too terribly old, you should be fine.

doomhorn · Jul 18, 2005, 01:36 AM // 01:36

I heard Windows ME was the "failure" OS of Microsoft. Anyone know why people are saying that? (if it is true)

theclam · Jul 18, 2005, 02:23 AM // 02:23

You don't really need a new OS. WinXP won't improve your preformance, it will just drastically reduce the frequency that you crash. If you still want to upgrade, Windows 2000 Professional offers almost everything that Windows XP does at a lower price (and depending on how many of WinXP's features you use, Win2K might be faster).

Here's what you need, starting with the most important:
1. RAM!!! Go for at least 512 MB, preferably 1GB. You should be able to get a gig of decent RAM for under $100.
2. Video Card. If you've only got a PCI slot, then you can't really upgrade to anything worthwhile. If you've got AGP, then a Geforce 6600GT has the best bang for your buck at under $200.
3. CPU. You'd probably have to buy a whole new motherboard to support a new CPU. If you eventually decide to do this, get an Athlon64. They are cheaper and faster than Pentiums.

I always shop at www.newegg.com. They've got great prices, fast shipping, and great reliability.

doomhorn · Jul 18, 2005, 05:36 AM // 05:36

yeah ive heard athlon 64 is real nice. Yeah, im looking in my comp manual to see wut kind of ram i have so i can get sum more. BTW, does upgrading the OS remove all the progs. or sumthing like that? I have windows2k, but im aprehensive to upgrade because i still have a lot of files that im working with.

AceSnyp3r · Jul 18, 2005, 05:51 AM // 05:51

If you upgrade your OS, it will likely require a reformat, in which case you will lose all your data (so backing it up to a CD/DVD would be best, if possible.) You probably don't need to upgrade your OS that badly though, and if it's a pre-built PC, then I would be hesitant to do that since most of the drivers and such are likely on the CD that was included, and might be difficult to install if you get a different OS.

doomhorn · Jul 18, 2005, 07:09 AM // 07:09

On a non-ram related question, does ne1 have SBC Yahoo DSL and paying for the $20ish per month plan? If so, do the monthly fees change after the 1-year-plan expires? (ie. u pay for a $24.95 1-year-promotional-plan until it finally expires, after ur forced to pay for the rediculously expensive plan?) Iono, im getting cofused with these promotionals and prices. When i see promotional, i see meat hook.

Rayea · Jul 18, 2005, 10:37 AM // 10:37

i would say, if you are used to ME, then stick with ME...then again, i have Win98 Se, lol, and i will not update unless i *have to*
(like their poking me with sharp pointy objects and telling me my games are all now totally unsuported and i must, on pain of never being able to play anything again, upgrade to Xp lol)

definately RAM....no matter what OS u get or keep, ram makes the difference to speed of PC being able to do stuff.

not sure how it works in the uSA, but our boradband companies, (along with our phone companies ^^) are slicing each other up to try to offer the cheapest BB they can...^^
where i am, i can get cable telephone, with standrard package satelite tv (cabled version) AND 512 bb for about 17.99 (brit pounds) per month 0.0 if i didnt have their service from 4 years ago ^^ i would be on that now hehe (dont want the fart about of unsubscribing then re-subscribing)
so....sometimes it does mean meathook, and sometimes it means despirate for your cash

a lot of folks call ME the failure cause they thought it crashed more than 98, and for the fact that they took out the DOS part that let you play older DOS based games.
but those same peeps are usually the first ones to upgrade to the latest OS, and are all now saying that anything but winXP or XP64 is <expletive deleated> lol.

you dont *have* to get a 6600, but it is a great card *grins*
however, i have a GeForce4 Ti 4800 se and its running the game fine.
my friend has the FX 5200, and yeah, he has to keep it turned to min graphics, cause all the grass in Pre Searing turned to sand^^ but that still looks great

just budget for the best BB you can afford to pay per month, then get some more ram and maybe a bit better card. all the ram and spany new cards in the world wont help you if your connections going down ect all the time...

Algren Cole · Jul 18, 2005, 02:35 PM // 14:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by doomhorn

I heard Windows ME was the "failure" OS of Microsoft. Anyone know why people are saying that? (if it is true)

Windows ME was an attempt by Microsoft to use a new memory allocation engine....however the method was flawed and the programmers that coded it were high school drop outs....because it never even came close to working. There were serious(and I say serious because ALL windows versions have this problem) problems with memory handling and allocation tables. To the point where the majority of your RAM would be lost in memory data allocations that according to Windows no longer existed....

basically memory handling of ME was awful.

I should also mention that a number of the computers that were bundled with Windows ME use Windows ME reliant hardware. Which means the hardware is specific to Windows ME and would not integrate with another operating system. So you might find yourself attempting to install Windows XP on a system that can't even run it. I would suggest getting a copy from a friend/internet and installing it to see if it's going to work. After that you SHOULD go out and buy the OS....but what you do after you install the pirated Windows XP is your business, not mine

theclam · Jul 18, 2005, 04:58 PM // 16:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rayea

i would say, if you are used to ME, then stick with ME...then again, i have Win98 Se, lol, and i will not update unless i *have to*
(like their poking me with sharp pointy objects and telling me my games are all now totally unsuported and i must, on pain of never being able to play anything again, upgrade to Xp lol)
...
a lot of folks call ME the failure cause they thought it crashed more than 98, and for the fact that they took out the DOS part that let you play older DOS based games.
but those same peeps are usually the first ones to upgrade to the latest OS, and are all now saying that anything but winXP or XP64 is <expletive deleated> lol.

If he's got Win2K, he might as well upgrade. XP/2K are much, much better than 95/98/ME. They are more stable by an order of magnitude.

Rayea · Jul 18, 2005, 05:54 PM // 17:54

yeah, but how much mem does 2k actually *NEED* compared to the 128 meg that XP sucks up ^^

thats what i was meaning....since GW and XP BOTH are RAM hogs, makes sence to me to stick to something that uses less mem if i was short on reddies to buy RAM.

and, i spend all day re-installing windows on 2k and xp machines, for people that dont bother with antivirus or firewalls....where as i barely get one a month that needs to be wiped now for 98.
98 may be old, but at least most of the stuff they make virus for are now xp only, or at least, NTFS only..like sasa was...

Algren Cole · Jul 18, 2005, 06:09 PM // 18:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rayea

yeah, but how much mem does 2k actually *NEED* compared to the 128 meg that XP sucks up ^^

thats what i was meaning....since GW and XP BOTH are RAM hogs, makes sence to me to stick to something that uses less mem if i was short on reddies to buy RAM.

and, i spend all day re-installing windows on 2k and xp machines, for people that dont bother with antivirus or firewalls....where as i barely get one a month that needs to be wiped now for 98.
98 may be old, but at least most of the stuff they make virus for are now xp only, or at least, NTFS only..like sasa was...

the reason you only get one 98 system a month is because nobody is still using 98...it makes sense that you'd only get one system a month when only 1% of the population is using that OS. I get 0 linux systems a month that need a reinstall...because .001% of the world uses linux...not because it's a superior OS(it is...but for other reasons)

Windows ME...is NOT the OS for people trying to save Memory....Windows ME memory management is AWFUL...to be nice.