Curse

Seth051 · May 03, 2005, 04:12 AM // 04:12

I have a piece of junk computer, so I want to get some opinions if I can run Guild Wars before I shell out 50$

Here are the specs down to every detail
Now the worst component of my whole computer is the little HP logo on the case lol.... I was a noob when I got this thing. Anyway
1.1 Celeron proccessor (Socket 370)
2x 128 sticks of PC133 SD ram.
PNY Geforce FX 5500 PCI
Some 40 gb hardrive

Do you guys think I will be able play this game smoothly with no lag on the lowest graphic settings with vsync off? Now I also have a question about RAM. I have looked my computer up on crucial ram, they make ram specifically for HP's Dell's etc that is guaranteed to work, anyway they say I need two sticks of 256, but it is expensive, it will come out to about 150$ for two sticks. Anyway I have a friend who will give me a stick of 512 for free. Do you guys think if I put the stick of 512 PC133 in the first slot, will work? This computer is about 3-4 years old now so I don’t know if it can support a 512 module.

Thank you for the help in advance.

Akshara · May 03, 2005, 09:26 AM // 09:26

It's possible it may work at the lowest settings, but the experience itself may be less than pleasant. I'm running an Athlon64 3000+ w/512Mb DDR and an ATI Radeon 9000 Pro, and am able to run it smoothly with mid level settings at 1280x1024 (no antialiasing, no vertical sync, mid to high texture settings, etc); but if I try to turn things up, then the frame rates plummet to what I consider as being unplayable, since it becomes very jumpy. At the lowest graphics level settings, even with a high resolution, the game loses a lot.

A couple of things...

Visit the website for the mobo manufacturer (HP?) and search for a tech sheet on your system. It should let you know if a 512Mb dimm is supported. If it does and you're running a pre-Win2000 system, then understand that the OS most likely won't support over 512Mb of ram anyway. So in that instance, it may be best to simply remove the 128Mb chips altogether.

Since the graphics card is PCI, it could be problematic unless it has 128Mb of onboard memory, which it probably doesn't.

Certainly you can get the game and try... but it's a big investment only to discover that it doesn't work. Plus you can't just sell it back to the store, since the account created with that game's key will be linked to your email address permanently. You may be able to get it removed through tech support itself, but that sounds like a major headache and time waster to me.

Possibly consider building a system if you have the resources to do so. A good case, cpu, ram and AGP graphics card that meet the recommended requirements could be had for between $300 to $500 online. Try the following store...

www.newegg.com

Inde · May 03, 2005, 01:30 PM // 13:30

Right at the top is a marvelous link: http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...ead.php?t=4262

funbun · May 03, 2005, 02:28 PM // 14:28

Yeah, read the sticky. Pump up the RAM and you're okay.

Lib · May 03, 2005, 03:35 PM // 15:35

At the very lowest setting then you might be ok, but like said before you wont get the full effect of the visual in this game by no means.

I have a AMD 2500XP with 512MB PC3200 RAM, and a Geforce 6600 GT video card.

I can run it at 1280x1024 full settings with max anti-aliasing, and it runs great.

silvertemplar · May 03, 2005, 04:27 PM // 16:27

Quote:

1.1 Celeron proccessor (Socket 370)
2x 128 sticks of PC133 SD ram.
PNY Geforce FX 5500 PCI
Some 40 gb hardrive

I'm currently playing it on
1.1 Ghz Celeron
256MB ram
40GB HD
GeForce Fx 5200 128MB
Play resolution : 800x600

It runs ok, i get slowdowns when i'm areas with a large view distance [i.e. across large landscapes]. Runs great in closed areas like the catacombs. And my settings is not even all turned down yet...still got some shadows and medium textures and a few other things which i'll consider turning down in a large group PK.

Seth051 · May 03, 2005, 04:59 PM // 16:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Akshara

It's possible it may work at the lowest settings, but the experience itself may be less than pleasant. I'm running an Athlon64 3000+ w/512Mb DDR and an ATI Radeon 9000 Pro, and am able to run it smoothly with mid level settings at 1280x1024 (no antialiasing, no vertical sync, mid to high texture settings, etc); but if I try to turn things up, then the frame rates plummet to what I consider as being unplayable, since it becomes very jumpy. At the lowest graphics level settings, even with a high resolution, the game loses a lot.

A couple of things...

Visit the website for the mobo manufacturer (HP?) and search for a tech sheet on your system. It should let you know if a 512Mb dimm is supported. If it does and you're running a pre-Win2000 system, then understand that the OS most likely won't support over 512Mb of ram anyway. So in that instance, it may be best to simply remove the 128Mb chips altogether.

Since the graphics card is PCI, it could be problematic unless it has 128Mb of onboard memory, which it probably doesn't.

Certainly you can get the game and try... but it's a big investment only to discover that it doesn't work. Plus you can't just sell it back to the store, since the account created with that game's key will be linked to your email address permanently. You may be able to get it removed through tech support itself, but that sounds like a major headache and time waster to me.

Possibly consider building a system if you have the resources to do so. A good case, cpu, ram and AGP graphics card that meet the recommended requirements could be had for between $300 to $500 online. Try the following store...

www.newegg.com

This is why I said the worst thing on my whole computer is that little HP logo, this thing is literally a piece of crap. It does not have an AGP slot which is sad, that’s why I have that video card, oh and yes the Video card does have 128 mbs of ram on it, sorry I forgot to mention that.. This card was basically the best Nvidia PCI card I could find, and why Nvidia? Because Hewlett Packard has it rigged so you cannot install an ATI product. anyway just thought I would knock HP lol. Anyway I used a program called Everest home edition, according to it, I have a Trigem Motherboard, (WTF is that brand?) they have a link to the trigem website, but their site doesn't mention anything at all about even making motherboards. . Oh and yes it is Windows XP. I know computers aren’t expensive now a days but I really do not have the funds, or ways of getting any money at the moment. I am planning on getting a job this summer and saving up. Oh and yeah I am frequent Newegg shopper, thanks a lot for your post. Maybe this new information can change something?

Quote:

Originally Posted by funbun

Yeah, read the sticky. Pump up the RAM and you're okay.

If you knew something about computers and read my post, you would not have made that post. Stop trying to get your post count up. No offense. Same goes to you Inde, I wish you would actually take some time to read my post. I am not some 5 yr kid with a Hot Wheels computer posting on here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by silvertemplar

I'm currently playing it on
1.1 Ghz Celeron
256MB ram
40GB HD
GeForce Fx 5200 128MB
Play resolution : 800x600

It runs ok, i get slowdowns when i'm areas with a large view distance [i.e. across large landscapes]. Runs great in closed areas like the catacombs. And my settings is not even all turned down yet...still got some shadows and medium textures and a few other things which i'll consider turning down in a large group PK.

Wow, that’s almost identical, would by any chance know if it was SD ram? Or a PCI or AGP graphics card?

silvertemplar · May 03, 2005, 05:06 PM // 17:06

It's 1 stick of 256 133mhz DRam ? Not sure.
Graphics card is AGP

Seth051 · May 03, 2005, 05:09 PM // 17:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by silvertemplar

It's 1 stick of 256 133mhz DRam ? Not sure.
Graphics card is AGP

Ok, well your video card beats mine right there, even though mine is a 5500, it's only a overclocked version of your card. But mines PCI, so I lose everything I had on your right there. So lame lol, I really hate Hewlett Packard.

Akshara · May 03, 2005, 09:09 PM // 21:09

Hi Seth,

Since your card does have 128Mb of onboard ram, that makes it more reasonable. I'd suggest that if your friend will let you try out the 512Mb dimm, then maybe the best bet is to just install it and see if it works. Since you have WinXP, it should handle all three cards as long as the mobo has three slots. If the 512Mb card does work, and since your graphics card is pretty good for a PCI card, then GW would likely run at mid-level settings at 800x600 or possibly even 1024x768. That's my opinion anyway... please don't take it for an official statement. There's some risk in what you propose, but based on what you've said and your knowledge, it would appear that the cards are stacked in your favor. Good luck, whatever you decide.

Akshara · May 03, 2005, 09:20 PM // 21:20

Also, since your graphics card is PCI, you might be able to squeeze some better performance out of it by using a pci latency configuration tool, like Ltcycfg.exe, which allows the user to limit or control pci bandwidth resources and get better framerates and/or audio performance. It can be downloaded from Audiotrak.net in a thread about halfway down the page. Just look for the title "PCI Latency Tool" and that should be it.

Here's a couple of discussions on how it can help...

PCI Latency Tool to improve framerate

Lower your graphics card latency

Seth051 · May 03, 2005, 09:37 PM // 21:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Akshara

Hi Seth,

Since your card does have 128Mb of onboard ram, that makes it more reasonable. I'd suggest that if your friend will let you try out the 512Mb dimm, then maybe the best bet is to just install it and see if it works. Since you have WinXP, it should handle all three cards as long as the mobo has three slots. If the 512Mb card does work, and since your graphics card is pretty good for a PCI card, then GW would likely run at mid-level settings at 800x600 or possibly even 1024x768. That's my opinion anyway... please don't take it for an official statement. There's some risk in what you propose, but based on what you've said and your knowledge, it would appear that the cards are stacked in your favor. Good luck, whatever you decide.

The computer has 2 slots for ram, the max it can hold is 512, so that's where I’m concerned that it needs 2x sticks of 256. But I am just going to have him give it to me and see if it works, if it does, super, if it doesn't then I will just save up and buy the two sticks of 256 that is guaranteed to work from crucial ram. Oh and I have a SoundBlaster Live 24-bit, I disabled the integrated sound card.

Link here

This program you mention is very interesting. I will bookmark it, and see how my game play is, if it's bad then I will try this program.

Seth051 · May 04, 2005, 04:16 AM // 04:16

Sorry, this was on the third page already, had to bump it. I would appreciate some more input.