Curse

William of Orange · Mar 28, 2005, 01:39 AM // 01:39

Currently, minimum requirements for RAM state that you need 256 MB, while recommended specs are set at 512 MB. Right now, I have 512 MB installed, but I was just curious about how much of a difference it would make if I uped the RAM by another 256 or 512 MB on how well the game actually ran. For the most part, I've had no problems, unless I'm in an area where there are a lot of people, especially Ascalon City and Lion's Gate, where the game will seemingly freeze for the second as I rotate my character, and then suddenly "start" again with me facing a direction which I had not turned towards.

I'm mainly attributing that to the fact that my computer is running the amazing Intel Extreme Graphics as my video card right now, but since I have a few months until I can get a new computer and new video card with it, would adding that RAM help any? I have pretty much no problem buying more RAM, since I can always take it out of this machine and transfer it to the new one when I get it (right now I won't even look at anything with less than a 3.0 Ghz processor, 160 GB of hard disk space, and 1 GB of RAM), so any thoughts are appreciated.

Enix · Mar 28, 2005, 02:14 AM // 02:14

Since you are using onboard graphics, a ram upgrade may help you. Onboard video uses System memory for storing textures and such for graphics. One thing you can try is watching your hard drive indicator light and see if it goes crazy when you lag out like that - that means that it is offloading memory onto the swapfile/virtual memory (on the HD). If it does, then I would say definatly go for at LEAST another 256. Still though, an upgraded video card will help you a LOT more than more system memory. I would plan on spending at least $150 on something that would do the game any justice. And STAY AWAY FROM THE NVIDIA 5### FX LINE.

Owend · Mar 28, 2005, 04:27 AM // 04:27

The first step would be to get a new video card. I had similar problems playing Morrowind with the integrated Intel Extreme Graphics. I went up to 1 gig of RAM and it didn't help. A new (cheap) Geforce 4 MX440 64 8X AGP video card solved all the problems. The integrated graphics isn't designed for gaming.

William of Orange · Mar 28, 2005, 04:30 AM // 04:30

Yeah, I've been asking about graphics cards on and off in the similarily title thread, but I can't do anything until I get some money and get that new computer. I think I'll hold off on getting any additional RAM too until I decide on what computer specs I can actually afford.

William the Silent · Mar 28, 2005, 04:34 AM // 04:34

I've noticed while snooping around online at new computers that with some of the lower end ones with decent processors (2.4+) that you can rarely upgrade to a better video card. Is this because the computer wouldn't be able to support it or because the manufacturer just wants you to buy a more expensive one to get one better part?

William of Orange · Mar 28, 2005, 04:37 AM // 04:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by William the Silent

I've noticed while snooping around online at new computers that with some of the lower end ones with decent processors (2.4+) that you can rarely upgrade to a better video card. Is this because the computer wouldn't be able to support it or because the manufacturer just wants you to buy a more expensive one to get one better part?

That would be capitalism at it's finest my friend; from what it seems, they just want you to go the extra distance and throw out a few extra bucks. I've seen ads though recently advertising some 3 GHz computers with decent 128MB VRAM cards already installed, not sure how well those cards are (X300's or something like that? I'd have to check).

Mss Drizzt · Mar 28, 2005, 04:38 AM // 04:38

That is them just trying to get you to spend more money.

If it has agp then you can get the best AGP card made.

If PCIexpress. You can get the best their.

Nothing to do with the CPU.. Not when your talking about a 2.4+ or better.

Owend · Mar 28, 2005, 04:39 AM // 04:39

I'll bet William's computer has an empty AGP or PCI slot. My point was that a cheap ($40?) video card is all he needs. Guild Wars and other games will run good and he doesn't have to rush to buy a new computer.

William of Orange · Mar 28, 2005, 04:41 AM // 04:41

I'm assuming you meant William as William of Orange (myself) and not William the Silent.

My motherboard has both AGP and PCI slots on it (no PCI-E), but I don't want to spend $40 on an only halfway decent video card if I can spend $20-30 more and get a card which will actually be fairly good. Obviously it wouldn't be spectacular, but it'd be better than the $40 ones that Best Buy is getting rid of right now.

Mss Drizzt · Mar 28, 2005, 04:43 AM // 04:43

Yes $80 will get you a decent low end card. That will play the game for the most part just fine.

William the Silent · Mar 28, 2005, 04:45 AM // 04:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Owend

I'll bet William's computer has an empty AGP or PCI slot. My point was that a cheap ($40?) video card is all he needs. Guild Wars and other games will run good and he doesn't have to rush to buy a new computer.

Well I'll use it to apply to myself as well

. I'm heading off to college next year so this summer I'm probably going to by a nice gaming notebook (I gotta meet my CS:S needs as well

) but since there's such a variety of gaming notebooks out there would it be better to just get a pretty nice one with 2.6+ at least and then just put in my own store bought video card?

Darkmane · Mar 28, 2005, 04:57 AM // 04:57

I have the same dell .. I got it for 300 bucks on sale 2.4 Ghz with the crappy onboard intel graphics card. I hit the floor when I opened her up and saw there was no AGP slot. I have yet to upgrade to a pci card but a pretty good one can be had for round 60.00 .. and thats with 256 meg ram.

Code:

http://www.pricewatch.com/h/prc.aspx?i=37&a=4363

I will probablly get one of those cards soon. One thing you can do to make sure your taking advantage of your system memory is to give the card all you can in the bios. I think there is a bios setting to give your Intel card more ram, which will make decompression of those images MUCH faster when loading a mission/zone.

I will edit this post after I check my bios settings to be sure. But I am almost positive there is a setting in the bios to up the memory to the onboard vid.

Yes in your bios (F2) while the system loads. There is a setting for onboard devices. You will see a menu pop up for vidio memory buffer. I think the maximum is 8meg (which sux but.. its what we gotta live with till we get a better card).

Good Luck!

William the Silent · Mar 28, 2005, 05:02 AM // 05:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkmane

I have the same dell .. I got it for 300 bucks on sale 2.4 Ghz with the crappy onboard intel graphics card. I hit the floor when I opened her up and saw there was no AGP slot. I have yet to upgrade to a pci card but a pretty good one can be had for round 60.00 .. and thats with 256 meg ram.

Code:

http://www.pricewatch.com/h/prc.aspx?i=37&a=4363

I will probablly get one of those cards soon. One thing you can do to make sure your taking advantage of your system memory is to give the card all you can in the bios. I think there is a bios setting to give your Intel card more ram, which will make decompression of those images MUCH faster when loading a mission/zone.

Awesome, can you tell me where the bios setting can be found?

k0rupt3ur · Mar 28, 2005, 05:25 PM // 17:25

If you only have 256 MB of RAM, I suggest you at upgrade to at least 512 MB, Windows alone would use up all your RAM, not counting your share video. As most have suggested, your best option right now would be investing in some cheap RAM and a decent video card.

If you're unfortunate enough to get Delled (yes, it is officially a verb) and presented with no upgrade options or paths, then I would suggest purchasing another computer. Depends on your budget, I can suggest different builds so you would get the most bang for your bucks.

Loviatar · Mar 28, 2005, 06:20 PM // 18:20

SPECIAL NOTE ON RAM/WINXP

256 MB is the minimum that is recommended to run win xp and 512 is becoming the defacto standard

i am assuming 64 MB is your *shared ram* for video which means that you are shorting win xp at the same time asking for as much graphics processing as possible

check your manual or the dell site to see whar ram you have or one of the main budget quality ram companies

corsair or crucial and input your model number into their ram search for what has been proven compatable

get a minimum of 256 MB more and try for 512 MB

since part of that is going for video you will find it will help

if you will be using the lappy for gaming mostly dont bother with a new video card ona machine you will be spending little gaming time on

but the ram is almost a must

probably pc 2100 ram as a quick guess

and i dont think intels extreme graphics qualify as the last i heard they were equal to a slow GF2 card which is playable but below spec

William the Silent · Mar 28, 2005, 10:21 PM // 22:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loviatar

SPECIAL NOTE ON RAM/WINXP
and i dont think intels extreme graphics qualify as the last i heard they were equal to a slow GF2 card which is playable but below spec

Well intel extreme graphics 2 came out over a year ago if that's what you're talking about and it still can't fully support DirectX 9. Kind of weird that intel would let other companies dominate them in the graphics card market.

Bobangry · Mar 28, 2005, 10:52 PM // 22:52

512mb was the sweet spot for gaming a few years ago when I built my computer. Now Maximum Pc reccomends 1GB, and I agree. I'm about to buy another 512 DDR pc2700 Crucial to double my ram for a mere 56 dollars at amazon. Free shipping to Alaska? Can't pass that up! Ram prices are really low right now, so it wouldn't be a bad buy.

Make sure to buy the fastest ram your motherboard supports as long as it isn't *outrageously* priced.

512mb is doing me decent in guild wars but sometimes I find myself turning off shadows or graphics down all the way after a full day of playing. Of course my video card is probably limiting me more being a Radeon 9500 Pro. When I upgrade that however, I'm just going to get a whole new computer.

Loviatar · Mar 28, 2005, 11:14 PM // 23:14

intel is processors and chipsets

they decided to try to beat the graphics onboard the nforce boards bu didnt come close

the nforce onboard video is equal to the gf4 MX line which is not saying much but is way ahead of intels extreme graphics

RAM

i agree on the one gig

i have 512x2 corsair value on an abit nf7 board (pc 3200) and it works fine

main company budget ram has always worked for me

Mss Drizzt · Mar 28, 2005, 11:21 PM // 23:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobangry

512mb was the sweet spot for gaming a few years ago when I built my computer. Now Maximum Pc reccomends 1GB, and I agree. I'm about to buy another 512 DDR pc2700 Crucial to double my ram for a mere 56 dollars at amazon. Free shipping to Alaska? Can't pass that up! Ram prices are really low right now, so it wouldn't be a bad buy.

Make sure to buy the fastest ram your motherboard supports as long as it isn't *outrageously* priced.

512mb is doing me decent in guild wars but sometimes I find myself turning off shadows or graphics down all the way after a full day of playing. Of course my video card is probably limiting me more being a Radeon 9500 Pro. When I upgrade that however, I'm just going to get a whole new computer.

If you have the space 2 256meg chips are better. They dump faster.

William of Orange · Mar 28, 2005, 11:40 PM // 23:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by k0rupt3ur

If you only have 256 MB of RAM, I suggest you at upgrade to at least 512 MB, Windows alone would use up all your RAM, not counting your share video. As most have suggested, your best option right now would be investing in some cheap RAM and a decent video card.

If you're unfortunate enough to get Delled (yes, it is officially a verb) and presented with no upgrade options or paths, then I would suggest purchasing another computer. Depends on your budget, I can suggest different builds so you would get the most bang for your bucks.

I have 512 MB of RAM, and I'm running an HP a300n model, so pretty much it has budget written all over it. Decent processor speed (2.6 GHz), but only 40 GB hard drive (32.7 actual), and no PCI-E slots.

The game runs fine on this machine, except for the problem I stated in the first post of this thread. And again, I'll be waiting for a couple of months before I buy anything, since it'd be pointless to buy anything that works for this machine, only to move it to another inherently better machine where it won't be the best anymore.

Hopefully I win a contest which is going on at my workplace right now, first place gets $300 and runner-up gets $100. Either of those two amounts would be added to my video card/RAM upgrade budget, so I could blow $200-ish if I wanted to, depending on how many tips I get this weekend from doing birthday parties.