The M2TW hardware thread: please post all hardware queries here

I'm not familiar with Intel components, but I'd be iffy about any motherboard that included onboard video these days. The motherboard is the one place I don't spare expense; a good motherboard will let you upgrade at will and provide much more stable performance in my experience.

You could opt for a lower wattage power supply if you want, unless you're planning on running two video cards. I probably wouldn't bother with a sound card as most onboard sound chips these days are good enough for what most people need; other than that I don't know anything about Trust sound cards, if I had to get one I would go with a Creative card. I had a bad experience with a Seagate drive so I keep away from them, but that's my personal bias. If you're going to go with a 7200 RPM hard drive you might consider cutting a corner somewhere else to get more space on it, as 80 GB will run out very fast these days.

My two cents, I'm not a technical master, so I'm sure someone else will have some more insight.

The HDD space isn't a real issue as i've been running with an 80Gb drive for the last 5 years - oh, and a Maxtor 320Gb backup USB external drive!

Interesting about the Motherboard, will look for an alternative without on-board (not needed anyway). Other pointers about what features are key to a motherboard?

I chose a soundcard purely to take just that little bit more processing load from the Intel. Besides its only £7!

PSU - perhaps a lower wattage...costs isn't really an issue so far as what I've listed is all less than £500 all in (i.e. including p&p and vat). The bigger gfx cards need lots of power.

No comments on the GFX card?

Pretty confident with the Intel choice as they run a good chunk faster than the AMD duo's.

For the motherboard I'd consider expansion slots, heat sinks, on-board devices (although these are pretty much standard now, like sound and LAN), support of RAM, and storage controllers. I'd also look at peer reviews if it's possible; if you're buying off the internet most sites have some sort of review function. I found this for the motherboard it looks like you're considering, note what they're saying about it supporting processors:

http://www.dabs.com/ProductView.aspx...6&v=3#infoarea

Again, I'm used to AMD parts, so I don't know much about Intel boards. I just get a bad feeling about on-board video, to me such boards are geared more towards casual desktop users than gamers. Call it a knee-jerk reaction.

Graphics card seems fine. These are mainly my opinions, if you're satisfied with your loadout, then by all means, don't let me talk you out of it.

Thanks again for the info,

Well, a BIOS update is something I normally do before “assuming” a system will run anyway but I will be now looking for a compatible board without any on-board gfx chip….if I’m only, ever, going to run the system with a dedicated GFX card then its got to be a waste of money anyway!

BTW – everything I’ve listed is from dab.com anyway.

I used to be an AMD + Nvidia dedicated user but with the new Core2 Intel’s outstripping the relating AMD’s for performance and all the major issues Nvidia had with the 6000 series chipset…I’ve switched to Intel + ATi

Why are you going for the 1950 pro?

The new generation of nvidia cards are far, far better...

1) Price vs performance is exceptional (£118)
2) Nvidia’s recent “problems” with non-compliant drivers (which I had first hand experience of)

I could go for a next gen Nvidia but I’d be paying far more than the less than £120 mark.

hi i ran the system requirments test to see if i could run Medieval Total War 2
and it said i could not ~:doh: ~:doh:
but i also tried the system requriments test on rome total war and it said
i could not run it ~:doh: but i have rome tota war and it is running fine

What hardware are you running?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sapi

What hardware are you running?

---

i am not intirely saw, i have just brought mtw2 so it sould be intresting to see if it works :computer:

If it doesn't, post up your specs (start > run > dxdiag should display them)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sapi

If it doesn't, post up your specs (start > run > dxdiag should display them)

---

ok :computer:

should be coming tomorow

it is tomorow now and still have not got it :computer:

but i did the system requirments and it said this Video RAM: Required - 128 MB , You have - 96.0 MB is there any way of getting more video ram
or does it matter :grin: :confused:

With 96mb ram on your video card, i don't like your chances of success :thumbsdown:

gl though

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sapi

With 96mb ram on your video card, i don't like your chances of success :thumbsdown:

gl though

---

ok ~:doh: but is there any way of getting more

No - video ram is built into the card (and is not really relevant)

What matters more is the card's core; and there aren't many modern cards with only 96mb of ram

helo i have quite a modern computer ! when i right click on my computer and select properties it says 512 mb of ram ( does that have anything to do with it )


p.s still have not got mtw2:computer:

https://i175.photobucket.com/albums/...picture006.jpg here you go

Okay.

I'm afraid that you're not going to be able to run m2tw on that computer, as you're using an inbuild graphics card (not good and the main problem), a celeron cpu (budget) and 512mb of ram. Is it a laptop?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sapi

Okay.

I'm afraid that you're not going to be able to run m2tw on that computer, as you're using an inbuild graphics card (not good and the main problem), a celeron cpu (budget) and 512mb of ram. Is it a laptop?

---

no it is a windows xp ( computer ) ~:doh:

That's your operating system.

What i meant by my quesion was whether it's a desktop (a box on the floor connected to a monitor) or a laptop (computer, keyboard and screen in the same housing).

From your answer it's probably a desktop.

Could you please click start > run > dxdiag, click 'save all information', open the text file that you save and post it up here in [code] tags?

thanks
:bow:

here it what it said for rtw ( which is working fine )
https://i175.photobucket.com/albums/...picture001.jpg

I understand that, and i wish you luck, but with an inbuilt graphics card i wouldn't bet on your chances

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sapi

I understand that, and i wish you luck, but with an inbuilt graphics card i wouldn't bet on your chances

---

thankyou for your help . I will let you know weather it works as soon as i get it ( which could be from 2-10 days )

:bow::bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow:

No way that will work. Here is most likely the mobo or some variant of this board: http://www.intel.com/products/mother...GVHZ/index.htm

He most likely has 64MB of integrated ram with 32MB allocated from the system ram. It might "run" the game but no way it will be playable. I'm surprised rtw works for that matter. And from the looks of the boards with his chipset I highly doubt you could even add in an agp card.

What I don’t understand from those figures above is that it’s showing 96mb RAM free on the in-built graphics chip, which (sorry BlackAxe) has to mean that Oscarreave must have a 128mb graphics chip.

That’s why Rome runs ok.

Medieval 2 will not run for the following specific reasons though:

Hard Drive space – that listing states you have only 14Gb left and that will not be sufficient for you to install and run Medieval.

To be honest, you really need to remove at least another 3Gb as this is effecting your system speed generally anyway (17Gb being a good minimum of free space for XP to run nicely).

Graphics issues – yes, your Graphics Chip (not a card, this is key to remember) is unlikely to allow you to play Medievel2. It may “run” but loading times will be appalling and you’ll get serious slowdown and even crashes mid-game.

Personally, I think (agreeing with most here) that it won’t even run because the Graphics Chip does not have the Shading capabilities essential to the game.

I will ask you, Please, to follow the suggestion above and click start > run > dxdiag, click 'save all information', open the text file that you save and post it up here in [code] tags.

You will get something which starts like this:

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 2/19/2007, 09:21:26
Machine name: DGB202223
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: IBM
System Model: 8171VAQ
BIOS: Phoenix FirstBios(tm) Desktop Pro Version 2.0 for IBM ThinkCentre.
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.20GHz (2 CPUs)
Memory: 1022MB RAM
Page File: 578MB used, 1872MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINNT
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.2180 32bit Unicode

- all in all its a very long txt file.

Now, this data is from my PC at work (a desktop) as an example. I’m not as experienced as others at deciphering all this but this will help others tell you if you will ever be able to run Medieval 2 on that computer – i.e. if you can upgrade to do that.

Yep - as i said and braden echoed, dxdiag will outline your options in full

here it is


------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 2/19/2007, 11:37:35
Machine name: DGFGNX1J
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Dell Computer Corporation
System Model: Dell DE051
BIOS: Phoenix ROM BIOS PLUS Version 1.10 A00
Processor: Intel(R) Celeron(R) CPU 2.80GHz
Memory: 510MB RAM
Page File: 660MB used, 587MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.2180 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
Display Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
Music Tab: No problems found.
Input Tab: No problems found.
Network Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D: 0/4 (n/a)
DirectDraw: 0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectPlay: 0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow: 0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: Intel(R) 82865G Graphics Controller
Manufacturer: Intel Corporation
Chip type: Intel(R) 82865G Graphics Controller
DAC type: Internal
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2572&SUBSYS_01D51028&REV_02
Display Memory: 96.0 MB
Current Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (75Hz)
Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
Driver Name: ialmrnt5.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.4396 (English)
DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 9/20/2005 08:52:38, 36990 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
VDD: n/a
Mini VDD: ialmnt5.sys
Mini VDD Date: 9/20/2005 09:00:54, 1302332 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B78E66-6632-11CF-B462-DF21A3C2CB35}
Vendor ID: 0x8086
Device ID: 0x2572
SubSys ID: 0x01D51028
Revision ID: 0x0002
Revision ID: 0x0002
Video Accel:
Deinterlace Caps: n/a
Registry: OK
DDraw Status: Enabled
D3D Status: Enabled
AGP Status: Not Available
DDraw Test Result: Not run
D3D7 Test Result: Not run
D3D8 Test Result: Not run
D3D9 Test Result: Not run

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
Description: SoundMAX Digital Audio
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_24D5&SUBSYS_01D51028&REV_02
Manufacturer ID: 65535
Product ID: 65535
Type: WDM
Driver Name: smwdm.sys
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.7000 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
Date and Size: 3/22/2005 17:08:40, 260224 bytes
Other Files:
Driver Provider: Analog Devices
HW Accel Level: Full
Cap Flags: 0xF5F
Min/Max Sample Rate: 100, 192000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 33, 31
Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 33, 31
HW Memory: 0
Voice Management: Yes
EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): Yes
Registry: OK
Sound Test Result: Not run

---------------------
Sound Capture Devices
---------------------
Description: SoundMAX Digital Audio
Default Sound Capture: Yes
Default Voice Capture: Yes
Driver Name: smwdm.sys
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.7000 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Date and Size: 3/22/2005 17:08:40, 260224 bytes
Cap Flags: 0x41
Format Flags: 0xCCC

-----------
DirectMusic
-----------
DLS Path: C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\drivers\GM.DLS
DLS Version: 1.00.0016.0002
Acceleration: n/a
Ports: Microsoft Synthesizer, Software (Not Kernel Mode), Output, DLS, Internal, Default Port
SoundMAX Digital Audio, Software (Kernel Mode), Output, DLS, Internal
Microsoft MIDI Mapper [Emulated], Hardware (Not Kernel Mode), Output, No DLS, Internal
Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth [Emulated], Hardware (Not Kernel Mode), Output, No DLS, Internal
Registry: OK
Test Result: Not run

-------------------
DirectInput Devices
-------------------
Device Name: Mouse
Attached: 1
Controller ID: n/a
Vendor/Product ID: n/a
FF Driver: n/a

Device Name: Keyboard
Attached: 1
Controller ID: n/a
Vendor/Product ID: n/a
FF Driver: n/a

Device Name: Hid
Attached: 1
Controller ID: 0x0
Vendor/Product ID: 0x413C, 0x5109
FF Driver: n/a

Poll w/ Interrupt: No
Registry: OK

-----------
USB Devices
-----------
+ USB Root Hub
| Vendor/Product ID: 0x8086, 0x24D4
| Matching Device ID: usb\root_hub
| Service: usbhub
| Driver: usbhub.sys, 8/3/2004 23:08:44, 57600 bytes
| Driver: usbd.sys, 8/4/2004 05:00:00, 4736 bytes
|
+-+ USB Human Interface Device
| | Vendor/Product ID: 0x413C, 0x2003
| | Location: Dell USB Keyboard
| | Matching Device ID: usb\class_03&subclass_01
| | Service: HidUsb
| | Driver: hidclass.sys, 8/4/2004 05:00:00, 36224 bytes
| | Driver: hidparse.sys, 8/4/2004 05:00:00, 24960 bytes
| | Driver: hid.dll, 8/4/2004 05:00:00, 20992 bytes
| | Driver: hidusb.sys, 8/17/2001 14:02:20, 9600 bytes
| |
| +-+ HID Keyboard Device
| | | Vendor/Product ID: 0x413C, 0x2003
| | | Matching Device ID: hid_device_system_keyboard
| | | Service: kbdhid
| | | Driver: kbdhid.sys, 8/3/2004 22:58:36, 14848 bytes
| | | Driver: kbdclass.sys, 8/3/2004 22:58:34, 24576 bytes

----------------
Gameport Devices
----------------

------------
PS/2 Devices
------------
+ Terminal Server Keyboard Driver
| Matching Device ID: root\rdp_kbd
| Upper Filters: kbdclass
| Service: TermDD
| Driver: termdd.sys, 8/4/2004 01:01:08, 40840 bytes
| Driver: kbdclass.sys, 8/3/2004 22:58:34, 24576 bytes
|
+ HID-compliant mouse
| Vendor/Product ID: 0x413C, 0x3200
| Matching Device ID: hid_device_system_mouse
| Service: mouhid
| Driver: mouclass.sys, 8/3/2004 22:58:34, 23040 bytes
| Driver: mouhid.sys, 8/17/2001 13:48:00, 12160 bytes
|
+ Terminal Server Mouse Driver
| Matching Device ID: root\rdp_mou
| Upper Filters: mouclass
| Service: TermDD
| Driver: termdd.sys, 8/4/2004 01:01:08, 40840 bytes
| Driver: mouclass.sys, 8/3/2004 22:58:34, 23040 bytes

----------------------------
DirectPlay Service Providers
----------------------------
DirectPlay8 Modem Service Provider - Registry: OK, File: dpnet.dll (5.03.2600.2180)
DirectPlay8 Serial Service Provider - Registry: OK, File: dpnet.dll (5.03.2600.2180)
DirectPlay8 IPX Service Provider - Registry: OK, File: dpnet.dll (5.03.2600.2180)
DirectPlay8 TCP/IP Service Provider - Registry: OK, File: dpnet.dll (5.03.2600.2180)
Internet TCP/IP Connection For DirectPlay - Registry: OK, File: dpwsockx.dll (5.03.2600.2180)
IPX Connection For DirectPlay - Registry: OK, File: dpwsockx.dll (5.03.2600.2180)
Modem Connection For DirectPlay - Registry: OK, File: dpmodemx.dll (5.03.2600.2180)
Serial Connection For DirectPlay - Registry: OK, File: dpmodemx.dll (5.03.2600.2180)

DirectPlay Voice Wizard Tests: Full Duplex: Not run, Half Duplex: Not run, Mic: Not run
DirectPlay Test Result: Not run
Registry: OK

-------------------
DirectPlay Adapters
-------------------
DirectPlay8 Modem Service Provider: Intel(R) 537EP V9x DF PCI Modem
DirectPlay8 Serial Service Provider: COM1
DirectPlay8 Serial Service Provider: COM3
DirectPlay8 TCP/IP Service Provider: Local Area Connection 2 - IPv4 -
DirectPlay8 TCP/IP Service Provider: The Internet (1) - IPv4 -

-----------------------
DirectPlay Voice Codecs
-----------------------
Voxware VR12 1.4kbit/s
Voxware SC06 6.4kbit/s
Voxware SC03 3.2kbit/s
MS-PCM 64 kbit/s
MS-ADPCM 32.8 kbit/s
Microsoft GSM 6.10 13 kbit/s
TrueSpeech(TM) 8.6 kbit/s

-------------------------
DirectPlay Lobbyable Apps
-------------------------
RC (DX7) - Registry: OK, ExeFile: ral.exe ()
Star Wars JK II Jedi Outcast (DX7) - Registry: OK, ExeFile: jk2mp.exe (<File Missing>)

------------------------
Disk & DVD/CD-ROM Drives
------------------------
Drive: C:
Free Space: 14.8 GB
Total Space: 73.2 GB
File System: NTFS
Model: ST380011A

Drive: D:
Model: SONY CDRW/DVD CRX330E
Driver: c:\windows\system32\drivers\cdrom.sys, 5.01.2600.2180 (English), 8/4/2004 05:00:00, 49536 bytes

--------------

will it work

:grin:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Braden

Medieval 2 will not run for the following specific reasons though:

Hard Drive space – that listing states you have only 14Gb left and that will not be sufficient for you to install and run Medieval.

To be honest, you really need to remove at least another 3Gb as this is effecting your system speed generally anyway (17Gb being a good minimum of free space for XP to run nicely).

.

---

i could do that quite easyily :grin:

You probably should as a general performance booster

As to m2tw running, you don't (from what i see) have the capability to upgrade your graphics card, so you probably won't be able to run it (certainly not the battles, unfortunately)

Yeah, its amazing how much space those porn movies take up isn’t it….

Anyway, and seriously, I think that freeing up more Hard Drive space is essential to your system if only to get your PC running faster and better whenever you use it.

At least, it’ll mean you can install Medieval 2 even if you can’t run it!

Erm…the key for you currently is what Motherboard you have at the moment AND if it has PCI-E expansion slots. If it has, then you can purchase a new dedicated graphics card and you’ll be ok to play Medieval 2.

If it doesn’t….erm…I’m very sorry to say that its is absolutely time to purchase a new PC as replacing the motherboard is not worth the hassle when you can buy a PC for Medieval for less than £500.