Computer specs that can handle EB well. Its good to be back.

**QuintusSertorius** · 07-11-2011, 11:46

Something to bear in mind about processors, old games like R:TW don't use more than one core. So having four 2GHz processors is worse than having a single core 3.2GHz for example.

**Lazy O** · 07-11-2011, 11:53

But its still better since one core can handle all the background processes.

**vartan** · 07-11-2011, 20:23

Yes. Vasiliyi a big recommendation is when you play RTW or any of its mods on that new system, after loading up RTW or the mod(s) go to the task manager find Rome-TW.exe under processes, right click and go to Set Affinity and choose Core 1 (there is Core 0 and 1 for dual cores). This means the second core (which is normally idle until needed) can focus on your Rome/Mod game. This can be shown to lower the likelihood of crashes.

**YD23** · 07-12-2011, 00:12

I wouldn't spend more money unless absolutely necessary and I will tell you to use your wifes mac. :p I am on my mac book pro (2.4GHz Core2Duo & 4b 1067 Mhz DDR3 ram) and EB runs beautifully on all high (low aa) aside from a few sound issues (not eb related). So if you can live with those you'll save yourself a couple hundred $$. :)

I didn't want to game on a mac either, but since I am away from my gaming PC for the summer I couldn't stay away. And I must say the game might actually run a bit smoother on this laptop rather than my built up gaming rig.

P.S. If your wife is okay with this of course.

**vartan** · 07-12-2011, 02:58

YD23 I play EB on my PC laptop, but I do have an iMac desktop and was wondering: now that Rome: Total War is out on OS X, are you playing EB on the Mac version or is this bootcamp Windows?

**YD23** · 07-12-2011, 22:40

No it's just on a mac with no extra software. I did, however, spend 30$ on the game copy (buy from apple appstore).. Feral ported the game onto mac from PC but they charge as if it's a new game. I just had some Apple giftcards so I basically got it for free & since I love the game so much I would have spent the 30$ anyway.

Vanilla runs fantastically except the game characters for some odd reason do not make sounds; for me anyway. (EG: diplomat will not say "no more moves") It's a bit annoying but I can live with it. EB was somewhat tricky to get up and running but I can help you with it if you decide to play it on the mac. :)

**mcantu** · 07-13-2011, 04:31

having a reasonably fast hard drive will reduce turn times quite a bit...

**QuintusSertorius** · 07-17-2011, 23:50

Originally Posted by Lazy O

But its still better since one core can handle all the background processes.

If the thing is written to use only one core, it will use only one core.

**vartan** · 07-18-2011, 01:40

Originally Posted by QuintusSertorius

If the thing is written to use only one core, it will use only one core.

LazyO's point was that one good core cpu is better for a single-core game than a bad multi-core cpu.

**QuintusSertorius** · 07-18-2011, 16:42

Originally Posted by vartan

LazyO's point was that one good core cpu is better for a single-core game than a bad multi-core cpu.

But that's exactly what I said before. When I said a single-core 3GHz machine is better than a quad-core 2GHz machine. Even though in modern terms the latter is "better".

**Kival** · 07-18-2011, 17:21

Originally Posted by QuintusSertorius

But that's exactly what I said before. When I said a single-core 3GHz machine is better than a quad-core 2GHz machine. Even though in modern terms the latter is "better".

And he disagreed because the single-core machine does not only have to run the game but also every background process of the system. With a multi-core the background process does not have too be calculated by the same core which is running the game. So it's not so simple.

**vartan** · 07-18-2011, 21:40

Originally Posted by Kival

And he disagreed because the single-core machine does not only have to run the game but also every background process of the system. With a multi-core the background process does not have too be calculated by the same core which is running the game. So it's not so simple.

Thanks Kival. This is exactly why a lower average clock-speed multi-core system is superior to a single-core high clock-speed system. Even though some of us and clearly the major chip manufacturers have long figured this out, there are many out there who don't see the advantage. When you have an entire core devoted to a single process...that's called dedication ^_^