Upgrading for M2TW

[Boohugh]

There will almost certainly be newer graphics cards around when M2:TW arrives meaning you'll be able to get the current ones for less, or just splash out on a new one, so waiting is definitely the best course of action imo .

[fatsheep]

First off, thanks for all the suggestions guys!

Second off, I do intend to wait. Once they put a playable demo out to test my system on I can be more sure what I need to upgrade. Also, it would be silly to upgrade now since prices will have gone down quite a bit by september.

Oh btw, about the memory. I have it on a divider so the memory is actually running at only a tad below 240 mhz (200 mhz is default for PC3200 RAM) while the CPU is going at 290 mhz HTT. I also have the memory on somewhat loose timings (3-3-3-8) so I would like to get some memory that will either allow a 1:1 divider and tighten up timings (although I doubt I'll be able to do both, I'd much rather have the 1:1 divider then the slightly tighter timings).

Again thanks for the advice.

[CBR]

Well 1:1 divider is pretty tough at nearly 290 Mhz but this test did have a couple that could do it: http://www.anandtech.com/memory/show...px?i=2676&p=16

But your current 1 GB is very good so its not that important to upgrade, at least its not your first priority if money is the issue.


CBR

[fatsheep]

Ouch, those RAM setups are out of my price range (<$200). I guess I'll just hope a high OCer falls down below $200 by november.

[orangat]

First off, thanks for all the suggestions guys!

Second off, I do intend to wait. Once they put a playable demo out to test my system on I can be more sure what I need to upgrade. Also, it would be silly to upgrade now since prices will have gone down quite a bit by september.

Oh btw, about the memory. I have it on a divider so the memory is actually running at only a tad below 240 mhz (200 mhz is default for PC3200 RAM) while the CPU is going at 290 mhz HTT. I also have the memory on somewhat loose timings (3-3-3-8) so I would like to get some memory that will either allow a 1:1 divider and tighten up timings (although I doubt I'll be able to do both, I'd much rather have the 1:1 divider then the slightly tighter timings).

Again thanks for the advice.

Aggressive ram overlocking does relatively little for A64 systems. Spending to replace your current memory modules is pointless.

Memory dividers do diddly squat for performance. So don't worry about getting it to 1:1.
The reason is obvious to anyone who has a clue about the Athlon64 HT model.

[CBR]

I assume you are talking about the Barton cores which started at 2500+. The big improvement from 2400-2500+ is probably mostly due to the increase of the fsb from 133->166 and bigger l2 cache _not_ due to faster memory speeds. The older pre-Athlonxp behaved in exactly the same way also.

The A64 is not memory bandwidth starved and buying faster memory over the standard is pc3200 is generally pointless. Simply compare 754 vs 939 benches for proof.

With A64 systems, faster memory modules will give big huge improvements in synthetic benchmarks like Sisoft but do ziltch in real world benchmarks.

Oh yeah the Barton core and it was 2600+ actually. What I couldnt understand back then and now was the apparent huge difference in framerate between our older 2400+ and their newer 2600+ cores. Whereas we had horrible input lag, that made MP games at 8k men near impossible to play, they reported no problems at all.

But nonetheless the tests I have done on my pc shows an increase in fps when overclocking ram. Overall my overclocking means I can play with about 2-2.5k more men before the fps is low enough to make it unplayable. Around 30-40% of the boost comes from just the ram.

Now whether its because of memory bandwidth or the lower latency, or whatever I can test in various benchmarks, I dont know, but what I do know is that there is a clear advantage from overclocking ram in a game like RTW. If you never go anyway near that max number of men (before the game turns into a slideshow) then a couple of fps extra wont do much, but that depends on what unit size you play on of course. You are more likely to run into that barrier when playing with huge unit setting.


CBR

[orangat]

Oh yeah the Barton core and it was 2600+ actually. What I couldnt understand back then and now was the apparent huge difference in framerate between our older 2400+ and their newer 2600+ cores. Whereas we had horrible input lag, that made MP games at 8k men near impossible to play, they reported no problems at all.

But nonetheless the tests I have done on my pc shows an increase in fps when overclocking ram. Overall my overclocking means I can play with about 2-2.5k more men before the fps is low enough to make it unplayable. Around 30-40% of the boost comes from just the ram.
.......

Can you link TWC thread on the tests?
What is your specs and what did you do to overclock? ram speed/divider etc.

[CBR]

Took a while to find them but here they are http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=11052 and http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=12200

From cpu-z:
CPU Clock Speed 2506.6 MHz
Clock multiplier x 9.0
HTT Bus Frequency 278.5 MHz
5/6 divider so ram is at 228 MHz

Is that enough info?


CBR

[orangat]

Thanks for the links.