The "Would my PC be able to run M2TW?" thread (all such queries here pls)

**SirGrotius** · 10-12-2006, 20:22

Originally Posted by dcd111

I'm looking for recommendations on what to upgrade first, RAM or graphics card. My system:

Windows XP
2.6 Ghz P4
512 MB ddr400
Radeon 9200 128MB

I know ideally I should be increasing both, but my wife will not necessarily agree ;) It won't cost much to upgrade to 1024 MB RAM (or is it worthwhile to go higher, like 1.5 GB), but upgrading a graphics card can get pricey. Where would be the better "bang for the buck"? Any recommendations for a mid-level graphics card (AGP 8x) that's a good value?

Thanks.

- DCD

Definitely upgrading your RAM will be the quickest and cheapest fix. If your board can handle the extra, getting a 1 GB stick would be helpful.

I'm an Nvidia adherent, so if you go the graphics card route, the over clocked 6800s and 7200s (?) are probably reasonably priced (i.e., c. $200).

**dcd111** · 10-12-2006, 20:57

Originally Posted by SirGrotius

Definitely upgrading your RAM will be the quickest and cheapest fix. If your board can handle the extra, getting a 1 GB stick would be helpful.

I'm an Nvidia adherent, so if you go the graphics card route, the over clocked 6800s and 7200s (?) are probably reasonably priced (i.e., c. $200).

Thank you, Sir!

One other question I'd like to throw out there about RAM, is there any real benefit to a dual-channel setup? Right now I have two 256 MB sticks in a supposedly dual channel arrangement, if I were to add another GB is it better to get 2 (512 MB each) and put them in the dual channel slots or just get 1 full GB stick and forget the dual-channel thing?

- DCD

**ProudNerd** · 10-20-2006, 21:39

Originally Posted by SirGrotius

Definitely upgrading your RAM will be the quickest and cheapest fix. If your board can handle the extra, getting a 1 GB stick would be helpful.

I'm an Nvidia adherent, so if you go the graphics card route, the over clocked 6800s and 7200s (?) are probably reasonably priced (i.e., c. $200).

no a ram upgarde woudl eb useless go for a cheap graphics card like a 6600 or 300 first.

**maestro** · 10-20-2006, 21:59

Surely a cheap graphics card wouldbe useless, too. Get a decent graphics card and the RAM upgrade.

**ProudNerd** · 10-20-2006, 22:44

Originally Posted by maestro

Surely a cheap graphics card wouldbe useless, too. Get a decent graphics card and the RAM upgrade.

He migth not be able to afford it. Thats why i assumed he still had such a horrible card. My vanilla 6600 can run mtw2 meduim wiht little stuttering with a sempron 2800+ processor and 1gb so he woudl get decent performace for peanuts.

**Orda Khan** · 10-20-2006, 23:24

10 out of 10 for the content of this thread. You guys certainly know your stuff

.....Orda

**maestro** · 10-20-2006, 23:41

Originally Posted by ProudNerd

He migth not be able to afford it. Thats why i assumed he still had such a horrible card. My vanilla 6600 can run mtw2 meduim wiht little stuttering with a sempron 2800+ processor and 1gb so he woudl get decent performace for peanuts.

i'm surprised you get decent performance with that lot - but I'll take your word for it

I guess I'm just greedy - I've always been of the opinion that a game should be played with everything maxed out or you're just not playing the game the developers intended. but that's an expensive game to play, i admit, and not for everyone

I upgraded in time for Rome and I've upgraded in time for M2... can't wait

**hoom** · 10-21-2006, 00:05

i'm quite disappointed that the full game won't support Pixel Shader 3.0 or HDR

A few characters & buildings on screen at a time in the few games that do use HDR to date makes modern top of the range crazy power PCs cry like a baby for mercy.
Imagine the screams of pain we would see from people without many thousands of dollars to spend on a massive upgrade to play M2TW.

As it is with PS2.0, bloom & SSE2 requirements, there is already some serious complaining going on.

PS2 is a big enough advance over the DX7 level of RTW for me.
I'm actually surprised they even went that far but since they did that, I'd say it would be likely that the next full TW game should have PS3/HDR

**ProudNerd** · 10-21-2006, 00:36

Originally Posted by maestro

i'm surprised you get decent performance with that lot - but I'll take your word for it

I guess I'm just greedy - I've always been of the opinion that a game should be played with everything maxed out or you're just not playing the game the developers intended. but that's an expensive game to play, i admit, and not for everyone

I upgraded in time for Rome and I've upgraded in time for M2... can't wait

Oh don’t get me wrong I wholeheartedly agree which is why I got a am2 3500 cpu 1gb ddr2 667mhz and a asus motherboard. I haven’t decided on a gpu yet I cant afford much more so it will probably be a 7600 or whatever good I see on eBay! its hard to afford expensive things when you’re a legally blind pensioner :) I’m sick of this computer and I want something better I have to build my new one from scratch because of the new socket type but I’ve never built one myself before I’m looking forward to it!

**dcd111** · 10-21-2006, 06:07

Originally Posted by dcd111

I'm looking for recommendations on what to upgrade first, RAM or graphics card. My system:
Windows XP
2.6 Ghz P4
512 MB ddr400
Radeon 9200 128MB
I know ideally I should be increasing both, but my wife will not necessarily agree ;)...

Originally Posted by SirGrotius

Definitely upgrading your RAM will be the quickest and cheapest fix. If your board can handle the extra, getting a 1 GB stick would be helpful...

Originally Posted by ProudNerd

no a ram upgarde woudl eb useless go for a cheap graphics card like a 6600 or 300 first.

Originally Posted by maestro

Surely a cheap graphics card wouldbe useless, too. Get a decent graphics card and the RAM upgrade.

Originally Posted by ProudNerd

He migth not be able to afford it. Thats why i assumed he still had such a horrible card. My vanilla 6600 can run mtw2 meduim wiht little stuttering with a sempron 2800+ processor and 1gb so he woudl get decent performace for peanuts.

In the end, I did decide to bite the bullet and upgrade both. I have another 1 gb of RAM on its way, and I'm working on acquiring either a 6800 GT OC or a 6800 Ultra (hooray for eBay). With AGP my options are limited, and I'm not about to start replacing my mobo, too, but I think I should be in a much better position with these upgrades. The reason I've survived with such a lousy graphics card so far is that I just don't play that many games anymore, I don't have the time with two young kids and a long commute. But I made time to play RTW when I could, so I figure M2TW is as good an excuse as any to do some upgrading.

Thanks to all for the helpful comments. If anyone has any other suggestions for an AGP card, or thoughts on whether a 6800 ultra is actually worth a few extra bucks over a GT or GT OC, that would be appreciated, too. Wish me luck on my eBay bidding!

**edyzmedieval** · 10-22-2006, 15:55

What about my PC...

3.2 GHZ Intel Pentium IV with HT
512MB DDRAM
250GB HDD
ATI Radeon X700 256MB

I ran the Special Edition demo from Amazon, and I have the optimum settings from Medium to High. I want to run everything on high. What's needed?

More RAM?

**maestro** · 10-22-2006, 21:57

Originally Posted by edyzmedieval

What about my PC...

3.2 GHZ Intel Pentium IV with HT
512MB DDRAM
250GB HDD
ATI Radeon X700 256MB

I ran the Special Edition demo from Amazon, and I have the optimum settings from Medium to High. I want to run everything on high. What's needed?

More RAM?

To run everything on high you'll need a minimum of 1Gb of RAM {preferably 2Gb) and a much faster graphics card. You can pick up something like a NVidia 6800 GT (256Mb) for less than a hundred quid and that's got roughly twice the horsepower of your current card

if you can push to more like two hundred quid then get an ATI X1900 XT which is one of the fastest out there and will have more than 4 times the power of your current card.