The M2TW hardware thread: please post all hardware queries here

[Classics]

Hi, new to the forum (and forums in general)

I'm having trouble running MTW2, the game plays for 30 seconds tops then crashes and my computer restarts. I know next to nothing about computers so any help will be greatly appreciated.

My computer specs

O/S - Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600)
Language - English (regional setting English)
Sys Manufact- Intel
Sys model – DG31PR
BIOS- ver: 08.00.10
Processor – Intel(R) Pentium(R) Dual CPU E2180 @ 2.00GHz (2CPUs)
Memory – 2044MB RAM
Page file – 231MB used, 3705MB available
DirectX version – DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DxDiag 5.03.2600.5512 Unicode

Name – NVIDIA GeForce 8400GS
Manufacturer – NVIDIA
Chip type - GeForce 8400GS
DAC Type – Integrated RAMDAC
Approx total memory – 512.0 MB
Current display mode – 1024x768 (32bit) (75Hz)
Plug and play monitor

Cheers

[retep219]

I do not actually own M2TW, but I was wondering if the following desktop computer could play it:

1.7 GHz Pentium IV
512 MB of RAM
Nvidia Geforce 6200
Windows XP Professional

I play RTW perfectly on max graphics settings.

Anyways:

Can I play M2TW?
How bad will the graphics have to be if I can?

[FactionHeir]

Hmmm I'd say you'd get major campaign map lag and can't fight huge city/citadel type battles without using low-spec mods.
I used to play it on my P4 2.8 512 and GF 5600 and it was just like that. Yours may be a bit worse I think.

[retep219]

Don't worry...I'm used to it. Played RTW on something like a 800 MHz computer once with a video card that was outdated when the PC was new...

[Critical Bill]

Hi All

According to systemrequirementslab, I can't run Medieval as my system doesn't support pixel shader 1.1. However it says the same thing about Rome, and I can run that just fine.

Is anyone running this without pixel shader?

I've run dxdiag:

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 11/24/2008, 19:19:19
Machine name: HOME
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.070227-2254)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: VIA
System Model: K7VT4A+
BIOS: Default System BIOS
Processor: AMD Sempron(tm) 2600+, MMX, 3DNow, ~1.8GHz
Memory: 512MB RAM
Page File: 246MB used, 1003MB 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.
Sound Tab 2: 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: NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 4000
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce4 MX 4000
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0185&SUBSYS_81531043&REV_A4
Display Memory: 128.0 MB
Current Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor: Hansol Mazellan15ax
Monitor Max Res: 1024,768
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.9371 (English)
DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 10/22/2006 11:22:00, 4527488 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: n/a
WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
VDD: n/a
Mini VDD: nv4_mini.sys
Mini VDD Date: 10/22/2006 11:22:00, 3994624 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-42C5-11CF-6857-59A105C2CB35}
Vendor ID: 0x10DE
Device ID: 0x0185
SubSys ID: 0x81531043
Revision ID: 0x00A4
Revision ID: 0x00A4
Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_B ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D
Deinterlace Caps: {212DC723-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_MedianFiltering
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{212DC723-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_MedianFiltering
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
Registry: OK
DDraw Status: Enabled
D3D Status: Enabled
AGP Status: Enabled
DDraw Test Result: Not run
D3D7 Test Result: Not run
D3D8 Test Result: Not run
D3D9 Test Result: Not run

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
Description: C-Media Wave Device
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1106&DEV_3059&SUBSYS_97611849&REV_50
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Type: WDM
Driver Name: cmuda.sys
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.0049 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Debug
WHQL Logo'd: n/a
Date and Size: 5/12/2005 13:21:08, 1332544 bytes
Other Files:
Driver Provider: C-Media Inc.
HW Accel Level: Full
Cap Flags: 0x0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
HW Memory: 0
Voice Management: No
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

Description: Modem #1 Line Playback (emulated)
Default Sound Playback: No
Default Voice Playback: No
Hardware ID:
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 81
Type: Emulated
Driver Name:
Driver Version:
Driver Attributes:
WHQL Logo'd:
Date and Size:
Other Files:
Driver Provider:
HW Accel Level: Full
Cap Flags: 0x0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
HW Memory: 0
Voice Management: No
EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
Registry: OK
Sound Test Result: Not run

---------------------
Sound Capture Devices
---------------------
Description: C-Media Wave Device
Default Sound Capture: Yes
Default Voice Capture: Yes
Driver Name: cmuda.sys
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.0049 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Debug
Date and Size: 5/12/2005 13:21:08, 1332544 bytes
Cap Flags: 0x0
Format Flags: 0x0

Description: Modem #1 Line Record (emulated)
Default Sound Capture: No
Default Voice Capture: No
Driver Name:
Driver Version:
Driver Attributes:
Date and Size:
Cap Flags: 0x0
Format Flags: 0x0

Thanks in advance

[TevashSzat]

I don't really know regarding the pixel shaders question, but from the specs of the NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 4000, it would be a strech at best.

If it actually does run, expect to run it at lowest resolution with lowest graphics settings at the lowest unit size. Even then, there may be lots of lag. I don't know about, you, but that would really destroy the experience of the game with me

Also, that card's like 5 years old which is like 50 years old in everything else time.....M2TW is just 2 years old so yeah...

[Critical Bill]

Oh well.

Thanks for your time.

As a complete hardware dunce, I've managed to check out my motherboard (K7VT4+) specs and seem would seem I'm limited to AGP8X/4X compatible cards. What's the chances of getting a card that will work?