rec.autos.simulators

by **Mike Donnelly J** » Tue, 13 Feb 2001 06:39:34

Okay, I've heard all kinds of stuff on this newsgroup this past week,
I've taken the plunge and picked up N4 (first one to buy it at the mall
I work at - isn't it great to work at a mall?), and, in general, I've
enjoyed it.

For the first time in my sim career (spaning back to the heady days of
I500: the Simulation), I finally have a computer that can run it off the
shelf fairly well. Of course, 'fairly well' gets you beat on
Saturday/Sunday.

I'm running under Win98, using the following:
Athlon 800
Voodoo 3/3000
SB 64 AWE
128 meg 100 Mhz ram

Don't ask about the motherboard, I don't know. Any where I can check
without taking everything apart?

Framerates are in the 30 fps range with 42 on the track & I think I use
42 ahead, 12 behind. Not sure about the detail level (I think it's at
40%) and medium mirror. In testing it's been up past 40 (sharper than
TV).

What are my upgrading priorities?

Personally I'd rather not shoot for the CPU as I just replaced it last
year (formerly a P2/ 333), but I definitely think a new video card would
be in order - which one? Or is the next 'lastest and greatest' vid card
coming out soon?

Is my sound card hurting me? I've seen a few comments that some folks
thing that soundcards are actually becoming a major performance issue.
Any ideas which way I should go there?

Finally, is the 128 Meg ram good enough, not good enough, or something
that I should upgrade when all else is complete?

by **Don Burnett** » Tue, 13 Feb 2001 06:44:17

First I would pick up a new vid card, either a GeForce2 mx 9 32 mb), or one
of the GeForce2 64 mb cards. Either one would be a nice step for you.
Next I would replace that SB 64 with a SB Live card. And to really
experience the sound in N4, get a good set of 4 speakers and sub.

--
Don Burnette

by **Mike Donnelly J** » Tue, 13 Feb 2001 07:07:30

Will the SB live take some load off of the processor/video card and help frame
rate or is this just an improvement of sound qualify (and a better 'feel' for
where nearby cars are)?

> First I would pick up a new vid card, either a GeForce2 mx 9 32 mb), or one
> of the GeForce2 64 mb cards. Either one would be a nice step for you.
> Next I would replace that SB 64 with a SB Live card. And to really
> experience the sound in N4, get a good set of 4 speakers and sub.

> --
> Don Burnette

by **Larr** » Tue, 13 Feb 2001 08:05:08

Agreed all around.

It _might_ be benificial to switch to PC133 RAM as well, if your MB supports
it.

The CPU is fine for a while.

-Larry

> First I would pick up a new vid card, either a GeForce2 mx 9 32 mb), or
one
> of the GeForce2 64 mb cards. Either one would be a nice step for you.
> Next I would replace that SB 64 with a SB Live card. And to really
> experience the sound in N4, get a good set of 4 speakers and sub.

> --
> Don Burnette

> > Okay, I've heard all kinds of stuff on this newsgroup this past week,
> > I've taken the plunge and picked up N4 (first one to buy it at the mall
> > I work at - isn't it great to work at a mall?), and, in general, I've
> > enjoyed it.

> > For the first time in my sim career (spaning back to the heady days of
> > I500: the Simulation), I finally have a computer that can run it off the
> > shelf fairly well. Of course, 'fairly well' gets you beat on
> > Saturday/Sunday.

> > I'm running under Win98, using the following:
> > Athlon 800
> > Voodoo 3/3000
> > SB 64 AWE
> > 128 meg 100 Mhz ram

> > Don't ask about the motherboard, I don't know. Any where I can check
> > without taking everything apart?

> > Framerates are in the 30 fps range with 42 on the track & I think I use
> > 42 ahead, 12 behind. Not sure about the detail level (I think it's at
> > 40%) and medium mirror. In testing it's been up past 40 (sharper than
> > TV).

> > What are my upgrading priorities?

> > Personally I'd rather not shoot for the CPU as I just replaced it last
> > year (formerly a P2/ 333), but I definitely think a new video card would
> > be in order - which one? Or is the next 'lastest and greatest' vid card
> > coming out soon?

> > Is my sound card hurting me? I've seen a few comments that some folks
> > thing that soundcards are actually becoming a major performance issue.
> > Any ideas which way I should go there?

> > Finally, is the 128 Meg ram good enough, not good enough, or something
> > that I should upgrade when all else is complete?

by **Mike Donnelly J** » Tue, 13 Feb 2001 08:40:17

Follow up question: is there going to be a new generation of vid cards coming
out that will render anything I buy today obsolete? If so, how soon will it be
released?

by **Don Burnett** » Tue, 13 Feb 2001 08:46:23

The Live will do both, big improvement in sound quality and it does take
some of the load of the processor - you'll still want the vid card though to
handle the texture memory.
Btw, on the GeForce2 MX vid card, that 9 I had in there was a typo.

--
Don Burnette

> Will the SB live take some load off of the processor/video card and help
frame
> rate or is this just an improvement of sound qualify (and a better 'feel'
for
> where nearby cars are)?

> > First I would pick up a new vid card, either a GeForce2 mx 9 32 mb), or
one
> > of the GeForce2 64 mb cards. Either one would be a nice step for you.
> > Next I would replace that SB 64 with a SB Live card. And to really
> > experience the sound in N4, get a good set of 4 speakers and sub.

> > --
> > Don Burnette

by **Don Burnett** » Tue, 13 Feb 2001 08:48:48

Nvidia is coming out with the NV20, sometime in the spring so I hear. I also
hear it will be very expensive, but at least it should drop the prices on
the 64 mb GeForce2 cards at time. I have the GeForce2 MX ( 32mb) card now,
and will probably upgrade to one of the 64 mb versions when the NV20 comes
out. I generally don't buy the latest and greatest when their released,
mainly cause I am stingy with my money :).

--
Don Burnette

by **Larr** » Tue, 13 Feb 2001 09:07:08

Always :)

-Larry

by **Mike Donnelly J** » Tue, 13 Feb 2001 10:27:06

Sigh... I suppose I should have been more carefull how I phrased that. Will
it be out in the next 4-6 weeks or is it on the horizon?

> Always :)

> -Larry

> > Follow up question: is there going to be a new generation of vid cards
> coming
> > out that will render anything I buy today obsolete? If so, how soon will
> it be
> > released?

by **Roger** » Tue, 13 Feb 2001 10:57:17

Hmmmmmmmmmm,......... I was wondering what that was about Don.
I was thinking maybe you had some info on a new version of MX. :)

by **Larr** » Tue, 13 Feb 2001 10:56:36

No, I think the NV20 is a few months away.

Not many of us will be able to afford the NV20, but it should push the GTS
Ultra's down into the $300's so us mere mortals can afford it's overpriced
RAM :)

-Larry

> Sigh... I suppose I should have been more carefull how I phrased that.
Will
> it be out in the next 4-6 weeks or is it on the horizon?

> > Always :)

> > -Larry

> > > Follow up question: is there going to be a new generation of vid cards
> > coming
> > > out that will render anything I buy today obsolete? If so, how soon
will
> > it be
> > > released?

by **Roger** » Tue, 13 Feb 2001 11:08:40

is enough CPU for the 64mb GeForce2? I hear its basically a balancing
act between card and processor. I been pondering the same upgrade,
but want to look at it closer, as a T-bird and new board might yield a
greater improvement.

by **Don Burnett** » Tue, 13 Feb 2001 13:18:56

Lol, just seeing if y'all were awake.
:)

--
Don Burnette

by **Don Burnett** » Tue, 13 Feb 2001 13:22:11

results with it along with my GeForce2 mx card.
I average probably around 35-45 fps with full field of ai, all graphics on,
world and draw ahead around 50%.
I am sure a 64 mb GeForce2 card would be an improvement, but it won't be
long before I add a new cpu - will probably get a new cpu and the 64mb card
at the same time.
You may want to go ahead and get that new T bird and board, then add the 64
mb GeForce when the prices drop.

--
Don Burnette

> is enough CPU for the 64mb GeForce2? I hear its basically a balancing
> act between card and processor. I been pondering the same upgrade,
> but want to look at it closer, as a T-bird and new board might yield a
> greater improvement.

by **The Enigmatic O** » Tue, 13 Feb 2001 15:13:33

Um. Make that 256 meg, of course.

-Tim

rec.autos.simulators

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