GPL: Worth Installing?

Okay, here's the deal: I just purchased GPL to put on the shelf for installation after the next upgrade (due in a month or three). What I'm wondering: Will my current system at least run enough of it so that I can start driving the trainer cars and practicing the circuits? Here's my current system: P233mmx 32 meg SDram Virge S3 vid card Sound Blaster 32(I think?) Win 95 Does this game run/install via MS-DOS, or is it a pure Windows sim? Any opinions/input would be much appreciated. Andre Ming

Andre Ming wrote in message <[email hidden]>... >Virge S3 vid card Ouch... that chipset was obsolete before it was released. I'd think that would be your worst bottleneck. The other problem might be finding D3D drivers for the card. You'll need the D3D patch or you'll have to run GPL in software rendering (which I wouldn't recommend on your system). Hey, try to get it working on your current PC. You'll appreciate your new machine that much more when you see how well GPL runs on it :-) Dale.

Your CPU should be fine, but I'm not sure how well the S3 video chipset can handle the D3D patch for GPL. Anybody have any clue on this? -- JB On Thu, 13 Sep 2001 15:56:30 -0500, Andre Ming <[email hidden]> wrote:

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>Okay, here's the deal: > >I just purchased GPL to put on the shelf for installation after the next >upgrade (due in a month or three). What I'm wondering: Will my current >system at least run enough of it so that I can start driving the trainer >cars and practicing the circuits? Here's my current system: > >P233mmx >32 meg SDram >Virge S3 vid card >Sound Blaster 32(I think?) >Win 95 > >Does this game run/install via MS-DOS, or is it a pure Windows sim? > >Any opinions/input would be much appreciated. > >Andre Ming

Just do it. I got hooked on GPL with a P166 and some poxy Matrox card and a voodoo 2. I admit it's cost me a fortune since I might add. -- Alan Goss GPLRank +8.68

Ram and your vid card will probably be the biggest problems. A couple years ago I wanted to give GPL a whirl but couldn't afford to upgrade then either. I ended up throwing in and old Stealth S220 that I picked up for $30, and it ran ok in practice or with 5/6 cars. My system was a 200mmx, 64meg ram, S220, win 95 osr/2, sblive value(outstanding card for the money), LWFF wheel. I'd say give it a shot. Brian Fox "Andre Ming" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

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> Okay, here's the deal: > > I just purchased GPL to put on the shelf for installation after the next > upgrade (due in a month or three). What I'm wondering: Will my current > system at least run enough of it so that I can start driving the trainer > cars and practicing the circuits? Here's my current system: > > P233mmx > 32 meg SDram > Virge S3 vid card > Sound Blaster 32(I think?) > Win 95 > > Does this game run/install via MS-DOS, or is it a pure Windows sim? > > Any opinions/input would be much appreciated. > > Andre Ming

I didn't think the s3 Virge even did 3d graphics. If you're limited to software rendering, then no, there is no point. If you can do 3d with it however, then give it a shot. You may be surprised. Rafe Mc On Thu, 13 Sep 2001 21:03:11 GMT, [email hidden] (John Bodin) wrote:

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>Your CPU should be fine, but I'm not sure how well the S3 video >chipset can handle the D3D patch for GPL. > >Anybody have any clue on this? > >-- JB > >On Thu, 13 Sep 2001 15:56:30 -0500, Andre Ming <[email hidden]> >wrote: > >>Okay, here's the deal: >> >>I just purchased GPL to put on the shelf for installation after the next >>upgrade (due in a month or three). What I'm wondering: Will my current >>system at least run enough of it so that I can start driving the trainer >>cars and practicing the circuits? Here's my current system: >> >>P233mmx >>32 meg SDram >>Virge S3 vid card >>Sound Blaster 32(I think?) >>Win 95 >> >>Does this game run/install via MS-DOS, or is it a pure Windows sim? >> >>Any opinions/input would be much appreciated. >> >>Andre Ming

"Rafe McAuliffe" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]... : I didn't think the s3 Virge even did 3d graphics. It was one of the first 3D chipsets (I had a Diamond Stealth 3D 2000 with it). IIRC, it ran a proprietary 3D. This was well before D3D. Dale.

All: So the basic problem is that infernal Virge S3 based vid board AGAIN. Sheesh. I see NO cents in installing a different board for such a short term ultra-minor gain. (i.e. to be able to hot lap GPL.) The sim shall wait patiently on the shelf until U-Day (Upgrade Day). Thanks for your replies, guys. > Brian Fox wrote: Hi Brian. I think a looong time ago we exchanged some emails about simming. I think it was you that had a website called "The Fox Den" or something like that. Thereon was a link to a "Poopy Page"?? I recall it being hilarious. Nice seeing your name again. Andre Ming

"Andre Ming" wrote

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> So the basic problem is that infernal Virge S3 based vid board AGAIN. > Sheesh. > > I see NO cents in installing a different board for such a short term > ultra-minor gain. (i.e. to be able to hot lap GPL.) The sim shall wait > patiently on the shelf until U-Day (Upgrade Day). >

Well you could probably pick up a Hercules Thriller 3D or any (rendition verite 2200 card come to that) very cheap. I wouldn't mind betting there are a few on this newsgroup with them gathering dust on shelves somewhere. Going back to GPL launch this was THE card for GPL. The Rendition card was the optimum card for this sim before V3s were around. Cheers Tony

Tony Rickard wrote:

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> "Andre Ming" wrote > >> So the basic problem is that infernal Virge S3 based vid board AGAIN. >> Sheesh. >> >> I see NO cents in installing a different board for such a short term >> ultra-minor gain. (i.e. to be able to hot lap GPL.) The sim shall wait >> patiently on the shelf until U-Day (Upgrade Day). >> > > Well you could probably pick up a Hercules Thriller 3D or any (rendition > verite 2200 card come to that) very cheap. I wouldn't mind betting there > are a few on this newsgroup with them gathering dust on shelves somewhere. > Going back to GPL launch this was THE card for GPL. The Rendition card was > the optimum card for this sim before V3s were around. > > Cheers > > Tony

For that matter, V3s are pretty damn cheap right now too. KFG

Dunno if can be compared. I had a P200 non-MMX and a V1 Was enough to enjoy the landscape at the ring (low detail of course) but not more. JensSchumi On Thu, 13 Sep 2001 21:03:11 GMT, [email hidden] (John Bodin) wrote:

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>Your CPU should be fine, but I'm not sure how well the S3 video >chipset can handle the D3D patch for GPL. > >Anybody have any clue on this? > >-- JB >

--------------------------------------------- LWFF Ball Bearing conversion at: http://jensschumi.tripod.com/ GPLRank: -13 Monsters of GPL: sub 200

You could drive it using only the chase/F10 view usually gives a lot better frame rate. Worth a go. -- Peter H Duron @ 1000 V5 @ 190