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?
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
"Mike Donnelly Jr" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
> 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?
>
>
>
>
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)?
Don Burnette wrote:
Quoted text (7 lines)
> 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 BurnetteAgreed 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
"Don Burnette" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:RIDh6.266142$[email hidden]...
> First I would pick up a new vid card, either a GeForce2 mx 9 32 mb), orone
Quoted text (53 lines)
> 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 > > > "Mike Donnelly Jr" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:[email hidden]... > > 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? > > > > > > > > > >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?
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
"Mike Donnelly Jr" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
> 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)?
>
>
> Don Burnette wrote:
>
> > 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
>
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
"Mike Donnelly Jr" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
> 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?
>
>
>
Always :)
-Larry
"Mike Donnelly Jr" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
> Follow up question: is there going to be a new generation of vid cardscoming
> out that will render anything I buy today obsolete? If so, how soon willit be
> released?
>
>
>
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?
Larry wrote:
Quoted text (14 lines)
> Always :) > > -Larry > > "Mike Donnelly Jr" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:[email hidden]... > > 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? > > > > > >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
"Mike Donnelly Jr" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
> Sigh... I suppose I should have been more carefull how I phrased that.Will
will
> > it be
> > > released?
> > >
> > >
> > >
>
Quoted text (14 lines)
> it be out in the next 4-6 weeks or is it on the horizon? > > > Larry wrote: > > > Always :) > > > > -Larry > > > > "Mike Donnelly Jr" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > > news:[email hidden]... > > > 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 soonHmmmmmmmmmm,......... I was wondering what that was about Don.
I was thinking maybe you had some info on a new version of MX. :)
> Btw, on the GeForce2 MX vid card, that 9 I had in there was a typo.
Don, have you researched if a O/C'ed Celey 850 or 876 @ 103mhz in my case
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.
Lol, just seeing if y'all were awake.
:)
--
Don Burnette
"Rogers" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:967fro$4cb$[email hidden]...
> Hmmmmmmmmmm,......... I was wondering what that was about Don.
> I was thinking maybe you had some info on a new version of MX. :)
>
>
> > Btw, on the GeForce2 MX vid card, that 9 I had in there was a typo.
>
>
>
I am running a Celery 566@850 ( 100 mhz fsb), and am getting pretty good
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
"Rogers" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:967gh2$4ic$[email hidden]...
> Don, have you researched if a O/C'ed Celey 850 or 876 @ 103mhz in my case
> 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.
>
>
>Finally, is the 128 Meg ram good enough, not good enough, or something
>that I should upgrade when all else is complete?
Bang for your buck, go with RAM. You can get 256k of good PC133
Ram for 80 bucks or so.
-Tim
>>Finally, is the 128 Meg ram good enough, not good enough, or something
>>that I should upgrade when all else is complete?
>
> Bang for your buck, go with RAM. You can get 256k of good PC133
>Ram for 80 bucks or so.
Um. Make that 256 meg, of course.
-Tim
The Enigmatic One wrote:
I was going to say, at this level 256 *k* is laughable. But on my Apple IIe
from 1983 (was it really 18 years ago????!?!?!!)...
