The news is out once again!  Link
        
| |
|
11 hours! Where is everyone? 
| |
|
|
|
|
|
#4329
by Citizen Kazzryl - 7/29/2004 9:02:38 AM
Morning all!
Great newsletter, VoT! 
I have a question for the computer gurus out there. I'm having trouble with a new game I just bought (The Suffering). The graphics are all "blocky" and slow. First question, what do I need to have my system run on bare processes. I notice in the window task manager, I have a bunch of stuff running, what can I shut down, or better yet, what do I need to keep going?
I have Windows XP, Dell Dimension 4600, Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.40 Ghz, 2.39 GHz, 256 MB of RAM. From what I can tell, I meet the system requirements, yet the game's graphics are all screwy and the mouse/cursor is terrible at moving. Any suggestions?
    
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Damoose just about covered it.
Make sure you have got the newest drivers from Nvidia, and make sure you have at least DirectX 9. Your 64MB GeForce4 is probably pretty good, I'm more of an Radeon/ATI guy myself.
As for all of your background programs, those are probably necessary. All of my background stuff is using nothing more than 100K of memory, and I'll bet yours is the same way. That won't affect performance whatsoever. What your problem is the memory. I've got 512MB and it is often just enough to get by. So start you need at least 256MB to add on, and you are probably better off getting 512MB.
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| Also, he mentioned I should seriously consider switching to ATI/Radeon...the 9500 series, especially if I want to play Doom 3 when it comes out. |
|
Well, I would get a 9600XT at the least, the 128MB version. I like ATI cards better than NVidia, but it's really hard to tell the difference in the high end cards. A GeForce 6800 will be just as good as the X880 Radeon. If you want reviews go over to Link or Link
If you are in the market for a card, I suggest buying it from NewEgg. I get the majority of my parts from them. Link
     
| |
|
|
|
|
|
If you want to buy a new video card, go all out and get a Radeon 9800. Its an arm and a leg to buy, but its worth it.
BTW, Damoose also suggested updating the drivers. 
To get RAM, it really doesn't matter I don't believe. You could just as easily go to whichever computer store you go to nearby and get it as you could from Dell directly. Just be certain that if you get it from a store that you double check to make sure it will be compatible with Dell. I've never heard of troubles of that sort, but see if the memory says any systems not to use it on.
| |
|
Mixing ram USUALLY doesn't cause problems, but I try to stick with what I have. With the 4600 I believe it have DDR memory, and my prefferred manufactures are Kingston, Corsair, and Mushkin. If money is no object, look for the OCZ Technolongy. 
| |
|
|
|
That's because the staff probably gets more for certain computer, which happened that week to be ones with 256MB RAM, probably trying to get out old stock.
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Exactly, USUALLY and I don't even chance it.
| |
|
Hey guys, sorry I wasn't on last night. Had an unexpected development when some guy decided to rear-end me at about 40 miles an hour when I was stopped. Not fun. My trunk is a total loss, will need to be replaced, and the bumper as well, since what remains of the trunk tries to close on aluminum. But I don't have to pay a dime since we have total coverage on the car, and it was not my fault whatsoever. They can't blame me at all, so I'm lucky on that. Oh, the guy was driving on a restricted license, and the truck he was driving was his girlfriend's dad's truck. I think they arrested him. But anyway, besides that, all is well.
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
