Planetside computer upgrades

[ChickenLips]

Hello all, currently I'm running a P4 1.4 with 1.2 Gigs of (rambus)RAM. I have an old SoundBlaster live and a Geforce 3 video card. Currently I'm running XP Pro. My connection is via ADSL.

During beta I played Planetside in 1280X1024 with all graphic settings set pretty low as well as the clip plane and it ran very well, with almost no lag. What I would like to accomplish is getting similar performance, with higher detail settings as I'm missing alot of eye candy.

What, if anything should I upgrade my computer with to achieve this? I figured a better video card would help, but which one? There are a lot of choices out there and I'm not up to date on which is performing best at the time. Is the sound card an issue as well? Thanks!

[vawlk]

damn, and I thought my 1ghz with 640mb pc133 ran pretty well :)

1024x768 low detail (but max viewing distance)...can you guess my role?

[Dingo]

it depends on how much money you got. i don't think you have any probs with ram. radeon 9800 pro, 9700 pro 8500. i got the 7500 lower end deal. then there's always nvidia ti4200 and the like for under $200. check out ebay you can get good deals. also check out the sites. in 5 mins you can have a good idea of what's good. even better go to pc gamer site for comaprisons with benchmarks

[ChickenLips]

Money isn't really an issue at the moment, I'll happily spend a couple hundred or more on a card if its worth it.

[Jarlo]

I recently read up on this myself and most reviewers conclude that the current best power for $$ is the Sapphire Radeon 9500 Atlantis Pro. This sucker runs about 160-180 but has really glowing reviews and it is what I will get if/when I can convince the wife I need it.

Enjoy!

Radeon Review (http://www.sharkyextreme.com/hardware/videocards/article.php/1578531)

[ChickenLips]

Thanks Jarlo, and as for the wife, something I was told a long time ago by my father regarding the spouce...

"its far easier to ask forgivness than to ask permission"

/bow

[Prowler]

My new computer which will be arriving this week. Should be able to run PS pretty well:

P4 3.06 GHz
2 GB of PC3500 Ram
GeForce FX 5800

If this can't run PS Full settings.........

[Kaltagesta]

sheeeeet, bro.

[SpaceDrake]

ChickenLips, the ONE thing holding you back is your processor. I use mostly the same parts (less RAM, in fact) and I'm capable of playing almost full detail, because I have a P4 2.53ghz. Just get yourself a processor upgrade and you'll be fine.

And @ Prowler: die thx :p

[ChickenLips]

Id love to upgrade my proc, trouble is that damned rambus RAM that came out as the "best RAM ever" and then was abandoned for its cost like 4 months later. I don't believe it's compatable with any of the newer motherboards :(

[SpaceDrake]

Uh, is your processor soldered to the motherboard (I.E. it's a HP/Compaq/Sony?)

If so, then you're in trouble. That processor's looking anorexic ATM, and you'll need to upgrade within the next 6 months anyhow. However, if it's not brand-name you should be able to remove it without too much trouble.

[ChickenLips]

Well Im not much of a hardware person so I have no clue, but I highly doubt it as I had this computer built a few years back as a gameing machine for half-life etc. The guy that built it used quality parts on her.

Shoot me an email if you dont mind taking the time, Id be interested into looking into this. If I can upgrade my CPU without having to buy another gig of RAM Id be very happy!

[email protected]

[bdomz]

you can definitely upgrade your CPU. Your motherboard probably uses the old socket 423 so you may need an adapter in order to use one of the newer socket 478 processors. There is a good adapter called powerleap, it might be worth checking out. Depending on your motherboard you may be able to go as high as 2.6ghz (the highest processor with a 400mhz FSB) But definitely do some research first.

[Destroyeron]

It's gonna be your processor, and if money's not a problem, get an uber graphics card. lol.

[malaphar]

i haven't played ps yet, but from my experience with current games that look better id say that your vid card is more likely to be a problem than your cpu. there are many options out there right now so its kind of a rough time to be buying a new card. i personaly am going to wait to see what some of the new benches bring to the table.

currently the fx 5900s seem to be the absolute best cards but with a price of 400 - 500.

i agree with the guy who said the ati 9500 pro is the most bang for your buck, but im personally an nvidia fan boy myself.

my problem is that i cant afford the fx but dont want to go ati until more benches come out which might make me go ahead and save for the fx 5600 or something ..... i dunno.

[malaphar]

oh ... i also run amds which run faster than pentiums ... this may be why i have no problem running high end games with my xp2000 1.67ghz .... though i can tell my geforce 3 is holding me back sometimes. especially if its direct 3d.

i have no experience with pentiums to really say what's good enough or more than enough for gaming so my previous post might be void if the difference is drastic.

[Prowler]

Yuck AMD. :mad:

[UberNegern]

Originally posted by Prowler
My new computer which will be arriving this week. Should be able to run PS pretty well:

P4 3.06 GHz
2 GB of PC3500 Ram
GeForce FX 5800

If this can't run PS Full settings.........


Why would anyone wanna by a GeForce FX 5800
who sounds like a goddamn train and gives away heat like a vulcano. When you can buy a ATI 9800 who is gives away less heat, less noise and is faster in all area then the FX card????

Oh well its your cash.

[Kaltagesta]

i think someones jealous...
lol

[Prowler]

FX owns your 9800. gg

[MilitantB0B]

My computer will look as follows when all is said and done:
Athalon XP 2400+ 2GHz
1 gig PC3200
Radeon 9500 Pro with flashed BIOS

I don't really care about high graphics settings, just as long as I can run with the fog plane far far away. :)

[malaphar]

ahem (http://www.hardocp.com/article.html?art=NDc0LDI=)


according to the above benches the 9800 pro does out perform the 5600 but gets stomped by the 5900 ultra.

keep in mind that nvidia also has an uncanny record of boosting outrageous performance out of their cards with new drivers. not that ati doesn't improve their cards with catalysts, but the last detonators nvidia put out improved performace for the fx by 30%. its not likely to see a jump like that again, but its something to consider.

[malaphar]

second set of benches ... this one has the 5800 in it which still smashes the 9800pro. (http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.html?i=1821&p=22)

[Prowler]

Hey mal, or anyone can you give me the name of a site or ccompany that sell's the FX 5900? I cant seem to find any, is it out?

[malaphar]

whoops my bad ... it doesnt smash it once fsaa and af is enabled ... in ati's credit the 5800 is barely outperforming it at 4x fsaa and 8xaf.

the 5900 ultra stays a little bit further ahead.

im sure the ati9900s wish smash it though .... we live in a great time.

[malaphar]

not released yet .... i think its next week though.

but dude ... at release its probably gonna be a $500 card.

[Prowler]

lol the 5800 Ultra I have on order is about that, so I might as go with the 5900 Ultra even if it is a lil more $ right?

[ChickenLips]

Ok, I remain confused, Graphics Card or Processor? (not both cause Ill just wait and buy a new computer).

As I stated originally, the game runs flawlessly on my current set up (the aiming reticule gets bogged sometimes with fine movement but thats another issue I think). I almost never experience severe lag and everything runs nicely. What Id like is more eye candy. I want to turn decals on, get more detail, etc.

[Prowler]

Then you want a new Graphics Card my friend. :)

[ChickenLips]

The voice of reason has spoken......

Many thanks to everyone who's added thier 2 cents here.

[bdomz]

graphics card will undoubtedly help you the most. Everything else is secondary to that.

[malaphar]

hell yeah dude ... if you got the cash to drop its by far the best on the market right now.

like the benches show ... the 58ultra is only barely outperforming the 9800pro once aa and af kicks in on the doom3 benches ... the 59ultra on the other hand has got a little better lead that i'd put money on widening as new detonators come out.

on the flip side things change with direct3d ... nvidia has always had issues with direct 3d that the fx was supposed to fix. the 5900 barely stays ahead of the 9800pro in the unreal2003 benches while the 5800 falls behind the 9700pro. but then the 5800 actually outperforms the 59 in splintercell. the site said this is most likely a diver issue so all and all id still go with the 5900 if you got the money.

that whole artical is awesome if you want to sit down and read through all the tech drivel ... some of its quite boring but very informative.

also in ati's defence ... so i dont sound like too much of a fanboy ... ati has well known issues with their newest catalysts so all current benches are being done with slightly older ati drivers.

all and all its a tough race that i hope continues. i really do hope the new ati9900 pushes the enevelope against nvidia even more. the harder they compete with eachother the less my cards are going to cost.

[Prowler]

Ya thats true, thanks for all your info its been very helpful. I'm going to read through that article now.

[malaphar]

more benches ... these a little more on ati's side, but still show the performance increase jump from the 5800 to the 5900 .....

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,1078540,00.asp

[Dingo]

ya man. i think you definitely should go for the graphics card. don't know if you want to slap all that dough on the counter for a 9800, but if you do want top grade go ati instead of nvidia 'cus you'll be able to turn up the settings and still be fine performance wise.