Question About my Video Card

[SmokePie]

hey all,

I just had a simple question about my Video Card... Right now my computer is pretty old and slow..Dell P III 512 MHz 256RAM 21 Gig with a GForce 2.. Im getting like maybe 25 fps with everything but clouds on full... but when im in a campaign and theres alot of AI planes im taking a major hit in Framerate...from 25 to around 6 or 8.. :(

I was just wondering if I buy a GForce 5, will I get a considerable amount more of fps? Or it wont make much diffrence..

Thanks :thumbsup:

[Prowler]

SmokePie I would recommend a whole new set up, naturally if this can be afforded. Faster processor, more ram & new graphics card etc...

Your system is very much out dated, I'm sorry to say.

[Buckshot]

I assume your frame rates you are quoting is related to falcon?

The problem with the Falcon engine is that it is very old and outdated, it doesn't take advantage of most of the functions of the newer video cards. Also there are many other bottlenecks in that code which causes it to slow down, especially when you have a lot of units in your bubble.

This is why a new engine that offloads a lot of the graphical work onto your video card's GPU, allong with a more efficiently written code is going to allow us to do a lot more in Fighter Ops.

[Stuntie]

It's about bottlenecks.

A fastercard can still only do so much with a slow CPU etc.
A faster CPU can't help if the memory is full.
And so on

Rather than a GF5 I'd start thinking of a newer system like Prowler suggested (or a new sytem with a GF5 in it).

One thing I've done many times when building systems for people who can't afford a top of the range system (or don't need something that powerful) is to go 'last year'

You'll need a new motherboard and memory for sure (it's always the case when jumping a CPU generation :x ) I recommnend getting a decent Motherboard - more room to grow later.

You can then buy the other bits accorrdingto your needs and wallet.
E.g. rather than a 3.x GhZ CPU get a slightly out of date, but still powerful CPU such as a 2.x
The price will be half to a quarter of the latest stuff.
Same with graphics cards - get an older 64 or 128 Mb card for a lot less than the latest.

You can end up with a sytem that is seriously good for a lot less.
I rarely buy 'the latest' - the second on the list is usually 95% as good, but 50% of the price.

[Prowler]

You can end up with a sytem that is seriously good for a lot less.
I rarely buy 'the latest' - the second on the list is usually 95% as good, but 50% of the price.

Undoubtedly the best advice Stuntie...and a fact of our computer lives.

[341-Phalanx]

...?

[Bladehawk]

IF ! IF ! FO will be released THEN I Will worry about my System... :lol:

[jhook]

Sorry to say it Bladehawk, but Buckshot gave us a little hint about the graphics engine. More than likely, you will have to update your system in order to get the eye candy, but I'm sure there will be a graphics slider (or some kind of adjustment) to allow older systems to have a go at it. As for updating your system, the newer video cards (2001 and up) have independant co-processors which makes it independant of the main frame and motherboard. It has it's own CPU and DDR ram (it is, in it's self, it's own computer) and the cards now control the FPS. That's not to say that other things about your computer isn't important. Ram is used to load the video card with graphics info, the CPU dictates how fast evrything can process across the mother board and the motherboard conects it all together. My personal sugestion would about video cards is to stick with Nvidia (try the FX 5600 or better, only about $150.00, but worth the FPS, and get the NForce 2 motherboard with a 2.5 or better CPU) That combination will problebly alow you to set evrything up and on for Fighter Ops!