Lol, the poster that said "2 gigs" was just saying that 2 gigs is useful not that its needed. And I agree, windows and all the start up programs people use take up alot of ram. 512 imo would be cutting it close. If you do go for the Vid Card close all the runing apps that you can live without to free up what ever ram you can.
Djin, not to hate but why talk crap in the EQ2 forums, and do it over and over. We understand you preference in MMORPGS and respect that. But please don't hate on other peoples games, it just annoys people and doesn't really solve anything. But you'll do what ever you want because your you or somthing.
04.10.04 The foundation of your system is the motherboard (mobo.) Some people are still using sdram memory and pci slot early 1990s mobo. And if you are still using W98.2 operating system (OS) you will have a tough time using more than 512MB system memory. The newer mobo are using DDR2 system memory 200MHz fsb and pci express (PCIe) chipset (data transfeer pathway.) Soon dual-core cpu and 64bit OS supporting mobo will be a concern. So if you want +3 years use in your upgraded system you want one using DDR2 system memory, a pcie type gpu and sata hard drives (HD.) The high end gpu (X800 and GF6800) are in short supply and need a serious near 400watt power supply (PS.) So by the time EQ2 retails, near december 2004 current 'high-end' gpu ($400) should drop a bit in price when their x8AGP models show up. The agp or pcie insert for gpu is dependent on the mobo used and are not interchangable in certain mobo brands. At a minimum get a DX9 type gpu that supports shader 2.0. It would not really matter in gpu shoping if you still have a mobo that required a pci type gpu and uses pc100 type system memory on a 100MHz fsb. Using Wxp you can easily use a pair of 512MB or 1GB matched sticks... do not keep adding newer memory with your older 32 & 64MB sticks of system memory. Newer sdram does not work well with older early 90s memory. Shoping for the 512MB memory or a X700 calabre gpu will be in the $200 range, again dependent on the mobo they will insert on. Big thing with EQ2 is the need for a Direct sound 3D type sound card. Sound is a big 'imersive' factor in the game. And cheap ($30 ish) broadband ISP (? cable tv) will definatly improve the latency vs dial-up (like 40ms vs 300ms latency in game.)
Djin has a good point buried in there, though. EQ2 could stand a bit of scaling. I mean, even if you have to turn practically everything off and scale back the textures, getting the damn thing to run on 512MB well should be something that is possible.
If what people are saying is right and 2GB is ideal, then that is a bit steep for this generation. I run 1GB and think it's overkill for today's games.
EDIT: But if 2GB is what you need to run everything on MAX, then I don't have any objection to that number, because in less than two years that will be the norm.
I think you'll find that an old pent III with 512 ram and a 4th gen nvidia card will be able to play EQ2. If you want to make use of all the extras. Textures, shadows, ground folage etc. You will need to have more ram. Over at SoE I know they have some ppl on lower end systems that are play testing.
So I point is, what do you want when you play. Just to be ingame (512), or allot of the eye candy (1gig+).
Originally posted by aeric67 Djin has a good point buried in there, though. EQ2 could stand a bit of scaling. I mean, even if you have to turn practically everything off and scale back the textures, getting the damn thing to run on 512MB well should be something that is possible.If what people are saying is right and 2GB is ideal, then that is a bit steep for this generation. I run 1GB and think it's overkill for today's games.EDIT: But if 2GB is what you need to run everything on MAX, then I don't have any objection to that number, because in less than two years that will be the norm.
No no no no no.
They absolutely SHOULD NOT scale back the geometry for the sake of obsolete hardware. The required specs are not hard to meet. The 1ghz P3 was released four years ago. A low-end 3 year old crap Dell or Gateway system can play this game just fine with the proper video card and memory configuration. Game companies are FINALLY making the right decision making their titles more "future proof."
Why should I be penalized, when I have a system that far exceeds their "recommended" specs - all because a few people need to upgrade their computer to play? I have the CPU, RAM, Video Card, etc, I have paid my dues. They have not. That's my reward - I get to play with higher settings then they do - until such time as they upgrade.
What about 2 years from now, when those then 6 year old PC's are paper weights, why should I continue to suffer because they scaled the graphics back for machines that are no longer in use?
I think they are doing the right thing. If they weren't forced, a lot of people would never upgrade. Now they have a reason to.
Scaling does not mean scaling back. Scaling means simply widening the range of possible hardware that can be used. Think slider bars for detail. When I said "even if you have to turn practically everything off" I was talking about the user doing that, not the developer. If 512MB RAM isn't enough, then move the slider back a bit so it is. You and me won't be affected.
I agree with your sentiment that the game should not be scaled back. I never meant that. But wow, that response of yours!! You'd think I was actually an SOE producer and was about to go out and make the graphics crappy or something LOL...
Go with the video card first, then at higher lvls when you get into bigger areas and raids etc, get the ram. I think you could live with a little lag in the beggining. But you could just buy the game, see how it performs, then decide them
I would like to try EQ2 as well. I will wait to see if my P4 2.0Ghz, 1gig RAM, 128MB GeForce Ti 4600 can run the game before I run out and buy a new PC. Though I can afford to run out and get a better PC if needed, not everyone can. Some people have other things to spend their money on and have to live on a budget. I agree that SOE should make the game playable on a wide range of PCs, from uber gaming PCs, to lower end PCs. In the long run it would mean they would have a much larger customer base. Those who cannot afford a newer PC will be forced to go to other MMORPGs who have taken these things into consideration. One has to keep in mind that the majority of people are using "substandard" PCs. The casual gamer is most likely not going to invest tons of money into an uber , state of the art, gaming PC. From what polls I have seen, the casual gamer is the majority of the MMORPG population. I am not trying to argue with anyone or start a flame war. I am just stating a few simple facts. Thank you for your time.
Originally posted by Paganchild I would like to try EQ2 as well. I will wait to see if my P4 2.0Ghz, 1gig RAM, 128MB GeForce Ti 4600 can run the game before I run out and buy a new PC.
If your computer has problems running EQ2 at low-medium settings come release time, SOE will have problems.
You have decent memory, a mid-line video card, and are lagging a bit with your processor. But CPU speed does not translate directly into app/game performance usually: I/O, memory, and network are usually the bottlenecks.
Originally posted by Djin My $0.02. Couldn't SOE optomize their game. I understand it's ment to be played for years to come on the newest hardware... but isn't 2GB asking a lot? I understand the point of RAM, but come on. Really, the only people that use 2GB or RAM are people who do video editing. I use 1GB and I think that's a good number. I swear, EQ2 will blow *edited*
Djin..everyone on these forums is well aware of your feelings about EQ2. Why you feel you have to continually flame the game and use obscenities every post is really beyond me. If you have a valid argument, I dont have a problem with criticisms of any game, but perhaps you could try to post in a less offensive manner and get your facts straight before doing so.
The game requirements for EQ2 are:
Operating System: Windows 98/2000/ME/XP -Processor: 1GHz or greater -RAM: 512 MB -Video Card: DirectX 9 compatible. Pixel shader and vertex shader compatible hardware with 64 MB of texture memory -Sound Card: DirectSound compatible audio hardware
So in answer to the orginal posters question - based on the system requirements, he will be fine as is..but I feel extra RAM helps improve smoother game performance and is an inexpensive upgrade.
Go with 1 GB ram then video card. RAM makes a big difference from 512 -> 1GB for gaming. The 9600 is not going to cut it for next-gen games, I would suggest upgrading your card come Christmas time.
Does anyone else get the feeling that Djin, or whatever the hell his name is , is nothing more than a disenchanted child. Sounds to me as though he realy wanted to play EQ2 more than anythingbut for some reason he didnt like something about it and decided to go to WOW as a second choice. Now he is bitter about it so he has to come to these forums and bitch and rattle on about EQ2. And yes Djinn I know your whole little montra about, "I say what I want, When I want. And if people dont like it or understand me thats too bad". Well, yes fool, people often dont want to understand or deal with complete assholes.
Since I'm running a AMD Athlon XP 2500+, 512ram, Nvidia GeForce FX 5200 256mb graphic I think I'll just wait and see if I need to buy anything. I might just have to disable a something or two or tone something down. I can live with that. I've been wanting to buy a new harddrive, so I'll have two, for extra space. That might be the only thing I buy before the game goes live just so I have enough space.
I was actually wondering the same thing. i have a p4 3.2 gig machine with 1gig of ram and a geforce fx5700 and i was thinking about either getting a new 6800 or maybe another gig of ram.
i noticed all you guys talking about 2gig being the new standard my mobo will hold 4 gig but i would never get that much ram.
also i wanted to ask. i know fps like doom3 use the ram on the vid cards.. will eq2 use ram on the card or ram in the machine? cause i am having a prob deciding on if i want the 128 card or the 256 card. i went to www.bfgtech.com and looked and i don't really see that big of a difference.. and the price is alot more for the higher end cards.
Yes, the game is not live yet, but in checking requirements and running the Starter Kit, my P4 3.4, 1GB RAM, Radeon 9600 runs it completely fine, but just in case, I have more RAM and a better Vid Card en route hehe
~Yeti ...Role Player since before D&D had their first hardcover books. (Simple and Advanced Editions rules!)
Originally posted by IowaYeti Yes, the game is not live yet, but in checking requirements and running the Starter Kit, my P4 3.4, 1GB RAM, Radeon 9600 runs it completely fine, but just in case, I have more RAM and a better Vid Card en route hehe
~Yeti ...Role Player since before D&D had their first hardcover books. (Simple and Advanced Editions rules!)
hey keep in mind Christmas is coming!! and eq2 will only have been out for about a month by that time... so hit up santa for a new card AND ram LOL
Comments
Bulldog, I suggest you get more RAM. It never hurts to have more RAM.
Lol, the poster that said "2 gigs" was just saying that 2 gigs is useful not that its needed. And I agree, windows and all the start up programs people use take up alot of ram. 512 imo would be cutting it close. If you do go for the Vid Card close all the runing apps that you can live without to free up what ever ram you can.
Djin, not to hate but why talk crap in the EQ2 forums, and do it over and over. We understand you preference in MMORPGS and respect that. But please don't hate on other peoples games, it just annoys people and doesn't really solve anything. But you'll do what ever you want because your you or somthing.
04.10.04
The foundation of your system is the motherboard (mobo.) Some people are still using sdram memory and pci slot early 1990s mobo. And if you are still using W98.2 operating system (OS) you will have a tough time using more than 512MB system memory.
The newer mobo are using DDR2 system memory 200MHz fsb and pci express (PCIe) chipset (data transfeer pathway.) Soon dual-core cpu and 64bit OS supporting mobo will be a concern.
So if you want +3 years use in your upgraded system you want one using DDR2 system memory, a pcie type gpu and sata hard drives (HD.)
The high end gpu (X800 and GF6800) are in short supply and need a serious near 400watt power supply (PS.) So by the time EQ2 retails, near december 2004 current 'high-end' gpu ($400) should drop a bit in price when their x8AGP models show up. The agp or pcie insert for gpu is dependent on the mobo used and are not interchangable in certain mobo brands.
At a minimum get a DX9 type gpu that supports shader 2.0. It would not really matter in gpu shoping if you still have a mobo that required a pci type gpu and uses pc100 type system memory on a 100MHz fsb.
Using Wxp you can easily use a pair of 512MB or 1GB matched sticks... do not keep adding newer memory with your older 32 & 64MB sticks of system memory. Newer sdram does not work well with older early 90s memory.
Shoping for the 512MB memory or a X700 calabre gpu will be in the $200 range, again dependent on the mobo they will insert on.
Big thing with EQ2 is the need for a Direct sound 3D type sound card. Sound is a big 'imersive' factor in the game. And cheap ($30 ish) broadband ISP (? cable tv) will definatly improve the latency vs dial-up (like 40ms vs 300ms latency in game.)
Djin has a good point buried in there, though. EQ2 could stand a bit of scaling. I mean, even if you have to turn practically everything off and scale back the textures, getting the damn thing to run on 512MB well should be something that is possible.
If what people are saying is right and 2GB is ideal, then that is a bit steep for this generation. I run 1GB and think it's overkill for today's games.
EDIT: But if 2GB is what you need to run everything on MAX, then I don't have any objection to that number, because in less than two years that will be the norm.
I think you'll find that an old pent III with 512 ram and a 4th gen nvidia card will be able to play EQ2. If you want to make use of all the extras. Textures, shadows, ground folage etc. You will need to have more ram. Over at SoE I know they have some ppl on lower end systems that are play testing.
So I point is, what do you want when you play. Just to be ingame (512), or allot of the eye candy (1gig+).
RAM no question get the extra 512RAM ,that card will be quite ok for EQ2.
2GB is atm an overkill and has yet to be proven to improve performance.
No no no no no.
They absolutely SHOULD NOT scale back the geometry for the sake of obsolete hardware. The required specs are not hard to meet. The 1ghz P3 was released four years ago. A low-end 3 year old crap Dell or Gateway system can play this game just fine with the proper video card and memory configuration. Game companies are FINALLY making the right decision making their titles more "future proof."
Why should I be penalized, when I have a system that far exceeds their "recommended" specs - all because a few people need to upgrade their computer to play? I have the CPU, RAM, Video Card, etc, I have paid my dues. They have not. That's my reward - I get to play with higher settings then they do - until such time as they upgrade.
What about 2 years from now, when those then 6 year old PC's are paper weights, why should I continue to suffer because they scaled the graphics back for machines that are no longer in use?
I think they are doing the right thing. If they weren't forced, a lot of people would never upgrade. Now they have a reason to.
-pooka
Scaling does not mean scaling back. Scaling means simply widening the range of possible hardware that can be used. Think slider bars for detail. When I said "even if you have to turn practically everything off" I was talking about the user doing that, not the developer. If 512MB RAM isn't enough, then move the slider back a bit so it is. You and me won't be affected.
I agree with your sentiment that the game should not be scaled back. I never meant that. But wow, that response of yours!! You'd think I was actually an SOE producer and was about to go out and make the graphics crappy or something LOL...
Bulldog Here!
I would like to say thankyou for all the insight...
If you wanted to know:
I have a Pentium 4 2.66 GHZ w/ 512MB Ram...not sure of the other particulars
I think I will have to splurge for the surround sound though...that sounds like a good upgrade.
Bulldog OUT!
Hmm, make surround sound a low priority. At least in my opinion.
It's cool as a finishing touch, but don't go cheap on the graphics card and RAM to do it.
Go with the video card first, then at higher lvls when you get into bigger areas and raids etc, get the ram. I think you could live with a little lag in the beggining. But you could just buy the game, see how it performs, then decide them
I would like to try EQ2 as well. I will wait to see if my P4 2.0Ghz, 1gig RAM, 128MB GeForce Ti 4600 can run the game before I run out and buy a new PC. Though I can afford to run out and get a better PC if needed, not everyone can. Some people have other things to spend their money on and have to live on a budget. I agree that SOE should make the game playable on a wide range of PCs, from uber gaming PCs, to lower end PCs. In the long run it would mean they would have a much larger customer base. Those who cannot afford a newer PC will be forced to go to other MMORPGs who have taken these things into consideration. One has to keep in mind that the majority of people are using "substandard" PCs. The casual gamer is most likely not going to invest tons of money into an uber , state of the art, gaming PC. From what polls I have seen, the casual gamer is the majority of the MMORPG population. I am not trying to argue with anyone or start a flame war. I am just stating a few simple facts. Thank you for your time.
________________________________
Fuego
Level 21 Gnomish Mage
Casador
Level 19 Night Elf Hunter
Silvermoon server
____________________________
If your computer has problems running EQ2 at low-medium settings come release time, SOE will have problems.
You have decent memory, a mid-line video card, and are lagging a bit with your processor. But CPU speed does not translate directly into app/game performance usually: I/O, memory, and network are usually the bottlenecks.
Cool! Thanks for the information.
________________________________
Fuego
Level 21 Gnomish Mage
Casador
Level 19 Night Elf Hunter
Silvermoon server
____________________________
Get ram.
Trust me.
Djin..everyone on these forums is well aware of your feelings about EQ2. Why you feel you have to continually flame the game and use obscenities every post is really beyond me. If you have a valid argument, I dont have a problem with criticisms of any game, but perhaps you could try to post in a less offensive manner and get your facts straight before doing so.
The game requirements for EQ2 are:
Operating System: Windows 98/2000/ME/XP
-Processor: 1GHz or greater
-RAM: 512 MB
-Video Card: DirectX 9 compatible. Pixel shader and vertex shader compatible hardware with 64 MB of texture memory
-Sound Card: DirectSound compatible audio hardware
So in answer to the orginal posters question - based on the system requirements, he will be fine as is..but I feel extra RAM helps improve smoother game performance and is an inexpensive upgrade.
Go ram!!, If ya have the experience anf the $$, get a new motherboard that will support faster ram than ya probably have, then get the faster ram!
Nothing is more satisfying than building your own computer from scratch..
<after you spend hours configuring to get it to run
>
Since I'm running a AMD Athlon XP 2500+, 512ram, Nvidia GeForce FX 5200 256mb graphic I think I'll just wait and see if I need to buy anything. I might just have to disable a something or two or tone something down. I can live with that. I've been wanting to buy a new harddrive, so I'll have two, for extra space. That might be the only thing I buy before the game goes live just so I have enough space.
I was actually wondering the same thing. i have a p4 3.2 gig machine with 1gig of ram and a geforce fx5700 and i was thinking about either getting a new 6800 or maybe another gig of ram.
i noticed all you guys talking about 2gig being the new standard my mobo will hold 4 gig but i would never get that much ram.
also i wanted to ask. i know fps like doom3 use the ram on the vid cards.. will eq2 use ram on the card or ram in the machine? cause i am having a prob deciding on if i want the 128 card or the 256 card. i went to www.bfgtech.com and looked and i don't really see that big of a difference.. and the price is alot more for the higher end cards.
~Yeti
...Role Player since before D&D had their first hardcover books. (Simple and Advanced Editions rules!)
~Yeti
