Ship Simulator
English forum => Ship Simulator Extremes => Topic started by: Casey13 on December 22, 2010, 05:03:43
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Ok, so I am basically now asking something different. I need a graphics card and a new processor. Can anyone give cheap solutions that are slightly above the minimal requirements?
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Hi Casey,
Sorry, the news is not good!
Both your laptop and desktop are way below the System Requirements of SSE. In both cases the processor clock speeds, RAM and video RAM are not at all suitable for running SSE.
See the attached files for SSE system requirement details. I have also highlighted the drawbacks in your Dxdiags.
Regards
vin_sun
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Hi Casey,
Sorry, the news is not good!
Both your laptop and desktop are way below the System Requirements of SSE. In both cases the processor clock speeds, RAM and video RAM are not at all suitable for running SSE.
See the attached files for SSE system requirement details. I have also highlighted the drawbacks in your Dxdiags.
Regards
vin_sun
I forgot to say, I am going to clear up very large amounts of space on the desktop, I have deemed the laptop 100% unsupportable.
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Hi again Casey,
Clearing up space on your desktop / hard disk is not going to help.
Your machine does not qualify for SSE since:-
(A) Your processor's clock speed is only 2.0 Ghz. You need 3.0 Ghz
(B) You have only 960 MB RAM. SSE requires 2048 MB of RAM
(C) Further you need a dedicated graphics card. Your machine seems to have an integrated one (embedded in
the motherboard). Added to that the video RAM is only 64 MB. SSE requires a minimum of 256 MB.
I understand your eagerness to get involved with SSE. It would hurt a lot more to own the DVD and not be able to use it effectively.
Bottom line ...... you need a new computer or get a hardware pro to figure if he can upgrade your present one. Think it over.
Regards
vin_sun
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Sorry to say it man, but anythink can work in that thinks :-[
You will need to buy a new computer or a new graphic, RAM, processor and HD (a new computer :doh:)
If you want somethink very cheap, I have a suggestion:
Graphics NVIDIA 9500 GT
RAM: 3GB
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo 3.0Ghz
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Sorry to say it man, but anythink can work in that thinks :-[
You will need to buy a new computer or a new graphic, RAM, processor and HD (a new computer :doh:)
If you want somethink very cheap, I have a suggestion:
Graphics NVIDIA 9500 GT
RAM: 3GB
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo 3.0Ghz
So technically I could use a 4GB flash drive as RAM?
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So technically I could use a 4GB flash drive as RAM?
Yes, if you use ReadyBoost option in Vista or Windows 7. However, I must say that it won't help that much...
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Graphics NVIDIA 9500 GT
That is still under the specs. Although it will run, the performance won't be very high.
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That is still under the specs. Although it will run, the performance won't be very high.
I only put graphic settings on high when I am shooting video on Fraps or taking screenshots to post online.
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What about a Core i3 540 @ 3.07 GHz, 8GB RAM, Win 7 Ult 64bit, ATI Radeon HD 5400 (1GB Video RAM) HDMI out to 28" monitor (1920x1200)?
Seems to be a tiny bit sluggish and a tiny bit choppy to me although acceptable. The audio breaks up just a tiny bit. Seems that this should be smoother than it is. It's also very slow to load up and very slow to respond to mouse activity when selecting parameters. I'm not seeing any high CPU usage, its very low so the issue must be graphics. Would overclocking the CPU help? Would a higher performance graphics card help?
I only paid $20 US for it so its not a big loss if I can't make this run better.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
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Hi SeaDogBob,
Is this a branded desktop PC ?
The specs are well above the minimum System Requirements of SSE. It should suit you fine. If you feel that graphics is an issue you can consider the ATI HD 5750 and above. I figured from the AMD website that the HD 5400 is a series and the only gfx card in that series is the HD 5450. Most branded PCs do not give you a high end gfx card. Even then it surpasses SSE's HD 4850 requirement. I also read a comment on the AMD Forum that the HD 5400 is not really meant for gaming (????)
I have an HD 5670 with a 22" LCD monitor, a mid range 3.1 Ghz processor and 4 GB RAM. I use the DVI port with an adapter connected to the VGA port of the monitor and I am quite pleased even with the 20 fps I get. Well, of course if you are into heavy gaming things could be different.
Regards
vin_sun
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Hi SeaDogBob,
...I figured from the AMD website that the HD 5400 is a series and the only gfx card in that series is the HD 5450. Most branded PCs do not give you a high end gfx card. Even then it surpasses SSE's HD 4850 requirement. I also read a comment on the AMD Forum that the HD 5400 is not really meant for gaming (????)
An ATI 5450 is clearly below an ATI 4850 in term of performances (don't be fooled by the numbers). Exactly like for instance a Nvidia 330 is way below a 285 for instance. So your graphic card is under VSTEP requirements (4850).
Another important thing to consider when posting specs of a computer is the ram quantity, many persons forget about that important factor.
DVOMarineDesign (Dom).
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An ATI 5450 is clearly below an ATI 4850 in term of performances (don't be fooled by the numbers).
DVOMarineDesign (Dom).
Thanks .... that is indeed good advice. One is always under the impression that as the "numbers" increase it supersedes the ones with lower numbers.
Regards
vin_sun
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This is just to highlight what Dom said about card numbers
(http://lh5.ggpht.com/_5qPQbQNNNuQ/TRmtC-PMevI/AAAAAAAADyQ/XZzvUzS4DFM/s800/ATI%20Radeon%20cards.jpg)
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What the numbers on the ATI Radeon graphic cards mean.
(http://lh6.ggpht.com/_5qPQbQNNNuQ/TRm2O6kp3sI/AAAAAAAADyY/1DPvkNNLmJo/s800/ATI%20cards%20info.jpg)
Regards
vin_sun
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This is just to highlight what Dom said about card numbers
(http://lh5.ggpht.com/_5qPQbQNNNuQ/TRmtC-PMevI/AAAAAAAADyQ/XZzvUzS4DFM/s800/ATI%20Radeon%20cards.jpg)
Great!, thanks for all the info.
No, its not a branded PC. No big deal for me to upgrade the video. :2thumbs:
Followup:
I replaceed the Hd 5450 with a HD 5770. Wow.... what a difference in performance. Absolutely no sluggishness now and no issues with choppy audio. :2thumbs:
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So, what exactly would everyone suggest?
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So, what exactly would everyone suggest?
Hi Casey,
So ..... do you want to get a new desktop or upgrade your present one ???
Here is a basic suggestion:-
Processor - AMD
Motherboard - Gigabyte / Asus
RAM - Kingston
Graphics card - ATI Radeon
Power supply - 500W Coolermaster
Casing - Coolermaster
DVD RW drive - Sony / LG
Just depends on your budget. Will give more details based on your reply.
Regards
vin_sun
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Hi Casey,
So ..... do you want to get a new desktop or upgrade your present one ???
Upgrade present one because it will cost less.
Just depends on your budget. Will give more details based on your reply.
My budget is $237 for a processor, $309 for a graphics card, and since I have no idea how much RAM costs, I will say $120.
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Hi Casey,
I will work on your $666/- budget and get back to you.
Regards
vin_sun
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Hi Casey,
Firstly, A Very Happy New Year 8) 8) 8) 8)
The good news is that your budget of $666 is good enough for a new computer, but without a new monitor. You can also squeeze in Windows 7 Home Premium. Please bear in mind that Windows XP is on its way out and soon Microsoft will stop supporting it. I have stayed very close to the minimum requirements of SSE and kept in mind the processor clock speed of 3.0 Gz and the recommended graphics card.
To summarize your rig will be more of an entry level gaming PC. I will give all the details later if you approve this configuration.
Processor: AMD Phenom II Dual Core 3.2 Ghz $ 92
Motherboard: Asus $ 85
RAM: Crucial 2 x 2GB (4 GB) DDR3 1600 $ 76
Graphics card: Sapphire Radeon HD 4850, 1GB, GDDR3 $ 100
Hard disk: Western Digital 500 GB $ 50
Power supply: Coolermaster 500W $ 40
Casing: Coolermaster $ 60
Windows: Home Premium 7 $ 100
Total: $ 603
You still have $63 left. If you can increase your budget to $ 700, I can recommend a more superior motherboard and a newer graphics card.
Regards
vin_sun
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Firstly, A Very Happy New Year 8) 8) 8) 8)
Thank you!
The good news is that your budget of $666 is good enough for a new computer
I had no idea that it totaled $666, how funny. But that is good news.
Processor: AMD Phenom II Dual Core 3.2 Ghz $ 92
They (Vstep) have raised the required processor speed before, do you think they will again?
Motherboard: Asus $ 85
RAM: Crucial 2 x 2GB (4 GB) DDR3 1600 $ 76
Graphics card: Sapphire Radeon HD 4850, 1GB, GDDR3 $ 100
Hard disk: Western Digital 500 GB $ 50
Power supply: Coolermaster 500W $ 40
Casing: Coolermaster $ 60
Windows: Home Premium 7 $ 100
Total: $ 603
You still have $63 left. If you can increase your budget to $ 700, I can recommend a more superior motherboard and a newer graphics card.
FANTASTIC!!! I can increase to $700, but no more.
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HI Casey!
If you can build computers what Vin_Sun is suggesting is great, I personally like Intel Chips more, they are faster...last longer, and just better in my opinion. But quality comes with a price...graphics wise I like ATI. I run an ATI 5750 and Love it (see my DxDiag attached) On my lower spec machine I have:
Intel Core 2 Duo @ 2.8GHz
7GB 833MHz RAM
ATI 4670 1GB
And it ran SSE with 20 FPS Cost me 60 dollars, I supplied the hard drive and OS and had a shop build it.
My new machine I built, see Dxdiag.
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FANTASTIC!!! I can increase to $700, but no more.
Hi Casey,
Will work on it again. Please give me some time. Will give you the option of an Intel rig too.
Capt. Matt is good with computers and what he has to say about Intel is very true.
Regards
vin_sun
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Hi Casey,
I have managed to give you an AMD config and an Intel config based on your budget of $700.
I have to mention that I am no computer pro and my knowledge is more based on from what I read on the Net. I would urge you to please consult any computer expert you may know to audit my suggestions for any change that he make think is worthwhile.
All prices quoted are from the www.newegg.com website. I am not aware if these prices also include relevant taxes so please clarify this. You may use the prices to compare what is being quoted in physical stores like CompUSA, Best Buy, etc. You can also visit their respective websites and choose what suits you especially for the case to suit the storage position at home.
As for the advantages / disadvantages of AMD and Intel there some points to be noted. AMD's processors are cheaper than Intel's but it is said they they tend to heat up more. AMD processors are backward compatible, meaning that normally when AMD releases a new processor it can be fitted into the slot of your existing motherboard, which simply means that you need not change your motherboard. Intel however does not support this as when a new processor is released, you will have to change the motherboard too and maybe even the RAM. A new motherboard also poses another disadvantage as the Windows OS sees it as a brand new computer and online activation through Microsoft will not be successful. This has been made very clear in the Microsoft website. That means you will have to buy a fresh copy of Windows and kiss you existing one goodbye !!
I have kept the System Requirements of SSE in mind and you can be rest assured that both the configs will be suitable. You will observe that it is coincidental that your budget was just right !! You may have to invest in an anti virus software though, additionally.
Please review the attached Excel files and feel free to ask me for any clarifications.
Capt. Matt, you are most welcome to offer any suggestions / comments that may help Casey.
Regards
vin_sun
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This machine cost me £399 in UK ($622.85 US)
http://www.dinopc.com/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=935&idcategory=94
I attach the DxDiag for the machine.
It runs SSE perfectly at around 23-25 FPS. I use my original keyboard, mouse and flat screen VDU with it.
Whilst I realise that such a machine may not be available in the US I hope it gives an idea of what is possible for reasonable prices.
Regards,
Traddles.
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I was not able to look at vin_sun's specs as I don't have excel :P However going back to AMD and Intel, there is NOTHING wrong with AMD. Intel is just more for longevity in my opinion. I've built computers with both Intel and AMD chips. vin_sun brought up a very valid point about AMD sockets being compatible, which is NOT the case with Intel. In example One of my machines runs an Intel LGA775 Socket (Core 2 Duo) , my current runs a LGA 1366 Socket (i7). I just find with AMD with the higher operating temperatures they tend to wear out.
Another point to look at is the computer's only as good as it's weakest link. In the case of ship sim, you could have a 3.33GHz CPU but if you only have 1GB of RAM that won't do much. So keep in mind that you could have a killer CPU, but not so much RAM. Also another thing to keep in mind is RAM speed, which generally tends to be pushed to the side which can greatly impact your computers speed ie 833MHz RAM to 1600MHz ram is a huge difference. Hard drives aren't that big of a deal. I focus on graphics, CPU, and RAM. But motherboards I'd have someone help you out to pick ;)
Regards,
Matt
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It runs SSE perfectly at around 23-25 FPS. I use my original keyboard, mouse and flat screen VDU with it.
Hi Angus,
In fact the machine I had got assembled in Sept 2010 is very close to yours in terms of the processor and RAM. Whilst you have an Nvidia 1 GB gfx card I have an ATI Radeon 1 GB gfx card. I think your gfx card is superior to mine but nevertheless SSE performs well but I reach a max of 21 FPS which is still decent.
Regards
vin_sun
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Hi Matt,
Thanks your post and all the information that came with it. This is my first experience with an AMD processor so there is something to monitor on the long run. You are very right about the CPU, RAM and GPU going hand-in-hand to deliver the optimum performance.
I have converted the Excel files into .jpg files for your convenience, as attachments. Please review them and offer your comments.
Regards
vin_sun
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Thanks vin_sun!
CPU both are good, no need to restate my AMD vs. Intel argument :P
Motherboard- I use Asus and have zero complaints. Be sure that the case can support the form factor.
RAM either are fine
Graphics 1GB is fine, DDR5 to DDR3 isn't a huge difference other than price as I use both.
Hard Disk (here I go :doh: ) No need for more than 500GB. 7,200 RPM 500GB Seagate is my recommendation.
Optical - cheapest :P
PSU- Looks good :thumbs:
Case- Id say get a sturdy casing, but with a reasonable pricetag
Windows 7 is the way to go ;)
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Thanks Matt for chipping in and for your comments / suggestions.
Casey ...... so "the best laid plans" now beckon you !!! ::) ::) ::)
Regarding Matt's comment:-
Hard Disk - No need for more than 500GB. 7,200 RPM 500GB Seagate is my recommendation.
A Seagate Barracuda 500 GB 7200 RPM will cost $50/-
I am open to further queries.
Regards
vin_sun
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Please review the attached Excel files and feel free to ask me for any clarifications.
I will get to that tomorrow. Thank you all for your informative responses, and I really appreciate each and every one of your inputs ;D
I am extremely sorry how needy I am being, but I have no idea about a computers 'guts' :(
I am also very busy and I can't take much time out of my day to be on the internet (10 minutes a day with 8 hours of sleep). I am practically dead.
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I would consider the Intel config. I am fine, and the config vin_sun gave me is perfect.
Thank you all!
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Hi Casey,
Pleased to learn that you are happy with my suggestions for the configs and have opted to go for the Intel.
To stay within your budget, I have recommended the Windows 7 Home Premium OEM priced at around $100. I feel it is better you know something about the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) version of Home Premium. when compared to the Home Premium retail version. The main thing is that the retail one costs $200. Please read the article that I have attached. Though it concentrates on Windows Vista, the same is applicable to Windows 7 too.
Regards
vin_sun
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Well, this is completely off topic, but this is my topic.
Would anyone mind reviewing my newest video?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ay7LonaM7YQ
I want your honest opinions. Thank you.
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Hi Casey,
Nice video clip. :thumbs:
However, the ideal board for this post would have been "Small Talk". Just offering you a guideline.
Regards
vin_sun
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This taunts me every day. It drives me insane.
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This taunts me every day. It drives me insane.
Careful - you might scratch the disk with it on a wooden surface :/
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Careful - you might scratch the disk with it on a wooden surface :/
I know, I am always very careful.
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I know, I am always very careful.
Ahh OK :thumbs:
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This taunts me every day. It drives me insane.
Hi Casey,
So ..... what kind of computer do you have now that is making SSE do this to you ?? ;D ;D
Regards
vin_sun
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Hi Casey,
So ..... what kind of computer do you have now that is making SSE do this to you ?? ;D ;D
Regards
vin_sun
Only the horrible Acer Aspire 5135-2326. It works sort of well with SS08 (lags in the ports, but good quality in the open ocean). IT SUCKS!!!
As of now, I only have 13GB of hard drive space :doh:
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Only the horrible Acer Aspire 5135-2326. It works sort of well with SS08 (lags in the ports, but good quality in the open ocean). IT SUCKS!!!
Ah! OK! .... still with the Acer ! When do you plan to get the Intel rig I had configured for you ? :D :D
Regards
Vin_sun
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Ah! OK! .... still with the Acer ! When do you plan to get the Intel rig I had configured for you ? :D :D
Regards
Vin_sun
Whenever I come into 700 bucks. It'll be like 4 months, maybe more. Plus the money for a computer guy to come and put everything in.
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Whenever I come into 700 bucks. It'll be like 4 months, maybe more.
Mmmm... 4 months ! Just let me know again just before you plan to buy the components. I will check prices again & maybe get you a few things more superior.
Regards
vin_sun
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Mmmm... 4 months ! Just let me know again just before you plan to buy the components. I will check prices again & maybe get you a few things more superior.
Regards
vin_sun
Will do. This topic is going to be dried up for a long while.
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I'm also playing with the idea of getting a new computer.. :-\
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Hi Casey,
Keep in mind that OEM products can only be used on the computer you originally installed it on. If you change the motherboard, or buy a second computer, you’ll have to purchase a new Windows7 OEM program. Also since Vin_Suns‘ article was written, Windows7 retail prices have come down around 30%. For example Windows7 Ultimate retail version is $289.99 (not $399) @TigerDirect.com. I would venture to say that other discount sites may be even cheaper. I never get OEM products, because I don’t know what the future holds, and OEM versions would only handcuff me, but that’s just my opinion.
You may also want to check prices on “built to order“ computers @Tiger Direct too. I always use Tiger Direct, and they have not failed me yet. I have 3 computers, and one laptop. My computer specs in my signature is the latest one, plus other goodies I bought. This is just another avenue to check when ready to purchase your new computer. This doesn’t diminish any advice Vin_Sun has given you. It’s meant to give another option or someone else’s thoughts to consider. !:)
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Hi Bob,
Thanks for pitching in here and advising Casey. Since you live in the U.S. and are abreast of the current pricing your information is indeed helpful. "Tiger Direct" looks to be another useful website.
Regards
vin_sun
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You're welcome.
I'm just glad I could give assistance, or at the very least, another viewpoint. As a moderator myself, this is what makes the forum so helpful (other peoples views, or opinions). Thanks for the reply. :thumbs:
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As a moderator myself
It does not say you are a moderator, it just says forum member.
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It does not say you are a moderator, it just says forum member.
I didn’t say I was a moderator here. I just said I was a moderator.
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I didn’t say I was a moderator here. I just said I was a moderator.
Ahh ok.