Topic: Slow Ship Simulator PC PROBLEM? (Read 11296 times)

Capt. Matt · « **Reply #25 on:** June 15, 2009, 23:08:43 »

hehe ok I think I get what you are saying that duel and quad may have more cores but the speed will only be 2.5 but if it was a single core it could have a speed of say 5 ghz right?

TJK · « **Reply #26 on:** June 16, 2009, 06:21:26 »

Quote from: Capt. Matt on June 15, 2009, 23:08:43

hehe ok I think I get what you are saying that duel and quad may have more cores but the speed will only be 2.5 but if it was a single core it could have a speed of say 5 ghz right?

single core will also bee 2.5 ghz , learn Norwegian then it essayer to explain

Capt. Matt · « **Reply #27 on:** June 16, 2009, 20:31:20 »

Hehe tore I dont think I could do nearly as well in norweigan as you do in english

TerryRussell · « **Reply #28 on:** June 17, 2009, 17:01:45 »

Just to add to what Tore is saying, although you may have two or four cores, all running at 2.5GHz (for instance), most software will only see the first core. The other cores will laze around in the sun, drinking their beer.

Even if you have software that can use multiple cores, having two cores at 2.5GHz is not the same as one running at 5. The overhead in managing to divide the work between them and then recombine their output will probably give you the equivalent of a single core running at 3.0GHz, at best.

It's a shame, but at least the manufacturers get more money from you. So that's something to be happy about. (Did I sound cynical enough there?).

Capt. Matt · « **Reply #29 on:** June 17, 2009, 19:03:28 »

Thanks terry Umm so Id be better off with a single core or duel?

TerryRussell · « **Reply #30 on:** June 17, 2009, 20:25:18 »

It depends on the software that you plan to use with it.

Pound for pound /dollar for dollar, a single core, ultra-fast processor will go faster than an equivalent cost multi-core, I expect.

But with Windows 7, all that could change. Perhaps SS Extremes will make better use of multiple processors. No data on that, yet.

I suspect that whichever way you go, there will be times when you'll wish you'd gone the other way.

Capt. Matt · « **Reply #31 on:** June 17, 2009, 20:45:02 »

Hmm which would be best for SS New Horizons since you dont know about Extremes also would you say a fast duel is best? Because It seems that SS runs best on a fast duel

TerryRussell · « **Reply #32 on:** June 17, 2009, 21:57:50 »

I have it running well on a fast single, and also on a fast dual. Both about 3.2GHz.

Vista seems a little better with the fast dual, but there's not a lot of difference. It could be the video drivers or something else, anyway, not the processor.

Capt. Matt · « **Reply #33 on:** June 17, 2009, 22:56:06 »

3.2 I cant find anything online wiht a 3.2 or 3.5 or 3. anything for that matter only 2.8

TerryRussell · « **Reply #34 on:** June 17, 2009, 23:02:32 »

I build my own, as you might expect. 3.2 is easy that way...

Capt. Matt · « **Reply #35 on:** June 17, 2009, 23:06:02 »

I figured what would you reccommend for like 500-600 bucks that is good?

TerryRussell · « **Reply #36 on:** June 17, 2009, 23:06:42 »

TGI Friday.

TerryRussell · « **Reply #37 on:** June 17, 2009, 23:12:02 »

Quote from: TerryRussell on June 17, 2009, 23:06:42

TGI Friday.

But seriously, it's difficult for me to recommend anything directly.

As you're located 5 or 6 thousand miles across the pond, what you can get and what I can get are very different.

Capt. Matt · « **Reply #38 on:** June 18, 2009, 01:11:45 »

Very true but processor wise dont we have the same stuff like Intel and AMD so can you tell me like Intel Core 2 duo 2.8 GHz or somehting?

TerryRussell · « **Reply #39 on:** June 18, 2009, 18:43:42 »

What I mean is that a processor on its own is irrelevant. You need to consider the entire system. You could have the fastest processor in the universe, but if the bus-side handling is slow, then you'll wait on that. Or if the video card can't show the images fast enough then it's a waste of processor. Or if the memory is slow, or....

I see systems all the time where the assembler goes all out to push how fast some aspect is, but then fails to explain that this super-fast bit will be largely wasted due to some bog-standard other bit.

But they will get more money from you, so that's useful.

For them.

It just is so difficult to look at a PC and say "This will be perfect".

For hints and tips:

If you can afford it, get an Intel. The AMD calculations of what they are equivalent seem to have become more marketing hype over recent years.

Remember that a QUAD core does not work four times faster than a single core. In some situations it may be slightly slower! In most situations it will make no difference. Only where Windows and the Application can make good use of the multiple cores will it be any faster, and even then it won't be life-changing.

Capt. Matt · « **Reply #40 on:** June 18, 2009, 19:44:42 »

ok this helps so running vista id need like a 9500 Nvidea graphics correct? at least 4 gb of ram and a duel core , fast correct?

TerryRussell · « **Reply #41 on:** June 18, 2009, 19:49:16 »

I have Vista running perfectly well using an 8800 GTX (which I reckon is the king!), 4 GB RAM (being 32 bit Vista, it can only see a maximum of about 3.6GHz even if I fit more).

Processor speed is 2.8GHz (single core) on that one.

Capt. Matt · « **Reply #42 on:** June 18, 2009, 19:50:25 »

nd the game runs fine on that?

TerryRussell · « **Reply #43 on:** June 18, 2009, 19:53:09 »

Quote from: Capt. Matt on June 18, 2009, 19:50:25

nd the game runs fine on that?

It sure does.

But the hardware is not the only possible bottleneck. I've spent a lot of time ensuring I have suitable drivers for the PC. Right the way from the chipset drivers and so on, up to the video drivers, etc.

Capt. Matt · « **Reply #44 on:** June 18, 2009, 20:06:37 »

drivers are updates correct?

TerryRussell · « **Reply #45 on:** June 18, 2009, 22:41:53 »

No.

They are software "programs" that the PC needs so that it can drive all the devices correctly. Most people know about video drivers and so on, but underneath it all, Windows needs to drive the data bus for the hard drives and the usb port and a thousand other things.

Very few people ever install the updated drivers. They are difficult to locate and even more difficult to know which ones are required. The manufacturers don't make a lot of noise about them. Fortunately, thsi PC I am using right now uses the Nvidia Mainboard driver set and Nvidia do have some easy detection systems.

But your PC could use the Intel set or the VIA set or some other set. And then you really need to know which chipsets are on the motherboard.

Capt. Matt · « **Reply #46 on:** June 19, 2009, 15:44:49 »

INtel Graphics accelerator 3100 for a video card Is that good it has 256mb of memoryIve never heard of an intel Graphics Card though

EDIT Hi Terry on my currrent PC can you tell me if I need anything

TerryRussell · « **Reply #47 on:** June 19, 2009, 20:01:10 »

Intel make the "on-board" graphics chipsets. They're just about good enough for office work. But they aren't supported in many games because they simply can't do what is needed. You could just about run Ship Simulator with one of the latest Intel chipsets, but some missions wouldn't work at all and may would have strange video effects ("grid" instead of the sea, missing bits & pieces) as well as a probably jerky or distorted images.

So far as I know, Intel don't make actual graphics cards. But they do make very good chipsets for the PC itself. As do Nvidia.

OK, moving to your PC:

(1)
Your processor looks fine.

(2)
You've "only" got 2GB of memory.

More memory is always a good move, up to 4GB on 32 bit Windows. (Windows won't actually see the last 0.4GB or so, but I personally feel that's acceptable so that I get the 3.6GB that it can see).

(3)
I suspect that you could improve the gaming performance by having a different video card.

For Ship Sim 2008 and Pro, the Nvidia 8800GTX seems excellent, and the 8600 range is also excellent value for money. I can't tell the difference, other than the 8600 versions are less expensive than the 8800. But either is good.

Just check carefully to make sure that the version you get (if you do) does not "share" memory with the PC. You need to check very carefully. It isn't easy to figure it out. If you're unsure, get the seller to confirm that it doesn't. Then if it does, you can get them to fix the problem.

(4)
As a quick and easy thing to do, you might want to consider updating the CODECs on your system. From what I can see, I think you have the Windows defaults. There are plenty that are better (and free). Take a look for "CODEC" in my posts in Technical Support and you'll find links in many of them.

If you do have the latest ones already, then you'll just waste a few minutes. Otherwise, you may find it makes quite a difference.

Capt. Matt · « **Reply #48 on:** June 19, 2009, 20:06:24 »

OK So I will check that stuff out but back to the whole intel chipset thing here is the link to the PC would you be able to tell me if its good or not?
I think the ram is low for Vista 64 bit but your the expert

http://www.staples.com/office/supplies/p17_HP-Pavilion-a6838f-Desktop-PC_276536_1_Business_Supplies_10051_true_FEATURED:SC3:CG71 (http://www.staples.com/office/supplies/p17_HP-Pavilion-a6838f-Desktop-PC_276536_1_Business_Supplies_10051_true_FEATURED:SC3:CG71)

TerryRussell · « **Reply #49 on:** June 19, 2009, 20:45:18 »

Unfortunately, that link won't show me anything. I think it's because I'm outside of the USA.

Author Topic: Slow Ship Simulator PC PROBLEM? (Read 11296 times)

TJK

TerryRussell

TerryRussell

TerryRussell

TerryRussell

TerryRussell

TerryRussell

TerryRussell

TerryRussell

TerryRussell

TerryRussell

TerryRussell

TerryRussell