What are your PC specs?
veilchen:
Well, that's what I pulled off my DxDiagwhatever:
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Compaq
System Model: 6027US
BIOS: 686O2 v1.08
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.00GHz
Memory: 768MB RAM
Page File: 962MB used, 564MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.2180 32bit Unicode
Card name: RADEON 9700 PRO
Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
Chip type: RADEON 9700 PRO AGP (0x4E44)
DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_4E44&SUBSYS_00021002&REV_00
Display Memory: 128.0 MB
Current Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
Driver Name: ati2dvag.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.6571 (English)
DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 8/30/2005 21:42:53, 238592 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
Sound like this to me:
lajdifuaoe9r0jfkcspirer90=-4ajfauh9ru
0wr80a9jfaguht7q=]kkfjg-a0875gifja[
jt9ty9wwopijfpuethpy]t
.....ad infinitum
So, all you clever computer people, is what I have good or bad? Do I have too much garbage or something? My game runs okay as long as its not a larger lot with more than 3 sims on it. Shouldn't it run better than that? Please... keep in mind that I speak english only in english. If I run into problems understanding I habitually translate into my own language, the results of which are sometimes sad, sometimes hilarious, but never informative.
ZiggyDoodle:
Dell Dimension 8400
Pentium 4 540w/HT technology (3.20GHz, 800 FSB)
1GB dual channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz
128MB PCI Express x 16 Radeon X300SE video card
Microsoft optical mouse
16x DVD-ROM + 16x DVD+/RW w/dbl DV16DVR layer write capability
80GB serial ATA HD
TS2, Uni and NL all run fine on this machine, although it will be one year old 12/15 and is already outdated.
But...no cable t.v. or broadband where I live; just dialup. The view is nice, though.
dewshine:
gee, motoki, I don't know... I sure hope not!
I love my alienware but would never buy a Dell... I've had too many folks buy them and have little software issues crop up (like screenshots disabled when DVD's are played). I'm sure Dells are nice computers for the market they are sold to, I just don't want someone telling me I can't do something by removing or locking up functionality.
My motherboard and chipset can be easily upgraded and I have a great local computer shop that will order parts, sell with little mark up, and even install them cheaply. Heck, when I upgraded to DSL and bought a router to hook my older computer up he gave me an extra DSL worthy cable for free. My Hubby's comp needed a new DVD drive and he sold it at cost because he had to order a black one to match and made us wait for the part. I love my littile town... ;D
Here's the info from Hoovers about Alienware and Dell
Quote
Alienware Corporation
12400 SW 134th Ct., Bay 8
Miami, FL 33186 (Map)
Phone: 305-251-9797
Fax: 305-259-9874
Toll Free: 800-254-3692
http://www.alienware.com
Overview
Aliens have landed in Miami and they're spreading! Relax, they come in peace. Alienware caters to video game enthusiasts, digital video editors, and professionals in the market for high-end PCs made with top-of-the-line components. Sporting names like Area-51 and Roswell, Alienware's colorful systems utilize the highest-performance processors, video cards, and storage components available for PCs. Alienware systems are further differentiated by such features as customized cases, upgraded power supplies, and multiple cooling fans. The company sells directly and through Best Buy. CEO Nelson Gonzalez and president Alex Aguila, Alienware co-founders and childhood friends, started the company in 1996.
Key Numbers
Company Type Private
Fiscal Year-End December
2003 Sales (mil.) $50.0 (est.)
1-Year Sales Growth 0.0% (est.)
2003 Employees 200 (est.)
1-Year Employee Growth 33.3% (est.)
Key People
CEO Nelson Gonzalez
President Alex Aguila
VP, Government and Corporate Business Arthur R. Lewis Jr.
Quote
Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL)
1 Dell Way
Round Rock, TX 78682-2222 (Map)
Phone: 512-338-4400
Fax: 512-283-6161
Toll Free: 800-289-3355
http://www.dell.com
Overview
Don't let the name change fool you. Despite the decision to drop "Computer" from its name, Dell remains the world's #1 direct-sale computer vendor and competes with Hewlett-Packard for the worldwide PC title. In addition to a full line of desktop and notebook PCs designed for consumers, Dell offers network servers, workstations, storage systems, and Ethernet switches for enterprise customers. The company also sells handheld computers, and it markets third-party software and peripherals. Dell's growing services unit provides systems integration, support, and training.
Key Numbers
Company Type Public (NASDAQ: DELL)
Fiscal Year-End January
2005 Sales (mil.) $49,205.0
1-Year Sales Growth 18.7%
2005 Net Income (mil.) $3,043.0
1-Year Net Income Growth 15.0%
2005 Employees 55,200
1-Year Employee Growth 20.0%
Key People
Chairman Michael S. Dell
President, CEO, and Director Kevin B. Rollins
SVP and CFO James M. (Jim) Schneider
There's no news about a takeover...
Hegelian:
Quote from: Motoki on 2005 December 03, 18:00:49
Hegelian: Now how did I know this subject was going to get a very long post by you? ;)
Sorry! It wasn't intended to be long when I started, but I like to write, and, well, you now how it is. . . .
Anyway, let me take this opportunity to add just this:
Ditch Win98 and get WinXP (preferably XP Pro)—it is a huge improvement over 98/98SE/ME. You (speaking generally) can get it for relatively cheap (compared to the full retail price) when you by some internal component from one of the reputable mail-order dealers—a motherboard, CPU, hard drive, or video card, for example.
Hegelian:
Quote from: veilchen on 2005 December 03, 18:17:50
Well, that's what I pulled off my DxDiagwhatever:
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.00GHz
Memory: 768MB RAM
Page File: 962MB used, 564MB available
RADEON 9700 PRO; Memory: 128.0 MB
Current Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Driver Date/Size: 8/30/2005 21:42:53, 238592 bytes
So, all you clever computer people, is what I have good or bad?
Neither good nor bad, really. Are you satisfied with the game performance? The limiting factors on your frame rates (how smoothly the game runs, especially when you move the "camera") and the number of sims you can have on a lot are probably:
1. The video card. The Radeon 9700 Pro isn't really old, but it's not new either, and a video card with current technology and with 256 MB of video memory would probably give you a significant performance boost and let you turn up the detail settings--for example, are you currently using Reflections On?
HOWEVER, looking at the system specs for you computer, it may be that the power supply will not support a modern video card, since it is rated for only 220 Watts:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?dlc=en&lc=en&product=94088&dest_page=product&cc=us&docname=c00009568
2. System memory. Increasing system RAM from 768 MB to 1024 MB might give you a noticeable increase in performance by allowing more game data to reside in RAM instead of needing to be fetched from the hard drive. In combination with this, changing your virtual memory from Windows controlled to something like Initial: 100, Maximum 800 could improve performance by reducing the amount of data Windows sends out to the paging file. (See my looong posts in the Graphics Card thread for screen shots of how to do this). ;)
3. CPU: Upgrading to a faster CPU would also give a noticeable performance boost, perhaps even more than increasing system RAM—this is something you will only know by trying. Maxis provides minimum requirements but not an optimum system configuration. Since your computer is a Compaq, it probably has a proprietary motherboard which was likely made by Intel. Again, looking at the system specs for PCs in this series:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/prodinfoCategory?dlc=en&lc=en&product=94088&dest_page=product&cc=us&
it appears it may not be possible to use a CPU faster than 2.2 GHz in your computer, or a CPU that runs on a 533 MHz front-side bus—and I think it would be difficult to find a 2.2 GHz Willamette P4 (1.75V) CPU these days, or even a 2.2 GHz Northwood P4 (1.5V), and if you could it would probably cost more than the performance increase would be worth.
If your motherboard would accept a 2.8 GHz Northwood P4 that runs on a 400 MHz front-side bus, it might be worth the upgrade, but then again it might not: I just bought for my mother for Christmas an HP Pavilion with an Athlon 64 3400+, 1024MB RAM, an 80 GB SATA hard drive, a CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive, keyboard and mouse, and WinXP Home, for 500 USD plus shipping, which is probably less than it would cost to upgrade the CPU, memory, power supply, hard drive, and operating system of an old PC (the model year for your Presario 6027US is 2002--it is nearly four years old). Granted, the HP has integrated graphics (ATi Xpress), but if you were to get something like this, you could always stick your Radeon 9700 in it (you would probably need to go into the BIOS setup to disable the integrated graphics).
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