This game runs Horrible! Help!

[cemond]

I've been trying to tweak my settings, but this game runs horrible on my system, on almost any settin gother than extreme performance. Is my system that gimped? AMD 64 3200+ (2.2ghz) BFG Nvidia 6800 GT Ultra 256mb 2GB PC3200 RAM Windows Vista Utimate Samsung SyncMaster 225bw 22" WS Monitor.

[sfarugger]

Possible your problem is Vista <img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[cemond]

I've heard there are issues w/ the 6800 GT in this game?

[BungFoo]

<cite>cemond wrote:</cite><blockquote>I've been trying to tweak my settings, but this game runs horrible on my system, on almost any settin gother than extreme performance. Is my system that gimped? AMD 64 3200+ (2.2ghz) BFG Nvidia 6800 GT Ultra 256mb 2GB PC3200 RAM Windows Vista Utimate Samsung SyncMaster 225bw 22" WS Monitor. </blockquote> If you are running the game at the native resolution of your monitor I would expect spectacularly bad performance. The 6800 series is quite old at this point and so is the processor. I play in Vista and there isn't that much of a performance loss in comparison to XP ( I have a dual boot ). Basically, try running at a lower resolution, start at 1024x768. If you use the in game performance presets I would start with the one under balanced. It should run reasonably well at that res. You might be able to get it up to balanced if you turn off shadows. In a nut shell, your video card is under-powered for running EQ2 at the native resolution of your LCD. You have a good amount of ram for EQ2. Your cpu is sufficient but not great for EQ2. My girl friend plays on: athlon64 3500+ 2 gigs ram 7900 gt In windows xp at 1280x1024 resolution on the balanced preset and rarely see's less than 30 fps. Hope that helps.

[cemond]

IS there any way to make my picture more clear when I dont run at the native REsolution then? Its blurry at anything less than 1680x1050

[BungFoo]

Yes there are two possible ways. First, in the nvidia driver, look for the "Flat Panel Scaling" setting and set it to use nvidia scaling with fixed aspect ratio. If that doesn't work (scaling was broken in vista nvidia drivers last time I checked.) The other option is that your display *may* support 1:1 scaling. You would need to dig through the lcd's on screen display settings to see if that option is available. Hope that helps. EDIT I did some research and it looks like your display does not support 1:1 scaling. Here's hoping that the nvidia driver you are using can do it. Also, by way of explanation, all this will do is force the display to stop stretching the image. What it will do instead is display the image in the center of the screen with black bars around it.

[cemond]

So it would force a 4:3 image with black bars similiar to an HDTV not using the stretch function

[BungFoo]

You've got it.

[cemond]

What kind of Upgrades could I do to improve my performance short of buying an all-new PC. I know PCIE is the new thing, Can't even buy AGP mobos new anymore. Is there any CPU or AGP Card upgrade which is cost effective which would provide a substantial performance boost or should I be looking at an all new PC.

[BungFoo]

I believe that you can still find agp 7900gs's and ati may still have a mid-range agp card as well. Other than those, yes, you are looking at a complete upgrade to get better performance. The bright side is that amd's chips are dirt cheap right now. An athlon64 x2 6000+ (3Ghz) is 172 usd on newegg. Also, intel's core 2 duos are very inexpensive as well. So, you can probably upgrade mobo, cpu, ram and vid card for 600-700. You may need to get a new power supply though as well.

[Bloodfa]

<p><a href="http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010380048+1069609639+1068310557&name=512MB" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...&name=512MB</a></p><p>Check out the list of 512 meg agp cards.  My spare rig is similar to yours, and looks pretty decent on medium settings with either a 1650 or a 7600, both of which can be had for under $120 US.  Whichever card you get will need a separate 4-pin rail for power, but they all come with adapters, so any power connection will suffice.</p>

[StoneySilen]

ATI has a X1950 AGP version.  It is currently the fastest and best AGP card available. <a href="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814241049" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16814241049</a> <a href="http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010380048+1069609639+106790809+1067924896+10683 10557&name=512MB" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...&name=512MB</a> The X1950XT is the faster of the two but only has 256mb ram while the X1950Pro has 512mb ram.

[cemond]

We'll im probably going to put together a new PC then. I just bough a new case, an Antec Sonata II, will this be good enough for a new mobo/cpu/vidcard etc... Its a 450 watt PSU. <a href="http://www.antec.com/us/productDetails.php?ProdID=15139#" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.antec.com/us/productDeta...p?ProdID=15139#</a> I wanna go the PCI-E route, and make a system that can not only run this game at high settings, but future games like Crysis and such. How much am I looking at $ wise for this?

[Bloodfa]

<p>[Removed for Content], took too long to post and it timed out.  Anyway, you are looking at between $1200 and $1400 for a decent rig that's got plenty of room to grow.  Depends on your budget, really.</p>

[Ninkobei]

you may want to consider a Corsair or OCZ power supply, 520 watts or greater. the 2900xt (if you choose to get that particular card) will need a good powersupply and 450 watts probably wont cut it. however, you would be able to run the 8800gts which is a [Removed for Content] fine card.