Doom3: Will this be a slide show?

[BrandtP]

Yes, yes, another Doom 3 question. I really want to play this game, but can't afford a system upgrade. I may, however, be able to swing a vid card upgrade. I understand my computer is outdated, but here it is:

Athlon XP 1800+, SB Live Value, 512 MB RAM, Geforce 3 Ti200 (64 MB RAM).

It meets the minimum requirements per the box. I have 2 questions:

1. On my current config, will this game be an unplayable slideshow?

2. I have read the Vid Card guide in the Graphic Card forum. What would be a good video card upgrade. With my current processor I would be concerned it would be a bottleneck, so I'm not sure what too get.

Thanks in advance for advice.

 

[mrface]

9600pro would do ya fine for the money also you can get a 9800p for a good price(little more expensive.)

"Never underestimate the predictability of Stupidity."
<A HREF="http://www.cameronwilliamson.com" target="_new">-={Messianic Maniac.}=-</A>
<font color=green>{FLM}</font color=green>

 

[Coyote]

. On my current config, will this game be an unplayable slideshow?

From what others have posted elsewhere, I don't think so. many are reporting this game actually works OK on a wide variety of hardware. Don't expect Ultra high or high settings. Medium or low should work OK.

What's your budget for an vid card upgrade?


Mobile XP 2600+ (11X200)
Abit NF7-S v 2.0
Maxtor 60GB ATA 133 7200RPM
512MB Corsair Twinx 3200LL
BBA 9800 Pro
Enermax Noisetaker 420 watts
Win98SE

 

[BrandtP]

My budget is low, $120- $150 US. I intend to get them offf eBay as I have had some good hardware deals from auctions in the past. How would a Radeon 9600 Pro and Geforce 5700 Ultra fare with Doom 3? These two models may be the only means of staying in budget.

Sorry if this is a double post.

 

[jammydodger]

I dunno, 1025x768 @ medium graphics settings doesnt run too great on my 2.4Ghz P4 (geforce 4 Ti4200). But i havent tried it at lower resolutions so it could be ok.

 

[BrandtP]

I'm content to run it at 800x600.

 

[pauldh]

<A HREF="http://www2.hardocp.com/article.html?art=NjQ0" target="_new">http://www2.hardocp.com/article.html?art=NjQ0</A>

Have you read this guide? You should be fine to play Doom 3. You can always give it a try and then upgrade if you want to up the visuals.

ABIT IS7, P4 2.6C, 1GB Corsair XMS 4000 Pro Series, Radeon 9800 Pro, Santa Cruz, TruePower 430watt

 

[BrandtP]

Thanks for the link. It is actually very encouraging should I not upgrade the video card. It sounds like it will be enjoyable on my current system. That was a great resource.

 

[Titanion]

I have tested it on 4 video cards so far... a 9800 Pro, a 9500@9700 modded, and a Ti4200 all ran it fine, from best to worst... the 4th card, an ATI 7500 with 64MB ram, was a slideshow...

<font color=red><b>NF7-S/MBarton 2500+
210x11.5 1.82v SP-97
GB Corsair XMS PC3200
BBA 9800 Pro 423/369</font color=red><font color=black>
NF7-S/MBarton 2600+
210x11.5 1.76v
512MB CVR PC3200
Sapphire 9500@9700

 

[BrandtP]

Played it first with the Geforce 3 Ti 200. It wasn't a slide show, but it got pretty choppy outside with that ship hovering in the very beginning.

I upgraded the video card to a Geforce FX 5700 Ultra 128 MB and it helped immensely. I got a price I just couldn't pass up versus the Radeon-- that and I just can't get past my previous ATI trauma. Unfortunately, because of the CPU I am stuck at low details and 640x480 res. Even still, it looks a lot better than RTCW, which was the last FPS I played.

 

[Coyote]

Wow, I'd a thought you could do a lot better than low details and 640x480 res with that new card. Even with that cpu. May be time for some "tweaking", turn off unneccessary background proggies like anti virus and look for some tweak guides on the net.

IIRC, even my 9800 pro stuttered at that mothership in the beginning.

Mobile XP 2600+ (11X200)
Abit NF7-S v 2.0
Maxtor 60GB ATA 133 7200RPM
512MB Corsair Twinx 3200LL
BBA 9800 Pro
Enermax Noisetaker 420 watts
Win98SE

 

[dd_viper]

lol mine did too. im running a 6800 nu, but i was surprised it was choppy

 

[BrandtP]

Coyote, what would you recommend for tweak programs? I really know very little about tweaking performance. I must admit I was also suprised not to be bumped up a resolution or maybe to medium quality. This can be adjusted manually can't it?