I want to build a LAN gaming.
Do I need a dedicated game server?
Say, using 8 PCs?
How many PC's before I need a game server?

thanks

Your post made no sense.

Are you trying to play a game on a network? If so, 1, you can make a dedicaated server or you can run as a host while playing.

All you need is a game, the PCs and the network. So based on your limited explination in you question this is the best that I or anyone else can do to help you.




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I think he wants to know how many people can play on a server run by a machine in use before it starts to lag, in which case he would have to set up a dedicated server.

If so, then it really just depends on the hardware in the host machine, and especially on what game you're playing. We've run 20+ people in a Counter-Strike server on a machine in use (1.1 Athlon, 256 sd133, Geforce2).

Unless its a really high demanding game on a slow system, you should probably be ok.

I ran a JKII server off my laptop. PIII-M 650 with a piece of junk graphics card. A dedicated server does not need a graphics engine. Ran an internet game with 5 people over the LAN and a lot more via the net. JKII is much more intensive than HL/CS.

You will probably feel some lag on what you are thinking of doing. Normally if you are going over 8 people while playing you will start feeling lag. You would be better off running the server on a PII 400 or something similar and then joining in on your Athlon.



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