I've been reading this forum alot and I tought I'd let a couple people know my experiences. With system settings etc.
I've also found that you have to go through pages and pages of what's required and were. Perhaps we can make a sticky regarding a few topics.
How many people can play together on a cable modem.
My experience roadrunner timewarner access Cable modem... (Tried this at a lan)
2 people - I personally can't tell the difference between 1 and 2 people.
3 people - can play together on a cable modem with little to no problems.
4 people - This is playable but really pushing it (probably too many), chances are someone is going to get dropped. Join small servers with large maps.
Memory (How much)
Memory basically helps your load times and should be increased with graphics settings. MEMORY IS VERY DEPENDANT ON YOUR GRAPHICS SETTINGS
512mb (single channel 200 mhz cas 2-3-3-6)
- This is what I was running for quite some time. The game is totally playable with everything on low (ATI 9800 pro 128MB) Athlon 3000 Barton, rarely get a hickup or lost connection etc.
- move anything off low and forget it
1024mb (dual channel 200 mhz cas 2-3-3-6)
- same settings as above, maps load faster never a hick-up. I can get away with some medium settings.
Yet to try 2048MB but I have a set of OCZ 2x1gb cas 2-5-2-6
- If your going to upgrade get 2Gb as opposed to 1Gb especially if your going to use medium settings on your graphics.
CPU
A barton 3000XP socket a in single channel mode is just fine. BF2 doesn't seem to require alot of CPU, mostly memory, graphics card, and harddrive access for load times.
Harddrive
- Some people say forget the harddrive, this is true during game play. If your graphics settings are not that high. If you don't have enough ram and your video settings are something other than low, you will probably experice a lag during the most inopportune time.
However,
I went from a ata100 5400rpm 30G drive to a 72G U320 Scsi 15K scsi with controller and WOW load times are really fast. Before I was getting in once everyone started playing, now I'm often the first one in.
15K scsi's and 18G drives are not that expensive on e-bay now. I basically get the same performance as my friends 2 drive raid-0 10k sata raptors.
Joystick
- Just get one with a throttle and rudder controls or stay the heck out of the pilots seat.
Sound?
- well get a head set with a mic you'll need it to be a good player. Most on-board cards suppord the hardware option. My board isn't new nf2 socket a. It will play with medium setting on hardware. I can't tell much of a difference. I personally like the "low" sound quality anyways give all the information that I need. The game is has enough going on anyways to pay attention to high vs low sound setting differences. Perhaps others can comment.
Video...
Sure spend 1000 dollars on a sli setup thats the best. ATI/nvidia join a side. I've always like nvida but I purchased the 9800 pro long time ago, was the same price as the 5700 back then. Now I'm glad I chose the 9800. Currently I'd have to lean to the 6800 in that price range.
Choose a price level then look at specific fps.
For AGP you can always run 800x600 with low and a cheaper card. Now you can get a 9800 pro for 100 bucks that's a sweet spot. It will work on low without issue. I'd either get the 9800 pro and play on low or spend around 250 on a 256MB card.
IMHO, if your board still has APG not PCIe I'd seriously consider saving money for a board and video card upgrade at one time.]
>
I've also found that you have to go through pages and pages of what's required and were. Perhaps we can make a sticky regarding a few topics.
How many people can play together on a cable modem.
My experience roadrunner timewarner access Cable modem... (Tried this at a lan)
2 people - I personally can't tell the difference between 1 and 2 people.
3 people - can play together on a cable modem with little to no problems.
4 people - This is playable but really pushing it (probably too many), chances are someone is going to get dropped. Join small servers with large maps.
Memory (How much)
Memory basically helps your load times and should be increased with graphics settings. MEMORY IS VERY DEPENDANT ON YOUR GRAPHICS SETTINGS
512mb (single channel 200 mhz cas 2-3-3-6)
- This is what I was running for quite some time. The game is totally playable with everything on low (ATI 9800 pro 128MB) Athlon 3000 Barton, rarely get a hickup or lost connection etc.
- move anything off low and forget it
1024mb (dual channel 200 mhz cas 2-3-3-6)
- same settings as above, maps load faster never a hick-up. I can get away with some medium settings.
Yet to try 2048MB but I have a set of OCZ 2x1gb cas 2-5-2-6
- If your going to upgrade get 2Gb as opposed to 1Gb especially if your going to use medium settings on your graphics.
CPU
A barton 3000XP socket a in single channel mode is just fine. BF2 doesn't seem to require alot of CPU, mostly memory, graphics card, and harddrive access for load times.
Harddrive
- Some people say forget the harddrive, this is true during game play. If your graphics settings are not that high. If you don't have enough ram and your video settings are something other than low, you will probably experice a lag during the most inopportune time.
However,
I went from a ata100 5400rpm 30G drive to a 72G U320 Scsi 15K scsi with controller and WOW load times are really fast. Before I was getting in once everyone started playing, now I'm often the first one in.
15K scsi's and 18G drives are not that expensive on e-bay now. I basically get the same performance as my friends 2 drive raid-0 10k sata raptors.
Joystick
- Just get one with a throttle and rudder controls or stay the heck out of the pilots seat.
Sound?
- well get a head set with a mic you'll need it to be a good player. Most on-board cards suppord the hardware option. My board isn't new nf2 socket a. It will play with medium setting on hardware. I can't tell much of a difference. I personally like the "low" sound quality anyways give all the information that I need. The game is has enough going on anyways to pay attention to high vs low sound setting differences. Perhaps others can comment.
Video...
Sure spend 1000 dollars on a sli setup thats the best. ATI/nvidia join a side. I've always like nvida but I purchased the 9800 pro long time ago, was the same price as the 5700 back then. Now I'm glad I chose the 9800. Currently I'd have to lean to the 6800 in that price range.
Choose a price level then look at specific fps.
For AGP you can always run 800x600 with low and a cheaper card. Now you can get a 9800 pro for 100 bucks that's a sweet spot. It will work on low without issue. I'd either get the 9800 pro and play on low or spend around 250 on a 256MB card.
IMHO, if your board still has APG not PCIe I'd seriously consider saving money for a board and video card upgrade at one time.]
>
1gb is fine as the latest patch should sort some mem leaks!!!
Comment