World of Warcraft

[sitnspin]

Originally Posted by Ninjamonkey

meh wow isnt a terribly demanind game, I played a couple days of a trial on my ****ty laptop, specs are 512ram, onboard video 6150, and a sempron 3400. I had pretty much everything on the lowest settings and there was some slow down occasionally, but nothing too bad.

Oh, I agree totally. Almost anyone can run the game if they're willing to crank its A/V settings down enough. But if you're able to turn everything up, it looks pretty awesome.

BTW -- Samuel L. Jackson is a hardcore WoW player too, but I have no idea what servers he or Jens play on.

[Pitbull]

Originally Posted by sitnspin

Hey Pitbull -- are you already a PC gamer? I only ask to make sure you have somewhat decent hardware specs. WoW isn't a hugely demanding game in that way, but you should have a decent video card and a gig of RAM. Because you're playing on a server that's got thousands of other live players on it at the same time, any less than a gig of RAM and you'll find things slow down substantially in crowded areas (known in MMO terminology as "lag").

This will be the first time I play anything online, so I'm kinda anxious to see whats its like. My specs look alot like Ninjamokey's.

3400+ processor
512MB RAM
160GB hard drive

I have no clue what my video card is like, but my computer is only a year old. I'm clueless to computer technology, but I'm assuming I have a decent video card.

Think this will get me by?

[Ninjamonkey]

Right click on the desktop, go to properties, then settings tab, and read the Display line, it will say whatever monitor you have "on <insert graphics cards>". Graphics card is the main concern for most games, but even if u have onboard you will be able to run the game on low settings.

[Kentified]

Yeah you should be able to run it on low settings but unless you have an alienware pc or something that was created specifically for gaming, your onboard video card won't cut it for any hardcore gaming (Like increased graphics and games that demand a decent video card even with lowest settings)

Really even if you were to just get a cheap 100 dollar card and have someone install it for you, you'd be alot better off then with your onboard card.

[Pitbull]

Ok, I have an ATI radeon Xpress 200 Series. Is it any good?

By the way thanks guys for all of your help.

[sitnspin]

AMD's page says:

3D Gaming

The ATI Radeon Xpress 200 is the first chipset with a graphics processor that let you play the latest game titles on DirectX™ 9 and OpenGL™ technology. For serious gaming fun and competitive play, you can upgrade your performance with an additional AMD graphics card and give yourself the winning edge.

So it sounds like you're one upgrade away from being in even better shape for gaming, but I'd guess that for WoW, you'll be fine.

Going from 512 megs of ram up to a gig really made a big difference for me in terms of frame-rate and performance when the spell-effects started flying, but they make it really easy to scale all of that down until the game runs smoothly for you.

[Pitbull]

Awesome, thanks man.

The only thing I've done to a computer is replace the cd drive. Is there anything special I need to know when installing additional RAM?

[sitnspin]

Yeah. I wrecked my computer the first time I tried to install anything on the motherboard. You want to make sure everything's unplugged, you want to touch something metal to make sure that you're not carrying any static electricity, you want to make sure you're installing the right kind of ram for your computer, you want to make sure you're putting it in the right way (in general it'll only fit in one way, so this shouldn't be a problem), you want to be very gentle because it's easy to crack the motherboard, and otherwise, that's about it.

[Pitbull]

Thanks. Much appreciated.

[sitnspin]

What's the word, Pitbull? Did you get it installed and give it a shot?

[Pitbull]

Not yet man. You've convinced me to get some more RAM first. I want to install some music recording software, and thats gonna need more RAM too.

So I started looking for some online, and it sucks. There's different kinds out there and there's a bunch of acronyms I don't know the meaning to. I don't know if what I'm looking at is the right kind. I went to the Compaq website, which tells me the kind I need, but I think they're prices are too high.

Any tips?

[Ninjamonkey]

if you can get your system specs then I can tell u what ram to get, run this program cpu-z it will tell u your mobo model so we can help you. Also is this a laptop or desktop?

When u run cpu-z go to mainboard then paste here the manufacturer and model.

Actually, even better, click the SPD tab and paste in the Max Bandwidth field. IT should say PC####.

If you get that info we can recommend some ram for you.

Edit: heres a link for cpu-z: CPU-Z

[Jras0001]

Your current machine should run WoW with not much trouble Pitbull. You may not be able to have the graphics settings up as high as some other people but it will run ok. When upgrading to play games, just remember that you get the most bang for your buck when you upgrade your ram and your video card. I just built a new machine several months ago and I geared it toward gaming and I havent been happier with a comp.

Originally Posted by Pitbull

Not yet man. You've convinced me to get some more RAM first. I want to install some music recording software, and thats gonna need more RAM too.

So I started looking for some online, and it sucks. There's different kinds out there and there's a bunch of acronyms I don't know the meaning to. I don't know if what I'm looking at is the right kind. I went to the Compaq website, which tells me the kind I need, but I think they're prices are too high.

Any tips?

Pitbull, let me know what type of comp you have....the full name and everything. If you can, tell me what Compaq says you need as far as ram goes. Ill take a look and see what your comp can handle and try to find you a good price on some online. I can understand your confusion on ram, there are tons of different specs and brands.




As for WoW being addictive, ya, its way addictive. Ive been playing it for over a year now and its a fun game. There is another game coming out any day now that was developed by the origional EQ development team named Vanguard: Saga of Heros. Its supposed to be the first game to actually give WoW any real competition. Beware if you think about buying this game though because its freaking HUGE. Its a 24 gig install and youll have to have some serious free space on your machine.

I play PC games all the time and dont even on a console gaming system. If youre going to get into games, especially the mmorpg games, then its comps all the way.

I play a lot of battlefield 2 and battlefield 2142 as well as WoW. Most of you guys seem pretty level headed and would be able to handle playing WoW without getting all addicted and what not. Just remember, all things in moderation and youll be fine, haha.

[Pitbull]

Originally Posted by Ninjamonkey

if you can get your system specs then I can tell u what ram to get, run this program cpu-z it will tell u your mobo model so we can help you. Also is this a laptop or desktop?

When u run cpu-z go to mainboard then paste here the manufacturer and model.

Actually, even better, click the SPD tab and paste in the Max Bandwidth field. IT should say PC####.

If you get that info we can recommend some ram for you.

Edit: heres a link for cpu-z: CPU-Z

Bro, I tried to do this but I got lost in the process. Maybe you can look at my specs below and give me your thoughts.

Originally Posted by Jras0001

Your current machine should run WoW with not much trouble Pitbull. You may not be able to have the graphics settings up as high as some other people but it will run ok. When upgrading to play games, just remember that you get the most bang for your buck when you upgrade your ram and your video card. I just built a new machine several months ago and I geared it toward gaming and I havent been happier with a comp.



Pitbull, let me know what type of comp you have....the full name and everything. If you can, tell me what Compaq says you need as far as ram goes. Ill take a look and see what your comp can handle and try to find you a good price on some online. I can understand your confusion on ram, there are tons of different specs and brands.




As for WoW being addictive, ya, its way addictive. Ive been playing it for over a year now and its a fun game. There is another game coming out any day now that was developed by the origional EQ development team named Vanguard: Saga of Heros. Its supposed to be the first game to actually give WoW any real competition. Beware if you think about buying this game though because its freaking HUGE. Its a 24 gig install and youll have to have some serious free space on your machine.

I play PC games all the time and dont even on a console gaming system. If youre going to get into games, especially the mmorpg games, then its comps all the way.

I play a lot of battlefield 2 and battlefield 2142 as well as WoW. Most of you guys seem pretty level headed and would be able to handle playing WoW without getting all addicted and what not. Just remember, all things in moderation and youll be fine, haha.

Thanks for the help guys. I have a couple of computers. I don't know which one I'm going to update yet.

1) Compaq Presario Desktop, My main Computer
Model SR1620NX
3400+ AMD Sempron Processor
512 MB RAM
160 GB Hard drive

2) Emachines Desktop, Old Computer sitting in my garage
Model W1500
1600+ AMD Athlon Processor
128 MB RAM
40 GB Hard drive

[Ninjamonkey]

OK for your main rig you need pc3200 dimm 184-pin ram. I will look for some ram for you later, cause right now I am swamped with homework, but off the top of my head this is some decent ram especially if you don't overclock.

Newegg.com - CORSAIR 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

From what I read in a quick overview, you system right now has 4 ram slot, 2 taken up by stock ram (256x2) right? So if you want to have a 1.5 gig total of ram I would get those and you will be able to run them in dual mode. Let me how much ram you want to upgrade to total and what your price range is also.

[Pitbull]

Thanks man. I wanna load my computer with as much RAM as possible.

And yup, my machines are stock.

[Jras0001]

Originally Posted by Ninjamonkey

OK for your main rig you need pc3200 dimm 184-pin ram. I will look for some ram for you later, cause right now I am swamped with homework, but off the top of my head this is some decent ram especially if you don't overclock.

Newegg.com - CORSAIR 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

From what I read in a quick overview, you system right now has 4 ram slot, 2 taken up by stock ram (256x2) right? So if you want to have a 1.5 gig total of ram I would get those and you will be able to run them in dual mode. Let me how much ram you want to upgrade to total and what your price range is also.

Well, if he has two 256 dimms now, I wouldnt run those with two 512 dimms. You can do this but it usually saves a lot of headaches by not mixing them like that unless you really know how to set it up. If all he wants to do is run wow, 1 gig will do him just fine. I currently use 2 x 512 sticks of corsair ram and I have the game video settings maxed out and it rarly has any slowdowns.

Originally Posted by Pitbull

Bro, I tried to do this but I got lost in the process. Maybe you can look at my specs below and give me your thoughts.


Thanks for the help guys. I have a couple of computers. I don't know which one I'm going to update yet.

1) Compaq Presario Desktop, My main Computer
Model SR1620NX
3400+ AMD Sempron Processor
512 MB RAM
160 GB Hard drive

2) Emachines Desktop, Old Computer sitting in my garage
Model W1500
1600+ AMD Athlon Processor
128 MB RAM
40 GB Hard drive

If it were me, Id get a router and run both of those machines. Id set one up to use for internet stuff and downloading music and general tasks like working with MS Office or what not and Id use the other one as my gaming machine. Id use what you have listed as #1 for the gaming machine and the #2 as the general use machine. The reason I do this is because you can keep your gaming machine from getting cluttered up with temp intenet files or other trash you might get when you download stuff on the interent and it will cut down on how often you need to defrag your machine. But thats just me so you can do what you want to on that.

As for your specs, you should take and upgrade the ramm and the video card (probably) in the #1 machine. You have a descent processor and more than enough hard drive. If your machines are still stock, its possible that they have onboard video on the motherboard, if thats the case, then you most definitly will want a new video card. Like I said earlier, you will get the most bang for your buck with a ramm and video card upgrade. The easiest way to find out what video card you have is to hit the start button and hit RUN. When the box opens up, type in dxdiag and hit run. When that opens, hit the display tab, should be the third or fourth tab. It will tell you exactly what type of video card you have on your machine.

Also, there are all sorts of things you can do to make your machine run more efficiently and thus reduce lag and slow performance.

[Ninjamonkey]

Originally Posted by Jras0001

Well, if he has two 256 dimms now, I wouldnt run those with two 512 dimms. You can do this but it usually saves a lot of headaches by not mixing them like that unless you really know how to set it up. If all he wants to do is run wow, 1 gig will do him just fine. I currently use 2 x 512 sticks of corsair ram and I have the game video settings maxed out and it rarly has any slowdowns.

Meh, he might as well try his setup with his existing ram still in, if it doesnt boot correctly or causes problems, then just take out the 2x256 modulos. Never hurt to try. Also, we came to the conclussion earlier that he has a x200 express videocard (which is onboard). The site that I looked up his motherboard specs said that he has a pci-e slot, so if he wanted to upgrade the videocard at least he has plenty of options

But as Jras said, 1gig of ram would be fine to run WoW and I understand where hes coming from about mixing ram, but never hurts to try.

[Pitbull]

So then the safe thing would be to leave the RAM thats there right now and add to it?