$100 to make Final Fantasy XI run better?

[gsiener]

With FFXI about to be released, and with me not having a job, I think I will play a lot of this game.

I've recently sold off a lot of my comp. hardware and now it looks like the rig I will run ffxi on is:

Asus A7N-266-vm (nforce1 w/ onboard gf2mx)
XP 1700+
256MB ram
60GB Seagate Barracuda IV

This is all stuffed into a Netvista case that I got for $3 off e3ay.

I ran the benchmark and got an okay score on Low detail (1780).

If you were to spend about $100 upgrading this, what would you add/change? BTW I'd rather keep it in the case, but I have another if I needed to put in an agp card.

 

[FFactory0x]

Well ff10 isnt out for a little while so why not see if you can save up like 40-50 more and get yourself a 9600 or 9500 pro. And if you save just a little more im sure you could find 256mb ddr for cheap

 

[gsiener]

FFactory0x-
This is Final Fantasy XI I'm talking about, it's being released in 6 days.

 

[hurrikaane]

A ti 4200 would really help you out. Followed by another 256mb of memory.

 

[Atlantean]

Originally posted by: gsiener
FFactory0x-
This is Final Fantasy XI I'm talking about, it's being released in 6 days.

Ok it is coming out in 6 days, but if you don't have a job and only have $100 how are you going to afford the game and the monthly payments for the game? How much does it cost per month anyways?

 

[gsiener]

I didn't say I only have $100, I said I only want to spend $100 on upgrades. The way I see it, getting it for the PS2 requires getting the hard drive ($99 with ffxi on it) and a broadband adapter ($40). I'd rather put that money into the pc...


BTW just because I have a job doesn't mean I don't have any money, finding a job takes time in this economy, even for someone with a Masters...

 

[Boogak]

A video card upgrade would probably do you the most good, a GeForce4 4200 for $100 would be the best upgrade. Maybe more memory to 512mb if you don't want to put in a new agp card, but a new card would be the most benefit.

 

[T9D]

..

 

[dexvx]

I second the video card upgrade.

Ti4200 handles the game well enough on my computer (I was a beta tester, but quit).

 

[gsiener]

dexvx- Were you playing on high or low detail in the beta?

 

[dexvx]

Originally posted by: gsiener
dexvx- Were you playing on high or low detail in the beta?

1024x768x32 max all settings.

I was running a Pentium4 2.133Ghz/512MB PC1066 RDRam, GeForce4 Ti4200 64MB (default clocked), 15K Rpm U160 SCSI drive.

Your system system has lower, but similar specs (including 256MB memory). Considering the fact that this is designed to run on a PS2 (albeit in lower settings), I think any GeForce3 class video card and above should run it fine at close the maximum settings. If you're running single channel nForce1, it would accout for a lot of the slowness.

Video wise, I never lagged, even in large towns. But the first upgrade I'd get is video.

 

[hurrikaane]

What I dont get is how Square made some really nice graphics in FFXI that can run OK on a Radeon 7500 16mb (I tested it out on my old laptop), but Shadowbane had average graphics that needed a 64mb video card to run it, and would even bog down the best vid cards out there.

 

[magomago]

Originally posted by: dexvx

Originally posted by: gsiener
dexvx- Were you playing on high or low detail in the beta?

1024x768x32 max all settings.

I was running a Pentium4 2.133Ghz/512MB PC1066 RDRam, GeForce4 Ti4200 64MB (default clocked), 15K Rpm U160 SCSI drive.

Your system system has lower, but similar specs (including 256MB memory). Considering the fact that this is designed to run on a PS2 (albeit in lower settings), I think any GeForce3 class video card and above should run it fine at close the maximum settings. If you're running single channel nForce1, it would accout for a lot of the slowness.

Video wise, I never lagged, even in large towns. But the first upgrade I'd get is video.

Really? My rig (2200+ no/oc, 512megs pc2700 ram, g4mx420, a7n8xd) can barely handle the game in low resolution...is this more a gpu dependant game? I don't have any spyware or something taking up all my ram when i play games...so i was wondering why it was like that

 

[gsiener]

Thanks for the suggestions guys (esp. dexvx).
I think I will see how it runs, then go for the ti4200 if I find myself wanting more.

oh, dexvx- I have a very similar system only that became a mythtv box

 

[Markfw]

Really? My rig (2200+ no/oc, 512megs pc2700 ram, g4mx420, a7n8xd) can barely handle the game in low resolution...is this more a gpu dependant game? I don't have any spyware or something taking up all my ram when i play games...so i was wondering why it was like that

The g4mx420 is killing you. An 8500 or 9100 Radeon would blow it out of the water, and then he could afford the other 256 meg which I second

 

[Byte]

Get a Ti4200, they are still one of the best cards our there. With the new 52.12 drivers, its blowing my Saphire 9600Pro Platinum to smitherines.

 

[magomago]

Originally posted by: Byte
Get a Ti4200, they are still one of the best cards our there. With the new 52.12 drivers, its blowing my Saphire 9600Pro Platinum to smitherines.

Until you turn on AF/AA