• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Best upgrade for UT2k4

C

CrazyFunkyTown

Member
My current specs:

Athlon XP 1800+
512 MB PC2100
GF3 Ti500 64 MB

I have ~$400 to spend on an upgrade, what might be my best strategy to improve framerates in UT2k4 (and also possibly Far Cry etc.)? Should I invest a large chunk of that into a new video card? Would my CPU/RAM be a big bottleneck for UT2k4 if I bought a Radeon 9800 Pro? What is the best bang for my buck? Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions.
 
Interesting question, I beleive XP 2000+. I want to avoid an incremental upgrade like that if possible, because I don't want to spend money on it again shortly. Basically I was considering either getting XP 2500+ Mobile, new mobo and PC3200 RAM OR a Radeon 9800 Pro. I don't know what will give me the best performance of if a Radeon 9800 Pro would be of great advantage with my limiting CPU/RAM combo. Thank you for your reply.
 
I have ~$400 to spend on an upgrade
Click to expand...

128MB 9800 Pro: $215
XP 2500+: $85
NF7-S v2: $100

Sell your ram and get PC 2700/3200, or spring for the 2400+
 
I went from Pally 1900+ w/Ti4400 to Pally 1900+ w/9800Pro. Didn't really make much difference in Unreal games (Unreal 2 and UT2k3 was what I had at the time). I'm now going for a faster CPU (mobile 2500+) to see how much that helps.

Make sure you go CPU and graphics card, not just one.
 
Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
huh really? the 9800 didnt let you crank up graphics settings?
Click to expand...

I run UT2k4 at 800x600 with low on all the settings, no shadows or anything like that.
And it runs acceptably on most maps, some it slows down on.
1GB RAM, Win2k sp4. VIA KT266a mobo, 9800Pro.

I got a little extra perf with the 9800Pro, but not much, and UT2k4 just doesn't work 🙁 (not to a good standard anyway).
 
wtf? really? i run at 1024x768 16bit with low settings on a 2.4ghz xp, cheap ecs m/b and a really lousy 9000pro. 1gb ram... totally smooth.
u sure it isn't win2k?
 
Video card or wait. My kids Celery 2.6 and Geforce3 Ti200 runs UT2K4 just fine at 1024x768 at medium detail settings.
 
Originally posted by: John P.
Video card or wait. My kids Celery 2.6 and Geforce3 Ti200 runs UT2K4 just fine at 1024x768 at medium detail settings.
Click to expand...

Ditto with my kid's celery 1.4 tualatin and gf4 ti4200 128mb (only has 512mb ram). Runs fine at 1024x768 w/ med details. There's the initial slowdown when he and all the bots are joining at the start of the map, but from there on out, it's fine.
 
You have a pretty balanced system. That's a good thing, as you didn't waste any money on a component that will be bottlenecked by another one. I would keep saving your money and then sell your system to help pay for a replacement. Upgrading to something like a 9800pro will do nothing for overall framerates. It'll just allow you to turn the resolution up and not slow down any more.
 
its not balanced, the ti500 is dog slow. even a low end video card would give him a decent boost, his vid card is his bottleneck. and of course a super high end card wouldn't be called for, would make the rest of his system teh bottleneck.
 
Thanks for all of the replies. My motherboard is a Soyo K7V Dragon+ and my memory is generic PC2100. My PSU is an Enermax 350W. I basically do not consider a CPU upgrade with the current motherboard to be viable, I would replace it if I went with a new CPU. My UT2k4 runs somewhat alright now at medium settings, but I want it to be silky smooth and also to enjoy other games like Far Cry. I guess I may go do part of my upgrade now (perhaps CPU/Mobo/RAM if I can find a good deal on RAM) and then finish it off later (in a few months) by adding as 9800 Pro or similar card. What do you guys think?
 
Originally posted by: CrazyFunkyTown
I guess I may go do part of my upgrade now (perhaps CPU/Mobo/RAM if I can find a good deal on RAM) and then finish it off later (in a few months) by adding as 9800 Pro or similar card. What do you guys think?
Click to expand...

if your only option is to do one right now and one later, i say video card now and the rest later for best performance gains. however, there are other things to consider.... price of 9800pro may drop with the introduction of their new lineup soon. so that might lead you to want to wait on the GPU and head down the CPU/RAM path for now. i believe that your current bottleneck is the GPU though.
 
Spend 180-210 for a 9800 pro. 90 dollars for a nforce 2, then 80 dollars for a 2500 Barton.

Then you need to get a hold of some Pc2700 ram for cheap. Which they are. Maybe you can tade something in the FS/FT forum.
 
Originally posted by: MemberSince97
XP 2400 @266 $60 MBD/Asus a7v-266e $47/ support up to XP2600
512MB more ram $72
9800P $215 = $394.00
Click to expand...

Ah like what I was thinking! And the 9800p should come down in price when April 26th comes around.
 
Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
its not balanced, the ti500 is dog slow. even a low end video card would give him a decent boost, his vid card is his bottleneck. and of course a super high end card wouldn't be called for, would make the rest of his system teh bottleneck.
Click to expand...

You have to be kidding... The 1800+ is not much of a performer, especially when running @ stock (1533mhz) speeds. That's not much faster than my tbird, which was a very similar chip, clock for clock.

With the new cards hitting the market in the next month, the prices of current cards will drop even more. "Sampson Simpson, I stick by my story!"
 
My XP1900+ with 512Mb PC2700 and a 9600 Pro runs the game very nicely. I'd upgrade the graphics card first and spend any leftover money on CPU, Motherboard and RAM in that order.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top