Hardware related Diablo2 question

[usbnuts]

Hi, I have a Pentium II 350 (upgrade to PIII 800 (100) tomorrow) and 128MB PC100 RAM.
8.4 GB HD with 1.5GB free. TNT 2 Ultra 32MB. W2k.

Well, I am choking my way through Diablo 2 (using Barbarian) for 2 weeks on my system as described above. I chose full install, taking up 1.5GB of my HD space.

However, even with full install, the system doesn't seem to be very responsive during enemy encounters.

So, my question...

Is it a RAM problem? Only 128MB.
Is it a HD problem? (spinning too slow because Diablo 2 triggers my HD to spin all the time)
Does it have to do with my CPU?

Thanks for answering my question...

 

[pillage2001]

Try it on your p3-800 and you'll probably be happier.

 

[Zeeliv]

Normally 128MB would be good for D2, but since you're running Win2K it really would work better with another 64MB or 128MB. I speak from experience here, as I ran it (and beta tested it) with 128MB and Win98SE, but then upgraded to Win2K where it didn't run as well. I upgraded to 192MB and it runs as well as it used to. I think you're also gonna get some improvement out of the proc upgrade.

Also, try copying the D2CHAR.MPQ and the D2MUSIC.MPQ from the CD to your D2 directory, as it still reads those from the CD even with the full install (well, the music one I'm sure of). And if you haven't defragged in a while do that too.

 

[OS]

Definitely ram. There are times that diablo 2 would slow down on my system and I have 256 megs of ram.

 

[HellRaven]

It is a combination of factors. When Diablo2 first came out alot of people complained about sluggish play.

Most people found that D2 used up alot of memory (even under win98) so going up to 256mb should help.

An upgrade of the processor which you say is in the works will also help immensely.

As to the hard drive, you didn't mention what type but I would assume from its size that it is an IDE 5400rpm. A faster hard drive will help in all applications and will of course give you some extra space. Good hard drives are cheap these days. You can get an OEM 45gb IBM Deskstar 75GXP from onvia.com for $150 (no tax or shipping cost).

 

[Celstar]

for me its definitely my connection to the internet. if you're talking about single player, then I'd suggest you buy more ram if all you got is 128.

 

[Celstar]

if you cd rom is always spinning it's because "full install" leaves out some files on the cd rom that should be on your harddrive. that's why you're cd drive is constantly spinning.

copy these files to the diablo directory:

d2char.mpq
d2music.mpq
playd2.mpq

 

[xtreme2k]

I tested Diablo2 running in Win2000 with 256MB RAM

When 'in game' D2 use about 110MB RAM

 

[usbnuts]

Thank you for all your suggestions.

Some of you pointed out that I need a new HD, and some new RAM. So, I assume CPU isn't the limiting factor in D2.

I am going to grab a new CPU and some new RAM. That's not entirely for D2, but for my work as well.

One more thing, one of you suggests that I need to copy three additional files to the D2 directory. Is D2 designed to use any files with MPQ extension in D2 directory?

I am also going to get some DVD movies over the holidays. So, PIII 800 will help a lot.

Thanks guys. Merry X'mas.

 

[fs5]

I've played diablo2 on a PII/266, slower than slow HD, Riva128, and 128 megs of RAM. It was fine except when switching waypoints, the HD is the slowest part. I noticed slow downs on Mephisto and when the dark lords cast meteor. The slow downs from monsters are probably related to your video card. Make sure you're not running in direct3d, on my current system it lags like crazy. Direct2d is much better.

 

[Sword]

Even with the computer in my sign on win98se sometimes it lags.......

My other comp :
PIII550
128 Mb ram
GeForce 256 DDR
Quantum Fireball CR 5400rpm ata66 on a ata33 controller

On this computer there is much more lag.....I can play without problem but the game slow down a bit very often....I will have much more memory soon so this problem will be solved.

My conclusion, get much more ram.....

 

[AdamK47]

Ever since I got my twin IBM 75GXP drives I've been very happy with Diablo II.