So at what point does buying new Hardware

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

So at what point does buying new Hardware increase your K spread

 

[I4AT]

When your K spread is zero because your old hardware isn't even capable of running the game, or when your K spread is crap because your old hardware runs the game, but only at 15-20fps.

 

[shortylickens]

Assuming he means Kill to Death ratio:
If thats whats important to you and not graphics, I suggest taking down the visual and audio settings until gameplay is smooth. And if you really wanna save money (and its a popular game) research on the internet for sites that teach you how to customize settings outside the game, like in the registry or *.ini files. They got Source running on DirectX 7 and that enabled an aweful lot of people to play Half Life 2 and CounterStrike without upgrading their hardware.

I wouldnt be suprised if someone got Crysis to play smoothly on a GeForce 6. It may look like shit, but at least your playing.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

I just meant, most of the games can be played with current platforms, why do people see the need to get the latest and greatest thinking it will do them better in online games... or is it just me who thinks that

 

[Udgnim]

my K ratio increased in TF2 when going from a 4400+ X2 to an E8500

 

[pontifex]

i don't think new hardware is going to help unless you're at like 5 FPS...you're either good or you're not. faster hardware won't help

 

[zagood]

Originally posted by: shortylickens
Assuming he means Kill to Death ratio:
If thats whats important to you and not graphics, I suggest taking down the visual and audio settings until gameplay is smooth. And if you really wanna save money (and its a popular game) research on the internet for sites that teach you how to customize settings outside the game, like in the registry or *.ini files. They got Source running on DirectX 7 and that enabled an aweful lot of people to play Half Life 2 and CounterStrike without upgrading their hardware.

I know it's not what you were asking, but this is a big issue. So many players are just too lazy or ignorant to optimize their settings. In their case, yes, new hardware would make them better players.

So at what point does buying new Hardware increase your K spread?

about $2000.

I did find that getting a mouse/mousing surface that suits your gaming style, or is tweakable enough that you can get it there, is probably the most important. Also having decent stereo separation in your audio.

 

[Barfo]

I've heard many pro players game at low res and details so they can get as much fps as possible.

 

[Firsttime]

I think there is a difference in shooters particularly. If you go from 30fps max average to 60fps constant most people will see some kinda improvement in their game play.

 

[JoshGuru7]

Resolution is another major factor not listed yet. I find that I do a lot better at higher resolutions (with smooth FPS of course) because I can expand the field of view and ui scaling is cleaner. That's counter to the conventional wisdom around elite FPS play that says you run as low as possible to increase the hitbox around headshots, but I think that's mostly an old wives tale.

 

[TurtleCrusher]

Originally posted by: Barfo
I've heard many pro players game at low res and details so they can get as much fps as possible.

I sometimes do this in Day of Defeat: Source. 150-600fps @ 640x480 all low with my overclocks. This absolutely ensures i'm getting optimal performance. Its a lot easier in close combat as you aren't distracted by the graphics as much.

 

[bunnyfubbles]

I was under the impression that most players got new hardware to be able to actually play the game, improving it to unplayable or nearly unplayable to smooth, or from smooth to now smooth and sexy. I'm pretty sure we don't have people going out and buying quads and GTX285s thinking its going to improve their CounterStrike performance and thus make them play better.

 

[Sureshot324]

For games like Counterstrike, where you sometimes have to hit someone in the distance who's head might only be a couple of pixels wide, higher rez helps. If the head you're aiming for is 4 pixels instead of two, those slight mouse movements are smoother and it's easier to aim and get the headshot.

You also have to factor in minimum frame rates. When there's a lot of action going on, the game will run slower, but that's also when it's the most important for you to play well. If the game runs at 60fps most of the time, but dips into the 20s when it really matters, then it's gonna hurt you .

I would say that if you can run max rez, lowest settings, and the game doesn't EVER go below 30fps, then better hardware won't improve your K ratio.

 

[JoshGuru7]

Originally posted by: Sureshot324
If the head you're aiming for is 4 pixels instead of two, those slight mouse movements are smoother and it's easier to aim and get the headshot.

I agree with you, but the opposing argument is that with low-res the 2 pixels are twice as large in your scenario and thus just as easy to click, and blockier polygons actually expand the hitbox area on your monitor.

 

[Pelu]

if you going to suck.. u going to suck anyways lol!

 

[Ika]

I went from a 1.6 KDR in CS:S with a P4 1.8ghz Northwood + 6800NU to a 2.6-3.0 KDR on a E6420 + 8800GTS 320mb if it counts for anything

 

[BladeVenom]

As long as your framerates are good and you have good view distance, better hardware isn't going to improve your play. It's just for the eye candy.

Practice and learning from other players is what makes you better.

 

[Sureshot324]

Originally posted by: JoshGuru7

Originally posted by: Sureshot324
If the head you're aiming for is 4 pixels instead of two, those slight mouse movements are smoother and it's easier to aim and get the headshot.

I agree with you, but the opposing argument is that with low-res the 2 pixels are twice as large in your scenario and thus just as easy to click, and blockier polygons actually expand the hitbox area on your monitor.

I could be wrong, but I don't think games work like that. The server decides whether or not you hit, not the client. When you shoot, the client sends your aiming vector to the server, and the server does the calculations to see whether that vector intersects the hitbox.

Lets say on your screen someone's head should be about 3.6 pixels wide. Your monitor shows it as 4 pixels. When you shoot there are two ways the client could handle this:

A - Your aim is actually as precise as your mouse DPI, which is much more precise then the screen resolution. You could be aiming right in the center of one of those pixels or to the side of it, and that could make the difference whether you hit or miss, but you can't see exactly where you're aiming because your rez is so low.

B - You aim exactly to the center of whatever pixel your crosshair is on. This could work to your advantage sometimes, and disadvantage other times.

I'm not a game programmer, but I think A is more likely. Regardless, there is no advantage to gaming at low rez other then more fps.

 

[swanysto]

For me, the mouse is the biggest thing that determines how good I am. I actually bought 2 spare G5's cause it is the most comfortable mouse for me. I also have to have my sensitivities set perfectly or it could take me a week to get used to the new settings. That, and internet connection. When I went from AT&T DSL to Comcast, my game got a WHOLE lot better. Of course, that just had to do with shot registration.

 

[Golgatha]

Originally posted by: Barfo
I've heard many pro players game at low res and details so they can get as much fps as possible.

It helps a lot to lower lighting effects too, because the shadows won't hide your opponents as well. Try the ship level on CoD4 without all the graphics turned up some time.

 

[Golgatha]

Originally posted by: swanysto
For me, the mouse is the biggest thing that determines how good I am. I actually bought 2 spare G5's cause it is the most comfortable mouse for me. I also have to have my sensitivities set perfectly or it could take me a week to get used to the new settings. That, and internet connection. When I went from AT&T DSL to Comcast, my game got a WHOLE lot better. Of course, that just had to do with shot registration.

Yeah, a high bandwidth and low latency Internet connection will definitely help with twitchy shooters. Long live the LAN!!