I want to play UT2003. I have a Celeron 600, a GF2 GTS 32 MB, and 256 SDRAM. What is the least amount money I need to spend to play this game somewhat decently?
Which component should I upgrade if I want to play UT2003?
- Thread starter Pundit
- Start date
I'd go with a mobo/processor/RAM swap. Play your cards right and it'll cost you about the same as it would to do that than to buy a new, higher end, video card.
AgaBoogaBoo
Lifer
- Feb 16, 2003
- 26,108
- 5
- 81
Only as much as is necessary to play the game. I figure that getting a eBayed 1GHz PIII and another 256RAM should do the trick. Am I wrong? I'll be doing a complete upgrade in about 3-4 months, so I don't really want to improve performance much. Just enough to play UT2K3
i've got an nforce2 8drda+, 2000+, 512mb pc2700, and a GF2 GTS. if you simply want to play the game and have it run decently, get a mb/cpu/ram upgrade. if there's a fry's around you pick up the best combo you can get for about $100 like the 2000+/k7s5a pro combo, and then get some ram.
You don't really have to update your video card if you just want it to run decently. I'm running a GF2 GTS and i've been able to play games like fifa 2003, unreal 2, bf 1942, madden 2003, nba live 2003 very well at reasonable frame rates at 1024x768 - 16bit. before my current setup though i had a 900tbird/256sdram combo and everything was too choppy to play. now its just fine for the time being.
You don't really have to update your video card if you just want it to run decently. I'm running a GF2 GTS and i've been able to play games like fifa 2003, unreal 2, bf 1942, madden 2003, nba live 2003 very well at reasonable frame rates at 1024x768 - 16bit. before my current setup though i had a 900tbird/256sdram combo and everything was too choppy to play. now its just fine for the time being.
You really need a complete overhaul eventually, but for the moment I would focus on your CPU/platform as the bottleneck.
Even if you upgraded to the fastest video card on the market, you'd still get poor results with that platform.
Most games today are still extremely CPU bottlenecked, so you can expect even lower scores on newer games. I'd upgrade to a CPU @ 2GHz and one of the newer DDR platforms with a mid-range card (Ti4200/9500pro). It'll cost a little more than the fastest GPU or the fastest processor, but in your case, you need overhauls on both fronts.
Here, you can see that the fastest CPU doesn't do much for you either.
Chiz
Even if you upgraded to the fastest video card on the market, you'd still get poor results with that platform.
Most games today are still extremely CPU bottlenecked, so you can expect even lower scores on newer games. I'd upgrade to a CPU @ 2GHz and one of the newer DDR platforms with a mid-range card (Ti4200/9500pro). It'll cost a little more than the fastest GPU or the fastest processor, but in your case, you need overhauls on both fronts.
Here, you can see that the fastest CPU doesn't do much for you either.
Chiz
Cheap upgrade option: XP1700($50) + ECS K7S5A($55) + PC2100 512MB($55) + Radeon 8500LE 64MB($72) = $232
You could reuse your SDRAM but its gotta be PC133, just add a nice and cheap $4 coolermaster retail fan and your set!
You could reuse your SDRAM but its gotta be PC133, just add a nice and cheap $4 coolermaster retail fan and your set!
Hehe very true. But I don't know how fun it would be to play UT2K3 with a joypad. Funny thing is, Splinter Cell runs, looks, and plays better on my XBox than my PC.
Chiz
Well, I have 256 DDR memory, xp1800+ and R8500 card and the gane runs smoothly in 800x600 32bits, and if playing singleplayer I can use the 1024x768 with all the goodies and it works great...
I think that updating your memory isn't necessary, 256 should do the job untill you get your new computer, it's waste of money from my opinion to buy sdram when your new comp. uses very propably 266MHz DDR or higher....
If I were you, I would buy a 1,3GHz Duron (remember to check the compatible processors that work well with your mobo) and a GF3-Ti 200 if they are still available somewhere...but I have seen that GF2 MX-200 works well enough with the game in 640x480 and with almost lowest details...but that comp. had 384mb 133 MHz sdram....the choice is eventually up to you (how surprising)
I think that updating your memory isn't necessary, 256 should do the job untill you get your new computer, it's waste of money from my opinion to buy sdram when your new comp. uses very propably 266MHz DDR or higher....
If I were you, I would buy a 1,3GHz Duron (remember to check the compatible processors that work well with your mobo) and a GF3-Ti 200 if they are still available somewhere...but I have seen that GF2 MX-200 works well enough with the game in 640x480 and with almost lowest details...but that comp. had 384mb 133 MHz sdram....the choice is eventually up to you (how surprising)
0roo0roo
No Lifer
- Sep 21, 2002
- 64,795
- 84
- 91
i'd say sadly all your components are obsolete. i tried running it on a celly 850, it was sad. then i tried a tually 1.5, it was semi ok. now i'm at xp 2000+ after 2000+ it really becomes a gpu problem. get a decent cpu atleast 2000+xp level, then get the fastest videoc ard possible. someone benchmarked this and showed cpu doesn't matter after about this point for this game. either way, your memories too slow, and your video card might be good for 512x384 at best. 512mb of memory required.
seriously, anyone can run it. just turn everything to lowest and run at 320x240.
seriously, anyone can run it. just turn everything to lowest and run at 320x240.
Try to lurk on the FS/FT forum and you can find lots of ppl selling inexpensive XP combos for cheap. PIII 1GHz will not do the job, so don't waste the money on it. With the same amount of money you can get a 1700+XP w/ ECS board. Since memory is cheaper now you might wanna get started quickly, before they raise the price again.
Don't bother...if you are going to upgrade in 3 months, save your $ and plow it into better components then. You'll have to upgrade so much now anyway you might as well get the best if you really wanna play. I agree with above, if you really wanna play it, just turn settings in the game way down...don't blow your $ to temporarily upgrade a PC to play a single game...Doom III is coming too...
apoppin
Lifer
Recommended specs for the current Unreal Warfare Engine is:
384MB RAM (you got the minimum)
1.2Ghz CPU (you got just under the minimum of 733Mhz - try O/C'ing it)
GeForce 3/Radeon 8500 (you do have at least the minimum - 32MB GeForce 2MX).
SO, IF you OverClock your CPU you will be able to play Unreal II or UT2003 . . .
If you want to spend the LEAST amount of money to make it "more playable":
1) O/C your CPU (free)
2) Buy a GF3 or Radeon 8500 ($75.00)
3 Get 128MB more SDRAM (Free after mail-in-rebate)
And, Satanist, your lack of RAM is really slowing you down (especially if you are running Win2K oe XP). Unreal likes gobs of RAM (even in Win98SE).
384MB RAM (you got the minimum)
1.2Ghz CPU (you got just under the minimum of 733Mhz - try O/C'ing it)
GeForce 3/Radeon 8500 (you do have at least the minimum - 32MB GeForce 2MX).
SO, IF you OverClock your CPU you will be able to play Unreal II or UT2003 . . .
If you want to spend the LEAST amount of money to make it "more playable":
1) O/C your CPU (free)
2) Buy a GF3 or Radeon 8500 ($75.00)
3 Get 128MB more SDRAM (Free after mail-in-rebate)
And, Satanist, your lack of RAM is really slowing you down (especially if you are running Win2K oe XP). Unreal likes gobs of RAM (even in Win98SE).
BFG10K
Lifer
- Aug 14, 2000
- 22,709
- 3,002
- 126
Jesus...you may as well just a buy a whole new system.
If you had to pick one component pick up a fast CPU (at least 2 GHz or PR equivalent) with a DDR333 motherboard of some kind. But even then you'll have extreme problems with game performance.
Ignoring the ridiculously low minimum specs on the box (as I always do), my minimum specs to run the game decently would be a 2 GHz processor, 512 MB DDR333 and a GF3/8500 class accelerator.
30 FPS @ 640 x 480 with an awful console controller is unacceptable.
AgaBoogaBoo
Lifer
- Feb 16, 2003
- 26,108
- 5
- 81
I'd go with what people have been saying so far for the most part, just wait and upgrade when you have the money. Right now you'll upgrade to a P3 and i n a few months you'll want a P4 or an Athlon XP. If I were in your situation, I'd do the following:
Either P4 or Athlon XP
Mobo with it
New RAM
Then, in a few months buy a good video card and stick it in. You won't die with that Geforce2 but you won't live either. If your current mobo has AGP slots, get a really nice video card, and upgrade the mobo/ram/cpu later. Or if you can get the money, upgrade it all now or all later.
Either P4 or Athlon XP
Mobo with it
New RAM
Then, in a few months buy a good video card and stick it in. You won't die with that Geforce2 but you won't live either. If your current mobo has AGP slots, get a really nice video card, and upgrade the mobo/ram/cpu later. Or if you can get the money, upgrade it all now or all later.
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