What features should I buy for a new computer?

[jeannie]

I'm currently using a Windows XP desktop computer with a Celeron 1.3 Ghz processor with 512 MB of memory, and I'm thinking of getting something 'better' so that my CIV3 games run faster. I have no idea what factors will do the most for increasing the game speed.

Price will be a consideration, of course. I'd appreciate any advice regarding:

1) Processor
2) Video card (the specs for my computer just say I have a '64-bit hardware accelerated 3D graphics', and I've noticed that my screen refreshes very slowly wien I play with huge maps or use the Editor on huge maps)
3) Memory
4) Any other hardware factor that I'm too ignorant to ask about!

And yes, I know about turning off animations and closing down processes that I don't need to run when I'm playing CIV.

Also - I'm thinking about buying the new computer from a vendor at a computer show and have the PC 'built to order'. Any advice/comments about this approach?

Thanks in advance!

edit: Moderator, thanks for moving this post from the CIV 3 General Discussions forum; I didn't know this forum existed! Reading the replies to my thread and some other threads has helped significantly!

 

[Riesstiu IV]

I have problems with the map editor too. I have a high end computer (2.0 ghz, 512 Rdram, nVidia GeForce 4), but I suspect that there is a certain amount of lag because of ineffeciency in program itself.

 

[tjhooker]

Normally I would advice getting the best chipset, and a pretty fast processor. Like Intels 875P and atleast 2,8ghz processor. In a couple of years you're probably gonna be happy because your computer not yet outdated, you just need another harddisk and some Memory. (They're pretty easy to change /add, and not that expensive)

So if you buy, P4 2,8ghz, 512ddr-ram pc3200, and a ATI Radeon 9600pro I guess you should be able to play most games without
problmes for a couple of years. If you can afford it, ATI Radeon 9800pro videocard is great! And will probably last for a couple of years.
In Norway, this computer w/o monitor would cost about 8000NOK or 1000$ or 615£.

 

[Mark Young]

Originally posted by jeannie
I'm currently using a Windows XP desktop computer with a Celeron 1.3 Ghz processor with 512 MB of memory, and I'm thinking of getting something 'better' so that my CIV3 games run faster. I have no idea what factors will do the most for increasing the game speed.

Price will be a consideration, of course. I'd appreciate any advice regarding:

1) Processor
2) Video card (the specs for my computer just say I have a '64-bit hardware accelerated 3D graphics', and I've noticed that my screen refreshes very slowly wien I play with huge maps or use the Editor on huge maps)
3) Memory
4) Any other hardware factor that I'm too ignorant to ask about!

And yes, I know about turning off animations and closing down processes that I don't need to run when I'm playing CIV.

Also - I'm thinking about buying the new computer from a vendor at a computer show and have the PC 'built to order'. Any advice/comments about this approach?

Thanks in advance!

Are you looking for a totally new PC or just to upgrade a few specs?

It's hard to say what you should get without knowing if you want it for other things apart from civ.

I got mine about 6 months ago.
Things I looked at were.....

getting a good motherboard that has all the features that you want. like Dual DDR
Making sure that my Ram and FSB ran at the same speeds so that I didn't end up with a bottleneck.
Having a good CPU.

In the end I got an Athlon XP 2600, 512Mb pc2700 DDR RAM, MSI mobo with onboard G Force MMX Graphics (which is all I need to play civ) and on board sound and supports a 333FSB and Dual Channell DDR RAM.

The best thing that you can do is to research for a couple of months to see what is out their and then get someone to build it for you.If you research it then you will get more value for money and you can make a more informed choice of what is best for you rather then a sales assistant selling you something that you doesn't cut the mustard.

 

[bobgote]

If price is an issue - i'd say Athlon XP2600 (altho 2800 price will drop soon)
512 RAM is fine, but i'd watch out for the speed comparison - like Sir Eric said.

If you are going pentium - don't get a celeron.
Graphics isn't too big a deal for civ either.
lots o ram and a decent processor will do it nicely. (your slow refresh rate is more likely processor problems )

As for computer shows - they are good prices, if you can find a shop doing those prices, go there, but otherwise do some research, know what you are talking about before buying from a computer show (maybe take a friend who knows about computers).

 

[jeannie]

Originally posted by Sir Eric


Are you looking for a totally new PC or just to upgrade a few specs?

It's hard to say what you should get without knowing if you want it for other things apart from civ.

I'm looking for a totally new PC.

My most 'intense' application is Civ3. I also edit digital photographs amd occasionally short digital movies, but I haven't had any major 'speed' problems. I also use Microsoft Office 2000 Professional edition (but none of the web publishing stuff). I don't do any programming.

I've found an HP desktop that I can get for under $800 with an Athlonn 2800 processor, 512 Mb DDR/2700, 120 Gb hard drive, XP Home, floppy drive, CD/RW, ethernet, USB2.0 and firewire (so I can back up my system to my portable hard drive), and 128MB DDR NVIDIA GeForceFX(TM) 5600 with TV-out.

I'm pretty sure that's what I'll buy, and I'll upgrade the memory to 1024. I gather that I'll need a second DIMM of memory to take advantage of the 'DDR' - please tell me if I'm wrong!

Thanks again for the advice!

 

[IceBlaZe]

Make sure what you buy isn't "refurbished" or "manufacturer reconditioned".

 

[jeannie]

Originally posted by IceBlaZe
Make sure what you buy isn't "refurbished" or "manufacturer reconditioned".

it's not refurbished - it's new.

 

[Mark Young]

Originally posted by jeannie


I'm looking for a totally new PC.

My most 'intense' application is Civ3. I also edit digital photographs amd occasionally short digital movies, but I haven't had any major 'speed' problems. I also use Microsoft Office 2000 Professional edition (but none of the web publishing stuff). I don't do any programming.

I've found an HP desktop that I can get for under $800 with an Athlonn 2800 processor, 512 Mb DDR/2700, 120 Gb hard drive, XP Home, floppy drive, CD/RW, ethernet, USB2.0 and firewire (so I can back up my system to my portable hard drive), and 128MB DDR NVIDIA GeForceFX(TM) 5600 with TV-out.

I'm pretty sure that's what I'll buy, and I'll upgrade the memory to 1024. I gather that I'll need a second DIMM of memory to take advantage of the 'DDR' - please tell me if I'm wrong!

Thanks again for the advice!

For the Dual chanell DDR to work you need 2 sticks of Ram from the same batch, pref a good brand like corsair, samsung or kingston. 1 stick HAS to sit in dimm 3 and the other can be in either dimm 1 or dimm 2.
I would stick to the 2x 256 sticks of Ram. 1 Gig sounds like overkill.

SOunds like a good laptop though

 

[Centrifuge]

Jeannie,

HP's always seem like a good deal, but I've had nothing but trouble with them, so I highly recommend against them. When it comes to the "economy class" systems, Sony Vaios have treated me well.

 

[jeannie]

Originally posted by Sir Eric


For the Dual chanell DDR to work you need 2 sticks of Ram from the same batch, pref a good brand like corsair, samsung or kingston. 1 stick HAS to sit in dimm 3 and the other can be in either dimm 1 or dimm 2.
I would stick to the 2x 256 sticks of Ram. 1 Gig sounds like overkill.

I've ordered another dimm from Crucial and they said it should work just fine - that it didn't have to be from the 'same batch' as the dimm that comes with it.

I thought about getting memory from Kingston because I could get it at a local store and it had a rebate. When I looked at Kingston's web site, the partnumber they showed for my new system was different from the one at my local store and at least $60 more than the pre-rebate price at the local store. Kingston told me the version at my local store wouldn't work, even though it appears to have the same specs.

So I hope the expanded memory from Crucial will work.

I know 1Gig is overkill now, but I've noticed that the amount of ram needed to run a system reasonably well expands over time. And since I'm upgrading from a system that already has 512MB, I figured I'd rather be safe than sorry.

 

[Mark Young]

I would disagree with the guy form crucial.
DDR is actually called SD DDR Ram, the 'S' stands for synchronous.
If you do buy another stick from a different batch it will work but not as effectively as 2 sticks from the same batch.
Dodgy Ram can be a real pain in the proverbial, thankfully I have never had a problem but I know people that have.
Ram should be ECC certified too, It's a safe guard to make sure that your not getting ripped off by buying something that doesn't meet a set standard.

FWIW I have Kingston Ram, it's more expensive but I haven't had any probs with it at all.

 

[jeannie]

Originally posted by Sir Eric
I would disagree with the guy form crucial.
DDR is actually called SD DDR Ram, the 'S' stands for synchronous.
If you do buy another stick from a different batch it will work but not as effectively as 2 sticks from the same batch.
Dodgy Ram can be a real pain in the proverbial, thankfully I have never had a problem but I know people that have.
Ram should be ECC certified too, It's a safe guard to make sure that your not getting ripped off by buying something that doesn't meet a set standard.

FWIW I have Kingston Ram, it's more expensive but I haven't had any probs with it at all.

OK - you've convinced me that I made a mistake. I'm cancelling the HP order, I'll return the Crucial memory, and I bought a Sony VAIO 420 today (Pentium 4 2.8 Ghz, Hyperthreading, 512 MB DDR memory expandable to 2 Gig - but I'll upgrade to more memory sometime later).

SO - now that I'm ALMOST done moving things from the my old computer, I'm too exhausted to go find my CIV3 CD so I can install it!

 

[Centrifuge]

Originally posted by jeannie


I'm cancelling the HP order

Good move, imho I hope the Vaio treats you well.

 

[newfangle]

If you've ever considered overclocking (its not that hard), you can pump a 2500+ to 3200+ speeds no problem. I believe a 2500+ Barton costs about 90US$.

 

[jeannie]

Originally posted by Centrifuge

I hope the Vaio treats you well.

I'm too tired to actually play a game tonight, but I tried starting up the Test of Time scenario with cities in PTW - 31 civs and a huge number of cities on a 256x256 map. It started up for me in less than 30 seconds! On my old computer, the only time I tried that, it took hours to start! So I'm a happy camper