So, Will Your Computer Run Vanguard After All?

[Nil]

Cleeve posted a great article over on Tom's Hardware dealing with upgrading video cards on old AGP systems. Here can read it here (and it's an excellent read if you have an AGP system):

Are High-End Cards Worth it on Your System

It got me to thinking about folks getting computers ready for Vanguard - what is it we need?

The requirements for the game are listed as a 2 gig processor, a 128-mb (Dx9-compliant) video card, Windows, and 512 mgs of ram. Other than the processor, those requirements shoot pretty low.

Processor:

I can confirm that you don't need a 2ghz processor to run VG (the 2ghz number is probably referring to Pentium 4 processors). In fact, I know someone running it on a 1.2ghz P3 (though it does admittedly run pretty badly). I have run it on a 1.5 ghz processor, a 1.7ghz processor, and that 1.7 clocked at 2.2, so you can be pretty free with your processor. Bigger is better, of course, but you can make due with the processors of 2 (and sometimes 3) generations ago.

Video Card:

This pretty much means a geForce 5000 series card, or a Radeon 9000 series card. I tested with a Geforce 5200, which technically does run the game, but I could never get over 4 frames per second - not playable at any rate. You'll need a bigger card.

Coinspinner has it running on a Radeon 9500, and it keeps it playable. Does anyone have a 5000 series card or a 9200 that can run the game playably? Let me know.

How does your card stack up?

Here are most of the cards that (could) run Vanguard. If you're wondering how yours stacks up, look below. Cards on the same row are roughly as powerful as each other. Be sure to note the suffix on the card when comparing. An LE and an XT are not even close.

(by the way, Nvidia uses GT as a high-performance suffix, while Radeon uses it as a budget suffix. Radeon uses XT as a high-performance suffix, while nVidia uses it as a, well, less-than-good, suffix)

1. Geforce FX 5200 (64bit), Radeon 9200SE
2. Geforce FX 5200 (128bit), Radeon 9000, 9200
3. Geforce FX 5200 Ultra, Radeon 9100, 9000 Pro
4. Geforce FX 5600, 5700 (64bit), Radeon 9600 SE, X300SE
5. Radeon 9500, 9600, 9550, X300, 9800 SE (128bit)
6. Geforce FX 5600 Ultra, 5700, Radeon 9800 SE (256bit)
7. Geforce FX 5800 Ultra, 5900 XT, Radeon 9500 Pro, 9600 XT, X600XT, 9800 Pro (128bit)
8. GeforceFX 5900, 5900 Ultra, 5950 Ultra, Geforce 6600, Radeon 9700, X1300 Pro
9. Radeon 9700 Pro, 9800
10. Radeon 9800 Pro
11. Radeon 9800 XT, X700 Pro, X700XT, X800SE
12. Radeon X800 GT, X1600 Pro, X1300XT
13. Geforce 8600LE, 6800, 6800XT, 6600GT, Radeon X800LE
14. Geforce 6800 GS (AGP), 7600 GS, X800GTO 128
15. Radeon X1600 XT, X1650 Pro
16. Radeon X800 Pro, X800 GTO 256, X850 Pro
17. Geforce 6800 GT, 6800GS (PCI-e), Radeon X800XL, X800 GTO2
18. Geforce 6800 Ultra, 7800 GS, Radeon X800XT, X850XT
19. Geforce 7600 GT, Radeon X800XT PE, X850XT PE, X1800 GTO, X1650XT
20. Geforce 7800 GT, 7900GS, X1800XL
21. X1900GT, X1950 Pro
22. Geforce 7800 GTX, 7950 GT, Radeon X1800XT
23. Geforce 7800 GTX 512, 7900 GTX, Radeon X1900XT
24. Radeon X1950XT, X1900XTX, X1950XTX, 7950 GX2
25. Geforce 8800 GTS
26. Geforce 8800 GTX

RAM:

512 mb will not cut it, unless you never plan to visit a town. 1 gb should be the minimum you shoot for, and 2gb definately makes a big difference.

The only other thing to consider is that they're not selling the game in CD versions, so you'll either need a DVD drive (very common, these days, but I have a computer without one, so I thought I'd mention it), or do the direct download version of the game.

Summary:

If you are okay with not having all of the graphics settings turned up and having it run at 15-20 fps (perfectly fine for a game of this type), then you can run VG on some pretty low-end hardware.

[Ohmar]

is 2 to 4 gigs of DDR 400 RAM going to run the game on high quality?

do you need a video card with DDR3 or DDR4 or will you be ok running this game with a Radion X1600Pro 512 MB GDDR2 PCI Express Video Card?

Just Curious what you Computer GuRu's might know about this.

-Ohmar

[Mikis]

After alot of tweaks and so on I am running it as follows:
Cities: 2-5 fps on high performance (or high quality), grouping: 7-10 fps on high performance (or high quality), soloing: 15-20 fps on high quality. This with 1680*1050 resolution.

After some more optimizations I'm hoping to be able to play with around 25 fps on balanced wherever I am, especially seeingas high performance and high quality runs it almost exactly the same for me.
This with:
Intel Celeron 2.8Ghz (128k L2 cache makes it run like a P4 1.8Ghz)
1024 MB SDRam (133mhz)
Geforce 7600GS 256 mb AGP4x (Motherboard doesn't support 8x)
8 year old motherboard in my Dell Dimension 4300

Considering that it is an 8 year old computer and I spent 225 euros (175 dollar) on it during those 8 years I'm quite happy that it still can run the game at all

My girlfriend has problems with constant hd access (low memory on the gfx maybe), but other than that she can do soloing and grouping at 20 fps at high performance with max far clipping plane. She only has 5-10 fps in the cities though. This with this system:
AMD 2800+
1024MB DDR 3200 (400mhz)
ATI Radeon 9600Pro 128mb
3 year old motherboard

Only thing changed in her 3 year old computer was the extra 512 mb ram.

For the ones complaining about the need for a totally new 2000 dollar computer is completely wrong and mi informed. I'm just hoping that they can fix some performance issues (being close to other characters, textures loading when turning making it choppy), then I'm not even sure I'll get a new computer anymore in about a year

[Nil]

Originally Posted by Ohmar

is 2 to 4 gigs of DDR 400 RAM going to run the game on high quality?

do you need a video card with DDR3 or DDR4 or will you be ok running this game with a Radion X1600Pro 512 MB GDDR2 PCI Express Video Card?

Just Curious what you Computer GuRu's might know about this.

-Ohmar

Well, your rig sounds better than my rig. I've got 2 gigs of DDR400 and the AGP 1600Pro with 128mgs of ram, and the game runs just fine at 1280x1024 (on high performance settings). I usually have between 10-25 fps depending on the situation.

Originally Posted by Mikis

For the ones complaining about the need for a totally new 2000 dollar computer is completely wrong and mi informed. I'm just hoping that they can fix some performance issues (being close to other characters, textures loading when turning making it choppy), then I'm not even sure I'll get a new computer anymore in about a year.

I don't think that's the attitude around here. Sure, folks may have the 2k computers, and if you want to run it in HD on the highest settings, you'll need it, but Coinspinner is running it on a 9500 for goodness' sake.

[Solution0]

Thank you for all these info. As I actually have a 2,8Ghz processor with 512kb L2 cash and an X800XL 256mo. Do you think it would be nice to upgrade to a 1950pro AGP? I do plan on buying a whole new system during summer but with the really low price of this card now I was wondering if I would see a large difference and if it would worth it.

[Nil]

Originally Posted by Solution0

Thank you for all these info. As I actually have a 2,8Ghz processor with 512kb L2 cash and an X800XL 256mo. Do you think it would be nice to upgrade to a 1950pro AGP? I do plan on buying a whole new system during summer but with the really low price of this card now I was wondering if I would see a large difference and if it would worth it.

Unless you're really aching to run it on higher settings, I'd wait. The X800XL is a fine card, and well, $200 is $200. You can put that into the new one you're building.

There will be a noticiable increase in moving to a X1950pro, but it won't have you in HD with High Settings or anything.

You didn't put your ram on here. If you don't have 2g ram, I would recommend looking at upgrading that. It does make a BIG difference to go from 1gig to 2.

[Solution0]

Originally Posted by Nil

Just that I don't like playing in high performance and still having a ridiculous 7 fps in town.

Well, it is town, after all. FPS isn't nearly as important in non-combat situations. Have you gone tweak-happy yet?

[Nil]

Well crud, Sol0, I hit the wrong button and edited your post instead of quoting it. I don't recall exactly what it said. I'm so sorry, man.

[Solution0]

ROFL That's soo funny! It doesn't matter ... was mostly saying I have 2gig and stuff... Anyway I just checked about getting this 1950pro ... and since i'm in canada and it seems to be hella hard to get here I'll just wait for summer time

I'll find something else to spend my money into... I'm pretty sure

[Ohmar]

Originally Posted by Nil

Well, your rig sounds better than my rig. I've got 2 gigs of DDR400 and the AGP 1600Pro with 128mgs of ram, and the game runs just fine at 1280x1024 (on high performance settings). I usually have between 10-25 fps depending on the situation.

I feel better about my purchases now. Time to go assemble. I will keep posted of the achieved performance. Once Vanguard is LIVE.



-Ohmar