PC specs for SS question

**stevehoos** · March 16, 2009, 03:29 AM

I have a emachine that I upgraded with a nvidia 9500 GT 512 mb graphics card. I also put in a 500 watt power supply and and 2 gigs of ram. It only runs at 2.2 ghz and has a AMD 64 athlon processor. It does well with 20 units on 20 units battles on huge Army setting with high graphics, but with four armies on the screen it chokes up even with graphics turned down some. I was wondering if anyone had any advice as to what I should do. Would upgrading the ram to maybe 8 gigs help? Or is the processor going to have to be replaced in order to run this game with huge armies?

**Caesar Clivus** · March 16, 2009, 05:54 AM

Upgrading the RAM will help but 8Gb will only be useful if you have Vista. XP can only use up to 4GB (if memory serves...no pun intended). Come to think of it, perhaps only the 64-bit version of Vista can use over 4Gb...someone who knows vista can tell you (I've never used it). At any rate 4GB will give a very nice performance boost over 2. But I think your main sticking point would be your CPU. I used to have a similar CPU to yours and I had some chugging. I now have a dual-core Intel E8400 and M2TW runs as smooth as the proverbial newborn's gluteus maximus.

**Smikis** · March 16, 2009, 06:15 AM

um.. 9500gt isnt exactly gaming card, and every advert which said it is.. lied.. and its ur own fault believing it..

my self running e8400 @ 3.870ghz
2x 9600gt ( oced ) in sli
4gb ram 1:1 with cpu oc

running everything max on 1650:1080 ( or what was it ), i wouldnt go as far as saying that mtw2 runs smooth..depends what you call smooth.. 60+ fps is smooth.. 30 fps isnt for me, even tho it doesnt rly matter in mtw2, biggest fps drops are those huge cities/castles tho

as to your question.. your rig is medium-low end.. and beyond adding 1 more gb ram.. since ur not running 64 bit system im pretty sure.. is beyond fixing.. it needs upgrade in everything more or less

you could probably oc graphic card.. by a bit.. its fairly easy. just google about it, if it isnt oced edition it might give you decent enough boost, and yours cpu too, tho athlon isnt best ocing cpus out there.. everything is possible just read up on it before you do anything

just remmeber noone of us beforing ocing for first time knew what they did.. and mine pc still works

**stevehoos** · March 16, 2009, 06:31 AM

Originally Posted by Caesar Clivus

Upgrading the RAM will help but 8Gb will only be useful if you have Vista. XP can only use up to 4GB (if memory serves...no pun intended). Come to think of it, perhaps only the 64-bit version of Vista can use over 4Gb...someone who knows vista can tell you (I've never used it). At any rate 4GB will give a very nice performance boost over 2. But I think your main sticking point would be your CPU. I used to have a similar CPU to yours and I had some chugging. I now have a dual-core Intel E8400 and M2TW runs as smooth as the proverbial newborn's gluteus maximus.

nice pun lol a computer memory won to boot

**Smikis** · March 16, 2009, 06:40 AM

Originally Posted by stevehoos

nice pun lol a computer memory won to boot

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa366778.aspx

for ram limits

small note.. it says xp 32 bit can use 4gb.. well thats just 3,5-3.8 (cant recall which atm )gb made into 4gb.. and those 3,5gb is shared..so having 3gb ram + 512 ra = 3512 already

so if you running for example 4gb ram + sli configuration which is 1024 mb ram again.. but in os it says something as 2,2gb ram for cards.. (meh ) it goes into another 6gb as total.. well you get idea

**Ataraxie** · March 16, 2009, 06:29 AM

It only runs at 2.2 ghz and has a AMD 64 athlon processor

That's your problem - If you can, pick up a processor with a bit more poke.
I have an E6850 running at 3.3ghz, and I'd reckon that 2.8ghz is very least you want for running the larger battles.

Come to think of it, perhaps only the 64-bit version of Vista can use over 4Gb..

Yeap, you'll be wanting a 64bit OS to be using the highest possible ammounts of RAM memory.

um.. 9500gt isnt exactly gaming card, and every advert which said it is.. lied.. and its ur own fault believing it..

Medieval II isn't exactly a new game either - the 9500 should do just fine, I've seen people running it fine on older 8700 cards, and some ATi toys that must be museum pieces.

**Smikis** · March 16, 2009, 06:34 AM

Originally Posted by Ataraxie

Medieval II isn't exactly a new game either - the 9500 should do just fine, I've seen people running it fine on older 8700 cards, and some ATi toys that must be museum pieces.

hey hey, i ran medieval with gf4800ti ( that was piece of an art back in the days ), and i ran in medium-low or something graphics .. on 15 inc monitor or 17 that was.. anyway

running and playing on max isnt anywhere close

8700 is mobile card.. and probably around same strength as 9500. probably bit weaker

**stevehoos** · March 16, 2009, 06:38 AM

That's your problem - If you can, pick up a processor with a bit more poke.
I have an E6850 running at 3.3ghz, and I'd reckon that 2.8ghz is very least you want for running the larger battles.

Would I have to replace the motherboard to put in a new processor?

**Smikis** · March 16, 2009, 06:44 AM

Originally Posted by stevehoos

That's your problem - If you can, pick up a processor with a bit more poke.
I have an E6850 running at 3.3ghz, and I'd reckon that 2.8ghz is very least you want for running the larger battles.

Would I have to replace the motherboard to put in a new processor?

hey i cant stop you.. but upgrading cpu alone.. wont grant you effect anywhere near where you want it.. , try overcloking , of play on lower settings.. dont do 8k troops battles.. ( rly those come twice a in game at most probably ) , play with medium unit size..

if you want to upgrade.. pc.. read up on it.. and spend bit more money on better stuff instead of mediacore system.. which you end up upgrading in 3 months..

but hey.. if you got spare 5k bucks.. ignore me.. visit on of many sites that offer prebuilt and overpriced pcs. for gaming.. and buy it..

**stevehoos** · March 16, 2009, 06:57 AM

hey i cant stop you.. but upgrading cpu alone.. wont grant you effect anywhere near where you want it.. , try overcloking , of play on lower settings.. dont do 8k troops battles

I just wish they made a game as intelligent as TW2 SS for my dust gathering 360 console. I love the big battles. I am addicted to this game its sad really. I could stop all this madness if they made an SS game for console. I almost traded this game back in then I found the SS mod. I love military and medievil history this game is unreal, thank God Im not dating some girl right now. She would be up in arms over the time I have spent with it.