So, what should us with Athlons do?

[Leatherpenguin]

The demo is here and it cannot be run on:

* AMD Athlon
* AMD Athlon XP / MP
* AMD Duron
* AMD Sempron (Socket A versions)

* Intel Pentium II Xeon
* Intel Pentium III Xeon
* Intel Pentium II
* Intel Pentium III
* Intel Celeron (Slot 1, Socket 370)

Personally, I've got an athlon XP 3200 which has been serving me great as a budget alternative, but I guess that this is what you get for taking the cheap way out. Basically, I NEED this game, so I'm upgrading if this problem carries through to the full version, which seems likely, since the need for SSE2 support is stated in the official readme (of the demo though). Another problem is that I've got a Asrock K7VT6 motherboard which apparantely doesn't support any of the supported processors, so I need to change that too.

My specs atm are:

AMD Athlon XP 3200+
Asrock K7VT6
1024 mb of I'm not sure what mhz atm, can check if its important
ATI x850 pro
160 gig hardrive

I kinda don't know very much about hardware so I'm wondering if any of you guys could come with some tips a good processor and motherboard which would fit the rest of the system. Also, is it very hard to change these components? I'd guess so since you basically have to reinstall all components when you change motherboard, is that right?

[Incinerate_IV]

If you are up to it, you can upgrade to an Athlon 64 3200+ or 3800+, they are dirt cheap these days.

Download CPU-Z:
http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php

And check your socket type (754 or 939).

If you got socket 754:
Athlon 64 3000+ -OEM (No heatsink):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103605

Athlon 64 3000+:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103606

If you got socket 939:
Athlon 64 3200+:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103535

Athlon 64 3800+:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103531

There are other dual core options for socket 939 too, like the X2 3800+, which is also a really good deal.

If you got socket 754 you might have to search some other sites for 3200+ or 3800+, but their price are pretty high, you might be better off getting a new computer instead.

[Halie Satanus]

If you are up to it, you can upgrade to an Athlon 64 3200+ or 3800+, they are dirt cheap these days.

Download CPU-Z:
http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php

And check your socket type (754 or 939).

If you got socket 754:
Athlon 64 3000+ -OEM (No heatsink):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103605

Athlon 64 3000+:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103606

If you got socket 939:
Athlon 64 3200+:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103535

Athlon 64 3800+:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103531

There are other dual core options for socket 939 too, like the X2 3800+, which is also a really good deal.

If you got socket 754 you might have to search some other sites for 3200+ or 3800+, but their price are pretty high, you might be better off getting a new computer instead.

Great info, but as a compleate donut where the inner workings of comps go, can i ask how would i find out which socket i have??.

[invictus]

Wait wait wait, then what is my fx-60 considered? I can run the demo correct? -Leon

[Shaun]

Wait wait wait, then what is my fx-60 considered? I can run the demo correct? -Leon

Yes, it is only the older CPU's that cant run MTW2, I mean who still uses a P3 or athlon XP for a gaming rig?

[Spiff]

Seriously, the full finished game wont support those processors? Man theyre fairly commiting commercial seppuku with that one.

But yea im with Incinerate_IV, get one of those processors - i just got one recently (64 X2 3800+) and it runs games very smoothly with a decent videocard to back it up

[Erik]

Seriously, the full finished game wont support those processors? Man theyre fairly commiting commercial seppuku with that one.

No, I'm pretty sure the full game will support those processors, just look at the system reqirelments:

Medieval II System Requirements!
Today we can reveal the Minimum System Requirements for Medieval II: Total War. Are you ready for battle?

Minimum System Requirements:

English version of Microsoft® Windows® 2000/XP.
Celeron 1.8GHz Pentium 4® (1500MHz) or equivalent AMD® processor.
512MB RAM.
8x Speed DVD-ROM drive (1200KB/sec sustained transfer rate) and latest drivers.
11.0 Gigs of uncompressed free hard disk space.
100% DirectX® 9.0c compatible 16-bit sound card and latest drivers.
100% Windows® 2000/XP compatible mouse, keyboard and latest drivers.
DirectX® 9.0c.
128MB Hardware Accelerated video card with Shader 1 support and the latest drivers.
Must be 100% DirectX® 9.0c compatible.
Monitor must be able to display 1024x768 resolution or above.

I think it's just the demo that has some issues.
I remember the RTW demo was also a lot slower (ie: less effificent) than the full game.

SSE2 is can make certain calculations faster, but there are alternatives to those calculations using just SSE("1"), MMX or 3Dnow!
I think the only thing they have to do to make it compatible with processors without SSE2 is change the way they compile it.
The full game wil probably come with a version with and one without SSE2 instructions.

[Grand Duke Vytautas]

Hey totalwar fellaz I'm begging for your help!!! Could you help me with your hi-tech knowledge plz (im rather noob in computer hardware)
So I've read that amd xps can't support m2tw demo (and likely M2TW full game itself) because of this 'sse2 thing' . While I exactly to my disappointment have amd athlon xp 2800+. My motherboard (mobo as you call it ) is Epox via k8t890cd which supports 754 socket, 2 gigs of ram and about gpu support I don't know (i currently have 128 mb radeon 9500): "1 agx-8x, 2pci-e x1, 2 pci 2 ata-133" (Enlighten me plz?)
So time for me to upgrade my little devil machine I've chosen to buy a cpu already: it's "AMD Sempron 3400+ (1600MHz, 256KB) Palermo S754 BOX" It is 754 socket and costs about 70 euros.

My main worry is gpu, cuz i'm a total newbie in this. Can someone help me to choose stable and reliable 256 mb gpu for my mobo for about 90 euros limits (my budget is low :tooth: )?

Plz plz help me
Thank you very much in advance!

[Arakorn]

What? It can't be ran on Socket A Athlon XP 2400+???

But in the minimum req. it said it could!!!

Am I doomed not to play M2TW even though I upgraded GPU and RAM?

[Arakorn]

With CPU-Z.

Goddamnit, I must buy a new MoBo and a CPU too! Damn! Should I just buy a E6600 and a mobo and wait a bit more so I can afford other parts or?

[snuff]

No Socket A processors have SSE2, so you wont be able to play the demo, although the final game may be a possibility.

If you motherboard supports Socket 939 you can upgrade to a Venice processor for 55$ if you want, although that kind of a ripoff for what CPUs are going for now.

[Arakorn]

Ah, you've saved my day!

But why is it this way? It just doesn't make any sense...

[snuff]

Heres the cheapest AMD that will support the game I believe:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103537

[Arakorn]

Yep, my friend has i I think, but then I'd have to buy a new MoBo too

[Leatherpenguin]

Thanks a lot for the help! CPU-Z says I'm running a socket A (462), so I guess that's why I'll need a new mobo too. I guess I should go for a socket 939 mobo? Also, is it very hard to install a new mobo?

Oh, and also, I currently have an AGP graphics card which i don't plan on upgrading in the near future, but I'll still want to be somewhat good for future buys when I upgrade, so basically what I'm wondering if there are any mobos which have both AGP and PCI-Xpress? I guess no, and that I should just go with a cheap AGP card, but it's nice to be sure

[Peter]

You could go all the way to socket AM2 if you wish because there are some very cheap alternatives there aswell. Installing a motherboard isnt very hard, its like building with lego just follow the manual or find some sites on the internet that shows the way its done.

[spirit_of_rob]

Are you telling me if i want to play this game i have to get a another bunch of of pc parts or is this just for the demo do we think?

If its for the full game CA i hate you and im never ever buying anything of yours again

[krazykarl]

for those of you who are feeling masochistic, I have heard (I have a p4 at the moment so i cant confirm this) evedently VMware can simulate SSE2 via a virtual machine. Mind you i dont know what kind of preformance you are going to get running the demo on a virtual machine.

[Incinerate_IV]

Get an Athlon 64 instead, try to find an OEM one without the heatsink, since you don't need one and OEM CPUs are much cheaper.

The best AGP card I know of in that price range would be the X1600Pro.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814131427

Not really a big bang for the buck, but AGP cards are getting pretty expensive.

[Grand Duke Vytautas]

Get an Athlon 64 instead, try to find an OEM one without the heatsink, since you don't need one and OEM CPUs are much cheaper.

The best AGP card I know of in that price range would be the X1600Pro.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814131427

Not really a big bang for the buck, but AGP cards are getting pretty expensive.

Txs man, much appreciated Ill try