kingofkolt
Member
+17|6694|Boston, MA, USA
Hi,

My brother has a Dell Dimension 2350 desktop with a 1.8GHz CPU, 512MB RAM, and a 128MB NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 video card. When he plays BF2 at all low settings, no anti-aliasing and lowest resolution, the frame rate is pretty low (I think we had the game show the frame rate once with renderer.drawFPS and it was in the 15-20 fps range). So we were wondering what was causing the slowness... Is it the slow CPU speed, the sort of old graphics card, the small RAM? Or all of the above? It meets all of the minimum BF2 requirements, but it's still slow. On the other hand, my Dell Inspiron 9100 (soon to be replaced with a MacBook Pro) with a 2.8GHz CPU, 512MB RAM, and a 64MB ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 video card runs BF2 smoothly, although at the absolute lowest settings and only after taking a few minutes after loading a map to smooth out the FPS wrinkles. The only thing that's better on my computer than his is the CPU, and my graphics card has half his VRAM... Isn't the graphics the most important part for playing BF2? Anyway, any advice/answers are appreciated. We're trying to figure out what he should do to make the game smoother (while spending the least possible amount of $$). The game doesn't have to run at full quality settings, just be able to play with decent FPS even at low settings.

Thanks.

Last edited by kingofkolt (2007-06-09 16:30:06)

r2zoo
Knowledge is power, guard it well
+126|7067|Michigan, USA
Well the processer is the bare minimum to run the game, so thats and issue, the fact that you only have 512mb of RAM is another, upgrading it should increse performence a bit, as for the graphics card, upgrading is a must, I too run an Nvidia 5200, but I can play on mostly low, some medium settings with a 3Ghz processer and 1 Gig of RAM.
VicktorVauhn
Member
+319|6863|Southern California
I'm not a huge PC gamer, but of all the games Ive ran BF2 is the most demanding.

I have a 2.5ghz P4 with 2 gig ram, a 7800GS with 256mb  and can't quite run on med.
Noobeater
Northern numpty
+194|6918|Boulder, CO
thats weird as i used to have on my old pc
1.6gig amd pro
1 gig of ram
128mb 6600GT
and i could run it at medium, my old comp was weird.
VicktorVauhn
Member
+319|6863|Southern California
to be honest I think its the supper old hard drive and crap CPU thats holding it back...
mikeyb118
Evil Overlord
+76|7069|S.C.
it's the graphic card
FX 5700 is minimum
the cpu is slow aswell
Parker
isteal
+1,452|6865|The Gem Saloon

mikeyb118 wrote:

it's the graphic card
FX 5700 is minimum
the cpu is slow aswell
they say 5700 is the min, but before i got my new pc i ran a 5200 playing BF2.
Mekstizzle
WALKER
+3,611|7092|London, England
I think it's the video card. I had a 2.8GhZ CPU w/1GB RAM and an FX5500 and BF2 ran pretty shit. Whereas when i had my 6600 (which died) BF2 was fairly nice on low/medium settings and 2x AA.

I reckon BF2 is more about RAM and Video Card than CPU. If you really don't want to get a new computer, get a new video card (Not 5 series) and some more RAM.

Doesn't matter that the FX has more VRAM, it just sucks big time (nVidia screwed up with the 5 series). I had a 256 FX5500 and a 128 6600, the 6600 blew it out of the water.
d4rkst4r
biggie smalls
+72|6924|Ontario, Canada
dell is junk, why cant you understand????????????????????????????????????????
"you know life is what we make it, and a chance is like a picture, it'd be nice if you just take it"
kingofkolt
Member
+17|6694|Boston, MA, USA
How can I tell if a particular graphics card is compatible with this computer? I'll look for some on eBay... but I can't just buy a freakin' GeForce 7900 and stick it in a 3-5 year old Dell can I?
kylef
Gone
+1,352|6964|N. Ireland
Crap specs. Get a new computer, not a DELL.
kingofkolt
Member
+17|6694|Boston, MA, USA
d4rkst4r and leetkyle, I know, I know, I know If he had the money he definitely wouldn't spend it just upgrading an old crap Dell. But he doesn't have much $$, probably just enough to upgrade the GPU and maybe the RAM. So I'm trying to figure out what video cards could work with a Dimension 2350 that he could upgrade to.

Last edited by kingofkolt (2007-06-09 17:16:22)

Poseidon
Fudgepack DeQueef
+3,253|7008|Long Island, New York
Because that computer is just about the epitome of SUCK.

I feel for him. I do.

Even on low, I really wouldn't ever think that could run BF2.
Fenix14
scout rush kekeke ^___^
+116|7028|Brisbane, Aus

Well RAM & a good video card are almost essential for BF2, at least 1 gig of RAM to start with, and a Video card with 256meg would help too

The 1.8GHz processor won't really be helping all this too lol.

Might be cheaper and more beneficial to buy a whole new PC with good specs rather than upgrading as a quick fix, cause in a few months you'll notice the speed for (whatever new game here) is slow & you'll want faster stuff.


My specs are: (you will want a better CPU than me I'm just listing mine so you know)

AMD athlon  64 processor (2211MHz)
Ge Force 7600 GT vid card (256MB)
2Gig RAm

I usually run BF2 on all medium with that, plus that didn't cost much more than $1200 (australian $'s)
{HMS}_Sir_Del_Boy
Member
+69|7180|th3 unkn0wn

kingofkolt wrote:

Hi,

My brother has a Dell Dimension 2350 desktop with a 1.8GHz CPU, 512MB RAM, and a 128MB NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 video card. When he plays BF2 at all low settings, no anti-aliasing and lowest resolution, the frame rate is pretty low (I think we had the game show the frame rate once with renderer.drawFPS and it was in the 15-20 fps range). So we were wondering what was causing the slowness... Is it the slow CPU speed, the sort of old graphics card, the small RAM? Or all of the above? It meets all of the minimum BF2 requirements, but it's still slow. On the other hand, my Dell Inspiron 9100 (soon to be replaced with a MacBook Pro) with a 2.8GHz CPU, 512MB RAM, and a 64MB ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 video card runs BF2 smoothly, although at the absolute lowest settings and only after taking a few minutes after loading a map to smooth out the FPS wrinkles. The only thing that's better on my computer than his is the CPU, and my graphics card has half his VRAM... Isn't the graphics the most important part for playing BF2? Anyway, any advice/answers are appreciated. We're trying to figure out what he should do to make the game smoother (while spending the least possible amount of $$). The game doesn't have to run at full quality settings, just be able to play with decent FPS even at low settings.

Thanks.
WTF is THAT hunk of junk?!?!?!
r2zoo
Knowledge is power, guard it well
+126|7067|Michigan, USA

Mekstizzle wrote:

I think it's the video card. I had a 2.8GhZ CPU w/1GB RAM and an FX5500 and BF2 ran pretty shit. Whereas when i had my 6600 (which died) BF2 was fairly nice on low/medium settings and 2x AA.

I reckon BF2 is more about RAM and Video Card than CPU. If you really don't want to get a new computer, get a new video card (Not 5 series) and some more RAM.

Doesn't matter that the FX has more VRAM, it just sucks big time (nVidia screwed up with the 5 series). I had a 256 FX5500 and a 128 6600, the 6600 blew it out of the water.
Eh my 5200FX is currently running 2142 with a couple settings on medium with a Gig of ram jsut fine, couple of hiccups now and then but its runs smooth.  Im running an HP pavlion with a Dual processer board clocking in at 3Ghz overall(top of the line back in 03'/04')  While graphics are holding it back, the 5200 in my experience is a beast, able to hold its own up until the end.  I can still run some newer games fine, sure not high graphics, but its still kicking.

I would suggest at the very least going towards a gig of ram.  And as stated previously, Dells suck, if you gonna go premade budget desktops, go with HP.  Ive had two in a decade, both cost in the $1500 price range when purchased and have been still kicking Might I add to this statement, they can still hold their own, not as well as before but their able to none the less

Last edited by r2zoo (2007-06-09 17:44:33)

JaMrulezass
Member
+47|6936|Hong Kong
LOL, makes me laugh at how people still have an FX card.
mikeyb118
Evil Overlord
+76|7069|S.C.

JaMrulezass wrote:

LOL, makes me laugh at how people still have an FX card.
FX rulz, I fondly remember my FX 5500 before BF2.
unnamednewbie13
Moderator
+2,080|7243|PNW

kingofkolt wrote:

Hi,

My brother has a Dell Dimension 2350 desktop with a 1.8GHz CPU, 512MB RAM, and a 128MB NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 video card. When he plays BF2 at all low settings, no anti-aliasing and lowest resolution, the frame rate is pretty low (I think we had the game show the frame rate once with renderer.drawFPS and it was in the 15-20 fps range). So we were wondering what was causing the slowness... Is it the slow CPU speed, the sort of old graphics card, the small RAM? Or all of the above? It meets all of the minimum BF2 requirements, but it's still slow. On the other hand, my Dell Inspiron 9100 (soon to be replaced with a MacBook Pro) with a 2.8GHz CPU, 512MB RAM, and a 64MB ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 video card runs BF2 smoothly, although at the absolute lowest settings and only after taking a few minutes after loading a map to smooth out the FPS wrinkles. The only thing that's better on my computer than his is the CPU, and my graphics card has half his VRAM... Isn't the graphics the most important part for playing BF2? Anyway, any advice/answers are appreciated. We're trying to figure out what he should do to make the game smoother (while spending the least possible amount of $$). The game doesn't have to run at full quality settings, just be able to play with decent FPS even at low settings.

Thanks.
It's been answered, but let me say that he's running at an amazing frame rate for his specs. The CPU isn't an issue, but the amount of RAM and the video card's models are barely scraping by.

You see...any more, minimum requirements are what the developers determined that the game would run stably at, not playably. It's ridiculous, I know, but that's how it works. Recommended requirements are usually what it will take to play the game with any sort of smoothness. Let me tell you right now that it is pointless to upgrade that rig, as all the parts will be overpriced due to low of availability and the industry's aim to phase out old technology.

Even my rig, an Athlon 64 3500+ with 2GB of RAM and a 256MB NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra can't be improved on without blowing a wad of cash. One, putting in a dual-core CPU that can fit a socket 939 motherboard will only provide a modicum of improved performance, and only for certain applications. It would still be cheap, but would leave me with a dejected 3500+ sitting around feeling sorry for itself and sending its lonely vibes at me. Two, all four sticks of RAM are DDR-400, and together rate at fairly-low memory timings. I could improve on it by taking all of them out and replacing them with two 1GB sticks, but with DDR-400, it would be an unreasonably-expensive proposal. My 6800 Ultra is pretty much the pinnacle of AGP performance for someone who doesn't want to spend $200+ on a 7900GS when NVIDIA's next line of video cards are slightly more, but for the superior PCI Express bus.

If my only option at this point is to pick up a new computer later, then the same can be said for your brother and his rig. It's that or go look for some older PC titles that you can play together. I recommend Freelancer.

Last edited by unnamednewbie13 (2007-06-10 15:19:12)

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