Selecting Shadows

General discussions about the games by Egosoft including X-BTF, XT, X², X³: Reunion, X³: Terran Conflict and X³: Albion Prelude.

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Brodie
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Selecting Shadows

Post by Brodie » Sat, 13. Mar 04, 13:23

When i first got the game i (like probably everyone) selected all the graphics options, but when i ran the game the jerkyness was terribble, so through trial and error i played with the graphics options, resolution and even shutting down virus software and internet connections to stop background programs from interfering, but still i could not play the game with shadows running, now i love the game, but hate the thought that i'm missing out of all the graphical wonders that where intended for the player. I selected:

Resolution: 800 x 600 x 32 (even though my Plasma Screen and Pc can handle more)
Auto Quality: Yes
Antialiasing: Yes
Bumpmaps: Yes
Shadows: No :evil:

Is there anything i can do that you know of to enable me to select Shadows?
Do I need to buy a new graphics card, i know nothing about hardware and graphics cards, is mine any good, should i and do i need to upgrade?
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Goldfinch
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Post by Goldfinch » Sat, 13. Mar 04, 13:27

you could always try setting all the other options to minimum if you really want shadows, but it probably isn't worthg it when it will make the rest of the game look bad.
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NoOnions
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Post by NoOnions » Sat, 13. Mar 04, 13:53

:idea:

Brodie,

Try turning OFF Auto Quality. With the 1.2 patch it worked for me - massive jump in frame rates. With 1.3 things are even better.

My system is:

AMD Athlon XP2600 +
1 GB DDR (Dual Channel mode)
ATi 9500 Pro 128mb

AQC is useless for me. Don't know how it will affect a NVIDIA GeForce FX5200, as that is a slower card than mine, but give it a go.

All the best,

NoOnions
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BDC
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Post by BDC » Sat, 13. Mar 04, 14:01

I also found ACQ useless. Whenever the models change the fps dies as the new ones are loaded up.
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Brodie
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Post by Brodie » Sat, 13. Mar 04, 14:33

Cheers thanks for your help, i'll give it a go!

Is it only my graphics card that is holding me back.
With the spec of my computer is it worth getting a better graphics card? or would i be wasting my money?

As you can probably tell i know nothing about PC Hardware, i dont even know if i have a good computer, i've no its not bad, but dont know if its any good.

Is the juddering caused by my graphics card or by something else??

Pleeeeease help

I hate being a noob!

Brodie
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DarkSaber2k
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Post by DarkSaber2k » Sat, 13. Mar 04, 14:38

Your computers more or less the same as mine. Only major differences are your screen (mine's a plain 17") and your grpahics card.
MInes a NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 440 with AGP8X (I copied that from a log file).
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Brodie
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Post by Brodie » Sat, 13. Mar 04, 14:39

so what setting do you have your game running at?
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DarkSaber2k
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Post by DarkSaber2k » Sat, 13. Mar 04, 15:00

1024x768x16 (I think)
No graphics enabled.

I play it safe. Gameplays more important than looks to me. Plus it's been 7 years since I last had a PC, whihc was a P75, so I kind of have a habit of disabling as much as possible to make stuff run well.
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Brodie
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Post by Brodie » Sat, 13. Mar 04, 15:06

Ok cheers mate, anyone else out there have anything to add to this, as im sure there are loads of people who are in the same boat (titanic! lol)
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Sotos
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Post by Sotos » Sat, 13. Mar 04, 15:10

hmmmm

well your system is very good except one thing

THE GEFORCE FX 5200 IS NOT A GOOD CPU FOR LATEST GAMES (it is the worst CPU for playing games actually even compared to the older Geforce 4 TI)


Buy yourself a FX 5600 or FX 5900(or a Radeon 9600,9800) if you want to play games with all effects on and with a nice resolution




My system is similar to yours in most parts... (Mine is a little better :P )
P4 3.00 GHZ (800FSB)
(2048MB) 2.0 GB RAM DDR
RADEON 9800 pro (It is similar with a FX 5900 Ultra in performance)
WD 120 GB
Audigy 2 ZS
etc...

I play these game at 1600x1200 with all effect ON and automatic quality off and it runs great :)


My point is buy a bettee graphic card as it is not the games problem that performance sucks in your system...
Last edited by Sotos on Sat, 13. Mar 04, 15:13, edited 1 time in total.
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DarkSaber2k
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Post by DarkSaber2k » Sat, 13. Mar 04, 15:13

Can anyone tell me if my NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 440 with AGP8X is any good? Like I said, it's been seven years since I was computing, so I've fallen behind on my technology knowledge. It came as standard in the PC, and can certainly handle itself, but what's the public opinion on it?
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Brodie
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Post by Brodie » Sat, 13. Mar 04, 15:13

cheers mate, how much will that set me back?
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Brodie
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Post by Brodie » Sat, 13. Mar 04, 15:15

FX 5600 and FX 5900, theyu cost more than £150???
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Sotos
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Post by Sotos » Sat, 13. Mar 04, 15:18

Yes

The Geforce 4 MX is a Dx 8.0 compatibility card (it does not support the new feautures of DX 9.0 that X2 the threat and new games support))


I would definetily also reccomend you buying a new card
if you want to play games at a big resolution with all graphic options enabled
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Brodie
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Post by Brodie » Sat, 13. Mar 04, 15:20

Im starting to realise that now, cheers, dont suppose you can give me any idea of prices of the FX 5600 or FX 5900 could ya? Do you think also these are the ones to buy, im guessing the FX 5900 is the best, but is it cost effective?
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Sotos
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Post by Sotos » Sat, 13. Mar 04, 15:22

Unfortunately i live in Europe and not in US so it would difficult to say in dollars how much it costs




My Radeon 9800pro
I bought it somewhere to 500 Euros in summer 2003 if that helps...(I am sure that now it cost less)


You could search the internet to find a good FX 5600 or a FX 5900 and see how it costs...
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Brodie
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Post by Brodie » Sat, 13. Mar 04, 15:25

Im from Liverpool, England so sterling (english pounds, quids, notes etc) would be fine
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Moff_Ben1
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Post by Moff_Ben1 » Sat, 13. Mar 04, 15:27

A FX5900XT will cost u £150 an u can get a BIOS update to turn it into a FX5950 Ultra (a £300+ card)
DaNcInG cOmMuNiSts!
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NoOnions
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Post by NoOnions » Sat, 13. Mar 04, 15:30

The GeForce 4 MX is a 'slightly' better version of the GeForce 2 MX. A GeForce 3 will give you better performance than a GF4 MX. If on a budget I'd suggest an ATi 9600 Pro or the NVidia equivalent. I went from a DX 8 GeForce 3 Ti 200 to an ATi Radeon 9500 Pro and the difference was amazing. I have DX 9 capability and X2 looks great with all options on.

You can get a 9600 Pro from www.aria.co.uk for £92.

All the best,

NoOnions

p.s. Also, a MX card does not do T&L - so well worth an upgrade
Intel Q6700 @ 3GHz
ASRock P45XE
8GB RAM
128GB SSD
2TB hybrid HDD (8GB SSD cache)
ATi 5870
Antec P180 case
Corsair HX 850W PSU
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Sotos
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Post by Sotos » Sat, 13. Mar 04, 15:32

Unfortunately i can tell you only in EUROS how much it costs
I am not sure how much is in pounds
The prices are different in countries



If i find information about how much it costs in England i will tell you
unless a member in these forum knows better about pounds etc
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