News on system requirements?

[Herr Kruger]

I know this is really early, but just wondering what's been said about system requirements so far and what can now be said by BFC...? I haven't been following CMx2 as closely as many people here, but I am still excited about it.

[Sergei]

It will require a Gameboy DS.

[Pzman]

Or GameCube II.

[Battlefront.com]

If you have a system bought within the last year, and it was a decent system, I'd guess that you'd meet the minimum specs. But because we are doing some pretty fancy stuff... newer and beffer the better :D We'll have more detailed specs probably in late 2005.

Steve

[Mike]

It's always the more and newer the better!! smile.gif

I've got a P4 2.8gHz with a Radeon 9200SE 128mb Graphics card and 512mb memory, running Win98SE - so a machine that is dated a little, with an operating system that was the last stable one made by MS.......will it run on that?

[Earl Grey]

I´m actually asking myslef HOW you manage to run Win98SE on this machine - mine gave up with an Athlon XP 1800+, GeForce4 Ti4200 and 512MB RAM... Anyway, I think my old machine will not be good enough. But an new one is on the horizon... smile.gif

[Soddball]

Originally posted by Mike:
It's always the more and newer the better!! smile.gif

I've got a P4 2.8gHz with a Radeon 9200SE 128mb Graphics card and 512mb memory, running Win98SE - so a machine that is dated a little, with an operating system that was the last stable one made by MS.......will it run on that? Win98 was the last stable one made by MS????

Are you on drugs? Did you skip 2000 Professional?

Get XP Pro SP2. Way better than 98.

[Battlefront.com]

We probably will not support any OS that is more than one rev old. The nightmares associated with doing that, especially on the PC side, make me shudder to even think about!

Steve

[Folbec]

Originally posted by Battlefront.com:
We probably will not support any OS that is more than one rev old. The nightmares associated with doing that, especially on the PC side, make me shudder to even think about!

Steve Better be coding fast, then, before Microsoft gets its latest offering out (end of this year ?).

Or maybe you are looking forward to recode for 64bits?

[WineCape]

Well Steve, if you need a CMx2 test bunny for graphic stability; I've got the following:

AMD Athlon FX-55
Gigabyte K8NXP-SLI Mobo
2 x Asus 6800 Ultras running in SLi mode
22" IBM Monitor running in 1600x1200x32 (4xAA + 8xAF)
2 x Raptor Western Digital HDD's in RAID 1
WinXP Pro

Happy to run/test Cmx2 for you, but alas, my system will be old and no more cutting edge when CMx2 is released!

Sincerely,
Charl

[Reg Pither]

Originally posted by Battlefront.com:
If you have a system bought within the last year, and it was a decent system, I'd guess that you'd meet the minimum specs.
Steve That sounds pretty tough! So a good system now will only meet the minimum specs for the game when it is released?!? :eek:

Or is your reply just poorly worded...? ;)

[Jack Carr]

Originally posted by WineCape:
Well Steve, if you need a CMx2 test bunny for graphic stability; I've got the following:

AMD Athlon FX-55
Gigabyte K8NXP-SLI Mobo
2 x Asus 6800 Ultras running in SLi mode
22" IBM Monitor running in 1600x1200x32 (4xAA + 8xAF)
2 x Raptor Western Digital HDD's in RAID 1
WinXP Pro

Happy to run/test Cmx2 for you, but alas, my system will be old and no more cutting edge when CMx2 is released!

Sincerely,
Charl NICE!!!!!

Beauty rig, dude!

[juan_gigante]

I'm kind of disappointed... I got a new computer just before the SLi ones started coming out, and that'd be a fun thing to have. Does it work well for you?

[Battlefront.com]

Rewording :D

If you bought a decent system within the last year you'll likely hit the "Medium" setup. A top rig or a good rig next year will likely be "High" mark. The difference being the ability to run with all the bells and whistles on or not. Hopefully the core performance will be roughly the same. Lower end systems purchased within the last year, or higher end purchases earlier than last year, will either need some upgrading (like a better card, more RAM, OS update, etc.) to hit "Minimum" specs.

All of this is just a guess at this point.

Steve

[ASHBERY76]

Bloody hell! you can play HL2 on high settings with a med rig, but not CMx2.I expect photo realism.

[juan_gigante]

Half-Life 2, while incredible, is still an FPS. It takes a lot of computing power to do all the calculations to play a CM-style game. Think about all the things that have to be done: all the AI things (which, esp. tactical, will be deeper), the LOS, the armor penetration stuff; there's a lot to be done. I think the 1:1 adds a lot to that; now the engine has to calculate the positions and actions and stuff for all the little dudes in the squad.

I think the operation of the engine will tax one's computer more than the graphics.

[Jack Carr]

Originally posted by Soddball:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Mike:
It's always the more and newer the better!! smile.gif

I've got a P4 2.8gHz with a Radeon 9200SE 128mb Graphics card and 512mb memory, running Win98SE - so a machine that is dated a little, with an operating system that was the last stable one made by MS.......will it run on that? Win98 was the last stable one made by MS????

Are you on drugs? Did you skip 2000 Professional?

Get XP Pro SP2. Way better than 98. </font>[/QUOTE]LOL! You got that right. Definitely get XP Pro SP2. Its much more stable than 98.

[Jack Carr]

I'm hoping my current rig will be sufficient to run CMx2 with all of its bells and whistles. I can only upgrade the RAM and video card. The mother board already has the fastest processor it can handle.

My rig:
AMD XP 3200+ processor 2.2ghz (Can't get any better than this without scraping the motherboard and going with 64bit AMD's or P4's
1GB Kingston Hyper-X RAM (I have an open slot for another stick)
ABit motherboard 400FSB (It is what it is)
Nvidia GeForce Ti4600 128mb 4XAGP (I'm already setting aside cash to get a GeForce 6800 Ultra 256mb 8XAGP
Creative labs Soundblaster Gamer 5.1 (Probably irrelevant)

What is CMx2 being tested on? If I've stepped on Battlefront's toes with this question, I'm apologizing in advance.

[flamingknives]

I volunteer my Mac for mid-to-low-end Mac testing!*

Dual G4 1.25
1GB RAM
64MB ATI Radeon 9000 (or somefink :( )


Go on, give me an excuse for a better video card.

*Sorry Madmatt, really. Please don't hurt me.

[Dr.Love]

Originally posted by WineCape:
Well Steve, if you need a CMx2 test bunny for graphic stability; I've got the following:

AMD Athlon FX-55
Gigabyte K8NXP-SLI Mobo
2 x Asus 6800 Ultras running in SLi mode
22" IBM Monitor running in 1600x1200x32 (4xAA + 8xAF)
2 x Raptor Western Digital HDD's in RAID 1
WinXP Pro

Happy to run/test Cmx2 for you, but alas, my system will be old and no more cutting edge when CMx2 is released!

Sincerely,
Charl Mmmmmm, sexy rig you have there.

[Pzman]

Originally posted by flamingknives:
I volunteer my Mac for mid-to-low-end Mac testing!*

Dual G4 1.25
1GB RAM
64MB ATI Radeon 9000 (or somefink :( )


Go on, give me an excuse for a better video card.

*Sorry Madmatt, really. Please don't hurt me. Sadly, I don't think our poor little G4s will make the cut. I hope so, but I'm guessing that the 64MB VRAM cards (8500 and 9000) wont do it.

[medlinke]

The biggest thing is that people should FREAK OUT when it is released because those of you that remember CMBO...geez...and then CMBB...woah...there were all kinds of headaches. New gaming engines do that.

Heck even Gabe Newell and his team over at Valve had some MAJOR problems with source that are still existing.

I expect the initial system specs will scale well from moderately high end stuff today to average stuff 4 or 5 years down the line. That seemed to be the way they scoped out CMx1. But seriously look at how different the game was between the initial screens in 1998 and what came out in Late 99...

[lucero1148]

I'm just speculating but re. possible Mac specs because of the impending chip changes and the revisions in the OS code to do it. It would seem that if CMx2 is in the same league as a power hungry, pixel counting game like Doom 3 then there isn't much hope for even Mac User's with a G5 2.7 machine using a top end x800 card. That being the case why would CMx2 run on a Mac at all?
All best
patrick

[flamingknives]

Because Charles is actually good at coding, unlike the bloat monkies at ID?

By all appearances ID codes nearly as badly as I do.

[Sergei]

Originally posted by juan_gigante:
Half-Life 2, while incredible, is still an FPS. It takes a lot of computing power to do all the calculations to play a CM-style game. Think about all the things that have to be done: all the AI things (which, esp. tactical, will be deeper), the LOS, the armor penetration stuff; there's a lot to be done.But these aren't done real time like in FPS's but after you hit the GO button (or however you execute your orders in the new game), so they don't compete with the graphics for computing power. It's harder in RTS's and such, because there everything happens at the same time.

[krill]

Yeah, so, I dug up the ol' specs thread so shoot me. tongue.gif

I'm currently orientating on hardware to buy a new gaming rig in time for the year's end flush of new games. Also, if BFC repeats their magic somewhere in 2006, I want my new baby to give the best CMx2 performance possible. So I wonder if CMx2 is going to be just as CPU-intensive as the CM1 engines? I remember a hefty Athlon did wonders for CM:BO back in the day.

Will the ranking of CM important PC-components still be as followed?;
1-CPU (hefty FPU work)
2-CPU (gosh, please make the turn go faster ...)
3-CPU (bloody huge Rune scenario's :mad: ;) )
4-Graphics power
5-RAM size
6-HD space (gazillion mods alert)
7-Number of buttercup holders

Or will graphics power be more important this time as Charles is working on bump-map support for shiny lobster armor? :D

[Vanir Ausf B]

I'd like to know this too. Based on the bones thrown so far, my guess is that a video card with a high triange rate will be the most desirable component for people who want to play large games.

[MikeyD]

T72's got a high polygon count, deformable terrain, weather, etc. etc. I've been assuming (perhaps mistakenly) that whatever system requirements are posted for T72 would be applicable for CMx2 as well.

Logical, anyway.

[Pzman]

MikeyD, you still don't seem to get the BFC did not design or make T-72.


T-72: Balkans on Fire! is a groundbreaking new tank simulation by Russian game developers IDDK/Crazy House and published by Battlefront.com.
In any case I don't think a PIII 1Ghz PC will do it for CMx2. I'd stick by Steve comments of needed a computer made in the last year that is on the higher end of the spec charts.

[Ivan Drago]

www.pricewatch.com (http://www.pricewatch.com)

Most of you probably know this website already, but for those who do not, it is one of the best sources for computer parts and other electronics.

You have to know a bit about brand-names and basic hardware requierments, but other then that it's my #1 spot for 'puter upgrades.
Anyone have similar links for those of us who will be upgrading soon?
I know I'm getting an all new system just to enjoy CMx2 and the HistWar: Les Grognards game :D

[Dschugaschwili]

Will CMX2 benefit from dual-core processors or will it run faster on a higher clocked single-core CPU?

[Mies]

Will CMX2 benefit from dual-core processors or will it run faster on a higher clocked single-core CPU? After the first threat in this CMx2 forum was opened I started looking for a nice replacement PC for my old work horse. I found that dual core processors do not do much in the performance increase depertment because of the fact that the software doesn't make good use of it. Can't speak for anyone else but I'll go with an AMD 64 something processor. I'll wait with the descission untill a release date for Cmx2 is mentioned. I want to be able to run the game with all extra's turned on.

Mies

[Vanir Ausf B]

I would be exceedingly surprised if CMx2 takes specific advantage of dual-core processors. That type of programing is difficult and very time consuming. I think it would be of dubious value for a turn-based game anyway.

[aka_tom_w]

I agree

I suspect it would only shorten the crunch time by % 5 to %15 which is not all that much because the length of the time to crunch (wait time for the computer) is dependant on your CPU speed, (and maybe RAM size). There may be no real incentive to write the game code to take advantage of dual processors IMO.

Faster computers for this game really one offer one advantage, FASTER crunch times. As you may have noticed the movie plays out at the same time (1 Minute) on EVERY computer because no matter what speed it is because it is "just" a movie.

But the crunch time to "script" the movie (wait time between turns) will VARY considerably based on computer CPU processing power (speed).

Other than that you need a GOOD video card with LOTS of VRAM.

-tom w

[ September 20, 2005, 07:40 AM: Message edited by: aka_tom_w ]

[Michael Emrys]

Originally posted by aka_tom_w:
Other than that you need a GOOD video card with LOTS of VRAM.You may need more than that. I got a top of the line card with 128MB VRAM just so I could play CMBB and still had mediocre images. What's more, once there are more than about a company of troops on the map, everything gets really jerky as my frame rate goes down to about 3 FPS. I never did figure out what that problem was.

Michael

[Barrold]

Of the top of my head and not knowing the rest of your specs, I would suggest that processor speed and system RAM were the culprits.

I have a laptop with a 2.8gHz processor, 1GB RAM, and 128MB VRAM and CMBB speeds along quite nicely.

BDH

[Baneman]

Those of us who fly IL2/AEP/PF are stuck on a constantly moving treadmill of upgrading, trying to squeeze a few extra fps or eye-candy out of it.

And the new Battle of Britain will be out in a year or so and we'll all need new PC's for THAT ! :rolleyes:

Therefore I am quietly confident that a machine that can run the top flight sim ( realtime ) will handle the top wargame ( turn based ).

Now I just have to save some money... :(

[Pzman]

Originally posted by Michael Emrys:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by aka_tom_w:
Other than that you need a GOOD video card with LOTS of VRAM.You may need more than that. I got a top of the line card with 128MB VRAM just so I could play CMBB and still had mediocre images.

Michael </font>[/QUOTE]I have a 64MB ATI Radeon (Mac) 8500 and have no down sampling at all with a 1.2Ghz G4 CPU. LOL... tongue.gif

[Kellysheroes]

Well if you compare to RTW and all the little men running around on those battlemaps up to 38,400 I don't think CMX2 will be a drop in the bucket compared to what you can get on the screen in RTW.
Hell who would want to play a turn based game and move 38,400 men each turn anyway? lol

Usually what suks up the graphics card and processor with all these graphic candy adds is textures, seeing every blade of grass does not make a good game. When you turn all that chit off most games will easily run on minimum specs or less very well. But, for the eye candy kiddies I guess you'll need your new computer/graphics card fix, fine by me, I like most of my money sitting in the bank making more money than sitting on my desk depreciating as fast as I can type. ;)

[Pzman]

Thats about it isn't it. I've played some games on my computer which are below min specs, maybe not with all the extra stuff, but its better than buying a new system every year just to play a new game.

[Abbott]

Originally posted by Kellysheroes:
I like most of my money sitting in the bank making more money Does it sing and dance to?

[Immacolata]

Originally posted by Jack Carr:
[QB] I'm hoping my current rig will be sufficient to run CMx2 with all of its bells and whistles.

Nvidia GeForce Ti4600 128mb 4XAGP (I'm already setting aside cash to get a GeForce 6800 Ultra 256mb 8XAGPWith a 2 ghz+ cpu, 1 gig of memory and a 6800 GT card I'd say you would be able to run several current generation fps games very well. Don't bother with the Ultra, its too expensive compared to the miniscule extra oomph it gives you. You could also see what ATI has up its sleeves coming next month. Or just wait for 2006 when CMx2 has shipped smile.gif

[Jack Carr]

Originally posted by Immacolata:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Jack Carr:
[QB] I'm hoping my current rig will be sufficient to run CMx2 with all of its bells and whistles.

Nvidia GeForce Ti4600 128mb 4XAGP (I'm already setting aside cash to get a GeForce 6800 Ultra 256mb 8XAGPWith a 2 ghz+ cpu, 1 gig of memory and a 6800 GT card I'd say you would be able to run several current generation fps games very well. Don't bother with the Ultra, its too expensive compared to the miniscule extra oomph it gives you. You could also see what ATI has up its sleeves coming next month. Or just wait for 2006 when CMx2 has shipped smile.gif </font>[/QUOTE]Thanks for the tip on the GT vs Ultra. I'll check out the prices on the GT cards.

I'm hoping your right about my machine having more than enough horsepower. I'm sure Battlefront will make an announceement within the next few months regarding machine specs.

Take care.

[Michael Dorosh]

Just out of curiousity, if the data for, say, CMAK were to be stored on cassette tape, how many tapes would it take?

Cause that's how we stored data on my very first computer. redface.gif

[J Ruddy]

You too eh?

I remember running my poor (unexpanded) vic20 out of memory writing stupid adventure games in CBM Basic....

Those were the days...

[GAGA Extrem]

Will there be a chance to reduce the detail level?

I doubt it will run smooth on a 1,4 athlon / 512mb ram / atlantis 9k machine - will it?

[Michael Dorosh]

Originally posted by J Ruddy:
You too eh?

I remember running my poor (unexpanded) vic20 out of memory writing stupid adventure games in CBM Basic....

Those were the days... I think I wrote a text game about commanding a Panther tank, with armour penetration values laughingly taken from squad Leader, all in basic.

And I think I did a working copy of Up Front, the Squad Leader card game, again in Basic. I kind of miss simple (verrrry simple) programming but think it would be a nightmare to try and get back into it after so many years. I bought a book on C++ and a sample program but didn't get past the first chapter.

Maybe an evening class sometimes...

[MikeyD]

"MikeyD, you still don't seem to get the BFC did not design or make T-72."

BUT they've both got high polygon count vehicles, deformable terrain, large maps, ballistics math to perform. If T72s environment was radicallly different from CM's I'd hesitate to compare them. But we aren't exactly comparing apples and oranges (Tetris to Doom) here but Macintoshes and Cortlands!

[Kellysheroes]

MAC? What's that? Oh now I remember isn't it some hamburger from McDonalds? hehe

[Pzman]

Originally posted by MikeyD:
"MikeyD, you still don't seem to get the BFC did not design or make T-72."

BUT they've both got high polygon count vehicles, deformable terrain, large maps, ballistics math to perform. If T72s environment was radicallly different from CM's I'd hesitate to compare them. But we aren't exactly comparing apples and oranges (Tetris to Doom) here but Macintoshes and Cortlands! In some ways yes it is, and in many other ways not. T72 is a real time action game, vs turn based CM. I'm sure PIIIs are enough for CMx1, but who knows what kind of specs will be needed for CMx2. I'm just hoping that it will run on my old machine since buying a new one isn't likely till late next year. Again I don't think a G4 Mac will run CMx2, but I'd love to be wrong. ;)

[kipanderson]

Hi,

This is really one for Steve,

Will CMX2 be coded to take advantage of dual-core processors? I believe threaded is the right jargon for such coding.

My intension is to struggle through with my current machine for the next year, using minimum graphics settings in CMX2, and then buy a new rig when Longhorn/Vista is out.

The big question for me is whether a 64MB graphics card will hit the minimum spec for CMX2… it may not, in which case I will have to upgrade in the next few months.

I have a laptop, a very good one that I am happy with, but the lack of an ability to upgrade the graphics card may drive me to a desktop next time.

All the best,
Kip.

[Michael Emrys]

Originally posted by kipanderson:
This is really one for Steve,

Will CMX2 be coded to take advantage of dual-core processors? I believe threaded is the right jargon for such coding.Steve has already answered this one in the negative.

Michael

[kipanderson]

Michael,

Thanks…. makes it nice and easy choosing a new PC when the time comes..

All the best,
Kip.

[Tagwyn]

Don't mess with Macs!! They will make you fat! Or, so i've heard? Tag

[Pzman]

Don't believe everything you hear. Some of the best mods for the current CM were made on Mac's... bite your tonuge. tongue.gif

[Jack Carr]

Originally posted by Immacolata:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Jack Carr:
[QB] I'm hoping my current rig will be sufficient to run CMx2 with all of its bells and whistles.

Nvidia GeForce Ti4600 128mb 4XAGP (I'm already setting aside cash to get a GeForce 6800 Ultra 256mb 8XAGPWith a 2 ghz+ cpu, 1 gig of memory and a 6800 GT card I'd say you would be able to run several current generation fps games very well. Don't bother with the Ultra, its too expensive compared to the miniscule extra oomph it gives you. You could also see what ATI has up its sleeves coming next month. Or just wait for 2006 when CMx2 has shipped smile.gif </font>[/QUOTE]Thanks for the tip. I checked prices and specs for 6800Ultra's vs 6800GT's and the horsepower advantage of the Ultra card is minimal but it costs $100+ more than the GT. I'm looking at an XFX 6800GT 4X/8XAGP with 256MB memory for $300.

[Jack Carr]

Bump...

I added 512MB of Ram and upgraded my video card. I'm hoping the AMD XP 3200+ processor is sufficient to run this game.

[C'Rogers]

Bump

Well it has been about a year since this thread was bumped or talked about. It is weird that a year ago we were talking about CM:SF system requirements like it was right around the corner. However now that some tests have actually been run and small games played I am wondering if there is anything more specific on what the requirements are going to be?

[MikeyD]

I suppose with all the mac and microsoft OS changes going on these days they're perhaps playing it safe - waiting til the game's close to finished before announcing compatibilities/requirements.

Still, I'm going to need to work up some nerve to start purchasing computer upgrades. The sooner they have hard info for us the better!