PC Hardware

[WhiteKnight77 1]

This months MaximumPC has an article about what hardware people have. FutureMark (makers of 3dMark) surveyed PC users when they used the preformance analyzer.

MaximumPC states that those who used the preformance analyzer, PC gamers were willing to shell out $200 for an OS last year while deferring on component upgrades. BTW this survey includes thos of us that have posted results of 3dMark on the website too.

Out of 770,000 rigs tested, the number of rigs running GF2 vid cards outnumber the number of rigs running GF3, GF4 and Radeon 8500 cards combined. The number 1 card is a GF2 MX400. It's no wonder why game manufacturers don't use advanced graphics details like pixel and vertex shaders. Integrated video made up a small portion of video and reflect what kind of CPU was in use. P4 and Althon XP user's were more likely to have an add-in card while P3 users used the Intel 810 or 815 chipsets.

On the CPU side the number one CPU is a P3 in the 700mHz to 1gHz range with the P4 and Althon XP having almost identical representation of surveyed PC's. 25% of those surveyed are using a P3.

45% of all user's had between 256 and 511MB of RAM installed. 20% had 128 to 256MB installed while another 26% had between 512 to 1023MB of RAM on their systems. Just 2% had 1GB or more and 226 PC users had more than 2GB.

Even though most of the PCs in the survey are underpowered hardwarewise, an incredible 49% of the rigs in the survey are using WinXP for an OS. 23% are using Win98 and 14% are using Win2000. WinME came in dead last with 13% though it had gotten a bad rap with most PC user's.

What does this say about PC gamer's? We seem to care more about what OS we are using verses what hardware we have to run the latest games. I see a trend where people are having more problems running games. Over in the offical forums for Splinter Cell, I see all sorts of General Protection Faults and most of it is due to improper hardware or out of date drivers. IMO GR was just the tip of the iceberg in needing more than just onboard graphics and sound.

I admit that I am not the richest person in the world and can't always afford to upgrade every year, but we need to really consider that a mobo/CPU combo that will run a newer game can be had for $200. We don't need to have the latest/greatest hardware, just better than what we have now.

Once we gamer's show we have better hardware, game developers may start to use what our gear can handle. Just my 2 cents worth here.

[firefly2442 0]

Wow, that's some interesting data. I can agree on the whole OS thing. Many people use XP but there are others that could get a toe hold. Linux is gaining in the server area and with new, more stable, and easier versions of linux being put out I think that it might become at least marginally popular for gaming. I'd bet good money that the next version of the windows OS will have automatic and easier driver and system auto-updates so that drivers will be installed so that games will run better.

[snakebite1967 0]

I agree White good post and very valid, and all the newer game forums are full of ppl with game errors it does seem to be escelating

[Tr4nC3R 0]

I am one of the small group of people using ME, I must say its been really reliable and stable for the 12 months i have used it. Windows machines and i386 chipsets* have a long way to go before they become as stable as their couterparts. Os like Unix/linux is the first step in gaining the reliability we all thrive for. The comment above about servers running linux is very true and before long its got to filter through to us gamers. Windows has been around for a long time, it just does not cut the mustard, for most gamers. The difference between us and most pc users is that we know a little more about what we are doing and what we want to do. The remainder of people want it done for them, with disregard as to how its done.

Sorry to stray from the thread, The comment about Me needed saying tho. I think in the end it all depends on hardware and drivers.And a combination of Experimentation, time,effort, that will rewarded you with a system thats sweet.

Kindest regards

Trancer........ ;-)

*I mean INTEL based chipsets

[WhiteKnight77 1]

I think the whole point of the article was to show that we gamers are more likely to upgrade our OS verses upgrading our PC. From what I have also seen with Linux, there is little driver support from hardware manufacturers. The last shop I was at just got a new Linux box and it was running RedHat. Even the old Windows 3.1 looked better. The shop program this box runs looks like a throw back to the old DOS days with monochrome text. This is a P4 PC that I am refering too.

With everyone complaining of problems running newer games, we really need to set our priorities straight. Do we really need that $200 OS when the same money can buy us a mobo/CPU combo as I said in the first post or even a mid priced-vid card? Before I upgraded my PC from the 1gHz Duron I could run the Splinter Cell demo about 2 out of 10 tries. After I upgraded, I have installed and played the full game with few problems whatsoever. The biggest problem I have is occasional system lag for some unapparent reason. It may be that my current vid card is starting to be a bottleneck for my games. When I can start working again and can afford a newer card, I will get one.

I say that the hardware we have keeps game developers from making such knockout games we are starting to want. As it is there are few games that take full advantage of Dx8 hardware and now we have Dx9 out and there are a few games that will use some of that technology right now, but most games will still not utilize all of Dx8. Why? We aren't running the hardware required for it. The GF2MX400 is not a T&L card, it does not support it yet most gamers are running that card. That may stem from the fact most gamers are using pre-made systems vs. home-built that we choose what parts we want and have no choice in options for upgradability. How many here actually run a custom PC. I know there are a handful of us, but the rest have a box that says Dell, Compaq, Gateway or even HP on the outside of it. I may have started with a Gateway, but saw as a gamer the need to be able to choose what parts I want in my PC so I can play newer and newer games.

[Stinger 0]

I am poor most of the time if it wernt for rebates I would be broke right now. Hardware cant be obtained as easily as software can be. You have to actually get hardware the honest way unless you are going to go out and steal it from a place. But software like OS's are not that way, more and more people are downloading them and saying screw you microsoft and linux I will just get it free. P2P is more than just music and movies, were into software and programs that cost thousands of dollars, people will always be getting software easier than Hardware I would think. And linux is pretty neat, but it cant do as much as a Windows system. If Linux had the resources that MS had right now, then I bet more people would be on Linux in the next 10 years than Windows.

[foxship 0]

Well I run an Creative Labs Audigy Gamer sound card with a GForce2TI 64mb video card,512mb ram P3866mhz built by me and I have to say that this computer will last me quite a while,there are really no games the video card cant handle.If these companies keep outpacing themselves then thats there problem.I run ME and have no complaints what so ever.I realize I may sacrifice a little fps because of it but the OS has treated me well so far.

The article was very inciteful though,gamers are different,think about computers differently as well.When we goto a computer store the employee better know there stuff because we know ours.

As far as rushing out to get the latest no thx.Im happy with my computer and I keep it in tip top shape at all times.

foxship

[WhiteKnight77 1]

Games are getting more complex. Did you know that if you are running a 32MB vid card that Splinter Cell forces you to run at 640x480 res with lower grahics settings? Even I have one setting that I can only run at Medium and I have a GF3 Ti 500. Games won't get better if we don't have better hardware. Think about it.