How high can I set Crysis settings?

[Krattle]

I'm thinking about buying Crysis, and I probably will, but I would like to know how high I will be able to set the graphics settings.

Here's my rig:
XP 32-bit, 2GB RAM, 8800 GTS 512, Pentium D 820 2.8 GHz, 19" monitor.

I highly doubt I could play on absolute max settings, but could I at least handle moderately high? I'm upgrading to 4GB RAM (it's so cheap I don't care) in the hopes that my BIOS/OS whatever will recognize at least 3 gigs of that. I'll enable PAE if that will help my OS allocate more than 2 gigs to Crysis. (Or is my conception of PAE mistaken?)

Thank you for any advice,
Krattle

[csc2000e]

There are a couple good sites for finding out how well a game will work on your system:
http://www.yougamers.com/gameometer/10213/
http://www.systemrequirementslab.com/referrer/srtest

I'm guessing you could play on medium settings @ 1280X720 with an acceptable framerate. I have a 9600gt and AMD dual-core cpu and I play with a mix of medium/high @ 1280X720. Perhaps you may have to turn down the resolution a little more, but I'm not sure. Those sites should help you though.

[Aus_Karlos]

You should do fine with running most the settings on High with a resolution up to 1680x1050 and No AA. Water on medium, however as you have a low end CPU i would advise having the physics level on low or medium.

XP will use all the 3GB of RAM but programs and Users can only access 2GB (As long as PAE is enabled) the other 1GB is reserved for Hardware tasks.

[Krattle]

Sounds pretty good. I do have a Dual Core CPU, so it's not too bad. I can play Half Life 2 Episode 2 (not the most advanced, I know) on max settings with max AA and AF. UT3 on max settings but no AA. So I won't try any AA with Crysis and medium physics for a start.

Thanks for the advice!

[Lord Sirian]

Yep, Aus_Karlos got it right there. Your low end CPU means physics will be a difficulty, but you should be able to run other settings reasonably high.

Basically, what I would do, is set everything to high, then fiddle around with the settings until you get a decent FPS -and- decent picture quality that is to your liking.

[RockmasteR]

I'm surprised that your Video Card isn't bottle necked from your CPU
I mean running a low end CPU with a high end video card in not advised
you can at least get a Core 2 Duo, you will feel lots of difference
the 8800 GTS is a beast and need a good CPU to handle it

Intel Core 2 Duo E7500: 140$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115056

I hope that you have a good quality PSU as well

[Krattle]

Yeah, my PSU is 650W. I've used the power calculator and I'm fine.

The only reason I haven't upgraded my CPU is because I don't know if my motherboard will support it. The one you suggested is socket 775 LGA, so that's compatible.

I have an nForce4 SLIx16, so I also know that 1066MHz FSB is as high as it can support. I found the list of compatible CPUs for my mobo here: http://www.evga.com/support/motherbo...l_CPU_List.pdf

It has no mention of Wolfdale E7500, though.

According to that list of compatible CPUs, the only one that have a higher FSB and processing speed are these:
Conroe X6800
Presler 965XE
Presler 955XE
Prescott 3.73EE
Gallatin 3.46EE

EDIT: The Wolfdale won't work on my computer because I have a 32-bit operating system. Also, I can't seem to find any of the compatible processors anywhere. Not on Ebay, Amazon, Newegg, anywhere. I swear, by the end of this I will have ended up replacing every component in my computer. The only way I can open up my options for more CPUs is to get a new motherboard. That's a huge pain in the *** to install. Then, I'll need to get a new PSU to support the new motherboard and CPU. I will have spent another $500 to $600 if not more.

This looks like a good PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139009
This looks like a good MOBO: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813141005

The problem is, if I buy a new mobo, the new RAM I bought will be underpowered and I will have wasted $50. Although I suppose 667MHz RAM would still run on an 800MHz supporting mobo; I don't know.

[Krattle]

Well, could my old nForce4 SLIx16 support a Core 2?

This website seems to say it can: http://techreport.com/articles.x/10828/2

Apparently there's a distinction between nForce4 SLIx16 and nForce4 SLIx16 (Core 2).

[Mcninjaguy]

I would definitely not worry about a motherboard being SLI and I Nvidia motherboards are garbage.

GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3L LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
$95
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128372

The corsair 850w is awesome, a definite keeper right there.

Now talking about 32 bit operating systems. To use a 64 bit CPU you don't need a 64 bit OS, as most or all CPU's made after, I think its 2004 or 2005 are 64 bit.

[Krattle]

See, I still want to upgrade my computer and save myself the trouble of spending $2000 on a new comp 2 or 3 more years down the line. Even with a new motherboard and CPU all these upgrades will still be cheaper.

If I'm going to get a new motherboard, CPU, and PSU, I first need to know some things.

Will a new mobo fit in my XPS600? It's a huge computer and I assume that mobos are made to certain standardized sizes.

I will need to return the RAM I bought from newegg because it is only 667Mhz, and I will need 800Mhz with the new mobo.

Will the PSU fit in my computer? It looks really huge. I've never even tried replacing my PSU before so I don't even know where it goes, etc. Is there a really good guide on this?

This mobo looks good: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128388

It supports 1066 FSB and is 775 LGA socket, which will allow me to use this processor: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115056

It has only one PCIx16 slot, but I only have one GPU so that's fine.

[Mcninjaguy]

I would get a ATX size Motherboard as thats what most Cases support. I don't like the airflow the XPS600 gives.

Maybe think about buying this Case too.

Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
$100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129021

Yea most Motherboards come with 2 x PCI-E slots because they want to sell SLI or crossfire setups which are just a big waste of money. This guy in the local retail store I go to buy my parts was telling me how he sold a 8800 GTS 320mb for $200 about 4 months ago because some stupid guy wanted to do a SLI setup. The price he was going to sell to someone else was $80 tops.

[Krattle]

I'm going with a completely new rig that I plan on building myself, and here are the basic specs:

Core 2 Duo E8400 3.0GHz 1333MHz FSB, 4 GB DDR2 RAM 800MHz, and an 8800GTS 512. I'm not building it just for Crysis, but do you think I might be able to raise physics settings with this combination?

[Aus_Karlos]

Its a good system to play Crysis and future games to come. However if you wish for your games to utilize more than 2.8GB of RAM (Mainly Crysis on High settings) then i would buy a copy of XP Pro 64-bit or Vista 64-bit.

[Lord Sirian]

If you are going to build your system after Windows 7 comes out, you could use Windows 7 64-bit as well, I'd recommend it over Vista.