Can HDR run on my PC?

[Ruubie]

Hi,

My computer can not run HL2:LC. But I really want to have HDR. If it will cost to much, then I'll wait a while, till prices have dropped. Could you help me with telling me which things need to be upgraded?

Processor Intel Pentium 4 2800MHz
Display Card NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700LE
Memory 512MB
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP
Free Disk Space 83.02GB
Display Card Memory 128MB
Display Driver Version 8.1.9.8
DirectX Version 9.0c
Optical Drive CD/DVD
Sound Card SoundMAX Digital Audio

-------------
These are my specs. Although, at the VALVE store, they say the recommended requirements for LC are these:

Recommended:
2.4 GHz Processor, 512MB RAM, DirectX 9 level graphics card, Windows 2000/XP, Mouse, Keyboard, Internet Connection

I can run LC, but without HDR, and I really want HDR. What are the exact requirements for HDR without lag?

Thanks y'all

 

[kupocake]

Your video card, whilst not so much of a stinker as some cards people have when they make threads like this, is still below par. It's equivilent to a 9600 ATi card from what I can tell, and those cards are also just a little below what you need. I personally have the next step up, a 9800Pro. HDR seems to work, but my PC crashes quite a lot so i'm not convinced . Your card may actually be HDR capable, but it'd be far, far too slow. Graphics Cards have advanced about 2 generations from the GeForce5 series (which are now listed as "Legacy" products on the nvidia homepage, ie. they're obsolete).

So, your graphics card needs upgrading. Also, it NEVER hurts to double your ram above the recommended Spec. Otherwise, your PC seems reasonable enough for HDR levels in Source. HOWEVER: I'd be foolish to guarantee that an upgrade built upon your current specs would be assured of running the games just around the corner. For the sake of Source engine HDR, which basically equates to the tiny tech demo that is the Lost Coast and a handful of HDR enabled CS:S and DOD:S maps, you'd be spending an awful lot of money. My advice to you is to wait a year or so. Your patience will reward you with a computer capable of playing a more substantial range of better looking games.

 

[xombine]

Nope. The 5700 just can't do it. Everything else should be good, maybe another 512 stick of RAM, but definately the video card.

Edit: Thanks kupo, you put my post to shame.

 

[kupocake]

Edit: Thanks kupo, you put my post to shame.

So far as you can be ashamed of writing a post that is infinitely more concise and less full of my characteristic blabbering

 

[Ruubie]

Yeah, the RAM will be doubled I think... but why the video card? Is 128 MB not enough? That sucks cuz I got it for 3/4 year new

 

[diluted]

Why can't it run LC? Have you tried? Does it give you an error? I find it odd that your computer "can't" run LC, people with lower specs than yours have gotten it to run.

About the HDR: the game is probably, by default, running in DX 8.1 mode because that card doesn't do DX 9.0 very well (but it is a DX 9.0 card, so technically HDR should work). Try typing mat_dxlevel 90 in the console, that should put you in DX 9.0 mode and let you enable HDR. Your FPS will likely be very low though. HDR is overrated anyway (IMO).

 

[Ruubie]

Man, this community is freaking awesome, so much help, so much nice ppl

Well it CAN run LC, but without HDR... so doubling RAM could be done... Although I really need to think hard and get many advices...
I'll try that console command.

 

[Ruubie]

Well, I activated the console command, and its reeeeal slow now (lol) and in the console it says:

cpu speed 2799 MHz Intel
511 MB of system RAM
And yes in the console it has the red color.
Im gonna play it now, even the main menu is slow. Is it the RAM or the videocard?

 

[xombine]

Video card and also the RAM, mainly the whole system. You just can't run it.

 

[kupocake]

Yeah, the RAM will be doubled I think... but why the video card? Is 128 MB not enough? That sucks cuz I got it for 3/4 year new

The RAM on the video card is less important than the Graphics processor on it. Whilst the processor varies in power not only from generation to generation but also from card to card within a generation, sometimes Graphics RAM will not advance between Genearation. That said, the norm in top-end graphics cards is now 512mb.

That you got the card 3/4 of a year ago is kind of an irrelevance, because it's actually 2 year old technology and even when it was out, it was superseeded by other cards in the range anyway. On the bright side, I can't imagine you paid all that much for it...

Edit: and like I said, you should try patience and upgrade in a year's time anyway. You really aren't missing much by not seeing HDR until later this year, and if you get a computer later this year, it will be up to scratch for longer than one you buy right now.

A potential and likely problem is that your Motherboard isn't up to the modern standard either. AGP 8x is out of the picture, and graphics cards now slot into PCI-Express slots instead.

 

[diluted]

Well, I activated the console command, and its reeeeal slow now (lol) and in the console it says:

cpu speed 2799 MHz Intel
511 MB of system RAM
And yes in the console it has the red color.
Im gonna play it now, even the main menu is slow. Is it the RAM or the videocard?

That would be the video card's fault. Like I said, that series of cards doesn't do DirectX 9.0 mode very well, which is why the game runs in DirectX 8.0 if you have that card. DX 8.0 doesn't have HDR support, which is why you couldn't turn it on before. If you want to use HDR you're going to have to get a newer video card. (I recommend either an ATI Radeon 9800 or Geforce 6600 at least)

Edit: does your motherboard have an AGP slot?

 

[Ruubie]

Okay, thanks for the replies all...

I played with HDR. It worked. It was only very slow.
I can try updating my RAM first to 1 GB, will it then work without that much lag? And could you guys do one favor for me. Could you make a small list for the things that should be upgraded, for running smooth HDR? So I can show a good friend of us, he always takes care of hardware (and software) and if it's not to expensive, I will see if I can buy it. I will talk to him about this to. I dont need many xtras, just the minimum that is required. If its too expensive, then I'll follow the advice by just waiting for a while.

Thanks!

EDIT: about that AGP slot, I dont know, sorry, I dont know much about hardware...
EDIT2: Its clear that its prolly my videocard, so many of you say it is my card... thats shitty.

 

[Naudian]

Your motherboard probably only has an AGP slot...so if you wanted to buy a new card it would have to be AGP.

What I would do is replace your card with an nVidia 6600GT (AGP), you could find one online for about $170-200 canadian.

 

[giant384]

uhhh the 5700le is capable of playing with hdr you will just get lag

 

[JNightshade]

If I were you, I'd wait a while, save up, and then upgrade to a PCI-E system for Vista. And if you have the cash at that point, maybe even spring for a DX-10 card. But then, if you're a dedicated PC gamer, that may not be the most economically... prudent option.

 

[Ruubie]

Thanks all,

You guys are right, my motherboard had got a AGP slot, and I will get informed for some prices for the GeForce 6600.

If I got the GeForce 6600 (with DirectX9.0 and AGP) and double RAM, will I be able to play HDR without lag then?

 

[Ruubie]

Oh and BTW, I read somewhere that you need a 2.9GHz Processor, and I got 2.8... does this amke differnce to or isnt it requierd?

 

[Ruubie]

Little bump, please please help me out the last tiny bits, this is important on how I am gonna spend my money.... thanks

 

[Beerdude26]

I doubt if your current processor will bottleneck (unable to process all the information at the required speed, thus rendering any other hardware upgrades useless) the card, so you should be quite alright with your current 2.8Ghz one.

 

[Ruubie]

Thanks a lot beerdude, you rock! :cheers:
I think I'll take the GeForce 6600 AGP 128 MB directX 9,
But will this card hold on long? I mean, I wont need a new card in a year? Is it good quality to play with for couple months/maybe even years?

Thanks, you guys own

 

[Beerdude26]

Thanks a lot beerdude, you rock! :cheers:
I think I'll take the GeForce 6600 AGP 128 MB directX 9,
But will this card hold on long? I mean, I wont need a new card in a year? Is it good quality to play with for couple months/maybe even years?

Thanks, you guys own

Months.
Have you seen the latest upcoming games? :O

UT 2007

Gothic III

Your computer will cry in pain when you'll try to play those games

But don't feel bad, either it's a decent mid-range card for 150-200$ that will last a few months before it will be outdated, or a complete dual 7800GTX BFG with 512 MB RAM each for about 800-1500$ and will be outdated in a year (two years tops)

 

[Ruubie]

Hahaha

Well I wont play UT2007 and Gothic 3. But are you really serious about this:

or a complete dual 7800GTX BFG with 512 MB RAM each for about 800-1500$ and will be outdated in a year (two years tops)

Wow I didnt expect that! So will I be able to play with this upgraded upcoming VALVe games? I hope so

 

[Beerdude26]

Hahaha

Well I wont play UT2007 and Gothic 3. But are you really serious about this:

Wow I didnt expect that! So will I be able to play with this upgraded upcoming VALVe games? I hope so

Yeah, 7800GTX's take wads of cash. But I'd hold tight to that 6600GT, it's more than enough to get a good framerate on all the Source games

 

[Ruubie]

Yeah, 7800GTX's take wads of cash. But I'd hold tight to that 6600GT, it's more than enough to get a good framerate on all the Source games

:For sure, even with the card I got I get very very good framerates @ CS:S, DoD:S, HL2 and all other games excpet LC. I cant wait for the card en RAM arriving, finnaly HDR it would be awesome

 

[Ruubie]

Jsut another question I have to ask you guys

If I get my GeForce 6600 and 1 GB RAM with my 2.8 GHz,
What will be the average FPS rate @ maximum options? Will I be able to run them?

If not, then what do I need more? I didnt bough anything yet so I should keep asking questions and think hard and with advice of you guys I'll should decide

 

[Ruubie]

Please, someone anwser me, I think u missed my post, could you help me? :imu:

So will this do the trick:

+ 512 MB RAM (makes 1 gig)
+ Videocard 128 MB DirectX 9 AGP (because my motherboard had AGP slot)
+ And maybe another motherboard or CPU IF NEEDED? Can you tell me some more about the motherboard and CPU?

For the Videocard, I can order a GeFore 6600, which support DirectX9.0, SM 3.0, 128 MB + AGP OR an Ati Radeon 9800. Will this be okay for the HDR?

 

[Beerdude26]

Please, someone anwser me, I think u missed my post, could you help me? :imu:

So will this do the trick:

+ 512 MB RAM (makes 1 gig)
+ Videocard 128 MB DirectX 9 AGP (because my motherboard had AGP slot)
+ And maybe another motherboard or CPU IF NEEDED? Can you tell me some more about the motherboard and CPU?

For the Videocard, I can order a GeFore 6600, which support DirectX9.0, SM 3.0, 128 MB + AGP OR an Ati Radeon 9800. Will this be okay for the HDR?

I'd go for the GeForce 6600, and you should be alright with the other things. Source HDR currently only uses 2.0 Shader Technology, so both ATi and nVidia cards can use it. But some newer games use 3.0 Shader Technology, and I think the GeForce supports that while the Radeon doesn't.

Anyway, I can run Call Of Duty 2 (a pretty intensive game) running on 1GB RAM, a 3.4 Ghz machine (but a 2.8 will also suffice ) and a GeForce 6600 GT on everything maxed out and it had an FPS ranging from 30-80 FPS, so your setup will be sufficient to play Source games on high settings

 

[Ruubie]

Yes, the GeForce does support SM3.0 and Ati doesnt, I checked.

But
If I get my GeForce 6600 and 1 GB RAM with my 2.8 GHz,
What will be the average FPS rate @ maximum options? Will I be able to run them?

If not, then what does need to be upgraded?

 

[Beerdude26]

Yes, the GeForce does support SM3.0 and Ati doesnt, I checked.

But
If I get my GeForce 6600 and 1 GB RAM with my 2.8 GHz,
What will be the average FPS rate @ maximum options? Will I be able to run them?

If not, then what does need to be upgraded?

You'll probably get something like 20-40 FPS at everything put to maximum. Which is playable (under 30 FPS the eye will start noticing slight decreases but above that it's ok)

 

[Ruubie]

Thanks beerdude, I got one question though... what if I get a motherboard and CPU, which will be 3.0GHz.... will the difference be wotrh the money? What will be better?

 

[Ruubie]

Anyone?

 

[Beerdude26]

Thanks beerdude, I got one question though... what if I get a motherboard and CPU, which will be 3.0GHz.... will the difference be wotrh the money? What will be better?

CPU influences tasks that require high amounts of calculation power. Video editing, for example. You will be able to convert and edit videos much faster if you have a faster CPU. Rendering things with a 3D modelling program will also go faster. Games won't have a significant influence by the faster CPU, but as newer and more CPU-intensive games are made, this will also be a factor to remember.

 

[Ruubie]

Okay, thanks everyone for the help, I got the card and the RAM

I played HL2 chapter "Follow Freeman!", and got these settings:

* All the model, texture, shader en water details on high
* Color correction enabled, wait for vertical sync disabled
* AA 6X, AF16X
* HDR full

In that chapter I still get FPS around 40 -70, so thats great.

I tried DoDS and CSS @ maximum, and I can move and walk normally with tiny bit of lag, but when shooting or when HDR is clearyly visible, it drops.
So there is a little bit of lag while doing online sutff.
Is this because the lack of power in the video card, RAM or processor (2.8GHz)?
Can I overclock my videocard for better prestations? I've never done it before though... will the results be better after?

Thanks

 

[Ruubie]

*bump*

 

[Sanada]

I can't even run CS:S online with HDR and I've got a 6800GS, it'll simply struggle, but then I do play on 40 player servers. It's fine with about 25-30 though. I also sometimes have to lower model detail temporarily with r_lod when it gets intense or I play de_port. :|

Source is more CPU intensive game though. I think my P4 3.2GHz bottlenecks my graphics card sometimes.

TBH, you're expecting too much from your PC. I say turn off AA/AF and HDR and it'll be good. You can overclock but I don't know if it'll make much difference. If anything, try and overclock the CPU. When I overclocked my P4 to 3.57GHz I did get an FPS increase of about 8-10 I think. I overclocked my graphics too card but I noticed no difference at all.

 

[diluted]

IMO, HDR is way overrated. The effect is annoying and degrades performance. I admit, I bought into the hype too, but when I played Lost Coast for the first time, I couldn't believe I had been excited about it. It got old in about 5 minutes.