What is the effect?????

M

MMoralN10Tion

Guest
I wanted to get Half-Life 2 for the PC when a friend pointed out that it may slow down my computer, and the game might not properly work because it may be too much for the PC to handle. I have a Dell Windows XP PowerEdge 400SC. I dont know much about computers or hardrives, so I was wondering if I had a ok computer to buy this game. I dont want to buy a expensive game only to find out it messed up my computer. What problems CAN occur if I do get it anyway. Like will it slow down the computer? Thanks.
 
We're gonna need a little more specs than just a windows XP poweredge 400SC...List the RAM, your video card, intel or AMD, and your processor speed (GHz)
 
TST_Devgru Seal said:
We're gonna need a little more specs than just a windows XP poweredge 400SC...List the RAM, your video card, intel or AMD, and your processor speed (GHz)
Click to expand...

I'd be surprised if he could say the amount of RAM, let alone any of the other specs.

Anyways, here's the computer:
http://www1.us.dell.com/content/pro...sc?c=us&cs=28&l=en&s=dfb&~tab=specstab#tabtop

No, it will not run because your video card is too weak (Rage XL PCI).

And now I'm left with one question: WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING INSTALLING A GAME ONTO A SERVER?!
 
Well, I didnt install it yet, I came here to see if it were ok.
 
if it is too much for your computer, it wont stuff it up, lol, dont worry about that. It will only run slow when you play it.
 
it will not run at all on that comp. i mean ati rage cant even do opengl
 
Rofl still a PCI graphic card. And on a server? Why the hell did you buy a server anyway?
 
LOL, well again, I dont know anything about computers, or Half-Life, I was just really interested in this game. Like, I know ya know WAY more than I can even begin to understand about them, which is why I came here to check if it were ok.

But heres what I do know from the computer. This is all I know (please stop being so mean, not everyone is into computers like you :( )

512 MB of RAM. If I dont have enough, is there any way I can like buy a new hard drive, or update the computer in any way?
 
First off, RAM is not hard drive. They are two different things. You have plenty of RAM and your processor should be able to handle it. The problem is the video card. But like one guy said just try the demo, if it runs slow, then don't buy the game. It should not mess up your computer.

What some are wondering about is why you are trying to install it on a server, server's are not built to play games. They are usually used for networks.
 
there is a microsoft thing (Microsoft Games?) that will take system info and tell you if it will run it and how good.
 
Ok, so the I'll just download the demo. Where can I do that?

And also, what is the video card, and how can I upgrade, or get another one, if thats possible.
 
Video card is basically a component of the computer thats only for rendering and drawing the graphics. Like an Xbox has a video card and so does a ps2. www.ati.com and www.nvidia.com those companies make graphics cards. Download the demo at www.steampowered.com and see how the game works. Its a really great game and if it runs sluggish then you can always look to go to a cyber cafe and hand down 10 dollars and play on a really fast machine. Most cyber cafes have hl2 on them and are usually like 10 dollars for the whole evening to play.
 
The demo is available at http://www.ati.com/gitg/promotions/halflife2demo/

Your video card is what the monitor is connected to, it consists of a gpu(graphics processing unit) and memory. In your case the memory is probably shared meaning it uses your computer's RAM.

To upgrade your video card, you would have to find out how to disable your onboard video and put in a different video card. You would first have to find out what available slots you have. An AGP slot would be great, but I doubt that you have one. It is likely that you have PCI slots though, and there are a few PCI cards that would play hl2. Do not get a PCI express card unless you know you have a PCI express slot.
 
You haven't answered the question, why are you using a server? Did you even know it was a server when you bought it or did you just close your eyes and jab your finger at the brochure?
 
You could also use it as a dedicated server...but then you'd have to buy another PC to connect to it :)

These servers are notoriously bad for grpahics upgrade potential...someone I know won an HP server in a comp, but it only had in-built graphics and a PCI Express 8 slot ... so he couldn't get PCI Express graphics..when he checked with the techies at HP, they also told him there was no facility in the BIOS to allow the use of even an old PCI graphics card, so he was basically stuck with a reasonable spec server, but couldn't do much else with it apart from 2d apps and Internet.
 
JellyWorld said:
You haven't answered the question, why are you using a server? Did you even know it was a server when you bought it or did you just close your eyes and jab your finger at the brochure?
Click to expand...

Quoted for emphasis. I too am still curious as to what the answer is.
 
JellyWorld said:
You haven't answered the question, why are you using a server? Did you even know it was a server when you bought it or did you just close your eyes and jab your finger at the brochure?
Click to expand...
Or the little britain way:

"Now we're going to buy you a new computer so you can surf the internet. Here's a brochur with lots of good co-"
"I want that one!"
"... But that's a server, you don't want a server"
"that one! I want THAT ONE!"
"are you sure?"
"Yeh"
.... :E
 
I'll give you a small tutorial :
Software : Programs, games,... It's just data, so it's called 'soft'ware.
Hardware : What is IN your computer. These are objects, so they're called 'hard'ware.

Processor (or CPU) : The heart of your computer. Every calculation, program or whatever passes through here to be processed. The faster your CPU, the faster your computer is.

RAM : Random Access Memory. See it like a temporary hard drive. The computer loads the most important data in here, because loading data of the RAM is much faster than loading it from the hard drive. For example, when you start Microsoft Word, the computer loads the program of Microsoft Word into your RAM. It then stays in there until another program overwrites it (transfering data to another place is called 'writing'). 512 MB RAM is now the unofficial minimum. RAM works on electricity, and needs it to keep the data there. So when you turn off your computer, the RAM is cleared of data.

Hard Drive (or Hard Disk or HD) : Every program and Operating System (OS, an example is Windows XP) is installed on this iron beam-like looking hardware. It can hold much more data than RAM. A HD can hold up to 600 GB. (1GB = 1024 MB)
It works with magnets to keep the data there, and therefore doesn't need electricity to keep the data alive.

Motherboard : That really big plate in your computer. The motherboard is riddled with routes (also called 'Buses') to hardware, so the different hardware is able to communicate with each other. You also put your CPU, RAM, video card and other expansion cards onto your motherboard. Every piece of hardware is connected to the motherboard.

Video Card (Or Graphic Card) : A card that draws (aka 'renders') the visual experience of your computer. Modern graphic cards have seperate processors and RAM, solely for the visual experience. The faster your processor is and the more RAM you have, the better your graphic card is.
 
JellyWorld said:
You haven't answered the question, why are you using a server? Did you even know it was a server when you bought it or did you just close your eyes and jab your finger at the brochure?
Click to expand...


Hmm, maybe thats because I'm like 16, and my uncle bought it, and not me. Again, your assuming too much from me, you think everyone is a computer expert like you. Go out in the real world for once, and maybe then you will see that there are different people with different interests. I would LOVE to get into Half-Life, but doing so would require nice people to teach me the basics, instead of assuming i'm a computer programer. I dont even know what server your talking about!
 
Somebody posted a link to the specifications of your computer, there it says that the particular computer you have is a server. Servers are not made to play games. A quick search for a definition of server gave:

A computer or device on a network that manages network resources.
 
my uncle bought it
Click to expand...
Does your uncle know anything about it?

Go out in the real world for once, and maybe then you will see that there are different people with different interests.
Click to expand...
No need for flaming (Being impolite to other people on forums)
 
Yea, I was being nice, that person was doing rude comments. I dont know which is why I came here, I didnt come to be flamed. They were just like "wow, did you just get anything?" and talked like that, trying to be funny. I mean, I didnt know which is why I came here, they didnt need to sound so rude.
 
C'mon guys, cut him some slack - he's going to get a bad opinion of the Half Life community and he won't be wrong about it. Don't give him static about owning a server when the only reason you call it that is because the website says it is. (It looks like a low-end workstation to me.) If he went out and bought a server thinking "this'll be great for gaming" that's one thing, but since he came here asking if the computer his uncle gave him will work for this game, let's help him out.

Looking at the specs, your computer will probably not run the game. If you somehow got a better video card into the box (I say somehow because it doesn't appear to have the necessary plug for a good card and would certainly need a new power supply if you did get a better card installed), it would probably run the game. You might have to turn down some of the nicer graphic features though.

This is not to say you got a bum deal - it's a nice computer and it was a gift. I'd recommend getting the first Half Life game. Your computer should be able to handle it and, well, I wouldn't recommend Half Life 2 to anyone who hadn't played the first Half Life, as well as Opposing Force and Blue Shift.

Seriously, don't hesitate to ask questions here - people are typically very helpful.
 
WHY DID YOU BUY A SERVER!!! Well, you have what you have....

I dont think you can upgrade a servers graphics card (??) can you??

I have a ATI Radeon 9200 256mb AGP x4, 256 mb DDR SDRAM ,AMD Athlon 1500+ ~1.5GHZ Operating Frequency, and a 40GB HD 10KRPM.
Runs Kind Of Nice...

Integrated graphics couldnt handle E.T. for Atari 2600, Go get a ATI Radeon, if it supports PCI.

What accessory slots does it have??
 
I looked at the specs.. All you need to do is upgrade the card in it. You could probably get a nVidia 6600 on ebay (NOT 6800) for ~$100 That should do.
 
He doesn't understand anything about computer I'm afraid, so talking like that to him won't do any good icefenix :p

You need a better graphic card to play HL2 I'm afraid (to MMoralN10Tion)
 
Beerdude26 said:
Does your uncle know anything about it?

No need for flaming (Being impolite to other people on forums)
Click to expand...


Actually he was the one being flamed....
 
Wait, I didn't mean that intentionally. It was a simple question!
 
My dad doesn't know that much about computers, but he got a decent graphics card.

My best advice is go to best buy and tell the guy that you need a PCI graphics card to play HL2. He will tell you what you need and dont, and possibly other reccomendations.
 
Adabiviak said:
C'mon guys, cut him some slack - he's going to get a bad opinion of the Half Life community and he won't be wrong about it. Don't give him static about owning a server when the only reason you call it that is because the website says it is. (It looks like a low-end workstation to me.) If he went out and bought a server thinking "this'll be great for gaming" that's one thing, but since he came here asking if the computer his uncle gave him will work for this game, let's help him out.

Looking at the specs, your computer will probably not run the game. If you somehow got a better video card into the box (I say somehow because it doesn't appear to have the necessary plug for a good card and would certainly need a new power supply if you did get a better card installed), it would probably run the game. You might have to turn down some of the nicer graphic features though.

This is not to say you got a bum deal - it's a nice computer and it was a gift. I'd recommend getting the first Half Life game. Your computer should be able to handle it and, well, I wouldn't recommend Half Life 2 to anyone who hadn't played the first Half Life, as well as Opposing Force and Blue Shift.

Seriously, don't hesitate to ask questions here - people are typically very helpful.
Click to expand...

THANK YOU!! OMG, I had this impression that the Half-Life gamers were mean and rude to anyone who didnt know as much as them about computers. Thanks a lot. I mean, we all gotta start somewhere. Like when I first got into Star Wars, and Japanese anime, those communities were very nice and helpful in answering questions.

But yea, I guess I'll just play the first one then, maybe like if I get a new computer I'll get the second one. But before I do get that new computer like next year or something I'll totally come here and ask to see whats good to buy for games, and videos ect. Thanks for backing me up guys, I totally appreciate it. So, I'll get part 1 assuming that should work.
 
I Played HL1 on a 733mhz computer
with only 32mb Video. It will work fine
on your computer. It would work on computers
as old as 1998.

It was a DaeWoo :D :D
 
UM!! I have a big question. Ok, I'm gonna start with Half-Life 1. I was looking around and found a link which says its on the PS2. Is this the same version as the computer, or different for the PS2. Also if it IS the same exact game, then like are the graphics the same? Which do you recommend buying, the one for PS2 or the one for my crappy computer?

http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp?product_id=938248

Oh, and BTW, how many Half-Life games are there? Only two, or like many different versions. Thanks.
 
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