City of Heroes: Live Forum Archive

Void Spirit

Apprentice

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  1. Void Spirit
    Hi Horde,

    My schedule has become hectic, so I need to change from regular auto-signup status to case-by-case signup status.

    Thanks. Hope to see you all soon.
  2. Void Spirit
    I'm out sick.
  3. Void Spirit

    New Computer

    POST-ACTION

    Thanks for all of the helpful comments. Part of my motivation to get a new computer now was the discovery of a shop I could trust -- it appears that my assessment on its trustworthiness was slightly over-optimistic.

    My computer is 4 years old and my 8800 GTX was just replaced by a used replacement part. In the couple of days I've had it back the computer seems to run OK. If it were you, would you figure that you were on "borrowed time" and proceed to buy a new computer as soon as possible, or would you wait until the old computer showed signs of serious problems before looking for a new computer?
  4. Void Spirit

    New Computer

    POST-ACTION

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Father Xmas View Post
    Poof

    You rang?

    A couple of questions about that config.

    First, what model is the motherboard, more specifically the chipset used. The reason I ask is the H6x series motherboard chipset won't allow a K series CPU to be overclocked, which is the main attraction of a K series CPU, while a P67 or Z68 will. If you aren't overclocking then the difference between an i5-2400 and an i5-2500K is 200 MHz and better integrated video which you won't be using.

    Second is the power supply that's being used. The amount of reliable power it can provide at 12 volts dictates how high end the video card can be.

    4GB of memory is fine unless you are planning to run multiple copies of the game or a boatload of other programs while playing. CoH like any 32-bit app will still only use a maximum of 2GB.

    The weakness in the parts you did list is the video card. The 9500GT is several generations old and simply can't support Ultramode on minimum except maybe at a very low resolution but even then I seriously doubt it. Sounds more like your repair shop is trying to get rid of old stock. Also the low end card is what leads me to suspect a weak, inexpensive or older designed power supply.

    I look for a couple of things in a power supply.

    First it needs to be 80Plus rated because to qualify for that it's tested and passed at it's rated wattage. You will know for certain that a 500 watt PSU will be able to put out 500 watts continuously.

    Second I want to see the maximum wattage at 12 volts to be at least 80% of the total wattage of the power supply. For example the Antec Earthwatts Green EA-430D 430 watt PSU can put out 384 watts at 12 volts. A cheap or older designed power supply won't even list the 12 volt wattage and can provide a lot of wattage at 5 and 3.3 volts but not as much at 12 volts. Today's systems will use 50 watts of 5 and 3.3 volt power combined with the bulk of power needed at 12 volts.

    Third, and this is simply a rule of thumb, a good quality PSU has a list price of $15-20 per 100 watts. If a 450 watt PSU lists for only $20 and isn't on sale, then there is a reason it's only $20.

    Doing a quick and dirty search at NewEgg of Sandy Bridge systems with graphics that can handle Ultramode at medium resolutions or better gives me this. I didn't bother filtering on price. I would point out that unless it has a K series CPU, it's likely using an H6x based motherboard. However you can fix that by going to iBUYPOWER or CyberpowerPC and customize a system that uses a P67 or Z68.
    Thanks for the magical appearance!

    Based on the above and your guide and high end system in your signature, and some other browsing in this forum, my current thoughts are as follows:

    (1) CPU: Core i5-2500k. Do I need to tell/ask the shop something about overclocking?
    (2) Video Card: GTX 570
    (3) RAM: 8 GB DDR-3 1600
    (4) Hard Drive: SATA III - 6.0Gb/s version of the 1TB Western Digital Caviar Black drive
    (5) Monitor: I am thinking of between 22" and 24". I guess I will ask the shop what it recommends.
    (6) Cooling System & Case: I want a good cooling system. I guess I will ask the shop what it recommends.
    (7) Power supply: 80Plus rated, maximum wattage at 12 volts to be at least 80% of the total wattage of the power supply.
    (8) Motherboard: I'm not tech savvy enough to follow your above explanation. In simple terms, what should I tell the shop about the motherboard to use for this build? Is it that the motherboard should use a P67 or Z68?
    (9) Mouse: Logitech G500
    (10) Keyboard: Logitech
  5. Void Spirit

    New Computer

    POST-ACTION

    My current computer is 4 years old and I just had to replace the graphics card, so I'm thinking it may be time to buy a new computer. I asked the shop that repaired my computer to give me a quote to build a new computer and this is what I received:

    ·Intel Core i5-2400 Sandy Bridge 3.1GHz (3.4GHz Turbo Boost)
    ·Kingston ValueRAM 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600)
    ·Western Digital 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s
    ·1GB EVGA GeForce 9500 GT Video Card
    ·Two DVD-RW Drives
    ·Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
    $949.00 + tax – Includes price of components and labor to build and test.

    Any comments or suggestions, or questions I should ask the shop? I would like to be able to run City of Heroes in Ultra Mode. My other uses of the computer aren't as graphically demanding. I would like to hit the mythical "sweet spot" of good performance for a good price, without either paying a lot for diminished marginal improvements or sacrificing significant QOL/performance for a few bucks savings.

    I did not give the shop any price guidance, so I suspect that they may have gone cheaper than the price/performance sweet spot. I am rusty on computer prices, but I was expecting to pay closer to $2,000.

    Would it be worth the extra cost to ask for a Core i5-2500K?

    What graphics card hits the price/performance sweet spot and can handle COH Ultra Mode?

    Is 4 GB enough RAM?

    I requested the 2 dvd drives. In the old days, there was a distinction between fast dvd drives and RW drives, so that I would get one of each. Are RW drives now so fast that it is unnecessary to get a speedier non-RW drive? One of my 2 DVD drives broke on my current computer, so I like the idea of a backup even if I were to get 2 identical DVD drives.

    I see that the quote is missing a monitor. My current monitor is 4 years old 21". Should I get a new monitor? What specs?

    I also told the shop that I wanted a good cooling system, but I see that the quote is silent. Any suggestions as to what would be a good cooling system/case?

    I know that power supply is important, but I'm not up to speed on what is a good power supply.

    In the past I've always trusted the computer maker as to things like motherboards. Sound quality is a low priority for me.

    Thanks for your help.
  6. Void Spirit
    My computer is in the shop waiting for a part, and therefore I will be out of commission for at least a week.
  7. Void Spirit
    I am planning on starting up a Warshade for this. If you decide on a minimum level to start please post it in advance so that I can level up in advance of our start.
  8. Void Spirit
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by ultrawatt View Post
    A lot of slots where i wouldnt use them.
    Where?

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by ultrawatt View Post
    A lot of slots where i wouldnt use them. And soul drain NEEDS more. Looks like you wanted to be within 1 purple of s/l/e/n soft cap?
    Yes.
  9. Void Spirit
    I would appreciate any comments on my below build for a dark/fire brute. I've been fiddling with the build for quite a while, but now that my brute is approaching 50 I need to finalize the build. I felt very squeezed for slots and everything was a tradeoff.


    Code: 
    | Copy & Paste this data into Mids' Hero Designer to view the build |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
|MxDz;1375;704;1408;HEX;|
|78DA65935B6F524110C7670F072997B62014E88D02BD706B8F256D6D1F4C1AB56DA|
|2290D8AF19590760522A1E440A3F5C96FE18B266A8C7E0235DEBE8989EFDA522F8F|
|B6E29C996D69C249E0B73B333BB3F3DFDDDCC3350FC0E35510EEEBB552B359BC66E|
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|7D1E86D9BC26EFC97A531A1B5569EE17AFEE9925DF8D7A459AB2DE324E079EFCEE6|
|ECDD894A546B55E76D1A4D09072A79F861BD572A5858EC1D3A81D69362BD54668BD|
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|B2028495378EAB9C2AA53343210186408F5B6DCACDD28CB12653ACD00C4B13C2B87|
|E8E83FEAF9AB5F4034E0639A936C86A0559AD2CAB65C3353E55D517125607234BB4|
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|DE821274911711026FB080937C345F061BE61956F98F3A538DF2CE7FB84AE5125ED|
|E85FEA2F7ACC38214CFD23CC741840693FD2B1701FE3DC4784FB88721F7FD035A1D|
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|67D7A3892754FD6214CE61BEDB865510F792EEB1647B2C8B3D96851ECB7FD315D59|
|0|
|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
  10. Void Spirit

    Most fun?

    POST-ACTION

    Thanks everyone for all of the great input. A number of the alternatives sound fun, and I look forward to eventually playing a number of these. However, based on the plurality of votes and the uniqueness of experience, for this project I'm going to roll up...a Warshade.
  11. Void Spirit

    Most fun?

    POST-ACTION

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Memphis_Bill View Post
    It depends. What do you like doing? What don't you like?

    I could give you a "most fun" answer, but since you aren't me, it may not apply.
    I like killing enemies and making a difference in battles. I like feeling uber. I like powers that snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Turning the question around, if you explain your reason for why you find your choice fun, or your reason for rejecting a certain build, I can see whether your reason would apply to me.
  12. Void Spirit

    Most fun?

    POST-ACTION

    Which of the following alternatives for my next project would be most fun (not only in the leveling, but in playing once reaches level 50 and incarnate)?:

    1) Dark/Dark Tank, Brute or Scrapper;

    2) Traps/Sonic Defender;

    3) Widow/Fortunata;

    4) Warshade;

    5) Earth/Emp Controller;

    6) Fire/Cold Controller; or

    7) Fire/Ice Blaster.

    I just leveled a fire/rad corrupter, so I probably don't want to do another /rad right away. On my ice/therm troller, I don't mind healing since I can respond to dwinding green bars, but I don't like having to repeatedly apply proactive buffs (with no feedback as to whether they are even making a difference) to each teammate. I have a psi/em blaster with great ST damage, but he is severely lacking in the AOE department.
  13. Void Spirit
    I should be able to make this. On the issue of lag, the last Hami I was on had no lag from league chat, so the conclusion was that it was the use of certain Incarnate powers that causes the lag.
  14. Void Spirit
    I hope I can make this, but I may have to work late Monday night.
  15. Void Spirit

    Marketeering-Anti

    POST-ACTION

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Enyalios View Post
    If you're complaining about level 25-40 salvage...well its kind of highish at the moment.
    At least for those mid-range salvage items that I pay attention to (e.g. Circuit Boards), their prices have fallen dramatically this week.
  16. Void Spirit
    1) Accuracy. Looking at the accuracy display for an attack in Mids:
    (a) what level is so low that you would start sacrificing other stats in order to beef up accuracy?
    (b) what level is so high that you would check whether you could trade away some of that "excess" accuracy in order to increase other stats?

    2) Energy/Negative Energy Defense. How concerned should I be that my planned DM/FA Brute build only has negligible E/N defense? Should this generally be ok on the theory that there won't be a lot of pure energy/negative energy incoming damage and whatever there is can be dealt with using inspirations and DM/FA healing?

    3) Endurance. Looking at Mids for my DM/FA Brute, it predicts Endurance generation of 3.16 per second and Endurance expenditure (not counting attacks but with Darkest Night running) of 2.08 per second. Mids also predicts 60 second recharges (with Hastern running) for each of Dark Consumption and Consume. How concerned should I be that this Brute may be gasping for Endurance?
  17. Void Spirit
    I will plan to be there Friday night on Void Spirit scrapper.
  18. Void Spirit
    This is interesting to read about, and I look forward to your updates.

    How about a Traps/ defender? If you survive to level 8 you get FFG.

    Of course, when selecting your own AT you need to take into account what are the ATs of the other team members.
  19. Void Spirit
    I may stop by on Greymen psi/em blaster to see if there is a second team that has room.
  20. Void Spirit
    Shortest version: me Thursday.
  21. Void Spirit

    Fire/Rad Help

    POST-ACTION

    Why it is worth 4-slotting Lingering Radiation? You would still be over the S/L softcap even without the bonus from Curtail Speed. What would you think of reducing Lingering Radiation to 2 slots, and simply slotting it with one Accuracy and one Recharge? And then moving one of the saved slots to Stamina and slotting a Performance Shifter proc?

    I don't think that it is worth slotting Endurance Reduction into Accelerate Metabolism, since it will only be cast once every every 2 minutes.

    In Rain of Fire, what would you think of switching out the Posi Acc/Dam for the Posi proc?

    You have the Ragnarok proc in Fireball. What would you think of moving it into Rain of Fire which has higher accuracy, and where it may help keep mobs in range of the rain?

    Would it be worth trying to squeeze the Lockdown proc into Choking Cloud?

    Do you want to slot a stealth proc in Sprint?
  22. Void Spirit

    Base for Sale

    POST-ACTION

    I offer 251 million.
  23. Void Spirit

    Base for Sale

    POST-ACTION

    You might want to look at this thread:

    http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showt...highlight=sale

    Note in particular it was set up as an auction and most of the heavy bidding happened right before the end time (so pick a convenient end time when people will be online).
  24. Void Spirit
    Please sign me up for Simona Morte dark/dark defender.
  25. Void Spirit
    Silas, regarding your Stick with the Team theme, as a scrapper I will usually move on to the next group if (i) the team is melting groups so fast that I can barely get a lick in before they are all dead or (ii) somebody loves their knockback so much that I can barely get a lick in before my foe is bounced away from me.

    Also, your discussion assumes that there is a single team to stick with. What rule of thumb do you employ if the team splits up into 2 or 3 subteams?