je_saist

Well, you kind of just knocked Intel out of the running. Intel already has a new socket on the way for next year. Neither the 1366 or 1156 sockets will have that long a shelf life.

AMD's Bulldozer processors are supposed to launch in a Socket AM3 format, and have been demonstrated running against the AMD 890 chipset.

Problem is, the same thing may happen with Bulldozer that happened with Socket AM2+. Yes, Socket AM3 processors will run in an AM2+ socket, but there's a dramatic difference in performance between DDR2 and DDR3... Bulldozer could be a dog stuck in an AM3 socket and really require it's own socket to shine.

Well, get back to us on whether or not you want to go cheap and wait for Intel's new socket next year, or if you want to go all out on a power system for this year, or if you want to take a chance on Bulldozer looking good on AM3.

Thanks for bringing this up Local Man. My head tilted at the statement that "most of us don't care because we have Perma PA." Out of all of the illusionists in game I know of, only 3 have Perma-PA, and they achieved it at the expense of team useful powers like recall friend. Achieving Perma-PA also means taking a serious hit on endurance recharge recovery potential. My own illusionist has a base recharge bonus at level 50 of 103%, and at fulltilt attack I chew endurance almost as fast as a Dark Armor. Not exactly conducive to farming.

I think it's safe to say that most Illusionists do NOT have Perma Phantom Army. I think it's also safe to say that the majority of the game doesn't actually tweak out with IO's.

Against SO's, Illusion is just fine as is.

lots of people might have USB or Blue-tooth game-pad controllers... but come on... using a game-pad controller to play CoH will likely get you laughed at if your team were to find out, and a request to please switch to a keyboard and mouse so you can keep up.

There's a very good reason Microsoft canned the plans for Xbox 360 to share multiplayer components with Windows Client games: http://www.rahulsood.com/2010/07/con...gainst-pc.html

The usage of a 360 controller was also a factor in Microsoft canning Champions Online. Beyond quality control issues and constant binary updates, reports stated that CO 360 testers never could get the game to "feel" right, even though Cryptic largely limited how CO was interacted with to be usable against a game controller.

In order for a game controller to be effective the developers would have to rework the entire user-interface and chat system, as well as the entire power system. It's just not worth the effort.

Since it's not worth the developers effort to rework the user-interface system to account for the limitations of a game-pad, it's extremely unlikely that the developers will go out of their way to address "compatibility" problems.

you would be correct: http://twitter.com/CoHBABs returns Sorry, that page doesn’t exist!

*head tilts*

Um... ... I'm pretty sure I covered that in post #2 in this thread: http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showp...09&postcount=2

would you accept: 18th no extra cost associated with it update?

I think it's actually kind of cute...

I just imagine this tiny girl with yellow ribbons in her hair and dressed in a yellow polka-dot petticoat bouncing up and down every time she adds an emoticon.

He's a puppeh. He understands not the inherent beauty of the aquatic creature... deep fried and on a platter!

personally, with the components that are currently on the market, unless you want to run multi-gpu configurations, or have an ultra-high end system, you really can use a 500 sustained watt power supply for just about anything. Intel has followed AMD's lead and settled into a methodology of increasing performance within an existing thermal dissapation / power consumption envelope.

That being said, if you intend to use your components in a non-stock manner, such as overclocking, you'll want to invest in something with a bit more power. If you actually want to read more into how power supplies work, and deliver power, head over to Xbitlabs: http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cases/

within the price range of $100... well... it's really a toss-up between the RadeonHD 4850 and Geforce GTS 250 depending on what game you play.

In some games the HD 4850 is faster, and in somes games the GTS 250 is faster.

In CoH, well, their honestly able to drive about the same relative image quality.

I'm... not... entirely sure I understand this question?

Are you asking if there are graphics card / power supply bundles?

One graphical walkthrough of all options right here: http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?t=219534

Yes.

Trust me on this. You really, really, really, really, really, really do not want your power supply physically catching on fire.

Depends on who you ask and what you use. Some cases are designed to exhaust extreme amounts of heat. The GTX 470 and GTX 480 from Nvidia can drive temperatures in excess of 200degrees. Couple those with a high-heat processor and you have a recipe for blazing hot case temps, hence the Fermi-Certified sticker that is being put on select computer cases.

Now, many enthusiast motherboards will allow you to set a shutdown temperature, and a quick survey of my computers there's an average shutdown processor temp of 65c / 150f. Many consumer motherboards, such as those you find in Gateway, HP, or Dell, don't have this feature, or they'll have it, but won't allow you to change it. They'll just shut off automatically.

Now, my Biostar I7 motherboard will let me set a maximum processor shutdown temp of 100c / 212f. Based on personal experience, I'd say that you wouldn't want the processor to go over 85c / 185f. Most "consumer" components will start to have problems around this temperature range.

As to what your internal case temperature will be before you processor gets that hot? Hard to say. I'd actually be worried about the other components of your computer, such as the hard-drive, if internal temperatures were to increase beyond 130f.

simple. Have you ever seen a Whale that did NOT swim?

Can you imagine how chunky they'd be if they didn't work off all that plankton and krill?

okay: if that's what you want to spend on graphics alone, you've got a wide array of options there.

The Geforce GTS 250 and RadeonHD 4850 are the starting points for Ultra-Mode support, and both can be had for around $100 (or less).

Personally though, I'd be pushing you to spend a little bit more money... Asus's 5770 1gb can be had for $130 after a mail-in-rebate. This is the card I have in my main system, and I can tell you that it will run most Ultra-Mode options maxed out against an A64 x2 6000.

The x2 5000 in your computer isn't quite as powerful, but I don't think you are trying to drive a 1920*1200 display. I suspect you either have a 1440*900 or a 1680*1050 display, and against that processor, the 5770 should give you all Ultra Mode options at once.

most of us just find posts by "new posts" and respond pretty much regardless of what forum you are in.

Now, from the information given in the previous thread, you probably are s.o.l. I think Frost is right about you only having a 220 watt power supply, but it does not seem to be a non-ATX type: Compaq sr5510f

With a budget of $100, this does kind of limit your options:

Personally I'd go for this 700watt rated Rosewill: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817182173

It's not actually going to hit 700watt's, it's closer to a 500watt sustained if memory serves, but if it's anything like other rosewill products I've personally bought, it's a good solid pruchase.

Alternatively, I'd look at this 450 watt thermaltake. I've had several Thermaltakes, and they pretty much are all I buy now.

That leaves you about ~$50 or so to spend on a graphics card. $50 won't buy you much in the way of performance though. If you want Utlra-Mode graphics, you won't be getting it in this price range.

You will, however, likely be able to run the non-ultra-graphics mode at maximum quality.

You could pick up a RadeonHD 5550 from Sapphire or a Zotak 9600 GSO in this possible price range.

If you don't mind your base budget creeping closer to $150, you could be looking at RadeonHD 5670's with their starting price of around $90, Geforce GTS 250's, or RadeonHD 4850's.

Basically though, before you can add in any graphics card, you are going to need to upgrade that power supply. Any graphics card that will run on a 220watt power supply is not going to be much of a step up over the 6150's GPU.

Symmetrical Multi-Threading, as implemented on (most*) Intel processors, is extremely selective in what tasks it can accelerate. I wrote about SMT/HT on the Pentium 4 processor a few years back: http://www.mepisguides.com/fti/rig-r...g-rec-cpu.html (beware, lots of spelling errors that I have never bothered to fix, don't ask me why, I'm normally pedantic about spelling)

The Intel I7 processor doesn't actually benefit from Hyperthreading except under extremely contrived benchmarking circumstances or specific processing workloads. Unlike the Pentium 4 it has a short processor pipeline, and all I7's come in Quad-Core formats, and thus can take advantage of Symmetrical Multi-Processing. The result is that I7 doesn't have to bury threading inefficiency or hide an ever-increasing pipeline in the pursuit of raw clock speed.

On my own I7-920 I can't really create average use scenarios that leverage the Hyperthreading abilities.

*most: I am aware of some Intel processors, such as Itanium, that have the Full-Threading capabilities normally found in RISC architectures like IBM POWER, IBM Cell, and Oracle / Sun SPARC. As far as I am aware, the full-threading has yet to be seen on Intel's desktop line-up of processors.

Exactly why Celeron's tended to be good sellers in the older days... and why AMD made bucket-loads of cash off the Barton 2500+

Okay. First thing, if it seems misleading we do apologize. However, every single retail-release MMO that I'm aware of requires that you go ahead and choose a subscription plan, as well as input the details of how you intend to pay for that subscription plan, at the same time you set up your account.

The Architect Edition does include 1 free month of game-time. You still need to give the payment details for the subscription plan you want to take effect AFTER that one free month is over.

Most retail-release MMO's will allow you to cancel or change the continued subscription plan within that months time. Lets say you sign up for $15 a month, then decide that you want to go for that 3 months at a time plan, most MMO's will let you convert from the base 1 month to 3 months before you are actually charged a subscription fee.

psst: this is already in the game as Invention Origin enhancements

Anyways, Positon has explained some of the numerical reasonings behind the balancing of an MMORPG on his personal blog, such as this post: http://www.mmodesigner.com/?p=63#more-63

The argument basically extends forth to adding levels. Each new level means new calculations on how to balance the player against the challenges. The fact is this: raising levels for the sake of raising levels is BAD GAME DESIGN. It basically is admitting that the developers haven't given any thought to balancing the game against a consistent player experience.

In gear based games, such as World of Warcraft and WarHammer Online, a player's attributes are largely determined by the gear they have. Some gear is drastically more powerful than other gear. This results in a wide split of player capability in game even within the same level range. Raising the level cap means that the developers have to implement new gear, thus invalidating or making redundant the old gear. This is, again, failing to understand the concepts of game balance.

The approach City of Heroes took to the gear based problem presents it's own flavor of balance on earning higher levels.

In City of Heroes leverages enhancement slots and directly boost the effects of a players chosen power. This means that all players of a set minimal performance for each level. This makes balancing the enemies and challenges a much easier task.

One of the features of this system is that players can internally maximize the effect of a power in their low 20's with Single Origin Enhancements. The game can thus be "balanced" around players utilizing a high percentage of their total possible primary effect. Debuffers can debuff at their strongest. Damager's can damage at their strongest. Buffers can buff at their strongest. Mezzers can mez at their strongest. Damage takers can take the most damage.

From that point the game turns on it's side and challenges are based against an ever increasingly diverse set attacks launched from increasingly diverse opponents. The players ability to fight thus becomes more about bringing all of the powers they have to maximum effect, rather than simply fitting into a pigeonholed task.

If a player chooses to take part in the Invention Origin system, building an avatar can get even more complex. Players can choose to enhance their primary strengths, such as adding extra damage, improving debuffs, or improving buffs. Players can choose to shore up their own weaknesses, such as increasing regeneration rate, recovery rate, recharge rate, or accuracy. A fully IO'd out player will likely be able to handle a more diverse set of situations.

The same concept can be found in Planetside or Global Agenda. Player's "gear" is mostly on equal footing. As players advance in levels they can unlock more gear, and thus be able to handle a wider variety of tasks on a single character.

For example, when I left Planetside, I was equipped with Adv Hack, Max, Scout, Bomber, and something else... I forget what. Depending on the fight at hand I could fly interceptor for an ANT; change loadouts and soften up a CY for a Gal drop; drop to a tower and switch to cloaker; get inside the base and hack equip terms; blow up the gen; hack the CC; then get back to my bomber and go AMS hunting.

A low level player would only be stuck in one task or another. As a high level player, I could switch on the fly and fill multiple combat roles.

This concept of using levels to unlock versatility is Good Game Design.

At some point though, versatility has to be capped. At some point you'll have a player that is too versatile, able to do anything or everything. That was why when SOE last upped Planetside's level system, they didn't actually add any-more cert points, but just enabled players to some in-game options for their characters as a reward.

This is why what we know about our Incarnate System focus's on expanding player's powers within the level cap. Again, this is Good Game Design.

What you want is Bad Game Design.

Ai. I don't see mentions of the other rig components elsewhere in previous threads.

Socket 775... hmm

Not a whole lot to choose from on your preferred site:
Just 3 P45 boards: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/produc...d=5&subid=1155
4 P43 boards: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/produc...d=5&subid=1485
and 5 Gxx boards: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/produc...d=5&subid=1490

Honestly, right now, I'd go as cheap as possible since we don't know WHAT went wrong. Also, the 775 is a pretty much aging architecture. If your processor and memory went along with the motherboard, which is likely, you can get a good bit more performance from a new rig base.

What I'd suggest then is grab one of the cheap Gigabyte boards: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...odid=MB-221-GI

If everything else in the computer IS fine, which I'm inclined to believe is probably not likely, you'll save some cash out of pocket that you can put towards a more powerful rig.

If everything is NOT fine: say the processor is gone, the memory is gone, or it's a malfunctioning power supply... again... you won't be a whole lot of cash out of pocket.

yeah. That's my concern here.

okay. the 6150SE is going to be an integrated chip on your motherboard. It is going to be slow no matter what you throw at it.

Off the top of my head the 6150 was never released with AGP support, so you "should" have a PCIE-16x slot available on your motherboard.

As the others have suggested, tell us how much you want to spend, and we can point you in a right direction.

I can tell you that if you want City of Heroes in Ultra Mode you'll be having to spend at least $100:

http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showp...36&postcount=4

Soo... switch to a card that has less performance... puts off more heat... and.. uses up far more power?

Is this suggestion supposed to make sense?

It's an I7. That means triple channel memory. Unless you know something I don't, and from your first line that's really doubtful, I doubt you'll be able to get 8gb of memory to work in a Triple Channel mode.

... why?

US links don't do him any good.

Again, US links don't do any good.

You're right. You are going to get called on this too. Most motherboards do not have even good built in sound card, and no, they do not rival cards that cost $100, much less cards that cost $25.

Here's the real dirty little secret: Most onboard chips don't do OpenAL or OpenSL ES. Which pretty much means you won't get hardware accelerated sound at all.

Finally you said something that actually could be described as accurate.

If you consider this helping, I think I'm going to need to correct every single post you make.