I hate Ultra Mode (rant)

I really do. I hate it. I made a mistake, clicked the wrong button, and now the game crashes whenever I try to log in.

/end rant.

So... Then don't use Ultra Mode?

There's a thing called safe mode. I'm not talking about windows safe mode. Check the box. Reset all your settings. Exit game. Run game. Maybe stop crashing?

Yeah, a tech problem shouldn't make you annoyed with the game, just figure out what's up with your system and fix it. Tech problems are great for that.

Thank you for the help, I was just frustrated with crashing, waiting to verify files and trying to get back in to crash again, verify etc. etc.

I got it working now, but it was such a headache.

You don't have to verify your files after a crash, btw. I setup a shortcut so that it immediately laucnhes the game. You need to add a -project coh at the end of your shortcut, like so:

C:\Programs\CoH\CityOfHeroes.exe -project coh

If you use the default directory, I think it should be outside quotes, like this:

"C:\Programs\CoH\CityOfHeroes.exe" -project coh

Still waiting for a real rant.

What are the minimum specs to run in Ultra Mode? I have a 7900 GTX and get a slide show if I even try to go into Ultra Mode.

i have an 3-4 year old laptop with an nvidia 8700 and i can run some things of UM with no lag at all, i have reflections on, i have water effect on (min for both)

so far been having no issues and the game is looking excellent

I like UM. Shadows are nice and fun to watch go away when you enter hide.

Yeah was messing with the sliders today, where I saw the water slider option for the first time, wow. I can crank that all the way up to Ultra with little problem. 7900 GTX, Duo Core 2.66 GHz with 2 Gigs of ram.

Also make sure you are using recent drivers (preferably the latest version, but at least from sometime this year). There have been numerous problems/crashes which have been tracked back to old drivers. Newer drivers may also improve performance.

(And, Gig'em Aggies!)

I for the most part like ultra mode, but I can tell that they didn't think twice about bases when doing it (but they never think about bases).

The problems are probably problems only a very trained eye would even notice, but there are many lighting issues that come up. In my base, in ANY room the western walls (according to the map) are always lit up more than the eastern walls, since there is apparently a "light source" such as the sun that is somehow going through the ceilings and so forth. I can also notice an effect on the floors, if you look facing east at a room the floors are tinted one way, and then turn around facing west they are a bit different. Likewise I hate what they have done with crystals. Complex rooms now look completely different for those who have ultra mode and those who don't. Likewise now lighting pretty much ignores whatever lighting configuration you have in place for this imaginary sun thats somehow shines through despite your base being "underground" supposedly.

Disclaimer - I haven't kept up with computer specs in 5+ years. Literally. My computer is maxed out for what it is, except for the graphics card, and don't really feel like going through the motions of building a new one. But wondering if A) there is a newer/better GFX card I can use and B) It will give a noticeable tick in improvment.

Basic specs:
Intel P4 2.8 Ghz (Northwood / Socket 478)
4 Gigs RAM
Nvidia GeForce 6800 LE (128 meg)
AGP 8x
NO PCI XPRESS

With that said, anyone care to guess if I would get a noticeable / beneficial performance boost with a "new" card that I can actually use? Most settings are at medium, with some of the "detail" settings on high. None of the Ultra settings are turned on of course. Generally, prior to I17, movement and graphics were pretty smooth overall. With I17, and after slightly tweaking settings again, I am getting massive graphic lag usually when I first log in or in the first mission. I call this graphic lag because the system is literally chugging away for 10 - 20 seconds as it's flooded with data; after that its back to normal for as long as I play. Drivers were recently updated, and the chugging isn't nearly as bad or long, but still there.

I haven't done a lot of research, but the little I have, @#$#!@ @#$%@ how many freaking series and slightly-different graphics cards does one company need to spew out. Anyway, I believe the 700 series is the last to use AGP 8x? I can't find any sites that have done a direct comparison between my series and "newer" series. The cards I've found in the 700 series are pretty cheap, but not sure if it's even worth it with a system that can't be added on to any further and has already been tweaked to hell and back to squeeze out all I can.

No, I won't use an ATI card.

Any thoughts from those that have kept up more to date than I and/or held on to their morbid hobby of graphic card nostalgia?

/rant

I've already forgotten about most of you

Sorry Voodoo, but I doubt any AGP graphics card upgrade will give a significant performance increase. CoX is kind of CPU Dependant as well as GPU driven. Any GPU you purchase will only get bottle necked by your CPU. Any money spent on upgrades would be somewhat of a waste. Better to save your money towards a new rig, when the time comes.

That stated, I suggest you keep tweaking the game settings. You should be able to find a combination of settings that is the rough equivalent to the performance you had prior to I17.

EDIT: How comfortable are you about swapping out CPUs?

Thanks Des. Pretty much what I figured, but thought I'd see if there was the slightest chance. Was hoping someone would say a 512MB cache card would solve any issues over a 128, but alas.

As for swapping CPUs, I pieced this rig up myself way back when, and it wasn't my first. IIRC, I have already upgraded the CPU once though. I don't recall there being anything substantially beefed up that this particular mobo would take? Had something in mind?

I've already forgotten about most of you

Des:

I'm learning to appreciate Ultra Mode - namely the reflective and water aspects of it since shadows and ambient occlussion destroy my experience. I really came to appreciate water reflections when I had my first sewer mission since I17 went live. My only suggest would be to make the sewer water a little bit thicker...