Can I Run HL2 @ Max Settings?

[eX!le2127]

im building my first comp. and the only reason im doing it is for half life 2, and all the great mods based on it. but what i want to know is will i be able to run half life 2 at max settings, and still be playable?

here is my setup:

ASUS "P4P800-E DELUXE" i865 pe. -MOBO
Intel Pentium 4/2.8GHz, 800MHz, 1MB L2 Cache, Hyper Threading. -CPU
ATI Radeon 9800pro, 128MB (or should i go 256MB?). -VID CARD
Corsair Value Select Dual Channel Kit 184 Pin 1G(512MBx2) DDR PC-3200. -RAM

then i have:

nice cool case, lots of fans.
pretty good 120GB HDD.
kick ass monitor.
etc. etc. etc.

any tips or advice would be nice. but all i really want to do is run half life 2 at max settings, and not have any problems with my comp...

THANX!

[spyblog]

Looks like it should run great to me. I'm not sure what the top settings will ring in at but I'd be very surprised if you had trouble at top or near-top settings.

[Fibre Optix]

IMO...I would go with the 256 MB V card.

[Bushtree]

I Say drop the 9800Pro and get the new XT800. or whatever it is. its made by ATI and its like XT800 or X800 or somthing like that.

Then you will have the best video card on the market!

But if you want the keep the price down get the 256MB 9800Pro . Then you can flash the BIOS for the card to make it a 9800XT for free

[eX!le2127]

ok cool.
what is the main advantage of 256MB over 128MB?
most ppl say there isnt a diff besides price, but others tell me to get it.

[Werewolfdaddy]

If you're building a computer just to play hl2, then get the x800 or the x800xt. I wouldn't bet money that the 9800's can do max settings on HL2. Now If you mean max settings as in 1024x768 res and all the bells and whistles turned on visually, it probably can handle it. However, if you're thinking 1600x1200 res with all the bells and whistles, the 9800's may fall a little short. I only say this because I have seen several 9800's choked by battlefield vietnam at 1600x1200 res with all quality settings cranked way up and they choke. These have been on Pentium 4's with 3 gig processors and amd 64 3200's, so they had the raw power to handle the Game. HL2 is probably going to be even more taxing than battlefield vietnam.

[eX!le2127]

ok cool thanx

[Driv33R]

What resolution do u want to run this game at???

This is one of the biggest factors

[eX!le2127]

well i dont know for sure but the monitor im planning on getting says these resolutions:

MAX: 2048x1536@68Hz
OPTIMAL: 1600x1200@87Hz

im most likely goint to run at optimal resolution.
but i will test the monitor to see if i can get any better.

[yellohut]

if you want to run it at 1600x1200 I would definately go for an x800 based borad, if you can afford it..

what kind of budget are you working with?

[Driv33R]

u can also go with geforce 6800gt witch is faster then x800 has more pipelines and ocs better(costs the same hehehehe)

[eX!le2127]

my budget isnt that big. il prolly just buy the 9800pro and in month or so from now when the price drops i will look into getting the x800pro.

[kram 2.0]

Radeon 9800 Pro'll be able to handle the game well, but not at max settings. Sapphire released a 128MB version of the 9800XT...and of the late, all 9800 Pro 128MB use the R360 core - the same core of the 9800XT. So you might even have the chance of flashing the 128MB onboard version.

Hope that helps,
kram

[eX!le2127]

what monitor can i get to match performance of my vid card (9800pro) that isnt expensive and is good quality?
i have been looking into viewsonic,nec,sony,samsung.
there is just so much to choose from, all i want is the best one for a good price! anyone have an idea of what to get?

[citercian{007}monk]

i dont want to steal this thread but what do ya'll mean by flashing the bios and getting a 9800 xt for free? i've got a 9800 pro and that sounds nice

[kram 2.0]

Well, that's softmodding, and that'll require that you have a Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB with a R360 core...which is most newer cards. Basically, the Sapphire Radeon 9800 XT with R360 and 128MB onboard is basically the same card as the Radeon 9800 Pro 128 but with different BIOS. I'm not quite sure what cards would succesfully flash, and what won't...I never tried it, and I reckon I never will. It's best to keep a good card good, then go with a better, with a chance of failure.

Hope that helps,
kram

[imbest123]

Originally posted by kram8806 Well, that's softmodding, and that'll require that you have a Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB with a R360 core...which is most newer cards. Basically, the Sapphire Radeon 9800 XT with R360 and 128MB onboard is basically the same card as the Radeon 9800 Pro 128 but with different BIOS. I'm not quite sure what cards would succesfully flash, and what won't...I never tried it, and I reckon I never will. It's best to keep a good card good, then go with a better, with a chance of failure. Hope that helps, kram

Not only does it have to have a R360 core but a 256-bit memory interface as well. For a successful flash you must know your memory chips on your graphics card as well.

[icallmedan]

Originally posted by eX!le2127 my budget isnt that big. il prolly just buy the 9800pro and in month or so from now when the price drops i will look into getting the x800pro.

9800Pro=$200-$250
X800Pro=$420-$450

Don't waste that much money...HL2 isn't even out yet so it would be pointless to upgrade now, and again in a month....why not just wait till a month before HL2 comes out and then upgrade...by then all of the prices of everything will be down, and chances are if you have a job or somethign you can put more money towards it. Just my opinion. You could get about $120 Max for a used 9800Pro, so you would have lost about $100....then you have to put out another $300 for that upgrade so you are spending $400 anyways...so just go for the X800 Pro