Computer recomendation

[RalphWB]

What kind of Dell Computer do I need to play Oblivion with good consistant fps? how much ram? which video card?

I'm using a Dell 8400 dual core 3.2 gig machine with 2gb ram,nvidea 7200 256mb card with up to date drivers,and I have to run at 640x480 to get reasonable fps which are between 20 -30. :confused:

[Retribution]

Those specs look alright, but you'll need more video ram to play Oblivion with good fps/resolution.

[ipegot]

You don't list important information like what are your video settings for oblivion.

 

I play on a laptop so my machine uses a mobile video card (nvidia 8400M 128mb) being mobile means its automatically not as powerful as its non-mobile numerical equivalent. I have the same ram as you but a slower dual core cpu. I find that I can run the game at 1280x720. However I have to turn a lot of other settings down, but I'm ok with that.

 

If you don't have the money to spend, mess with your video settings more, see what you can give up to up your resolution if that is what you want. Else pick up a newer video card and much with settings as well.

[RalphWB]

You don't list important information like what are your video settings for oblivion.

 

I play on a laptop so my machine uses a mobile video card (nvidia 8400M 128mb) being mobile means its automatically not as powerful as its non-mobile numerical equivalent. I have the same ram as you but a slower dual core cpu. I find that I can run the game at 1280x720. However I have to turn a lot of other settings down, but I'm ok with that.

 

If you don't have the money to spend, mess with your video settings more, see what you can give up to up your resolution if that is what you want. Else pick up a newer video card and much with settings as well.

 

I'm now running an ati 4570 1gb video card,400 w power unit at 1024x768 3gb ram and Oblivion crashes every 20 minutes or so.

I'm not running anti aliasing or any of that,using Bloom lighting,grass turned off,no shadows.seems like my card ought to be able to max out Oblivion but no joy. the biggest pain in the tail is the crashes and lockups to where I have to shut the machine off and start all over. I DO save a lot!

Any suggestions?

[Pronam]

just after 20 min? Have you tried opening you case while running it? It might get overheated, I have that with fallout3.

The dual core should allow to get more advantage from your card with overclocking. But when you might have problems with heating, that's a bad idea...

Or if you're running it on a laptop, same thing. be sure its ventilators are clear or something under it where they aren't.

 

I run oblivion on its max using an older card, using an old system (AGP) and no dual core, so something else should be wrong..

[ipegot]

Only running a 400 watt power supply? Kind of low, that was a standard and acceptable thing a decade ago.

 

On the subject of dual cores, if oblivion isn't coded to take advantage of it, it doesn't matter. If not the only advantage that dual core provides is being able to run oblivion and other programs without the other programs having the same kind of impact on performance as it would if you were using a single core.

 

I'd wager your two most probable suspects are over heating or your power supply, I'm leaning towards psu and the new 1gb video card.

[forli]

I have this hardware:

 

AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+

2000 Mhz Dual Core

 

1Gb Ram

 

Video card Nvidia 7300 GT

256mb

 

 

I have this settings:

Resolution 1280x1024

Textures: High

Items/Object/Actors/ details 50%

Grass details 0%

HDR Off

Bloom Off

Shadows Off

Specular lights 50%

Water detail On

Water reflection On

Windows reflection On

Blood decail High

 

I have edit some settings in the ini

I don't have any textures or meshes replacer

 

...and my game is playable (30-35 fps)

So you don't need heavy hardware, but you must edit some settings.

[darkprodigy4u]

If it happens every 20 mins or so, then as others suggested it might be an overheating or psu problem. Does your computer's fan sound like it's gonna launch into orbit? Then you definately need to take it apart and give it a good cleaning. A can of compressed air...(or even a pnuematic airbrush, lol) and a screwdriver and you'll be cool in no time. If it's a power supply problem, in this case it would seem it's not getting enough power. Well, I'm pretty sure if you clean it out, that will make your fan turn on less often. Also try disabling any background tasks that can steal precious RAM. Use windows task manager for that.

 

On a side note....30-20 fps isn't necessarily bad at all in my opinion. My computer has far lower stats that yours, and I get anywheres from 5-15 fps and I'm happy, running bloom and all distant LOD packages.

[Illiad86]

You don't list important information like what are your video settings for oblivion.

 

I play on a laptop so my machine uses a mobile video card (nvidia 8400M 128mb) being mobile means its automatically not as powerful as its non-mobile numerical equivalent. I have the same ram as you but a slower dual core cpu. I find that I can run the game at 1280x720. However I have to turn a lot of other settings down, but I'm ok with that.

 

If you don't have the money to spend, mess with your video settings more, see what you can give up to up your resolution if that is what you want. Else pick up a newer video card and much with settings as well.

 

I'm now running an ati 4570 1gb video card,400 w power unit at 1024x768 3gb ram and Oblivion crashes every 20 minutes or so.

I'm not running anti aliasing or any of that,using Bloom lighting,grass turned off,no shadows.seems like my card ought to be able to max out Oblivion but no joy. the biggest pain in the tail is the crashes and lockups to where I have to shut the machine off and start all over. I DO save a lot!

Any suggestions?

 

My...it could be a number of things. You could be overheating, your HDD is messed up, corrupt drivers, bad PSU...lol it's just like a car :P But the main reason for such crashing is overheating. Give it a good cleaning, make sure everything is in there nice and snug.

[RalphWB]

You don't list important information like what are your video settings for oblivion.

 

I play on a laptop so my machine uses a mobile video card (nvidia 8400M 128mb) being mobile means its automatically not as powerful as its non-mobile numerical equivalent. I have the same ram as you but a slower dual core cpu. I find that I can run the game at 1280x720. However I have to turn a lot of other settings down, but I'm ok with that.

 

If you don't have the money to spend, mess with your video settings more, see what you can give up to up your resolution if that is what you want. Else pick up a newer video card and much with settings as well.

 

I'm now running an ati 4570 1gb video card,400 w power unit at 1024x768 3gb ram and Oblivion crashes every 20 minutes or so.

I'm not running anti aliasing or any of that,using Bloom lighting,grass turned off,no shadows.seems like my card ought to be able to max out Oblivion but no joy. the biggest pain in the tail is the crashes and lockups to where I have to shut the machine off and start all over. I DO save a lot!

Any suggestions?

 

My...it could be a number of things. You could be overheating, your HDD is messed up, corrupt drivers, bad PSU...lol it's just like a car :P But the main reason for such crashing is overheating. Give it a good cleaning, make sure everything is in there nice and snug.

 

I just put the ati card and the power unit in the computer a week ago and cleaned everything out real good then. I'm thinking about a 575 w power supply. I would think that would be sufficient to run the 4570 card.

I'm new to ati video cards so I don't know much about them. I have always run Nvidea cards before.I got the 4570 because it's a 1gb card as opposed to 256 or 512. The thought that it might be a better card. Guess I'll try the 575w psu first. Thanks for the input everyone. :thumbsup: