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I've been playing COTA on my laptop, since 2005 due to the 96 DPI limitation.

Well, a week ago I started setting up a new system: qx6700 (4 CPUs overclocked to 3.2GHz), 4Gb RAM, 8800GTX (with 768Mb VRAM), hooked up to a 21.3" LCD and a 21" CRT running Windows XP Pro SP2.

It is finally feasible to play HTTR/COTA/BFTB at 1600x1200, native resolution on my LCD. What a profound difference in terms of how much of the battlespace is in my purvey. Additionally, it feels great to load large scenarios and click on ">>>" and watch the clock zip on by. It is now possible to conceive of playing those scenarios with 300+ units.

Well, I just wanted to share my excitement with you. I am looking forward to getting back into big picture fights once again.

On behalf of those of us with a two or three years old computer, single CPU, half a Gig of RAM, a sub-par graphic card and an old 17" CRT display : Thank You !

You just ruined our day.

[;)]

JeF.

ORIGINAL: MarkShot

[]......... new system: qx6700 (4 CPUs overclocked to 3.2GHz)

You mean 4 cores . For me, "4 CPUs" would be like 4 chips residing on 4 sockets (in a quad mainboard).
Anyway I would have waited until VISTA correctly/efficiently supports multiple cores (it still doesn't), and until there are "real" quad-core CPUs - with a "single-die" and proper cache technology, before getting a quad-core chip. Windows Pro doesn't support them either.

I remember u saying before that the AA engine's code would use multi-threading, some time ago, though. I'd really love to see something like a benchmark thingy to see if AA does use multiple cores or not, and how a quad core would do if compared to the AA performance of a Duo core.

Anyway, since there's really no other game/sim out there (not even FSX - the newest MS flight sim - supports multiple cores... it's just optimized for Vista + DX10 yet), what's the purpose of sitting on a quad core CPU? Do you tinker with 3D applications or anything like that? Audio software?
A Duo Core should do pretty much the same job these days, as the performance increase isn't a milestone. That video card is neat, and probably supports DX10 (?), but it's not needed as cheaper cards are able to display 1600*x resolutions just fine and at a reasonable Hz rate as well.

[].......Some may claim it isn't a true quad-core CPU as Intel has fitted two Core 2 Duo CPUs together in a single package, but it is a first step to what the future holds...[]

[]......With the current architecture this will remain an issue, but Intel may solve this when it implements a single-die quad-core chip. But as it stands now, you won't see the full potential of the quad-core processor.......[]

.

You might want to read the full article here:

http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/11/02 ... me_qx6700/

Well, I have the QX6700 over clocked to 3.2GHz anyway. So, that puts it in the same ball park as the X6800 at factory specs.

That was basically the choice to make an X6800 or a QX6700. The reality is that for anything I might want to play today, the QX6700 is going to be fast enough. So, I am forfeiting maybe 10-15% CPU cycles for single threaded games. On the other hand, if in 2-3 years games are coming out multi-threaded, then the QX6700 will be the better choice. So, it was the potential (and not at the moment significant) downside of a 10% performance loss today versus the potential upside of a 100% performance increase tomorrow. Time will tell.

There is always a newer chip and better chip. Someone once asked me when does your new PC begin to get slow ... my response as soon as you finished reading your credit card number to the merchant.

Compared to my P4 2.53GHz from 2002, this machine delivers an amazing boost. I have seen the multi-cores effectively smooth out things running in the background while gaming at the same time. Of course, 4Gb of RAM does a lot to eliminate thrashing. And yes, I am aware that with a 32 bit OS a little less than 3Gb are actually being used.

Thanks.

I play COtA on a 24" widescreen - and it is indeed amazing.
I have a dream that someday I'll play it with a projector and a touchscreen

ORIGINAL: karto
I play COtA on a 24" widescreen - and it is indeed amazing.
I have a dream that someday I'll play it with a projector and a touchscreen

My dream is just to be able to yell at 3rd battalion to get of their butts and get that defensive perimeter setup NOW from my comfy chair - a frosty beer in my hand [8D]

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx

ORIGINAL: MarkShot

Well, I just wanted to share my excitement with you. I am looking forward to getting back into big picture fights once again.

Yersss.... just as long as you don't assume we all have the same set up when you come to designing the next game! [:(]

Well, besides allowing me to play in style, it also allows me to give up using my laptop for testing. Now, with an LCD, I can afford to set my desktop to the default 96 DPI and still read what is on the screen.