Help me with my new system?

[Dranzia]

Hello everyone,

Just wondering if anyone that has some experience with new/current hardware and how it interacts with FFXI could take a look at what I'm planning on building, and give me a heads up if anything looks out of whack. Here's what I have so far:

CPU
http://stores.tomshardware.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=61166563/st=product/sv=title


Motherboard
http://stores.tomshardware.com/search_getprod.php?masterid=36384555&mode=toms_house-m-link-box-1-right


Video Card
http://stores.tomshardware.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=15287052/search=sapphire+radeon+x1600+pro/st=product/sv=title


RAM (x2)
http://stores.tomshardware.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=40768218/st=product/sv=title

Yeah, the ram is a ton, but I plan on using Windows Vista 64bit. (Still a lot I know, but I'm a RAM junkie). I didn't go with the "hottest" vid card since most of them are using DDR3 now, and I read that some of those don't go with FFXI so well. I'm planning on using a widescreen LCD monitor also, just not sure yet of the exact details. HDD will be a SATA(II) 500GB 7200; nothing really special there.

Thanks for any input you guys/gals have for me, it's much appreciated.

[WovenDarkness]

Re: Help me with my new system?

What StarvingArtist said.

[Dranzia]

Re: Help me with my new system?

Thanks for the replies. I plan on playing new games definitely; I'm just concerned that this system would be "too much" for FFXI and once I got it built I couldn't play FFXI on it.

Other than FFXI and some newer games (sorry I don't have specific names atm, my mind is dead), I plan on doing some video editing along with PSP/Photoshop type graphic creation. Maybe some music editing also.

Thanks again.

Post: Reason for 64bit is for its ability to handle 8GB RAM, which the board should also support. I plan on upgrading this system (eventually) down the road when it becomes available. Budget-wise, looking at around $1,000 US.

[Feba]

Re: Help me with my new system?

I'd be more concerned about your computer itself. 64-bit has improved significantly in the last year or so, but it still seems like some drivers aren't there yet.


Also, where the fuck did you get the idea that a computer could be too powerful to do something?

[Dranzia]

Re: Help me with my new system?

To Feba: "Too powerful" was probably not the right way for me to come across, but in 2000 I was playing FFVIII on PC and loving it. Upgraded my system 2 yrs later, and the best I could get was solid lines through every scene, movie or not.

I've seen several problems with some of the 8800 (?) series of Nvidia cards (and I've had my fair share of problems with Nvidia in the past), as well as problems with FFXI and DDR3 memory.

Maybe what I should say is, I'm worried that FFXI will be too old for my new system

[Tomato_Kai]

Re: Help me with my new system?

This is possibly a stupid suggestion... but if you're worried about compatibility, why not just purchase an Xbox 360 for nearly half the price of those upgrades to play the game? That's what I did, I haven't regretted it at all.

[Minimee]

Re: Help me with my new system?

the only thing i see wrong is your video card. why build a new higer end pc with a very low end video card? that video card is more than enough for FFXI, which btw is more cpu dependent than video. whats going to suffer is when you play newer released games COD4, crysis and so on. i think early drivers for the 8800 series nvidia cards werent compatible with ffxi, i think this has been addressed in later drivers. you might do some research over on futuremark.com just a suggestion look to newegg when you begin to purchase these items. cant beat great service and fast shipping combined with low prices. btw if you prefer ATI/radeon cards migth look at the 3800 series of cards 3850 3870. and if cost is a factor, According to Tom's, new prices will be $189 for HD3870 and $169 for HD3850.

[Dranzia]

Re: Help me with my new system?

Tomato: I'm building the system for other things besides FFXI; I just want FFXI to work on it once it's made

Minimee: Thanks for the info on futuremark, I'll definitely have to get that once my system is setup.

Maybe I just can't find it, but is there a place I can find up to date graphics cards listed that are actually compatible with FFXI? I'd love one of those ATI HD cards, if I could be sure all would go well with it...

Thanks for all the replies everyone, and sorry if I'm sounding like a broken record on this subject.