Post by whiplash on Nov 5, 2005 18:01:28 GMT -5
Sprinkled throughout these boards is my lament about how the game won't run well even with the "recommended system". My system is better than the "recommended" and it won't run a map bigger than "standard". Even the play on a standard map bogs down in the middle game.
OK, so I bit the bullet. Yesterday I bought a 512 stick of ram to bring my system up to 1G.
Woke up this morning with the intention of slipping in the RAM stack; but it was still dark so I decided to wait for some sunlight. I turn on my system and had no internet connection. I called my ISP and waited 45 minutes for the customer service queue to get me to a human. This "human" (heavy accent) asked me about 8 questions to verify my identity and then asked if I would like to upgrade my cable TV plan for a mere 19.95 per month. My response was that I should not have to wait 45 minutes and the time would be shortened if the reps didn't waste so much time on intentity verification and trying to sell something. I was then told that the ISP had many service disruptions in my area and they had fixed their network. I was instructed to reset my cable modem. I often wondered why anybody would design an external computer device with no on/off switch. You have to pull the power cord with the computer off to reset the modem. The damn thing was jammed in tight so I had to give it a good tug to dislodge it. In doing so, the recoil of my hand struck my speaker and knocked it to the floor. The speaker no longer functions.
So, I get my internet connection back and it's time to install the RAM stick. First problem of course is pulling the tower case out from under the desk with 9 connecting cables attached. I'm allergic to dust. You may have dust bunnies, I have dust gorillas back there. Next, just open the case. Well whoever designed this case certainly understands the Mechanical Engineering principle of the swage fit. The panel is so tightly fitted to the box the screws are totally unnecessary. Two screws out and 3 broken fingernails and I have the case open. Damn they sure make electro-wizbangs tiny these days. My box is about 90% air. Where is the RAM socket? Ah, there it is just under the bundle of 18 IO cables. Hmmm.... little problem here; the RAM sticks are held down with little plastic clips on each end of the socket. The miniaturization wizards have this thing designed with the video card slot so close to the ram socket that the card prevents me from pushing the clip back. No biggie I'm thinking; I just have to slip out the video card. Well I understand a "snug" fit is a good thing in electronic connections; but this is like the damn thing is welded in there. I've replaced cards many times; but have never had to pull this hard, reminds me of my last trip to the dentist. Well I finally yank it out; but damn, in doing so I snapped a diode off the board. Hmmm.... with 1,834,927 electronic elements on the board do you think it might work with just 1 missing? Probably not and CS has often told my that my 128 Nvidia isn't worth nuts anyway, so I'm off to buy a new video board.
Two hours later and $140 for a Radion 9550 I'm back at my comp. Stick the RAM in, stick the Radion in. Reconnect cables, slap the panel back on the case not bothering with screws and fire it up.
The comp starts in safe mode with a message that "system memory has been decreased". Grrrrr... I specifically asked the acne plagued teenager for a stick of 512, pc333Mhz, DDRAM. I know that is what my system has for the other stick. Sure enough, it boots slow and Windows reports 256 RAM, so I have mismatched RAM sticks. I go to the website of the place I bought the RAM stick and see that they are closed after 3:00 on Saturday and all day Sunday.
I dig back into the box to remove the new RAM stick and note that the Radion card is shorter than the Nvidea card so no problem this time with the clips. Reconnect cables, slap the panel on the box, fire it up.
Boots fine and I get a message on the desktop that Windows detects new hardware but can't install it. What happened to "Plug and Play"?. No problem, stick the Radion CD into the drive to load the driver. Install program runs and asks if I want to use the Control Panel or the Radion Control Center. How the hell do I know? I select Control Panel because I at least know what the hell that is. Install program asks if I want to install other neat Radion whizz-bang features, reply no. Install program runs for about 20 minutes and when done tells me for maximum customer support I should register.
OK, I will want the latest driver anyway so I go to Radion website to register and download the driver (dated Oct 1 so I'm sure it's more current than the one on the CD). During registration I am asked for more information than what is contained in any FBI file on me.
Install the driver and again I'm asked if I want Radion whizz-bang features, reply no.
Reboot, stick the CIV disk 1 in the drive (not the CIV 2 disk that is labeled "PLAY"). CIV fails to load!
Oh, yeah and my coffee filter folded over again and all the grounds went into the carafe with the coffee.
OK, so I bit the bullet. Yesterday I bought a 512 stick of ram to bring my system up to 1G.
Woke up this morning with the intention of slipping in the RAM stack; but it was still dark so I decided to wait for some sunlight. I turn on my system and had no internet connection. I called my ISP and waited 45 minutes for the customer service queue to get me to a human. This "human" (heavy accent) asked me about 8 questions to verify my identity and then asked if I would like to upgrade my cable TV plan for a mere 19.95 per month. My response was that I should not have to wait 45 minutes and the time would be shortened if the reps didn't waste so much time on intentity verification and trying to sell something. I was then told that the ISP had many service disruptions in my area and they had fixed their network. I was instructed to reset my cable modem. I often wondered why anybody would design an external computer device with no on/off switch. You have to pull the power cord with the computer off to reset the modem. The damn thing was jammed in tight so I had to give it a good tug to dislodge it. In doing so, the recoil of my hand struck my speaker and knocked it to the floor. The speaker no longer functions.
So, I get my internet connection back and it's time to install the RAM stick. First problem of course is pulling the tower case out from under the desk with 9 connecting cables attached. I'm allergic to dust. You may have dust bunnies, I have dust gorillas back there. Next, just open the case. Well whoever designed this case certainly understands the Mechanical Engineering principle of the swage fit. The panel is so tightly fitted to the box the screws are totally unnecessary. Two screws out and 3 broken fingernails and I have the case open. Damn they sure make electro-wizbangs tiny these days. My box is about 90% air. Where is the RAM socket? Ah, there it is just under the bundle of 18 IO cables. Hmmm.... little problem here; the RAM sticks are held down with little plastic clips on each end of the socket. The miniaturization wizards have this thing designed with the video card slot so close to the ram socket that the card prevents me from pushing the clip back. No biggie I'm thinking; I just have to slip out the video card. Well I understand a "snug" fit is a good thing in electronic connections; but this is like the damn thing is welded in there. I've replaced cards many times; but have never had to pull this hard, reminds me of my last trip to the dentist. Well I finally yank it out; but damn, in doing so I snapped a diode off the board. Hmmm.... with 1,834,927 electronic elements on the board do you think it might work with just 1 missing? Probably not and CS has often told my that my 128 Nvidia isn't worth nuts anyway, so I'm off to buy a new video board.
Two hours later and $140 for a Radion 9550 I'm back at my comp. Stick the RAM in, stick the Radion in. Reconnect cables, slap the panel back on the case not bothering with screws and fire it up.
The comp starts in safe mode with a message that "system memory has been decreased". Grrrrr... I specifically asked the acne plagued teenager for a stick of 512, pc333Mhz, DDRAM. I know that is what my system has for the other stick. Sure enough, it boots slow and Windows reports 256 RAM, so I have mismatched RAM sticks. I go to the website of the place I bought the RAM stick and see that they are closed after 3:00 on Saturday and all day Sunday.
I dig back into the box to remove the new RAM stick and note that the Radion card is shorter than the Nvidea card so no problem this time with the clips. Reconnect cables, slap the panel on the box, fire it up.
Boots fine and I get a message on the desktop that Windows detects new hardware but can't install it. What happened to "Plug and Play"?. No problem, stick the Radion CD into the drive to load the driver. Install program runs and asks if I want to use the Control Panel or the Radion Control Center. How the hell do I know? I select Control Panel because I at least know what the hell that is. Install program asks if I want to install other neat Radion whizz-bang features, reply no. Install program runs for about 20 minutes and when done tells me for maximum customer support I should register.
OK, I will want the latest driver anyway so I go to Radion website to register and download the driver (dated Oct 1 so I'm sure it's more current than the one on the CD). During registration I am asked for more information than what is contained in any FBI file on me.
Install the driver and again I'm asked if I want Radion whizz-bang features, reply no.
Reboot, stick the CIV disk 1 in the drive (not the CIV 2 disk that is labeled "PLAY"). CIV fails to load!
Oh, yeah and my coffee filter folded over again and all the grounds went into the carafe with the coffee.