Video Ram, 5 Boxing, 512vs1GB

[Notes]

I'm using an AMD dual core proccessor, 1 of the old types(Think it's a 4200), and my system uses 3.2 gb memory if in a crowded city. Got it overclocked from 2.2ghz to 2.7 ghz and uses 90% in a city, 60% in an instance.

I'm saying this because I really think you can tweak your CPU settings a fair bit upwards, seeing you're running a faster CPU, if I'm correct. Now you have the 4gb, alot less cpu ussage but smoother frame rates should be doable.

PsI also have my add's maxed to 15fps, will make it higher though since my main is running so smoothly.

Good luck!

[zanthor]

The last time I tried overclocking cost me $900. Considering that without going to extreme measures it will give me a 10% performance boost at best and cause stability issues I've decided that it's not worth it. I can upgrade my CPU/Mainboard for LOTS cheaper than that!

[-silencer-]

I wouldn't bother trying to get much of an overclock out of the AMD X2 chips. Although I'm definitely getting more than 10% from a 2.4GHz overclock to 3.2GHz on my Core2Duo. The 8800GTX hasn't hit the limit yet. As long as you've researched and aren't over-aggressive with overclocking based on other user's results, you can safely overclock most hardware. Going back to the original P2 days, I've never had anything break from overclocking. Just keep your eye on temperature and stability.. and use good judgement on when to stop pushing it.

[Taipan]

Greetings,

Here is an update on my search for data on the usage of GFX ram while multi-boxing on a single PC.
(some info was posted already but I'll do a summary for new comers).

Note : if you want to google for some info about GFX Ram, try and use the expression "videomemory" as it seems to be the techie word for it.

1. There is no utility available yet to check the usage of GFX Ram under Vista, due to the new "memory virtualization" concept introduced in Vista.
This will trick your system into believing that GFX Ram is always 100% available, no matter how many 3D apps are running.
A more detailled explanation here : http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=239156
Note : the poster called Unwinder is actually the programmer of the utility called Riva Tuner (aka RT), a popular ut. for tweaking GFX cards.
This thread comes from his own RT forum on Guru of 3D site, he reacted within 12 hours to my post, à la KeyClone here :thumbup: (still waiting for qualified answers on Tom Hardware forums).

2. Under XP, Riva Tuner can show the usage of GFX Ram.
But you need to activate the Plugin called VidMem.dll, under Hardware Monitoring -> Setup -> Plugin.
This will show both usage of the GFX Ram and how much of your system RAM is used -once the GFX Ram is maxed out-.

3. I ran Riva Tuner on my second system with a Duo Core 6850 and a Nvidia 8800GT 512 mo, with two 22" monitors at 1680 * 1050 res each.
Here's what I found.

- Main WoW client in windowed-mode, 1680 * 1050 res : approx 150mo gfx ram used.
- One alt client in windowed-mode, 830 * 525 res : approx 50mo each (I did an increment launch)
- Main Wow on screen 1 and 4 Alts on screen 2 : approx 350mo total.
Note : you can actually see the GFX Ram drop from 150mo to 50mo when you resize your main client from full screen to 1/4 of screen.

So basically, a GFX 256mo will suffer and rely on slower system Ram to compensate and reach the 350mo required.
While a GFX 512mo will be very comfortable handling those 350mo, plenty of extra gfx ram available.
Not sure what a GFX 1go -with similar GPU- would add.
TBH, I think I'll pass on the new uber 3870X2-1Go at 400euros until someone tries it for MB 8)

Hope this helps and again, this is just food for thoughts, no hard bullet-proof testing.

/salute
PS : running these tests on the Duo 6850 Win XP system with 3Go Ram reminded me how good the Quad 6600 (bios O/C to 3.0ghz) is more capable of handling 5-boxes.
The 6850 was at 95% CPU usage non-stop in front of IronForge bank and struggling.

[Vos]

Taipan, that's awesome info. :thumbsup: Were your settings maxed out on the main 150gb 1680x1050 screen?

[Taipan]

Greetings Vos,

Thanks for the feedback.

My clients are busy in E. Plaguelands now but once back in IronForge, I'll run some tests with my main under different settings and post the gfx ram findings here.

/salute

[zanthor]

- Main WoW client in windowed-mode, 1680 * 1050 res : approx 150mo gfx ram used.
- One alt client in windowed-mode, 830 * 525 res : approx 50mo each (I did an increment launch)
- Main Wow on screen 1 and 4 Alts on screen 2 : approx 350mo total.
Note : you can actually see the GFX Ram drop from 150mo to 50mo when you resize your main client from full screen to 1/4 of screen.

This would actually explain (possibly?) why the smaller windows work fine on my system and the larger one runs like pooh... the smaller windows are likely transmitting less data across to system ram... or since I launch them first they are actually consuming the 256mb of video ram and then the bigger (1680x1050) window suffers because it's straddling system ram...

If I didn't have raid tonight I'd fire up my box in XP and get some numbers on my setup before I put my 8800gt in... but i have raid nearly immediately after coming home.

[Taipan]

This would actually explain (possibly?) why the smaller windows work fine on my system and the larger one runs like pooh... the smaller windows are likely transmitting less data across to system ram... or since I launch them first they are actually consuming the 256mb of video ram and then the bigger (1680x1050) window suffers because it's straddling system ram...

If I didn't have raid tonight I'd fire up my box in XP and get some numbers on my setup before I put my 8800gt in... but i have raid nearly immediately after coming home.

This is a very valid point/question for players with less than 350m GFX Ram (ie. 256 or 320): which client benefits from faster GFX Ram and which gets slower system Ram ?

Does it spread as "First in First Served" basis or "Largest client gets GFX ram, smaller ones get system ram" basis ?

I believe this is getting into very obscure techie territory and the bullet-proof answer will be hard to find.

I could run some tests under XP but my only 256mo GFX is an ATI 1950Pro, which lacks raw processing power vs the 3870 and 8800GT with 512mo and may well render the comparison unreliable.

/salute