Everquest1 Budget Single Machine 6-Box?

[Krusader]

I have looked all over the site and have not found anything more recent than 2010 regarding a hardware setup for a single computer 6-box in Everquest 1.

I am asking if anyone knows what computer, stock or built, would meet the requirements as follows for the "1 Desktop to 6-box", as I already have the other machines.

My plan:
Hardware
1 Desktop to 6-box
1 Laptop 3 box
3 Desktops (Cheap) 3box each
Software
Plan to get ISboxer and link the 5 machines, once I figure out what I need for my single computer 6-box.
Graphics
I am not overly concerned with graphics. I do not need shadows, to see stars in the sky, etc. My main concern in functionality, I would like to be able to see reasonable distances, and clear enough so the game does not look like a 8-bit Nintendo.

I am not computer savy at all. If there was a guide somewhere on the how to overclock, adjust graphic card setting, etc. I could do it. Without a playbook, I would not know where to begin.

I am not looking to spend a bundle, under $500.00. I also, do not have any extra windows software discs lying around.

Everquest is an older game and I am sure it does not require top of the line products, but I just do not have the computer knowledge to know what is important for this specific set-up and what is not.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

[Ishar]

Holy crap, what are you planning to do with 24 toons? Just the thought of moving them makes my brain hurt, since follow doesn't work cross group, and with mercs, thats like 50 toons, lol. I briefly thought about doing 24 or so toons [stacking a bunch of wizards and some enchanters and AEing stuff down...] so curious what's out there motivating you.

With respect to your question, I would think practically any computer out there would be able to 1-2 box EQ. As an aside, in a test run I managed to run 12 or so EQ1s on my beastly machine, and could probably have ran 18 or 24 even.

Looking at their official specs gives us this:

Minimum:
- Operating System: Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7
- Processor: 1 GHz Processor
- Ram: 512MB
- Graphics Card: NVIDIA Ti 4800 or ATI 9800
- Hard Drive: 10 GB of Free Disk Space

Recommended:
- Operating System: Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7
- Processor: Pentium 4 or better
- Ram: 2 GB
- Graphics card: NVIDIA 6800 or ATI x1800

So, its not as simple as just multiplying those by 6 [tho that'd not be a bad idea for starters.] I'd say 1 gig per instance as a ballpark figure, + windows, so 8g of ram ballpark, more is better.

CPU, well it's one core per instance, though you could almost certainly get away with a modern-ish quad-core, again, take your pick. I'd go with one that has logical cores [e.g. more modern intel]. But that's where your in danger of blowing your 500, since ram is cheap. My 3930k handled 12+ instances of EQ no problem, though that's not really a direct point of reference.

3d card, well, honestly any half-decent card will probably be ok. Limiting quality will be your video ram...so price out your other components, and buy it last, and get the most video ram you can. Also, with ISBoxer you can hide the windows under each other [e.g. only display one] if you have to, and probably save on some video rendering that way.

After that, any hard drive will do...a SSD drive for EQ would not be entirely remiss if you could find a steal on one, since load times are a pain. Or do a ram drive. But again, your limited by your desktops/laptop load speed anyway. What are the specs on those, by the way?

I'm pretty sure I did six-in-one EQ 3 generations of computer ago...on a quad-core intel with 8 gigs or so of ram. But can't remember for sure.

Dunno if that helps, since I really don't know. My system specs are certainly overkill, and blows the hell out of your price range.

[Jar]

I can run 6 on 1 machine that is : AMD Phenom(tm)II x3 710 processor 2.6 GHz 8 gigs ram win 7 64 bit and a nvidia 9800GT.. easy.. Just /showspelleffects off. and go into ALT-o and turn off flora and stuffs..IE: no problems.

[Krusader]

Thanks for everyone's input. I ordered last night a barebones kit from Tigerdirect. It includes:
GIGABYTE AM3+ AMD 760G Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
AMD PHENOM II X6 1045T THUBAN 2.7GHZ AM3 CPU
(2) Kingston 4GB 1600MHz 9-9-9 DDR3 HyperX Red
Sapphire Radeon HD 5450 1GB DDR3 PCI-E HDMI/DVI
Seagate 500GB Serial ATA HD 7200/16MB/SATA-6G
Samsung 24X DVDRW SATA OEM
ULTRA XBLASTER MID-TOWER CASE V2 W/ 450W PSU

I will let everyone know how it works out when I get it in.

Ishar, I plan on doing 18 char. 3 groups and movement could prose a problem, but I plan on utilizing mage's COTH (summoning) and the fellowship fires. As to why? running 8-9 now old skool, no software, no special nuttin. I can do pretty decent, but I can bet with a comp that can handle more people and with the software that will streamline my abilities, it would go a ton smoother. I would like to do some of the DoN raids and older raid content solo. It has been near impossible to heal and use spells doing it the way I have been. So I am looking to kick my playing up a notch.

Jar, I am really going to have to fiure out which setting to turn down to allow better function with my machine. I know about spell effects, but ther other options confuse me.

[Ishar]

Ah, pretty cool. Let us know how it goes. Tho honestly every time I go back to EQ the pain of moving people around is what stops me. I got behind the curve somewhere too, and never got caught back up with my main. Reworking your stuff to support broadcasting is going to hurt your brain a bit, but should be nice once you get it rolling. What server you on?

that kit looks pretty solid, you might have video issues but as Jar said turn off grass and other stuff that you don't really notice. I'd probably arrange my windows so that only one guy is big, with a bunch of smaller windows so that I can glance at them and make sure that they are grouped/not dead/whatever, and for the most part ignore them.

[Jar]

When you get ingame let me know here I will make a toon on that server and help if you want.~