Hi i have some questions

[Arnai]

So does multi boxing mean i need multiple computers and screens to go with it?

[Aradar]

Originally, I believe it did, hence the term, but thanks to people like keyclone and others, it can now be done on one computer, one screen.

[keyclone]

no.. multi-boxing today is a combination term.

to be strict, early on... multi-boxing required multiple physical computers (with screens)... but with advances in computer hardware and software multi-boxing systems, it became possible to run multiple game clients per machine. technically speaking, this was known as multi-instancing... but that term was short lived... as people soon started using multiple computers... each running multiple instances.

and so, a single term has become the defacto standard to describe what we do.

multi-boxing

[Arnai]

ok so if i wanted to use one system what would be some hardware and software I would need

[Maz]

Depends on how many toons you want to run at once. You could run 5 toons on a machine such as:

2.4GHz Q6600 Core 2 Quad Processor
4GB RAM
8800GT Graphics Card

You'd probably want run two monitors though.

Software-wise, you'd need Keyclone or one of its alternatives.

[Arnai]

at the moment im setting myself up for 2 what like the minimun. Im currently at work so i wouldnt be able to say the spec of my pc but i believe i have 2gbs ram, 1.9ghz, and it have just the standard pc graphics card

[keyclone]

single, dual, or quad core cpu?

as for memory... you'd want 2G for up to 3 wows, 4G for 4+ wows (if you are on XP... get 4G of memory and your system will use as much as it can.. 3.5G of it)

and if you can, please get an nvidia 8800 w/ 512M of memory ... $150-200... definitely worth it
http://castle.pricewatch.com/s/search.asp?s=8800+gt

[Eteocles]

My current system is:

AMD x64 Dual-core 4200+
2x 1GB ddr2 ram
7900 GeForce GS vidcard

I run 3 at 1280x1024 with high settings just fine; I ran 5 @ 1024x768(Lead char maximized to fit screen, rest in default start position on top of each other) last night and had noticeable system lag until I manually assigned cores to each instance of WoW(3 on core1, 2 on core0) and ran just fine for a couple hours, seems they shut down with less HD-fuss than my tri-boxing did too, less of an after-effect once done.

Bottom line is if yer system's up to snuff and you know how to tweak it, you can probably make 5boxing work on a "RELATIVELY" weak comp...but the suggestions above spec-wise are your best bets for high-playability lag-free 5boxing. I ordered a system similar to described above(see my last reply in my CompUSA thread in the Hardware forum for specs if you care) and can't wait to use it instead :P

[Arnai]

i do believe its single.. when i get home ill post specs.. also something i have noticed i can run 2 different accounts from my computer but it seems i lag a little is that my internet or could it be my video card.

[keyclone]

my desktop is still a single core (yes.. i know... you guys put my rig to shame...) and i am able to 5 box on it.
i do limp through orgrimmar getting 4 fps on all... but once i get out of the city, i get a consistent 8/25 fps on 2 screens @ 1280x1024

i've got an amd 64 3800+, 4G of memory and an 8800GT OC driving 2x 22"

if you are laggy with only 2... odds are, each one is trying to get maximum fps. (hit ctrl-R to see your fps)

you have 2 things you can do. you can drop your resolution to reduce the number of pixels per screen wow needs to render...
and you can limit your fps by setting your maxfpsbk and maxfps. i would recommend 5/15 to start (5 maxfpsbk ... 15 maxfps)

fyi:
maxfps == maximum frames per second (while in the foreground)

maxfpsbk == maximum frames per second while in the background