Dragon Age Origins

[snoopy369]

Hmmm, that may be a bad thing for me, then. My CPU is by far my weakest link [AMD X2 from late 2005/early 2006]; I have 2GB RAM and a recent GPU (don't actually remember the model off the top of my head, but it has 1GB GDDR5 RAM and is only a few months old).

Why is it CPU bound, I wonder? That strikes me as a bit odd for a RPG.

Didn't get it installed last night (it's installing while I work!), as my main data/game drive bit the dust (still not sure what happened to it, but first indication is a heat-related failure, perhaps of its fan, as it was egg-cooking temperature after being in an idle computer for around 24 hours). Yay for Windows Home Server backups, and having an extra drive [intended for the WHS, actually, but nevermind] laying about. Spent overnight formatting it [1TB drives take FOREVER!] and this morning am restoring the data to the drive, and installing DAO, while at work.

[Asher]

Benchmarks: http://www.pcgameshardware.com/aid,6...ores/Practice/

They can use the CPU to do more than just RPG elements (though it's a complex RPG in many ways). It can also use the CPU to assist graphics setup, rendering, etc.

[snoopy369]

Hmmm, so if I have a very good GPU, will that lessen the issue somewhat, do you think [as it doesn't need help]?

[snoopy369]

Hmmm, I don't have an X2 5000, it's weaker than that, I think 3800 or so.. probably not a good sign, I suppose. Hopefully that's at max specs (does seem to be, though that's my resolution normally)... may have to see and pay attention to the tuning guide for DAO.

I'm somewhat amused by this, because I'm still generally able to play most games at 80%+ of max settings. Although I have a relatively small selection of games to compare (and haven't bought a brand-new game in the last six months at least), Bioshock, Assassin's Creed, Mirror's Edge, etc., all play near max settings, and NHL2009 did as well.

[Asher]

I'm sure you can just turn down the settings if you need to.

[Guynemer]

Downloading it now from Steam, hopefully it will be done once I get home from the office late tonight. The wifey is very interested in this game as well.

[Asher]

http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2009/11/dragon-age-launch-fails-some-cant-play-others-no-dlc.ars

As luck would have it, the PC installation process is a mess.

[snoopy369]

I had all sorts of fun, give or take identical to that article, signing up just to upload my created characters online [which gives you some sort of DLC, if you do it]. But eventually got it to work. If you already have an EA account, use that one first - it's the 'safest'.

Yes, I can certainly turn settings down... but 1680x1050 is going to be a hard one for me to turn down, I'm quite used to the resolution. And it's probably one of the more important ones to turn down... I'd rather not play with no AA and medium resolution textures on 1680x1050 after all

[Asher]

If it's CPU-limited you can probably keep the resolution if you have a decent graphics card.

[snoopy369]

Hmm, hopefully

[snoopy369]

So should I assume you all didn't have the Impulse-related installation/activation/DLC/whatever problem? [I had a hard time following from the AT article what the specific problem was.]

[Asher]

I did.

[snoopy369]

Ah, sorry about that... hopefully D2D isn't affected by it [not out of the question since it's possible they use the identical .exe; Steam definitely uses a different one, to account for polling Steam servers].

[snoopy369]

Oh, and what character class(es) is your SO playing? Any comments on the playability of the different character classes?

[Asher]

He's playing an elf mage...that's the only he's tried.