Hello all.
I used to play this game, and others like it, many years ago. (Actually, I bought a lifetime sub when the game came out). My computer died maybe 4 or 5 (or 6) years ago so I haven't logged in since.
Yesterday, I picked up a used computer and wondered if it could run the game. I installed it, but even with the graphics turned down, it was like 2 - 4 FPS... so very unplayable.
I'm not up on tech anymore, so any advice would be great. I'm not sure if the computer can be upgraded to a point where this game would be playable, but literally nothing is installed on it except Chrome and Arc. I know it's not being caused by other stuff.
The computer had a fresh reinstall of Windows 11. It's a Dell Optiplex 5270 AIO.
Windows 11 Professional
Intel i5 9500 Hexacore
@3.0 GHZ
Intel HD 630 graphics
500 GB 7200 rpm hard drive
8 GB DDR4 memory
I'm assuming it's the integrated gfx that's the issue, but thought I'd see if anyone had any thoughts?
TIA and no worries if I can't do anything to upgrade this to make the game playable... I needed it for something else and just being able to play would have been a bonus
-Chris
Hi. Apparently I'm new here and joined in Jun 2012. Guess I'm in good company though... seems everyone else joined then too!
Comments
Hmm... interesting, but good point. Yeah, I checked and all the windows updates are up-to-date as well as drivers. There isn't any other programs but what came with Win 11 PRO (with the exception of Chrome and I did also d/l Adobe Reader), so I don't think it'd be a software conflict.
I'd think with 8 GB RAM that should be good, and the CPU seems like it's a pretty good one, so not sure it's a lack of hardware, except again I've never used an integrated GPU and I know the 630 series isn't the strongest, but was hoping on the lowest video settings it would be playable (30 FPS would be great).
Maybe anyone have any other ideas or thoughts? I've never used Win 11 (or really Win 10 for that matter) but I did find a gaming mode in the settings and turned that on, but no improvement. Any other ideas?
I hope it helps. Good luck!
> Try turning off lighting 2.0. I have similar specs and the game tends to crash more with lighting 2.0 on. I normally play wit it off unless I am in Grethor or the basement of Drozana.
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> I hope it helps. Good luck!
So I tried that but no luck.
I did read somewhere that maybe Windows can't tell if the game is running in the foreground or background and maybe a setting is turned on limiting background resources, but I'm not sure where that at. Any thoughts?
Thanks for this. I checked and power mgmt is set to High performance.
RAM prior to starting up is 2.1 Gb being used of 8. Also, it does show it's running at 2666MHz.
While in the game, it's up to 5.8 of 8Gb (7.8 available) being used. Shows 2.0Gb available for use.
Twice now, I'm not sure why, but I launch the game to the log in screen and it gets to that screen without any stuttering. However, upon entering the game, the stuttering is back. I don't know what I may have done differently those 2 times... every other time the stuttering starts as soon as I launch to the log in screen.
I've also confirmed it's in full screen mode and lighting 2.0 is off.
Last, it's like something is turning on to purposefully cap or throttle the game. However, I don't have the knowledge to know what would do that. Maybe a default setting of something in Win11 PRO?
Perhaps your CPU is suffering from cooling issues so when under load it starts thermal throttling?
Interesting. I'm not familiar with that. Is there an easy way to check for that?
There was a bug when they changed the explosion effects that inhibited myself and others from running the game for 3 or 4 weeks until they fixed it. From Reddit I found that if I changed my renderscale I could play the game. But I wouldn’t “recommend” it because everything was so pixelated it gave me a headache and I could barely tell what direction my ship was facing. But it did allow me to complete my dailies.
To change it you type in your chat window “/renderscale 1” for example.
“/renderscale 1” is normal. I was running “renderscale .25” which was really difficult. Something like “renerscale .75” might be playable. Just remember to add the decimal “renderscale 75” would crash Dr. Daystorm’s M-5 multitronic computer.