what processors can be used with FFXI

[Arris]

Going to buy a alienware laptop was wondering what was considered faster processor the the intell pen. 4..is it the Intel centrino? I have no clue about processors and wondered if that centrino was usuable by FFXI. Because It's just about the only one I keep seeing in the laptops and Since I 'm droping about 4k on it I want the best help me out^^

and also whats the best video card out there now? I went to the site and was confused on what to pick for a laptop since I'm going to totally have it custom built.

[kuu]

Re: what processors can be used with FFXI

Plenty of threads on it.

But to condense it:
Any modern processor will work with ffxi. Depends how much you're using for ffxi and how much other stuff .

Single core is somewhat better, but since almost everything on the market is dual processor these days, feel free to shop around fo whatever you like.

I just got some newest Xeon 51xx series (woodcrest) machines to play with. So I can get you some benchmark results later in the day. It will be a good test to see how core 2 duo will do ffxi.

Graphics card: Any will do, just do not, I repeat, do not get any of the problemactic cards on the ffxi list.

http://www.playonline.com/ff11us/env...tml?pageID=win

ATI might be better since there is less driver issues with FFxi. You would want 128+ VRAM, so you can do the resolution hack.

Ram: 1gig is enough for ffxi. Having more would be for other uses, not really ffxi need.

HDD: Hmmm...tough question. While the only time ffxi needs HDD is zoning, having fast zoning is always nice. 7200 rpm for speed

[Lunaryn]

Re: what processors can be used with FFXI

Keep in mind that the power of the graphics adapter and the power of the CPU are largely complimentary here: the better the graphics adaptor, the weaker the CPU can be. Particularly at high resolution.

Basic recommendation: 1+GHz w/ good hardware accel. 2+GHz w/ poor hardware accel.

I'm not aware of what way specific processor lines may affect FFXI, though I've noticed that bus speed does matter, so if you're using an old computer you might have some trouble. Extra CPU speed helps with this somewhat...

[Rai]

Re: what processors can be used with FFXI

Intel Core Duo 2 line of processors is the fastest most energy efficient processors out there right now.

laptops there is Intel Core Duo (Yonah) 32bit CPU and there is Intel Core Duo 2 (Merom) 64 bit CPU

Inetl Core Duo 2 (Merom) chips only just started shipping about 2 weeks ago so you might want to wait a little bit, Yonah vs Meron at same GHz Meron is about 10% faster

http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/27/a...0-go-core-duo/

if these models are not listed at Alienwares site I would call and find out the release date.

I looked at Alienwares sight and the m5550 and m5750 do use the Intel Core Duo (Yonah) processor. (lol also the Superman edition Laptop too)

http://www.alienware.com/product_det...EFAULT#pdp-nav

As far as Centino goes, Centrino is not a CPU, it is a chipset. It is a combination of multiple chips together that makes the Centrino chipset (like USB controler chip, and Wireless controler chip and so forth) . Basically Intel marketing hype.

But Intel Marketing hype aside Core Duo is a great CPU.

**edit** just read a news blurb about Alienware upgrading the m5550 to Core Duo 2, but it won't be shipping until the end of August.

http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/07...area_51_m5500/

[kuu]

Re: what processors can be used with FFXI

Intel Core Duo 2 line of processors is the fastest most energy efficient processors out there right now.

laptops there is Intel Core Duo (Yonah) 32bit CPU and there is Intel Core Duo 2 (Meron) 64 bit CPU

Inetl Core Duo 2 (Meron) chips only just started shipping about 2 weeks ago so you might want to wait a little bit, Yonah vs Meron at same GHz Meron is about 10% faster

I've used 2ghz yonah on ffxi. Not very powerful for ffxi. It does the job but any CPU worth it's 2006yr money can do the job.

FFxi as I said in another thread makes very little use of "tricks" of processor. You can't say ffxi will run 10% better because other tests put xx CPU 10% faster then yy CPU.

Computers aren't as simple as that, and neither are CPUs. There are very very intricate things like cache, branch prediction, SSE, SSE2, MMX, power step, etc, etc etc. FFxi care's very little for cache, where Photoshop would eat it up.

So until you put it to a use/benchmark, don't count their chickens before they've hatched.

On thing to note with Laptops is, There are different types of displays. You could have good everything, but a bad display will make ffxi/ other games, look like crap. Make sure you're display type (utra-bright, etc) are up to snuff.

Some displays are ment for costcut, power conservation, size. Other's are meant for preformance.

[Rai]

Re: what processors can be used with FFXI

Yonah vs Meron at same GHz Meron is about 10% faster

Look at what I said, chip vs chip. In that statement there is no mention of FFXI.

http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets...oc.aspx?i=2808


Processor is only 1 part of the system, more RAM will often boost performance and good Video card too.

[Thrasher]

Re: what processors can be used with FFXI

FFxi would *probably even play on a VIA cpu at this point. ( not that comment has much use here. )

Also why are you buying from alienware? They are now part of dell, yes a couple of alienware's midrange media notebooks are completively priced but there are a lot of other company's that sell the exact same notebook computers with less of a premium price especially if your going for a more expensive model.(well on minus the paint job)

But as said above buy a notebook with a Intel Core Duo, thats the best notebook cpu on the market at the moment. Also if its primarily for gaming I would avoid Microsoft Media center edition

[kuu]

Re: what processors can be used with FFXI

Look at what I said, chip vs chip. In that statement there is no mention of FFXI.

http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets...oc.aspx?i=2808


Processor is only 1 part of the system, more RAM will often boost performance and good Video card too.

The problem is we are applying it to FFxi.

RAM is often a very delicate thing. 58gigs of ram and 512 of ram won't make any difference if you're playing pong. It only becomes an issue, the moment you run out, and goes into VM basically speaking.

FFxi really hits peak around 1gig of RAM. Players see very little difference above that.

Video card, is discussed in another thread for ffxi as it is.

[Rai]

Re: what processors can be used with FFXI

The problem is we are applying it to FFxi.

ok, then here the most basic answer

System Requirements:

required

Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® 98 / 98SE / Me / 2000 / XP
Processor: Intel® Pentium®III 800Mhz or faster processor
RAM: 128 MB RAM
Video Card: NVIDIA® GeForce™ series graphics processing unit with 32MB or ATI® RADEON™ 9000 series graphics card
Processor: DirectX®8.1 compatible sound card
Hard Drive: 6 GB free hard disk space
CD-ROM: 4x CD-ROM drive (required only at installation)


Recommended

Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® XP
Processor: Intel® Pentium®4 processor
RAM: 256 MB RAM
Video Card: NVIDIA® GeForce3™ or GeForce4™ Ti series graphics processing unit (AGP) with 64MB of VRAM
CD-ROM: 32x CD-ROM drive or faster (required only at installation)
Processor: Always-on Internet connection

Any x86 compatible processor as fast or faster than a Pentium III 800MHz will run FFXI.

Intel Pentium 4
Intel Pentium M
Intel Core Solo
Intel Core Duo
Intel Core Duo 2
AMD Sempron
AMD Athlon XP
AMD Athlon 64
AMD Turion 64

There are even more and any of them will be able to run FFXI.

[Aeni]

Re: what processors can be used with FFXI

Not to derail the topic, but I do find it ironic that GeForce cards have issue with running FFXI, even though there's supposedly marketing support and whatnot tied into the game. ATI's stuff haven't had any major issues running FFXI. orz

On a side note, there's been some reports that AMD processor PCs have mysterious lockups running FFXI, particularly with Athlon processors (The old XP+ lines) Not sure why it is, it could just be a bug with the coding. AFAIK, Intel's procs run the game fine.

[Lunaryn]

Re: what processors can be used with FFXI

That might explain why Emily's original spec (1.3 GHz Athlon) had problems; Even after I replaced her power supply (which was going bad) and used conservative BIOS settings, I still would experience lockups while tabbing between targets, particularly in certain parts of Giddeus. In a few cases this even led to Spontaneous reboot. Although, I believe I've still experienced program lockups here even on a Pentium D, but it was at least possible to tab away and kill FFXI rather than needing to reboot, and the lockups are now a much rarer occurance.