30-06-2000 04:18									#1
	Clash Hardware Requirements Put an end to popups!

I'm wondering since everyone here is worried about clash using too many clock cycles and thus being too slow, what system are the minimum specs we're shooting for.

While I don't think we should shoot to high, i don't want to shoot too low because by the time the final version is out, computers will be able to handle much more than they can now.

	30-06-2000 04:29									#2
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations

Yes! this is one of my conerns... Probably we should be shooting at the type of PC a "typical american" would have in a couple of years from now, since the US is, like it or not, the biggest market.
What would you say is the typical machine an average american has today?

	30-06-2000 08:28									#3
	Tired of ads?

Windows 95/98 as the Operating system...Linux in second place (2-5% and rising)

Pentium II or Celeron processor CD-ROM (Dunno the speeds since they seem to shyrocket, but that isn't a problem)...DVD-ROMs fastly replacing them though

Sveral Gig HD (Depending on age...these are skyrocketing almost as fast as the CD-ROM speeds)

At a bare minimum 16 Megs of memory, most probably have atleast 32-64

2D/3D accelorator card (as 1 or 2 cards) capable of atleast 16bit graphics and a 15" monitor

DirectX 7.0 or 7.01

56k modem or cable connection

and of course the basics

What will most likely happen within the next 2 years? DVD-ROMs replacing CD-ROMs...increase in HD size and speed, increase in memory size on average to 64 for standard min. High-end PII and PIII being commonplace

	01-07-2000 07:34									#4
	Inflate your Upload Space

Hey, computer hardware, now there's something I know everything about.

I know the processor speed we're shooting for is a 600Mhz, but I'm not positive about the RAM, I think it's 64Mb...but don't quote me on that.

I'd have to say the average American's computer now is a 300Mhz or 400Mhz, with 96Mb of RAM. But since computer speeds are evolving so fast and the price keeps dropping, in a year or two (which I guess is when we're going to finish this game), I'd guess the average computer will be a 700Mhz or 800Mhz, with 128Mb of RAM, unless the price of RAM falls again, which it should, and in that case I'd say 256Mb of RAM would be "standard" so figure on 192Mb being average. But that is just a guess, it all really depends on what happens to computer hardware now.

Most people don't know that there are 2 speeds that a computer runs at, what is advertised (800Mhz, 1Ghz, etc.) and what the bus is. The bus is how fast the computer can send info to other parts of the computer, the "advertised" value is the processing speed. So a 800Mhz processor with 100Mhz bus (a PIII), is much slower than a 800Mhz processor with 200Mhz (an AMD Atholon) bus.

The current trend is increasing the bus of all comp. components. AMD started by doubling the bus of it's processors (compared to Pentium). Now everyone is doing it, RAM has gone from 200Mhz bus to 400Mhz bus, Motherboards are now at 200Mhz bus, etc.

So, in other words..., I don't think it's anything we need to worry about. Let's just stick to making a game that is as complex and realistic as it needs to be to be FUN and PLAYABLE, and not worry about "Can the computer handle it?", because by the time we are finished the computers will not only be able to handle it, they may be begging for more.

	02-07-2000 05:41									#5
	Put an end to popups!

OK, first off your right on the account we shouldn't worry too much for single player, but you're fogetting multi-player mode. Many will be done over the phone lines not on local networks. And most people still use modems, not Cable lines because either their cable company doesn't support it or don't have cable (like me...i have satelite). If we can get fiberoptics up and running soon or better availiability to satelite networks for access, then we won't haveto worry.

Also, while I agree with you about the lowered cost and such, there are still many people who can't even afford a PIII such computer currently and need to by outdated systems. What you care to think about this is up to you, i just want the information to be known and heard.

	03-07-2000 01:21									#6
	Support Apolyton, buy Call to Power 2

I will just mention that the P4's come out after October. That will make these 1ghz Pentium 3's drop in price like yesterday's bread.

Then, next year, AMD's 2ghz+ 'SledgeHammer' chip is suppose to make us all forget Pentium entirely.

By the time this game comes out, a year or more from now? I think a 1ghz P3 will be a bargain basement giveaway, $300 for a system.

I'd rather just build it right. The power will come to us.

	03-07-2000 08:30									#7
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations: Deluxe Edition

I hadn't heard about how the new processors were going to progress (i.e. from 1Ghz to 2Ghz, etc. or from 1Ghz to 1.1Ghz), but if your source is good, I'd have to say you've got it right F_Smith. I personally have been holding off on buying a new comp for the 1Ghz, but if AMD is making a 2Ghz, I think I'll wait for that! And with AMD's 200Mhz bus, I'll be blazing.

I'd also like to ask here, since I'm not sure where this question should go...What are going to be the max number of civs in the game...I would hope it would be limitless. While multiplayer is more challenging than a computer player, it's so damn slow right now, that until everyone has DSL's I don't think I'll play multiplayer anyway, so that's why I want 100's of civs in my single player games.

	03-07-2000 16:45									#8
	Increase the size of your Attachments

http://www.aceshardware.com/ and http://www.tomshardware.com/ have all the latest info on the what, when, where of all this.

And I, personally, always try to get the processor that is just short of 'cutting edge', because the bang for the buck is much higher. The newest chip is always far more expensive that it has to be, just because it's 'new'.

	05-07-2000 07:29									#9
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations: Deluxe Edition

As for the number of civs, I remember someone saying a long time ago (I guess it was Mark) that it should be between 50-100. Anyway, the actual number will mostly bounded by hardware power I believe.

	05-07-2000 22:53									#10
	Get a bigger avatar today!

The number of civs will according to what was decided a while ago, be indeffinate, but the player can set a maximum (i think).