[Fineus]

As the title suggests...

I have the minimum specs for running FS2, but the engine has come a long way since then - as have the graphics, models etc..

What would you say are the minimum specs to run the latest version of FSO / the SCP on FreeSpace 2 with all features enabled?

Many thanks

[The E]

FSO will run reasonably well on any card that suports at least OpenGL 2.0. For all the shadery goodness (including normal maps), OpenGL 3.0 is needed.

Alternate version: If your card supports Shader Model 3 (which any ATi or nVidia card currently on the market does, IIRC), you can get the full enjoyment.

In terms of Memory, 1+ GB should be enough, as always though, more can't hurt.

In terms of CPU, you need to look at single-core performance, since FSO only utilizes one core at any given time. In other words, this is a game where GHz still matter greatly.

That being said, I _think_ a late-model P4 should be able to run it smoothly with all enhancements.
With newer builds, using the SSE or SSE2 variants (which include a few processor-specific optimizations) will yield a marginal to noticeable performance boost. In addition, the various improvements made in 3.6.12 result in a very noticeable performance boost across the board there as well.

[Bob-san]

FSO will run reasonably well on any card that suports at least OpenGL 2.0. For all the shadery goodness (including normal maps), OpenGL 3.0 is needed.

Alternate version: If your card supports Shader Model 3 (which any ATi or nVidia card currently on the market does, IIRC), you can get the full enjoyment.

In terms of Memory, 1+ GB should be enough, as always though, more can't hurt.

In terms of CPU, you need to look at single-core performance, since FSO only utilizes one core at any given time. In other words, this is a game where GHz still matter greatly.

That being said, I _think_ a late-model P4 should be able to run it smoothly with all enhancements.
With newer builds, using the SSE or SSE2 variants (which include a few processor-specific optimizations) will yield a marginal to noticeable performance boost. In addition, the various improvements made in 3.6.12 result in a very noticeable performance boost across the board there as well.

A well-clocked Allendale/Conroe/Wolfdale will run it quite well. A Wolfdale at 3GHz is about twice as fast, in single-threaded applications, as a late-model Pentium 4 or Pentium D.

[General Battuta]

We're talking minimum specs here, Bob-san.

[Wobble73]

Well I was able to run it at useable speeds with an Athlon XP 1800+, 1 gb ram and a Nvidia FX5200 (128mb),

For useable see framerates of 30fps down to 7 fps with reduced resolution (1024 by 768) an no advanced mediavps, no Anisotropic filter and no Antialiasing.

Surprisingly I now use a Pentium D 3.0ghz with the same ram and graphics card and I see a marked improvement in framerates, even though I have advanced mediavps, increased resolution (1280 by 1024) 16x anisotropic filter and 16x antialiasing. Consistent 30fps and upwards.

[Rodo]

Surprisingly I now use a Pentium D 3.0ghz with the same ram and graphics card and I see a marked improvement in framerates, even though I have advanced mediavps, increased resolution (1280 by 1024) 16x anisotropic filter and 16x antialiasing. Consistent 30fps and upwards.

Until an Orion jumps in, then every system goes

[Goober5000]

FSO runs quite nicely on a Windows 98SE desktop with a Pentium III and 512 mb of ram.

This is not "with all features enabled", i.e. with all mediavp effects, though.  I thought that's what the other thread was for.

[Wobble73]

Surprisingly I now use a Pentium D 3.0ghz with the same ram and graphics card and I see a marked improvement in framerates, even though I have advanced mediavps, increased resolution (1280 by 1024) 16x anisotropic filter and 16x antialiasing. Consistent 30fps and upwards.

Until an Orion jumps in, then every system goes

Actually no, like i said CONSISTENT framerates of 30 fps and up.

[taylor]

FSO will run reasonably well on any card that suports at least OpenGL 2.0. For all the shadery goodness (including normal maps), OpenGL 3.0 is needed.

Few corrections...

OpenGL 1.5 or above is needed for best performance.  Shaders will work on anything supporting GLSL 1.10 or higher, so still OpenGL 1.5 with extensions, or better.

OpenGL 3.0 is not supported though, so no point in even recommending that.

[Timerlane]

FSO runs quite nicely on a Windows 98SE desktop with a Pentium III and 512 mb of ram.

3.6.10 is fine, but at some point during 3.6.11 development(and 3.6.12 RC1), it does seem to have started 'requesting' a newer version of Windows.

[FUBAR-BDHR]

Few corrections...

OpenGL 1.5 or above is needed for best performance.  Shaders will work on anything supporting GLSL 1.10 or higher, so still OpenGL 1.5 with extensions, or better.

You might want to put an unless you have an Intel graphic chipset then your on your own disclaimer on that.  Even OpenGL 2.0 Intel cards have problems.

[The E]

Few corrections...

OpenGL 1.5 or above is needed for best performance.  Shaders will work on anything supporting GLSL 1.10 or higher, so still OpenGL 1.5 with extensions, or better.

OpenGL 3.0 is not supported though, so no point in even recommending that.

Are you sure? Because I have a card that apparently (according to GL extensions viewer) supports GLSL 1.2 and OpenGL 2.1, yet I can't get shaders to work... (This may, of course, be due to ATi ****ing up the drivers)

[taylor]

Are you sure? Because I have a card that apparently (according to GL extensions viewer) supports GLSL 1.2 and OpenGL 2.1, yet I can't get shaders to work... (This may, of course, be due to ATi ****ing up the drivers)

Yeah, weird drivers cause us more grief than bad/slow hardware.  Of course our shader setup is total crap anyway so that certainly does nothing to help the problem either.

PM me about your shader problems if you want and I'll see if I can come up with something that will help.

[Tomo]

This runs fine at 1024x768 with all the common Mods, including full MediaVPs:

Windows XP SP3
Athlon XP 3000+
1GB RAM
nVidia GeForce 6800 GS, 256MB

This is probably around the minimum for full Media VPs - graphics card could go lower, but not CPU.
It's fine most of the time at 1280x1024, but struggles on occasion if there are a lot of laser bolts and ships around.