Dual-core processor

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My son would like a new computer for Christmas. He will be playing computer
games on this system. I am looking at some systems with dual core processors.
I am not a PC gamer so I am out of my element here. Will his old games work
on systems with dual core processors? By old, I'm talking about 2-3 years
old. I know he has Zoo Tycoon 2 (w/ xpansions) and Rome Total Warrior (w/
xpansions); not sure what others. Any suggestions and comments would be
appreciated.

Thx!
 
rfIPS said:
My son would like a new computer for Christmas. He will be playing computer
games on this system. I am looking at some systems with dual core processors.
I am not a PC gamer so I am out of my element here. Will his old games work
on systems with dual core processors? By old, I'm talking about 2-3 years
old. I know he has Zoo Tycoon 2 (w/ xpansions) and Rome Total Warrior (w/
xpansions); not sure what others. Any suggestions and comments would be
appreciated.

Thx!
Click to expand...

Applications usually can't benefit from multiple cores unless they were
specifically written to use them.

You might want to look for a dealer willing to give you a price break
for upgrading to the new version of Windows that will be coming out
early next year. Make SURE the computer will be compatible with the new OS.

Otherwise the usual need for plenty of RAM, high CPU clock speed and a
powerful PCI Express graphics card. video integrated into the
motherboard is usually inadequate for games. We're NOT talking about the
few hundred dollars budget system here!
 
Thank you for your reply. I had already thought I would have to upgrade the
video card but I was kinda hoping I wouldn't have to spend $1K for the new
system; I don't have the budget for that. BTW, thanks for reminding me about
the new OS coming out, I hadn't thought about that.

What would be a good guideline for minimum RAM/CPU specs?
 
Also another note...some of the older games and even modern games (Descent
Freespace I and II - Galactic Civilizaitons II - just to fire off a couple)
suffer from Dual-Cores because of it -- what it comes down to is applications
that bypass the Windows API for timing by directly using the RDTSC (Read Time
Stamp Counter) instruction. Applications that rely on RDTSC do not benefit
from the logic in the operating system to properly account for the affect of
power management mechanisms on the rate at which a processor core's Time
Stamp Counter (TSC) is incremented.

SO translating that jargon into English is this: Dual Cores with programs
that bypass the windows API for timing...translates into various issues
including (most noticably) video issues, or gameplay iself, controls, sound
distortions, etc.

However saying that -- I can tell you there are several resoultions to that
issue:

1)Steer clear of dual core technology (but way things are heading -
unrealistic and you would be left behind on the tech curve)

---

2) Download several hotfixes from your processor manufacturer's website (AMD
or Intel respectivly) and Microsofts XP sp2 hotfix (known links will be
listed at end of reply)

---

3) Set the process' afinity each time you launch the application -- Ignore
the downloads (not reccomended) --- note the actual applications name as a
process (the name of the program itself not the game/application's title --
for example FreeSpace is not called FreeSpace as a program. In the Processes
tab of Task Manager its called 'fs.exe' and I will use this program as a
reference and I will say game as a general phrase for the application that I
am talking about...and can be used for games and whatever else is affected by
this)


---- Open up Task Manager (due to variations to XP explorer's shell for
Ctrl+Alt+Delete - It may or may not open up Task Manager directly and for
simplicity) Right click in the middle of your taskbar where it's open and
click on 'Task Manager' --OR--- Click on START>RUN>type "taskmgr" in the run
field - click ok

---- Verify the Programs tab is selected on Task Manager
---- Start the game (let the game launch completely...wait till after
cutscenes are finished playing)
---- Press Alt+Tab to bring up Task Manager
---- Find the game's process and right click on it
---- Click on Set Affinity
---- Assign it to CPU 0 or 1 ... but not both
---- Click on OK then exit Task Manager
---- Bring your game back to the application foreground
---- Enjoy...lol
 
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