EQ2 becomes shiney and new

[Sobelius]

I finally broke down and bought a new PC since I was able to get a decent rig by building it myself:

Athlon 64 3200+ CPU
GeForce 6800 GT 256 (8x AGP)
120 GB SATA
SB Audigy 2 ZS
1GB DDR PC3200
single DVD +/-RW dual layer
520W PSU
case
Windows XP Home
APC backup power supply

I didn't spend a fortune on this machine, but I got everything I really wanted. Also, I am using my existing monitor, keyboard, mouse and speakers.

No overclocking on anything.

At this time, the RAM isn't playing nice with the Mobo and only 'sees' 256MB of RAM. I am going to have to find some that works since everything I've tweaked in the Bios hasn't made a lick of difference.

Despite this, I was able to log into EQ2 and see what I've been missing. I changed the overall setting to high quality. All I can say is that the experience is CGI cinematic in quality.

I just finished watching someone else fight some zombies in Fallen Gate and I felt like I was watching a rendered movie. I've never seen anything like it.

If the hardware I bought is more the norm 4 years from now, I can only imagine what kinds of new engines and games will start coming out to take advantage of this stuff. I still agree with others who say the EQ2 engine is inefficient -- on my old system a party member had disappeared in his armor -- kinda like the invisible man -- and I could see his play-doh hair but not his head -- yet the hair detail was rendered *inside* the head as well as outside...maybe that can't be helped but it sure seems a big waste of resources.

Overall, happy with the purchase and the game -- made 20 assassin the other day and still enjoying playing.

[Murgos]

I will almost certainly be upgrading my computer after the holiday season.  I would like to go with the 64 bit cpu, just for the coolness factor if nothing else, but I'll probably end up using the same MB I have now and just putting in a top of the line 32 bit processor and upping my ram to a nice 2 gigs of ddr.  Everything else I have I'm pretty happy with for at least another generation.

[Sky]

Yes, EQ2 looks incredible on my home theater. Too bad the gameplay mechanics utterly destroy any fun I found in it.