The DOOM ]l[ Experience

[JayisunJ]

A few weeks ago, in preparation for Doom 3's release, I formatted my hard drive, reinstalled Windows XP Pro, and got all of the latest drivers and Windows updates. I upgraded from my 9800 Pro to an eVGA e-GeForce 6800GT *hoping* :( that it would be powerful enough to run Doom 3 at 1024x768 w/ High Detail settings. Lastly, I upgraded my PSU to an Antec TrueBlue 480 and my aging Barton 2500+ @ 2.2GHz to an mobile Barton 2600+ @ 2.5 GHz (1.725 Vcore). So, I crossed my fingers and waited until the 4th. I picked up my copy of Doom 3, installed it, and defragged my hard drive. The anticipation was KILLING me :yikes: . I got into the game's main menu and had the game auto-detect settings for me. It recommended 800x600 at high settings. I played for a few mintues at those settings, but couldn't get over all of the aliasing so I decided to push my luck. I had read HardOCP's Doom 3 hardware guide so I didn't expect high res gaming out of my rig, but I set it to 1600x1200 just for the heck of it. Five minutes later, I was Dooming at 1600x1200 w/High Detail and 2x anti-aliasing *WITH* every option enabled, INLCUDING Vsync :) ! The game looks *INCREDIBLE*. My console-gaming roomates were blown away. My girlfriend now sees justification for me spending $600 for upgrades. My parents are finally beginning to see why my grades in college slip ever so slightly coinciding with the release of a heavily anticipated PC game. Best of all, I am basically part of a horror movie and I am scared ****less. I LOVE this game. Anyone else here have similar experiences with the in-game visual settings and/or friends/family members having thier eyes opened to the joys/realism of PC Gaming?

[Hawk]

:welcome: to the BE JayisunJ, and yes, Doom 3 is aswome. For some reason, the auto detect settings in the game are very conservative, but the 6800 has not problems with it. .


I've jumped outta my seat alot during this game. Freaky Freaky. . . . :rock:

[Gaspar]

I am also totaly blown away by this game! I am playing it on an X800XT PE and its absolutely amazing. Playing it at 1600x1200 high quality. No AA but dont need it, it looks absolutely amazing. I cant play it for more than a half hour at a time, Im on the edge of my seat and scared as a hell.I find my self running around lost due to being scared absolutely Sh*%less. I get a steady 60fps and some dips to 40s during battles. Two thumbs way up!! :thumb: :thumb:




:bow: :bow: :bow:

[flexkill]

i find thid game to be very CPU hungry. i ran doom3 at stock cpu speeds(3.0c) with high oc on card= laggy,then i oc cpu to 3.6ghz and mild oc on card=smooth as butter. anyone else notice this??? :beer:

[JayisunJ]

i find thid game to be very CPU hungry. i ran doom3 at stock cpu speeds(3.0c) with high oc on card= laggy,then i oc cpu to 3.6ghz and mild oc on card=smooth as butter. anyone else notice this??? :beer:
Actually, I noticed this too. At stock CPU speeds for my mobile 2600+ the game is a lag fest @ anything over 1024x768 (High Quality). Haven't tired overclocking my vid card yet. . . too expensive. At least until the warranty expires. :thumbs: Gaspar, with frame rates that high, you outta try enabling 2x anti-aliasing! It really does add to the experience and I am sure that you would still be above the minimum 30 fps. How do you like your X800XT-PE btw? Are you using the beta catalyst drivers? I ask because my little sister's computer has a 9800SE in it and I want her to be able to experience Doom 3 in a higher resolution than 800x600 @ Medium Quality settings. I guess I am unsure if the beta cat 4.9's even increase performance for the R350/360 line of cards. Anyway, hope you guys are enjoying Doom 3 as much as I am. I am not very far in the game, however, because I can only play during the day and only for a half hour at a time because it is too scary to play at night (I can't sleep after playing it :look: )!

[Gaspar]

I love the XT I should for the Money it cost me!! I have tried 2xAA at 1600x1200 and it gets choppy at that resolution. But I have tried 2xaa at 1280x1024 and it doesnt look as good as 1600x1200. This game just doesnt need AA like other games. I also am using the Beta Cat 4.9's they seem to improve play. I wonder how many levels there are, if it just goes on and on like Far Cry.

[malinois1]

WHere can I get the beta cat 4.9?

[Gaspar]

I found it on ati site, its called Doom3 hotfix

[malinois1]

Thank you :)

[JayisunJ]

WHere can I get the beta cat 4.9?
The Beta Catalyst 4.9 drivers can be found here (http://www.ati.com/support/infobase/4547.html) :thumb:

[JayisunJ]

. . . I also am using the Beta Cat 4.9's they seem to improve play. I wonder how many levels there are, if it just goes on and on like Far Cry. I am amazed at how fast ATI improved Doom 3 performance. Now they just need to release a WHQL approved version of the driver.

LOL, I hear you about the number of levels in FarCry. I gave up about halfway through the game; not because it was too hard, but because I got bored. I can honestly say, however, that Doom 3 will never get boring. . . no matter the length of the game. It is too freakin scary!

[SubZero]

Thanks for that 4.9 beta link. Going to try it immediately.. This game rocks.. I was very sceptic and now I can't get it out of my mind?!! :rock:

[JayisunJ]

Thanks for that 4.9 beta link. Going to try it immediately.. This game rocks.. I was very sceptic and now I can't get it out of my mind?!! :rock: No prob ;) How are the drivers working out BTW?

[SubZero]

Actually pretty good. I haven't had any major problems but also not too much performance gain.

Check out this thread if you want that extra gain:

http://www.beyond3d.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=14874

Still only getting around 40 fps on high detail, 1024x768 but I'm sure we can improve on that! :)

and use timedemo demo1.demo usecache to precache the demo so you don't have to run it twice to run the benchmark.

[NeoXtremeX]

I had a nice boost... but still it aint uber smooth like i would like.

[JayisunJ]

I had a nice boost... but still it aint uber smooth like i would like. Glad to hear that the beta drivers at least help. I haven't heard any reports of lost image quality with the drivers so ATI's driver team must just be working really hard! Who knows; in a few weeks I may be using some "beta" drivers to eek extra performance out of my card so that Half-Life 2 can run at a decent resolution with AA and AF! :scratch: For now though, I am loving Doom 3. It is kinda creepy though to have a Pentagram (side-ways star = sign of "the Goat": a.k.a. - the DEVIL) on my programs list :(

[flexkill]

i am not really that impressed with this game!!! i mean all the wait and the hype, and then just...... :scratch: ahhh i dont know just not that impressed with it. man i hope HL2 is better than this. i just really dont see anything that great. i mean sure good graphics, but are they that much better than far cry? :(

[JayisunJ]

i am not really that impressed with this game!!! i mean all the wait and the hype, and then just...... :scratch: ahhh i dont know just not that impressed with it. man i hope HL2 is better than this. i just really dont see anything that great. i mean sure good graphics, but are they that much better than far cry? :( Unfortunately, after playing the game for 15+ odd hours, I can see what you mean. It is still a fun (if not the most fun) game, but after the initial *shock* of the SWEET graphics engine, you realize that the gameplay is nothing groundbreaking :( But, ID never promised us groundbreaking gameplay, they promised us unhearlded realism and real-world physics. They delivered on both of those fronts, however, the game was delayed for so long that similar levels of realism (graphics/physics) can be found in titles that were released LONG before Doom 3 (Max Payne 2 - Physics / FarCry - Graphics). I still LOVE Doom 3 and the things that the Doom 3 engine are going to bring to other games, I just don't think that I am ever going to play through the game again :hide: I too am anticipating Half-Life 2 and am hoping that the year long delay was put to good use!

[Cogar]

For now though, I am loving Doom 3. It is kinda creepy though to have a Pentagram (side-ways star = sign of "the Goat": a.k.a. - the DEVIL) on my programs list :(
Typical id. I am sure you also noticed almost countless satanic symbols and references in the game. All of their games have been like this to some degree.



i am not really that impressed with this game!!! i mean all the wait and the hype, and then just...... :scratch: ahhh i dont know just not that impressed with it. man i hope HL2 is better than this. i just really dont see anything that great. i mean sure good graphics, but are they that much better than far cry? :(
Agreed. I am in the recycling levels or whatever they are called and it is already getting to the point where I feel like watching a movie instead of playing the game. I can tell they put a lot of work into the game (the machinery, sounds, etc.) but it is all the same--a dark room, filled with machinery and noise, out of which jump various possessed and demonic creatures.

[Watcher95]

Funny thing tho' originally the Pentagram was the Catholic symbol for TRUTH. The the churgh decided to "Demonise" any religious symbols that were also used by other religions, to the pentagram suddenly became the symbol of the Devil.

Amazing what one press release can do.

[flexkill]

finished the game finally....bet i will never play it again....very dissapointing. :(

[JayisunJ]

finished the game finally....bet i will never play it again....very dissapointing. :( I just concluded nearly the same thing after having just finished the game. However, I will be using the game to demo what my shiny new $400 graphics card can do. I am 100% sure that I will also be playing more than a few games based on the Doom 3 engine. :thumbs: I can't wait to see what other companies are planning to do with the technology.

[flexkill]

ya i was thinking the same thing..... bring on the mods!!! :yup: