Second Life Forums Archive - Graphics Performance and Recommended Specs

Front Dawes

Registered User

Join date: 28 Oct 2007

Posts: 76

04-25-2009 07:44

In the SL Preferences Menu, Graphics, you can choose between Low, Mid, High and Ultra. Of course, your rig has to support your selection.

Looking at the SL System Requirements they have a minimum set and a recommended set,

http://secondlife.com/support/sysreqs.php

My question is, how does the min and rec specs match with the Graphics settings. If I choose the minimum does that mean I should only be able to use the Low graphics setting? If I choose a rig with the recommended does that mean I can achive the Ultra setting?

If I have a choice betwen a rig with a certain hardware spec (processor, memory, graphics card) and have a choice between Vista or XP, which one will run SL better?

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Front

Briana Dawson

Attach to Mouth

Join date: 23 Sep 2003

Posts: 5,855

04-25-2009 07:50

Get Vista.

Use CUSTOM settings. Not the presets, for a better, finer tuned experience.

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Milla Janick

Empress Of The Universe

Join date: 2 Jan 2008

Posts: 3,075

04-25-2009 07:55

The minium requirements are essentially unusable. The low end of the recommended scale is really the practical minimum.

I don't believe they have updated the system requirements in a long time.

If you want to run graphics on ultra, get something at the high end of their recommended scale. I'd suggest a fast dual core CPU, and an Nvidia 9800GT or better video card. Do not skimp on the video card.

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Naz Fride

21st Century Faux

Join date: 8 May 2007

Posts: 341

04-25-2009 14:16

I don't use the same settings all the time. I usually keep mine on High, but if I'm sitting still someplace scenic, and want to really enjoy the visual experience, I bump it up to Ultra. I have a nVidia 9600 GT, and Ultra runs, but it's very laggy when I'm moving around or in situation where a lot of textures are loading. I do tweak the High settings though, by adding Water Reflections and turning off Avatar Imposters. I very seldom use Medium, but in a very laggy place, I will occasionally bump it down, even if it's only when I'm trying to move or when the texture are first loading.

Bree Giffen

♥♣♦♠ Furrtune Hunter ♠♦♣♥

Join date: 22 Jun 2006

Posts: 2,715

04-26-2009 00:09

Yes I would also recommend using the custom setting. You can use it to enhance parts of SL that you like and turn down details on things you don't like. I have my view distance set to the minimum but I have my avatars and objects set to maximum. I also set my land and tree detail to minimum too. I always turn off the Linden trees anyways because of the swaying.

I've heard a lot of complaints about Vista on these forums so I'd stay with XP for now.

Graphics Performance and Recommended Specs
Front Dawes Registered User Join date: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 76	04-25-2009 07:44 In the SL Preferences Menu, Graphics, you can choose between Low, Mid, High and Ultra. Of course, your rig has to support your selection. Looking at the SL System Requirements they have a minimum set and a recommended set, http://secondlife.com/support/sysreqs.php My question is, how does the min and rec specs match with the Graphics settings. If I choose the minimum does that mean I should only be able to use the Low graphics setting? If I choose a rig with the recommended does that mean I can achive the Ultra setting? If I have a choice betwen a rig with a certain hardware spec (processor, memory, graphics card) and have a choice between Vista or XP, which one will run SL better? Any advice greatly appreciated. Front
Briana Dawson Attach to Mouth Join date: 23 Sep 2003 Posts: 5,855	04-25-2009 07:50 Get Vista. Use CUSTOM settings. Not the presets, for a better, finer tuned experience. _____________________ WooT ------------------------------ http://www.secondcitizen.net/Forum/
Milla Janick Empress Of The Universe Join date: 2 Jan 2008 Posts: 3,075	04-25-2009 07:55 The minium requirements are essentially unusable. The low end of the recommended scale is really the practical minimum. I don't believe they have updated the system requirements in a long time. If you want to run graphics on ultra, get something at the high end of their recommended scale. I'd suggest a fast dual core CPU, and an Nvidia 9800GT or better video card. Do not skimp on the video card. _____________________ http://www.avatarsunited.com/avatars/milla-janick All those moments will be lost in time... like tears in rain...
Naz Fride 21st Century Faux Join date: 8 May 2007 Posts: 341	04-25-2009 14:16 I don't use the same settings all the time. I usually keep mine on High, but if I'm sitting still someplace scenic, and want to really enjoy the visual experience, I bump it up to Ultra. I have a nVidia 9600 GT, and Ultra runs, but it's very laggy when I'm moving around or in situation where a lot of textures are loading. I do tweak the High settings though, by adding Water Reflections and turning off Avatar Imposters. I very seldom use Medium, but in a very laggy place, I will occasionally bump it down, even if it's only when I'm trying to move or when the texture are first loading.
Bree Giffen ♥♣♦♠ Furrtune Hunter ♠♦♣♥ Join date: 22 Jun 2006 Posts: 2,715	04-26-2009 00:09 Yes I would also recommend using the custom setting. You can use it to enhance parts of SL that you like and turn down details on things you don't like. I have my view distance set to the minimum but I have my avatars and objects set to maximum. I also set my land and tree detail to minimum too. I always turn off the Linden trees anyways because of the swaying. I've heard a lot of complaints about Vista on these forums so I'd stay with XP for now.

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Graphics Performance and Recommended Specs