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    Half Life 2: Lost Coast

    Discussion in 'Gaming (Software and Graphics Cards)' started by Charles P. Jefferies, Oct 28, 2005.

  1. Charles P. Jefferies

    Charles P. Jefferies Lead Moderator Super Moderator

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    Wow! Anybody play it yet? Graphics are out of this world - although, you need a really high powered computer to run it with HDR (High-Dynamic Range) - that's what Lost Coast is all about.

    I can run it on 1280x768 with all settings at maximum, plus Full HDR and 2X AF very smoothly on my 256MB X700. Also, if I turn off HDR, I can run at at 1680x1050 just fine....but what's the fun in that! HDR is the most innovative feature I've ever seen.

    Let me know what you think of it!

    Chaz
     
    Charles P. Jefferies, Oct 28, 2005
    #1
  2. Cleric1986

    Cleric1986 Notebook Enthusiast

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    If I ever get steam working again, i will try it out. I have a 256 mb x600, do you think that will be good enough? I have 1 gb of ram as well.
     
    Cleric1986, Oct 30, 2005
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  3. Charles P. Jefferies

    Charles P. Jefferies Lead Moderator Super Moderator

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    It's a good thing you have 1GB of RAM, that will be a big help.

    Your card is decent by modern standards. Running without HDR, you'll have no problem, just like regular HL2. But, adding HDR requires a really powerful card. You should be able to run it at 1024x768 or 800x600 with HDR (Bloom not Full), but I haven't seen any benchmarks yet, so I can't make any gurantees.

    Here are the minimum system requirements for HL2: LC

    * Processor: Pentium 4 2.9GHz or AMD 2800+
    * Memory: 1GB RAM.
    * Graphics Card: DirectX 9 compatible
    * 335 MB disk space (with Half-Life 2 installed)

    Yes, they are very high. What are the other specs of your computer?

    Chaz
     
    Charles P. Jefferies, Oct 30, 2005
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  4. JackBauer

    JackBauer Notebook Deity

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    I'm downloading it right now. I'll play it on my Hornet Pro SFF (Athlon 64 3200+, ATI X800XT, 1GB RAM) until my 5720 arrives.
     
    JackBauer, Oct 30, 2005
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  5. circa86

    circa86 Notebook Virtuoso NBR Reviewer

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    yep i''ve run it on my N6210, i have 1.25gb or RAM so it is playable but the x600 is the bottleneck, but that is ok, i could still thouroughly enjoy the glory that is HDR the HDR in lostcoast blows away DOD:S.

    amazing
     
    circa86, Oct 30, 2005
    #5
  6. LuckMC11

    LuckMC11 Computer Extraoirdinaire NBR Reviewer

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    wait is this a demo??
     
    LuckMC11, Oct 31, 2005
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  7. Cleric1986

    Cleric1986 Notebook Enthusiast

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    I have a pentium 4 3.2 ghz, I have a zd8000. HL2 works pretty great on almost everything high, so I was just making sure.
     
    Cleric1986, Oct 31, 2005
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  8. JackBauer

    JackBauer Notebook Deity

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    I've got an SFF PC with Athlon 64 3200+, ATI X800XT 256MB, 1 GB RAM, 160GB 7200RPM, Dell 2405FPW and I still got a message that my system was below the requirements for HL2: LC. It runs fine at very high settings on my "inadequate" PC, though.
     
    JackBauer, Oct 31, 2005
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  9. Charles P. Jefferies

    Charles P. Jefferies Lead Moderator Super Moderator

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    Yeah - if you have HL2, it is free. It is another level of HL2 - a short but sweet one - it showcases a new type of graphics - high dynamic range - basically, it makes it more real, simulating how you would actually see a scene through your eyes.

    Very cool, def. recommend downloading!

    Chaz
     
    Charles P. Jefferies, Oct 31, 2005
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  10. LuckMC11

    LuckMC11 Computer Extraoirdinaire NBR Reviewer

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    ooo..darn it...i jus got rid of mine..it wasn't legit tho :(
     
    LuckMC11, Oct 31, 2005
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  11. Cleric1986

    Cleric1986 Notebook Enthusiast

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    I downloaded it last nite and suprisingly all the video settings were recommended for high including full bloom HDR, and, even more surprising, it ran ok, a little sluggish, but it looked awesome. Now if only steam wasnt a piece of ****...
     
    Cleric1986, Nov 1, 2005
    #11
  12. circa86

    circa86 Notebook Virtuoso NBR Reviewer

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    steam isn't a piece of **** at all, it is sooo nice to not have to deal with patches and all that, everything is automatic
     
    circa86, Nov 1, 2005
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  13. Cleric1986

    Cleric1986 Notebook Enthusiast

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    it is when theres an error that doesnt allow you to play the games OFFLINE. Thats some major league bull**** right there. And its not just me, just take a look on the steam community forum boards, some people havent been able to play for months! I agree, everything automatic is cool and all, but with all these problems, **** it.
     
    Cleric1986, Nov 2, 2005
    #13
  14. Charles P. Jefferies

    Charles P. Jefferies Lead Moderator Super Moderator

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    Yeah - Steam isn't the best client out there...I find it annoying. It takes up so much memory too! That is one thing that irritates me more than anything. I don't understand why they couldn't have just used it as an update client instead of the platform you do EVERYthing from. That would be much better.

    Chaz
     
    Charles P. Jefferies, Nov 2, 2005
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  15. Dirty Spartan

    Dirty Spartan Notebook Guru

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    I am definetely buying HL2 when I recieve my 5720.

    Right now I have HL1 because thats all I can run but when I get HL2 I am definetely downling The Lost Coast
     
    Dirty Spartan, Nov 9, 2005
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  16. thief911

    thief911 Notebook Enthusiast

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    I thought the commentary mode was pretty cool. Some interesting tidbits into design theory. The Min. requirements utility is kinda funny though. It just looks at clock speed but not the type of processor. I've got a 2ghz Pentium M which it says is way below "min", but the level ran flawlessly with all the eye candy except maybe AA (I can't remember.)
     
    thief911, Nov 9, 2005
    #16
  17. Charles P. Jefferies

    Charles P. Jefferies Lead Moderator Super Moderator

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    Apparantly they don't realize that some people game on laptops...

    Yeah - the gameplay in HL2:LC is nothing special - just a demo for HDR. The commentary is very cool indeed!
     
    Charles P. Jefferies, Nov 9, 2005
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  18. Elminst

    Elminst Some Network Guy

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    Theif-
    It complains about AMD cpu's also. I have a 2600+ which is clocked at 1.9. under the "minimum" requirements. also "only" 768 RAM. My 5900 won't do HDR, but the whole level still looked pretty awesome. The commentaries were a very cool addition, I thought.
     
    Elminst, Nov 10, 2005
    #18