Bf 1942 Harware suggestions

[/dev/null]

I have 2 buddies I play with BF1942. I'm usually the server.

Bud 1 has: Geforce 6800 (not GS/GT/XTX/XT blah blah, just a 6800) AGP, athlon xp 2100+ and windows XP. He loves his performance but usually lets me host.

I have a dual opteron 246, 2G ram, with a 7800GT. I usually host and everyone says it's fast.

Bud 2 has the problem system
P4-1.6ghz 256k cache, 768M SDram, and a 40G disk with a geforce fx 5200.
BF1942 runs like mud....fraps at 25-45fps at pretty much any resolution between 640x480 & 1024x768. Desert combat seems significantly faster than stock bf1942 (?????)

I know his system sucks, but for $100-$150 (assume he doesn't have a recycleable case/power supply because this is in an older dell), what would you throw in his system?
I told him he should pick up a local case/powersupply as cheap as possible, get a Frys Sempron 754/agp special for $80 and try to grab 512 of ram. What sucks is he can't recycle his ram/ps/case

Another option is to hope he has a socket 478 and try to grab a p4 (faster) or celeron, but I don't think 478 p4's are in the sub $150 range and I hate to think of throwing money into a P4-SDRAM system.

Suggestions?

 

[spotdog14]

i would just get a better graphics card, and top out his ram at 1 gig. I run BF '42 on this rig:

Althon XP 2000+ (what is that a clock speed of 1.5ghz?)
1 gig of slow ass ram
2 40 gig hdd's
Geforce 4 Ti 4800 (128mb)

I usually run at 1280x1024. Everything runs really good on '42. Actually thats pretty much all i play on my old gaming rig. But i would definatly have him get a new GPU.

 

[/dev/null]

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll throw my ti4600 in there and see what happens.

 

[somecallmeTim]

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll throw my ti4600 in there and see what happens.

Before some upgrades, my kids' system ran BF'42 / Vietnam fine with a 1.8 p4, 512mb o'ram and Ti4600. The 5200 just didn' have the "umph".

 

[spotdog14]

Before some upgrades, my kids' system ran BF'42 / Vietnam fine with a 1.8 p4, 512mb o'ram and Ti4600. The 5200 just didn' have the "umph".

from what i have been reading you are correct. I love my Ti 4800, its one of hte best cards i have ever had! And i can also play BF: V fine as well.