I did read. I just don't see the logic behind getting a computer with the barebones requirements for Halo CE. Even if you want some sort of "Experience" out of it that you couldn't get with other computers, it doesn't make sense for you to go out and build a crappy computer for the sole purpose of playing Halo CE. If you buy a computer for the current time instead of for the future, you'll find yourself outdated. Even if there aren't any Halo games being dished out to the public on the computer any more (Yet), the capabilities of Halo CE and Opensauce are growing and if you're with a dated pc only designed to run a 3rd generation 3d game, you might find yourself out of luck from a performance standpoint. Just download the classic shell look for your computer or something..

Techinically, theres no reason to build an old computer unless you want to play games like:

old DX6 games... etc.

Metal Gear Solid (Stealth Camouflage causes screen tear and steep FPS drops, no DDV cutscenes in windows XP or newer, etc.)

Splinter Cell and Splinter Cell Pandora Tomorrow (shadows don't buffer (properly, if they do) on cards -newer- than Geforce FX, nor do they buffer on ATI cards)

Or Stubbs the Zombie type games(untested, uncertified games that needed specific hardware to run)

things like that

..If you're trying to get Halo PC to look the way it does for the Xbox version, I don't think it's possible. Half the shaders aren't complete and don't render on Halo PC, and some textures are actually missing altogether.
Edited by OrangeJuice on Mar 20, 2013 at 10:31 PM

alternatively, start unplugging some RAM cards and see how that works. huehuehuehue

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/829479
http://www.game-debate.com/games/index.php?g_id=1348&game=Halo:%20Combat%20Evolved

WHAT IS THIS!

"Now that's one mean piece of alien-busting-hardware-lovin'?!?!?!?"

You go deeeeep!

Update: I went to a local computer store today and picked up a used rig for $150. Specs are: Pentium 4 @ 2.4 GHz, ATI RADEON 9600 XT 128MB, 1 GB DDR2. I already ordered the Creative sound card, I'm almost set!

The 9600 XT runs Halo with settings maxed out at 1024x768 at a decent FPS (30-50). These are more or less the results I was looking for graphically. Can't wait to get the sound card, though, because this integrated sound shoots noise through my headphones when nothing's playing -_-

Turns out CRT monitors are difficult to come by, so I'm probably going to pick up a standard Dell LCD (or equivalent) with a native resolution of 1024x768.

By the way, what is acceptable input lag? There are some that I'm looking at that vary from 5ms to 8ms. I can't find any with less than 5ms, but then again I haven't looked really hard, figured I'd come here to find out whether 5ms is too much or not (I remember reading somewhere that the delay time is less noticeable if your on a smaller display... Truth or myth?).

EDIT:
@ everyone who are completely boggled/offended by what I'm doing: Look, it's a personal project, partly for nostalgia's sake, partly so I can play Halo the way I used to (with added EAX sound) on a 4:3 screen, with all the bells and whistles and no HUD stretching, no fluctuating dialogue volumes in the campaign, camo and healthpack effects, etc. This happens to be a good solution. For example, I bought this used rig, and within an hour had Halo up and running the way I wanted it to (minus the sound, still waiting on that card). And I know that in the future, if I need to reinstall, that's all I'll have to do: reinstall. No OS, no DXTweaker, no research into this sound bug I'm having with my ASUS card, no HUD stretching, just Halo the way I used to play it in 2006. The map testing thing is just a little added bonus, it's not something I'm diving head first into, but it seems to me logical to test maps on a low-end machine for FPS drops.

@DSalimander: Nice find on that list of support hardware, never knew that existed.
Edited by stunt_man on Mar 21, 2013 at 03:10 AM

In regards to the 1280x1024 resolution, it was an extremely popular resolution during that era. It's 5:4 but it was often the native resolution for 4:3 flatscreens that used non-square pixels.



Clearly you didn't because you seemed to have missed the entire point.
Edited by Btcc22 on Mar 21, 2013 at 08:45 AM

He said he already has a PC with a GTX 580 and similar components. He clearly does not currently need another modern PC to stay modern.

The only way I could keep up with the modern games is to use a Xbox instead.

Perhaps, someday, I'll be able to do the same on PC.

If you still have the original Xbox, you can take out the graphics card in that. I know plenty of people who've made Frankenstein rigs from old game systems.

No, you can't.

Nope, everything is integrated on the motherboard,

and if you meant you wanna take the NV2A out of an Alpha kit: gaaasp...! how dare you!?

No you cant. its soldered on. Please dont give info unless you know what you are talking about. They use the CASE from game systems and make normal PC parts fit in.

There is a way to unsolder things (not guaranteed to to work)

Sure but that's only going to carry you so far.

I really don't know how it's going to carry you anywhere.

It's pretty much the kind of thing one might do as a last resort.

That was my point. Desoldering the GPU from your Xbox doesn't have one since you can't do anything with it except perhaps make a fancy keyring with it.

By even mentioning desoldering it and that it's not guaranteed to work rather than it being guaranteed to not work you're implying that it's in some way a viable solution.
Edited by Btcc22 on Mar 21, 2013 at 06:28 PM

It's a possible method that you could use to try and use the GPU.

I am neither implying that it could be a viable solution or that it's effective.
Edited by Dumb AI on Mar 21, 2013 at 06:36 PM

GPU is not a video card but GPU's are used in video cards and are the brain of them essentially. They aren't the same but many people use them interchangeably in discussion.

Why in the heck would anyone UNSOLDER a GPU from an xbox? you dont even have a working PCB to put it on. Do you have the SLIGHTEST CLUE what you are talking about?
Edited by abkarch on Mar 25, 2013 at 12:17 PM

My RAM is 2GB DDR2 at 400 MHz.

Sucks rite?

Anyway, I am assuming that the OP wants to test maps for frame rate drops, does this mean you want to test maps and find out if you need to optimize them? I'm not telling you to buy a new rig (you already have one), but WHY do you want the "recommended" specs anyway?

I READ NOTHING. Looks like you got the rig you wanted. Mine was perfect for this actually. I've never had to install anything else except just Halo and it worked great with EAX and stuff. I have no active camo issues, or OS installed and everything works fine. I use XP.
Edited by Jesse on Mar 25, 2013 at 05:59 AM

Yeah for optimization. But it's mostly just so I can play it properly. Ever since I got my main rig I've been building a collection of fixes for little things that bother me, like active camo (and a few other effects), EAX, HUD scaling on widescreen ratio, etc. And now I've run into sound issues in campaign and frankly I don't feel like dealing with it anymore. And that's aside from the fact that the game always runs at a constant 120 FPS, making it difficult to tell where there are too many polys in my... map making endeavours. I'm still learning (even after all these years) how to create Bungie-style-inspired BSP's (not to mention 3DS max 8 in general), and I'm not always 100% confident that my models are optimized. And I haven't even started on portalling.

But yeah, I got the rig I want, just waiting on the sound card.

ADDED BONUS TO HAVING AN OLD-ASS RIG: As long as I can remember I've never been able to play Star
Wars Racer on PC. It was optimized for Windows 98 and probably old Voodoo cards. Yesterday I installed it and was able to play through it without a hitch!