Oolite Bulletins

Old Murgh wrote: ↑Thu Jul 28, 2022 8:38 pm

It's not unlikely that I'll return to this thread when the next stage has begun...

I suppose monitors are next - or do you already have a decent monitor? What about sound?

Cody wrote: ↑Thu Jul 28, 2022 11:37 pm

Old Murgh wrote: ↑Thu Jul 28, 2022 8:38 pm

It's not unlikely that I'll return to this thread when the next stage has begun...

I suppose monitors are next - or do you already have a decent monitor? What about sound?

I am looking yes (as we speak), what a pain to just make a decision. I am of course curious about the wide and curved experience, but I've never actually tried it. I am assuming 34" should be big enough for me..

How does Oolite react to the 22:9 monitor ratio?

Don't want to be punished for buying too cheap, but have inhibitions about paying crazy price, especially as I'll inevitably end up with something on that's sale the following month.

I am a headphones guy and have a two I like, so at least that's that sorted.

Old Murgh wrote: ↑Thu Jul 28, 2022 11:48 pm

How does Oolite react to the 22:9 monitor ratio?

Good question!

I'm using an old 16:10 24" which runs Oolite at 144Hz/1ms. If/when prices fall, I'll be looking to go 4K (but I want faster than 60Hz).
I think Oolite supports 8K but I dread to think what kind of monitor(s) you'd need to run it.

Cody wrote: ↑Fri Jul 29, 2022 12:03 am

I'm using an old 16:10 24" which runs Oolite at 144Hz/1ms. If/when prices fall, I'll be looking to go 4K (but I want faster than 60Hz).
I think Oolite supports 8K but I dread to think what kind of monitor(s) you'd need to run it.

So 4k is at least 3840 x 2160, but it then follows that more power needs be provided from the various components too? Argh.

I am currently looking at a ultrawide curvy monitor from a brand I have never heard of, 3440 x 1440, 120 Hz, at a price that's probably too low to inspire confidence, but it's a sale "only this week". Is there an obvious reason I should discard this temptation?

Old Murgh wrote: ↑Fri Jul 29, 2022 12:22 am

...but it then follows that more power needs be provided from the various components too?

There's plenty of power in that Corsair 750, and apparently that nVidia RTX 2070 GPU will go as high as 7680x4320 - crikey!

Re the monitor: at first glance, the response time (14ms) looks slow, but I'm not familiar with panels of that size and type.

Cody wrote: ↑Fri Jul 29, 2022 12:37 am

There's plenty of power in that Corsair 750, and apparently that nVidia RTX 2070 GPU will go as high as 7680x4320 - crikey!

Ok, wow. I guess I won't be testing those limits.

Cody wrote: ↑Fri Jul 29, 2022 12:37 am

Re the monitor: at first glance, the response time (14ms) looks slow, but I'm not familiar with panels of that size and type.

Seems it is the chain's own assembly brand, their reputation isn't poor but ok decent, but there's bound to be shortcomings compared to premium products. There's of course always the possibility of returning it if I'm dissatisfied.

Would I experience 14 milliseconds as slow? Am I that alert?

Another good question!


See what you've done, got me hunting for my ideal monitor. I am suddenly intrigued by quantum-dot panels - I may be some time!

Cody wrote: ↑Thu Jul 28, 2022 12:40 am

Cases are a personal thing. [...]

That they are, but also, nowadays, a tricky choice sometimes.
Some remarks on this (and maybe the greater) topic:
- with PCs you have the chance to (at least want to) stick in a bunch: cards, hard drives, fans, whatever your motherboard will support; although USB might be the way, it's not the only one. For this the bigger, and more bays, the better. I'll never forget the day my old "tower ATX" old case was replace with the current -- it's a wonder to jump from cuts on your forearm, fingers and all, to your elbow fitting nicely in the new case whenever needed
- maybe also look for a motherboard that supports Mac's thunderbolt -- there are a couple, maybe a bit higher in price
- at least 4 slots for RAM is what you'd want, even if you don't start with them maxed out
- my regular mantra is get right now what I know I need (at the most decent price), and understand that there will be things I'll get later; usually the "big three upgrade" includes motherboard/CPU/RAM; it can do with previous gen graphics, until the "next thing" will _require_ a graphics card update
- I'll not include any comments on HDD/keyboard/mouse and others -- I am as cheap as possible on the first two (usually look at the lowest denominator for the keyboard); not the same for the mouse, I'm still mourning the lack of Microsoft's wired optical decent sized mice, but there are good replacements lately, although at a higher price mark.
- monitor wise, the advice might be difficult -- it really depends on what's your expectation. A good G-Sync/FreeSync (i.e. +144Hz refresh rate), with high enough diagonal _and_ high enough resolution _and_ HDR, could push the budget quite high, quite quickly.

Oh, and DX12, yes if you're looking for a Windows installation, that's OK, but you also have a decent option with Linux (just saying ) when running on PC hardware (just a reminder for everyone, HDR&Linux, not yet happening).

Old Murgh wrote: ↑Thu Jul 28, 2022 11:48 pm

How does Oolite react to the 22:9 monitor ratio?

No worries, widescreen is supported just fine (may want to max out the FOV for a better experience or - provided you are OK with the pre-installed OXPs - use the unofficial Windows monolithic executable which increases max FOV to 120 degrees - 110 deg for wide screen seems just fine). Oh, and Oolite is 8K UHD-ready since version 1.86.

Cody wrote: ↑Fri Jul 29, 2022 12:03 am

If/when prices fall, I'll be looking to go 4K (but I want faster than 60Hz).

4K (3840x2160), 144Hz, IPS, quantum-dot, 4ms(GTG), 16:9, 27" = £2,049.99 <gulps>

another_commander wrote: ↑Fri Jul 29, 2022 5:42 am

..provided you are OK with the pre-installed OXPs - use the unofficial Windows monolithic executable which increases max FOV to 120 degrees - 110 deg for wide screen seems just fine).

I feel unsure what you mean with "pre-installed" OXPs. Do you mean provided the OXPs I include somehow aren't at odds with the FOV adjustment?

Cody wrote: ↑Fri Jul 29, 2022 10:40 am

4K (3840x2160), 144Hz, IPS, quantum-dot, 4ms(GTG), 16:9, 27" = £2,049.99 <gulps>

My friend emphasises importance of AMS, Adaptive-Sync-tech.. Are you concerned?

The Svive seems promising on several points, the luminosity, the colours.. if only I could be sure if the 5ms in the heading supersedes the 16ms mentioned in the specs. One of them must be a typo. My friend says with 16ms I might experience a tiny screen ghosting on a quick turn (though I suspect he speaks from intense 1P shooter criteria). £340..
I think it's between that and a Philips 34" curved WQHD 3440 x 1440 21:9 100Hz 1ms AMS for £420.

I should see if I can find a store that has these things on display but I doubt I would be so lucky. But at least I should see something that would turn me more on or off the whole curved idea.

Old Murgh wrote: ↑Fri Jul 29, 2022 11:42 am

My friend emphasises importance of AMS, Adaptive-Sync-tech.. Are you concerned?

Yes! Recent nVidia GPUs use G-Sync (which my current monitor and GPU use). G-Sync compatible should be fine, but check with your friend. Personally, I'd want a G-Sync monitor just to be sure, but hey... your friend (or someone else here) may know more.

Old Murgh wrote: ↑Fri Jul 29, 2022 11:42 am

.. if only I could be sure if the 5ms in the heading supersedes the 16ms mentioned in the specs. One of them must be a typo.

The bastards use two different ways of listing response time these days: GTG and MPRT so both could be right. It's a minefield!

Old Murgh wrote: ↑Fri Jul 29, 2022 11:42 am

I feel unsure what you mean with "pre-installed" OXPs. Do you mean provided the OXPs I include somehow aren't at odds with the FOV adjustment?

OK, let me clarify a bit. The unofficial monolith is an Oolite executable that has some minor changes in the code compared to the official game and it also has some gfx and sound enhancement OXPs already contained within. You cannot remove those specific OXPs, as they have effectively become part of the core in this particular game distribution, but you can otherwise add and remove any other OXP as usual. If you do not like any of those "internal" OXPs for whatever reason, then the monolith is not something you would enjoy. That's what I mean by "provided you are OK with the pre-installed OXPs".

Check out the first post in the topic I linked to in my previous message for more information about what exactly this package is and what changes it brings compared to the official game. One of the code changes is the maximum FOV, which has been increased from the 80 deg of the official distribution to 120 deg, specifically for playing on widescreen monitors.

Just one thing to consider before making the plunge.

Has the news about the Natty Norwegian Naval Officer made it up to the northern borderlands? HIMSN (Her Imperial Majesty's Space Navy OXP) was originally spearheaded by your noble countryman, Gimi, who was performing great deeds of derring-do. He then bought a new computer. It had better specs, and could run E:D. We never saw him again. He was eventually succeeded at the helm of HIMSN by Pleb. Pleb's computer was flooded by water coming in from above. He bought a new computer. It had better specs and could run E:D. We never saw him again...

Beware!!

Cholmondely wrote: ↑Fri Jul 29, 2022 5:39 pm

Beware!!

<grins> The curse of the new machine, eh? ED and SC between them drove quite a wave of PC buying/building. I built a new machine in 2014 to handle ED, then abandoned ED. That machine is still going strong, btw (it was gifted to a friend's son).