Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[FreakyCheeseMan]

So, I'm looking at getting a new computer, and am wondering which bits of power I should push for big applications (read: Dwarf Fortress). I should have a decent processor (dual-core 2.6) and likewise ram (4 GB), and not a lot of doubt about those, but I was wondering how much the nature of the hard drive would affect speed of play. I can go with a 5400 RPM, 7200RPM, or a solid state- the last being much more expensive, for less space.

How much of a visible difference would the speed of the hard drive make for applications in general, and dwarf fortress in specific? (I can imagine that on a technical level it might use different resources than a high-graphics game would).

[AncientEnemy]

for dwarf fortress, I doubt that harddrive speed is going to make any appreciable difference. the number one concern for DF is individual processor speed. multicore helps to some extent by allowing DF a 'processor all to itself' while background tasks can be moved to another core. but really for DF the #1 issue is how fast is each individual processor. besides having a cripplingly bad bottleneck somewhere else (terribad onboard graphics or way too little ram or something), this is really the only thing that matters for DF specifically.

[Thief^]

The only thing that would even touch the hard disk with DF is saving/loading.

Just make sure you have enough ram, and a really fast cpu. Ideally one with Intel's Turbo Boost or AMD's Turbo Core (they're the same thing).

EDIT: When you say computer, do you mean "laptop"? I ask because you mention a 5400 rpm hard-disk, which have only really been used in laptops for years. Laptops are a whole different ballgame...

[FreakyCheeseMan]

The only thing that would even touch the hard disk with DF is saving/loading.

Just make sure you have enough ram, and a really fast cpu. Ideally one with Intel's Turbo Boost or AMD's Turbo Core (they're the same thing).

EDIT: When you say computer, do you mean "laptop"? I ask because you mention a 5400 rpm hard-disk, which have only really been used in laptops for years. Laptops are a whole different ballgame...

Yeah, specifically I'm looking at a MacBook Pro- pretty much certain I'm getting something in that family, just trying to decide the specs.

Dual-core processor will have turbo boost, I think the result is something like 3.7.