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[Anticipation]

I hear that Dwarf Fortresses speed relies on different computer componants to most other games, for example graphics cards don't make a large difference because of the lack of graphics and having a multi-core computer doesn't increase game speed because DF is single threaded.

So I was wondering, I have a cheap, old computer (50 australian dollers at a garrage sale  ) that has intergrated graphics and a 3.19 GHz single core processor. Would that mean my crummy computer actually runs DF at a decent speed compared to a more expensive computer that has several smaller cores and a flash-tastic video card?

[zchris13]

The same amount of hertz takes you farther nowadays.  It's more efficient.

So no.  Probably not.

[QuakeIV]

It would run at a decent speed, yes, 3.14GHZ is a fine speed per core, and df is single threaded after all.

I do suggest a dual core though, one to run the OS on.

[Anticipation]

Fine point, I hadn't considered all of the things that the computer does just sitting there. Cheers 

[KaelGotDwarves]

No, that assumption is incorrect.

New computers (compared to much older)run on different architecture. For example an i7 totally blows away a pentium4 at the same clockspeed. There is bandwidth and a myriad of factors which increases computing power.

DF just doesn't require much input from graphics cards at all, except for a bit of openGL, and doesn't utilize multiple cores.

Dualcore helps because essential background processes and os can be run on one core and df on the other, but over 2 cores you will not see improvement in DF.

So, if you want DF to run well, buy the best processor you can and a dirt cheap graphics card.

[Anticipation]

While we're all here, what effect does RAM have on DF? (I seem to remember hearing not much but I'm not sure.)

[zchris13]

You have to have enough, but otherwise not much for stuff past that.

[Anticipation]

Thanks alot guys 

Haha, well that was simple..