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Titanfall 48GB PC Install Explained
For those of you wondering why the PC version of Titanfall has a 48GB install (compared to 16GB on the Xbox One), here is your answer.
Those of you who have downloaded the PC version of Titanfall already might have noticed it's a hefty install: just shy of 49GB. By comparison, the Xbox One version, due out in the UK this Friday, weighs in at roughly 17GB. Why? It's to do with the audio, developer Respawn has explained to Eurogamer.
To play Titanfall on PC you have to install a whopping 35GB of uncompressed audio, which isn't something we're used to with games.
Respawn lead engineer Richard Baker told Eurogamer this was to do with the developer engineering the game's data to work with less capable machines. In short, Titanfall reserves a decent proportion of CPU time for audio decode. By having uncompressed audio, the game runs faster for those using slower systems.
This is not an issue for the Xbox One version because the console has audio decode built into the hardware.
"Yeah, basically when you download the game or the disc itself, it's a lot smaller than that," Baker replied when asked about the PC version's 48GB install.
"We have audio we either download or install from the disc, then we uncompress it. We probably could have had audio decompress off disc but we were a little worried about min spec and the fact that a two-core machine would dedicate a huge chunk of one core to just decompressing audio.
"So... it's almost all audio... On a higher PC it wouldn't be an issue. On a medium or moderate PC, it wouldn't be an issue, it's that on a two-core [machine] with where our min spec is, we couldn't dedicate those resources to audio."
Titanfall's minimum specs are extremely light. They are as follows:
- OS: Windows Vista SP2 64-bit / Windows 7 SP1 64-bit / Windows 8 64-bit
- CPU: AMD Athlon X2 2.8GHz / Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz
- RAM: At least 4 GB
- HARD DRIVE: At least 50GB of free space
- VIDEO: AMD Radeon HD 4770 with 512MB RAM or better / Nvidia GeForce 8800GT with 512MB RAM or better
- DirectX: DirectX 11
- INPUT: Keyboard and mouse, Microsoft Gamepad
- ONLINE CONNECTION REQUIREMENTS: 512kbps down and 384kbps up or faster Internet connection
So there you have it.
Those of you who have downloaded the PC version of Titanfall already might have noticed it's a hefty install: just shy of 49GB. By comparison, the Xbox One version, due out in the UK this Friday, weighs in at roughly 17GB.
Why? It's to do with the audio, developer Respawn has explained to Eurogamer.
To play Titanfall on PC you have to install a whopping 35GB of uncompressed audio, which isn't something we're used to with games.
Respawn lead engineer Richard Baker told Eurogamer this was to do with the developer engineering the game's data to work with less capable machines. In short, Titanfall reserves a decent proportion of CPU time for audio decode. By having uncompressed audio, the game runs faster for those using slower systems.
This is not an issue for the Xbox One version because the console has audio decode built into the hardware.
"Yeah, basically when you download the game or the disc itself, it's a lot smaller than that," Baker replied when asked about the PC version's 48GB install.
"We have audio we either download or install from the disc, then we uncompress it. We probably could have had audio decompress off disc but we were a little worried about min spec and the fact that a two-core machine would dedicate a huge chunk of one core to just decompressing audio.
"So... it's almost all audio... On a higher PC it wouldn't be an issue. On a medium or moderate PC, it wouldn't be an issue, it's that on a two-core [machine] with where our min spec is, we couldn't dedicate those resources to audio."
Titanfall's minimum specs are extremely light. They are as follows:
- OS: Windows Vista SP2 64-bit / Windows 7 SP1 64-bit / Windows 8 64-bit
- CPU: AMD Athlon X2 2.8GHz / Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz
- RAM: At least 4 GB
- HARD DRIVE: At least 50GB of free space
- VIDEO: AMD Radeon HD 4770 with 512MB RAM or better / Nvidia GeForce 8800GT with 512MB RAM or better
- DirectX: DirectX 11
- INPUT: Keyboard and mouse, Microsoft Gamepad
- ONLINE CONNECTION REQUIREMENTS: 512kbps down and 384kbps up or faster Internet connection
So there you have it.
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benq
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#4781066 Posted on: 03/12/2014 09:07 AM
if you lost your DVD and have very low download speed (660KB/s) you must be 1 year downloading the game
if you lost your DVD and have very low download speed (660KB/s) you must be 1 year downloading the game
SLI-756
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Banned
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#4781067 Posted on: 03/12/2014 09:10 AM
48gb of quality ssd space costs more than the retail price of the game itself, and i'm not talking about cheap key site prices either.
they done it so lower end rigs can join in the fun, at the expense of us on the higher rigs.
gimme 35gb of hd textures instead or forget about it.
if you lost your DVD and have very low download speed (660KB/s) you must be 1 year downloading the game
48gb of quality ssd space costs more than the retail price of the game itself, and i'm not talking about cheap key site prices either.
they done it so lower end rigs can join in the fun, at the expense of us on the higher rigs.
gimme 35gb of hd textures instead or forget about it.
benq
Member Guru
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Member Guru
Posts: 66
Joined: 2014-02-22
#4781068 Posted on: 03/12/2014 09:13 AM
48gb of quality ssd space costs more than the retail price of the game itself, and i'm not talking about cheap key site prices either.
they done it so lower end rigs can join in the fun, at the expense of us on the higher rigs.
gimme 35gb of hd textures instead or forget about it.
I just mean if you have very low download speed and you bought it from steam or whatever you'll be an eternity to get it
48gb of quality ssd space costs more than the retail price of the game itself, and i'm not talking about cheap key site prices either.
they done it so lower end rigs can join in the fun, at the expense of us on the higher rigs.
gimme 35gb of hd textures instead or forget about it.
I just mean if you have very low download speed and you bought it from steam or whatever you'll be an eternity to get it
yasamoka
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Ancient Guru
Posts: 3487
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#4781069 Posted on: 03/12/2014 09:14 AM
While they should offer both options in some way (DLC?), me and many others have been pining for games to have better and better audio. Uncompressed is the way to go and even though I have a slow connection, it's alright with me.
Games like Far Cry 3, that have arguably huge game potential, are marred by subpar audio that is so compressed it's ridiculous. It just ends up sounding bland and lifeless.
Games like BioShock Infinite have great audio but the stereo separation in BioShock is a bit weird.
While they should offer both options in some way (DLC?), me and many others have been pining for games to have better and better audio. Uncompressed is the way to go and even though I have a slow connection, it's alright with me.
Games like Far Cry 3, that have arguably huge game potential, are marred by subpar audio that is so compressed it's ridiculous. It just ends up sounding bland and lifeless.
Games like BioShock Infinite have great audio but the stereo separation in BioShock is a bit weird.
SLI-756
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#4781071 Posted on: 03/12/2014 09:25 AM
for sure, ideally you'd be after the dvd version like me though personally i'm just gonna stick with good ol' bf4.
if it had a campaign however ..or perhaps the option to join low populated servers without the bots getting in the way if you want to play less frantic style.
I just mean if you have very low download speed and you bought it from steam or whatever you'll be an eternity to get it
for sure, ideally you'd be after the dvd version like me though personally i'm just gonna stick with good ol' bf4.
if it had a campaign however ..or perhaps the option to join low populated servers without the bots getting in the way if you want to play less frantic style.
thatguy91
Ancient Guru
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Ancient Guru
Posts: 4340
Joined: 2010-08-27
#4781073 Posted on: 03/12/2014 09:32 AM
Solution:
When you install, have the installer detect the machine. If it is low end, automatically select the option for the decompressed audio, if on a typical machine, leave it compressed.
It is ludicrous that they even contemplating this as a suitable option for everyone. Also, those on a low end machine that may benefit from this also probably doesn't have huge amounts of disk space spare either, not to mention the fact that more data has to be loaded off the disk, most likely an older, slower, mechanical disk that probably hasn't been defragmented...
How much CPU does playing a MP3 use anyway (without audio enhancements)? With audio enhancements, you have to consider that they are also applied to the uncompressed audio anyway.
Pure idiocy.
Solution:
When you install, have the installer detect the machine. If it is low end, automatically select the option for the decompressed audio, if on a typical machine, leave it compressed.
It is ludicrous that they even contemplating this as a suitable option for everyone. Also, those on a low end machine that may benefit from this also probably doesn't have huge amounts of disk space spare either, not to mention the fact that more data has to be loaded off the disk, most likely an older, slower, mechanical disk that probably hasn't been defragmented...
How much CPU does playing a MP3 use anyway (without audio enhancements)? With audio enhancements, you have to consider that they are also applied to the uncompressed audio anyway.
Pure idiocy.
Raider0001
Master Guru
Posts: 151
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Master Guru
Posts: 151
Joined: 2006-11-25
#4781078 Posted on: 03/12/2014 10:10 AM
Blame windows for stupid software audio decoding
and that is with just 1 audio at a time, 4% for what ?!? something that could be done with 0%
Blame windows for stupid software audio decoding
and that is with just 1 audio at a time, 4% for what ?!? something that could be done with 0%
Fox2232
Maha Guru
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Maha Guru
Posts: 1989
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#4781082 Posted on: 03/12/2014 10:27 AM
So those poor people with low end machines not only have troubles playing game, they have very long loading times too. (messing up loading times for people with SSD in process too)
And that all for nothing. As there are light weight, royalty free codecs which would give decent file size without hindering CPU.
Now if such developer is not hypocritical and would like to help gamers they would push M$ to give back proper HW audio acceleration model instead of promoting D/A converters which calls themselves sound cards these days.
So those poor people with low end machines not only have troubles playing game, they have very long loading times too. (messing up loading times for people with SSD in process too)
And that all for nothing. As there are light weight, royalty free codecs which would give decent file size without hindering CPU.
Now if such developer is not hypocritical and would like to help gamers they would push M$ to give back proper HW audio acceleration model instead of promoting D/A converters which calls themselves sound cards these days.
Loobyluggs
Maha Guru
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Maha Guru
Posts: 1350
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#4781086 Posted on: 03/12/2014 10:46 AM
Agreed. Total lunacy.
yeah, ridiculous.
Agreed. Total lunacy.
FordLynx07
Member Guru
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Member Guru
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#4781091 Posted on: 03/12/2014 11:01 AM
I can't imagine Core 2 Duo's having problems decompressing audio files. And a 8800GT on dx11?
I can't imagine Core 2 Duo's having problems decompressing audio files. And a 8800GT on dx11?
sverek
Maha Guru
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Maha Guru
Posts: 1428
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#4781092 Posted on: 03/12/2014 11:08 AM
If it takes so long to decompress audio files, its a huge failure on engine side.
Even weak CPU can decompress lots of sounds on "source engine" without any lags.
It just doesn't make any sense. Either developers have no idea what they doing or there huge problems with engine itself, which cannot be fixed.
If it takes so long to decompress audio files, its a huge failure on engine side.
Even weak CPU can decompress lots of sounds on "source engine" without any lags.
It just doesn't make any sense. Either developers have no idea what they doing or there huge problems with engine itself, which cannot be fixed.
Dexirexi
Newbie
Posts: 9
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Newbie
Posts: 9
Joined: 2009-11-07
#4781099 Posted on: 03/12/2014 11:38 AM
Am i the only one to notice that it requires a min VGA: 8800gt and a min DirectX: DX11
I've never seen an 8800 with DX11
Am i the only one to notice that it requires a min VGA: 8800gt and a min DirectX: DX11
I've never seen an 8800 with DX11
Kevin cobley
Newbie
Posts: 16
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Newbie
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#4781109 Posted on: 03/12/2014 11:58 AM
Specs for new games should just be tightened and just develop games to run on decent hardware a minimum spec of an 8800 GT (a 6 year old low end card).
Minimum specs for all new PC games should be 4 core i7 or i5 machines(AMD equiv), GTX460 graphics (AMD Equiv), 8G DDR and 64bit Vista and above operating system.
Designing games to run on both state of the art and obsolete/office machines is an absurd idea, let the low end guys by an Xbox.
Not buying this game always hated mech games. It's going to take half my monthly download allowance.
Specs for new games should just be tightened and just develop games to run on decent hardware a minimum spec of an 8800 GT (a 6 year old low end card).
Minimum specs for all new PC games should be 4 core i7 or i5 machines(AMD equiv), GTX460 graphics (AMD Equiv), 8G DDR and 64bit Vista and above operating system.
Designing games to run on both state of the art and obsolete/office machines is an absurd idea, let the low end guys by an Xbox.
Not buying this game always hated mech games. It's going to take half my monthly download allowance.
Clawedge
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#4781113 Posted on: 03/12/2014 12:03 PM
this is the first time where i have seen audio outweigh textures ...OMG!
anyway, couldnt they have transferred mp3 or aac or whatever compressed format, and an encoder where the compressed was converted to wav(?) or what ever?
this is the first time where i have seen audio outweigh textures ...OMG!
anyway, couldnt they have transferred mp3 or aac or whatever compressed format, and an encoder where the compressed was converted to wav(?) or what ever?
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yeah, ridiculous.