Dawntrail / Benchmark Heartbroken.

I'm thinking that I can't be the only one that is in this position.

I first fell in love with Final Fantasy by playing FFXI starting back in 2006 and played until the release of A Realm Reborn release. I was actually in the Beta as an alt on a friends char.

I absolutely loved everything about FFXIV since day one.

I've met and still have friends from these worlds from all over the globe. Friends that together we made amazing memories. Triumphs. Failures Determination. Joy Sadness and an amazing sense of accomplishment.

And now ... I can't play Dawntrail. My poor old toaster system can't handle the new graphics upgrade and the benchmark won't even run or get me to where the graphics settings can be adjusted.

My greatest fear is that I won't even be able to stay in the game, and everything I've worked for and have will be gone. And before anyone says just pop out and get a new system or graphics card or ps5 or Xbox, I can't. The funds just are not there and won't be.

So, I will wait till the release and see what happens. But I feel deep down inside that this will be goodbye.

And that truly breaks my heart.

So everyone. Remember the friends you have made; Remember the times you have had and treasure them. They could be gone quicker than you think.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Almiise

And now ... I can't play Dawntrail. My poor old toaster system can't handle the new graphics upgrade and the benchmark won't even run or get me to where the graphics settings can be adjusted.

---

When you double click "ffxiv-dawntrail-bench.exe", a launcher pops up. On that launcher, above where it says "Start" is "Settings", where you can change your settings.

(I circled the Settings button in red also)
https://prnt.sc/ZuuVgstLJn4l
https://prnt.sc/ZuuVgstLJn4l

Are you saying that this launcher doesn't even open for you? If so that's not an issue with the graphics update, since nothing has really loaded yet, there is something else going on (so there's still hope).

If the launcher itself won't open, when you downloaded the benchmark, make sure you place ALL the files that are included with the .zip file in the same folder, otherwise, it won't run.

(Similar to this)
https://prnt.sc/FUKUov_FhkMN
https://prnt.sc/FUKUov_FhkMN

Hopefully that helps fix it for you?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Almiise

My poor old toaster system can't handle the new graphics upgrade and the benchmark won't even run or get me to where the graphics settings can be adjusted.

---

Can you tell us your specs? We can probably work out the minimum thing you need to upgrade to get it to run on minimum settings.

The minimum specs are mostly the current maximum specs, except I think they want a good processor for technical reasons.

Even if you can't enter the expansion areas, you may be able to manage the old areas still. That was the case with Stormblood, which increased the amount of NPCs in dungeons and dropped my FPS so low that I had to upgrade. But if I'd stuck to older areas it was fine.

Quote:

---

The funds just are not there and won't be.

---

You can often find a way to get a cheap machine if you're able to build it and use second-hand parts. For example, I built one for the cost of a week's supply of food before by re-using components from old computers around my house. Re-using power supplies, sound/network cards, keyboards, mice, monitors. I would get a good GPU second-hand from someone who was upgrading and selling it half-price, and a really cheap, old i7 processor that was the same in performance to a modern i3 or i5 for example, but cheaper. And these older components were compatible with an old motherboard which was also, thus, cheaper.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Almiise

I'm thinking that I can't be the only one that is in this position.

I first fell in love with Final Fantasy by playing FFXI starting back in 2006 and played until the release of A Realm Reborn release. I was actually in the Beta as an alt on a friends char.

I absolutely loved everything about FFXIV since day one.

I've met and still have friends from these worlds from all over the globe. Friends that together we made amazing memories. Triumphs. Failures Determination. Joy Sadness and an amazing sense of accomplishment.

And now ... I can't play Dawntrail. My poor old toaster system can't handle the new graphics upgrade and the benchmark won't even run or get me to where the graphics settings can be adjusted.

My greatest fear is that I won't even be able to stay in the game, and everything I've worked for and have will be gone. And before anyone says just pop out and get a new system or graphics card or ps5 or Xbox, I can't. The funds just are not there and won't be.

So, I will wait till the release and see what happens. But I feel deep down inside that this will be goodbye.

And that truly breaks my heart.

So everyone. Remember the friends you have made; Remember the times you have had and treasure them. They could be gone quicker than you think.

---

All I will say… is like… they told you to start prepping since like Feb 2022 when they announced the update and the increase in specs. I’m not knowing your financial situation but 2 and a half years since they announced it to dawntrail release is a long time frame here. Granted you will be able to dial stuff down on pc including your resolution and maybe the new FSR/DLSS can sort of pick up some slack for you but all in all they did constantly remind people ‘hey we are doing an upgrade you will need to check your specs etc’

If you can afford a subscription mmo since 2006, you could have taken breaks and started saving. Heck, the money you won't be spending on FFXIV since you can't play it, save for a PS5 or a new PC. You'll get there sooner than you think.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Boblawblah

If you can afford a subscription mmo since 2006, you could have taken breaks and started saving. Heck, the money you won't be spending on FFXIV since you can't play it, save for a PS5 or a new PC. You'll get there sooner than you think.

---

That's a good point. To unsubscribe now would allow for at least $19.04 by Dawntrail release. After several more months to a year, it would probably allow for a minimum spec PC with second hand components thrown together.

Further to that point, if the OP's whole household budget was presented maybe we could nitpick what could be done cheaper so that a PC can be saved for.

It's a harsh reality, but with regards to any PC game, if you don't keep your PC upgraded semi regularly, they will eventually outgrow your system. When they first told us about the graphical update awhile back, I knew I'd have to upgrade my PC. And I prepared for it and managed to save up for the specs I needed (and I don't make a whole lot of money, mind you). I'm sorry, it stinks, this happens, the graphics are quite outdated at this point, over a decade.

Sorry to hear that about your PC. Then I thought have you considered a preowned PS4 (slim) they tend to be around $200 in USA. I mean even the original PS4 would be close to $150+ which I bought a long time ago too.

Are you really sure your system can't run it? As Cirka mentioned, it might just not be working because you're trying to load the benchmark straight from the ZIP file, where as the benchmark specifically requires all the files in the ZIP you download need to be extracted to another folder, otherwise it won't work.

According to the new minimium specifications SE listed for DT my system was not powerful enough (processor and video card), yet, I ran the benchmark anyway.... and.... lo and behold it worked. Both in the default Windowed mode and with custom Full Screen settings to my actual screen resolution, both ran well and I got a 'Standard' result, meaning it will work (just without a lot of fancy bells and whistles). My understanding is if your system truly cannot run the benchmark and thus DT, the benchmark will actually detect this and inform you of it with an error message, it just doesn't simply refuse to run period. There must be something else interfering with it. So don't despair okay! (Don't want the Final Days coming back again after all ;)).