I was also getting a bit lost with the process and recommendations for Unreal Gold that don't seem to apply anymore. Here is what I did after installing Unreal Gold from here on GOG:

It looks like we only need to download UnrealGoldPatch227i.* from either the Unreal Texture or Old Unreal sites. From what I can tell, both downloads are the same.

After installing the 227i patch, exit the game if you launched it with the installer. Presuming you have a video card with 4GB or more of VRAM, download one copy of each of the "S3TC Extreme End" *.utx texture zip compressed files from this page:

http://www.unrealtexture.com/Unreal/Website/Downloads/Textures/ExtremeEnd/StockUnreal/UnrealExtremeEndMain.htm

The only link that appear to be functional is the last link on each file, with the "Very, Very, Last Resort Download" label. Please do a favor for whoever owns the website and take your time by downloading only one of the files at a time.

Once the files are downloaded, make a backup copy of the "Unreal Gold\Textures" directory for good measure, I just did a Right-click drag in WIndows into the same Unreal Gold folder, making a new "Textures - Copy" directory. Then you can extract the contents all of the downloaded texture .zip files into the original "Unreal Gold\Textures" folder, overwriting any of the existing files.

Launch the game, making sure to select the OpenGL renderer. From there, it's a matter of setting the appropriate screen resolution and graphic settings appropriate for your system and starting a new game.

There are better texture packs available. Get them here: https://sites.google.com/view/unrealhdtextures/home

Excellent site.

OK I install Unreal gold. Install the 227 patch. I tried to run it to enable opengl and I get a General protection fault. So i did the DEP on it still no luck. Any Ideas? Thanks

Add the Unreal.exe to your DEP exceptions list.

Did that no luck.
I finally got it? I had to put win 7 compatibility on it? go figure.Along with the DEP.

I just bought Unreal Gold on GoG, do I need the patches? Also is there any online play? I can't connect to servers it says.

You need to go to oldunreal.com website
https://www.oldunreal.com/oldunrealpatches.html

The you download the UnrealGold Version of the 227I (Latest one)

A new official patch for UT has been released: https://github.com/OldUnreal/UnrealTournamentPatches/releases/tag/v469a

works like a charm mate +1 !

The latest community patch destroys performance on my machine. It drops as low as 20 at times.

holding a vigil here

I beg to differ.
Just a realist calling out stupid statements on the net for my own amusement.

You wouldn't be so arrogant in person.