Ghraphics Card Question
 

NVIDIA GeForce 7300 LE

Total available graphics memory 382 MB

Dedicated graphics memory 128 MB

Dedicated system memory 0 MB

Shared system memory 254 MB

Display adapter driver version 7.15.11.5818

Primary monitor resolution 1280x1024

DirectX version 10


I also have 1gb of system ram, a core duo 1.8ghz processor.
As you can see this is not enough to operate SH4 smoothly, so I'm planning to upgrade the RAM to 2gb and the Video card.

I have a budget of about €150 to €200 for a decent DX10 and Vista card...

Any ideas? ;):hmm:

I also have kinda same problem..

I think I will buy a 8800 GTS 320mb, pricing holland aprox 260 euro
200 and below.. go for ATI X1900XT, 7900GS or 7950GT. But these are DX9 cards.
Don't buy an 8600 serie !

Check this thread
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=120070

and this one
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=119748

I'm sorry my friend, there is no alternative but to buy a better computer. Lidl are doing one at the moment that is cheap and pretty high spec. Good luck.

@The General - SH IV can run just fine on a single core, age-old Athlon XP 1700+, with 768 RAM and a 6600 video card. And the video card is usually underused, too.

@IrischKapitan - For your system and limited budget, I'd recommend you shoot for a cheap 7900GS or x1950 Pro (as much as I love nvidia, an x1950Pro is cheaper and the cheap ATi models are usually better than cheap nvidia cards) and some extra RAM. Then aim for a better processor when the next upgrade comes around ;) 2 GB and one of the above mentioned video cards should last you a while.

I totally agree on both points..
Except he wants a card that is Vista and DX10..

I was given SH4 by my nephew as a gift (had not bought it myself as I figured my machine was too long in the tooth - althoug SH3 runs fine on it). It runs surprisingly well - certainly playable, although time compression can be a bit bizarre to use, and sure, the video is not as visually stunning as it could be.

My machine:

2.8GHz PIV
2.5GB RAM (2x1GB plus 2x256MB - PC2700 DDR, CAS=3)
Saphire ATI 9600XT 256MB AGP video

About the only upgrade I can really do is the video. So I should have my HIS ATI X1650 Pro IceQII 512MB card tomorrow (from newegg.com), and a new 460watt power supply (from different place) to replace my current 300watt. That should make the eye candy in Sh4 better.

But, it has been quite enjoyable with the machine as is, with a couple of exceptions. Cruising around Pearl does cause some sluggishness in mouse response, as does high time compression modes (above 2048x). I have no idea about frame rates, as I never pay any attention to them - I just go by how things look on screen to my eyes (fps, to my mind = who cares? as long as the viewing experience is acceptable/workable).

Certainly a newer, faster machine would be nicer, but running SH4 on older hardware is quite acceptable.

PS. running XP SP2, as I have no interest in buying Vista for this machine.

O RLY? How underused would a 6600 be playing at 1920 x 1440 with FSAA and AF cranked up? It would be totally underused under those conditions, because after one attempt you'd dropkick it into the nearest dumpster. It's hard to make a recommendation without knowing what someone's definition of "runs just fine" is :D

Personally, I wouldn't buy anything less than a GF7900GS or X1950 Pro. Both can be found at reasonable prices especially if you go rebate-hunting, and both are available in AGP if you're trying to extend the life of an older system. If budget constraints won't allow that, the GF7600 cards generally outperform the Radeon X1600. If you want DX10, nothing less than a GF8800 will do. The lesser cards might technically support DX10 features, but they don't have the performance to produce anything but a DX10 slideshow.

The 7300LE uses the 128MB on the graphics board but it will also share part of the system RAM to add extra to it. Since you only have 1GB of RAM in your system and the graphics card is also using 254MB of that, it leaves little for the actual game while it's running. Since you're using Windows Vista (DX10), it'll be even more pronounced because Vista is such a RAM hog.

Not to mention the 7300 isn't a speedy gfx card. I'd recommend getting a bigger vid card or, at least, doubling your RAM.

There is a setting in most MOBO bios's... Its called 'AGP Aperture'....(not sure what it is called on PCI-e slots, but im sure they have one) this controls how much on board ram the card can utilize. Most boards can set this as low as 64meg. May be of help for you for now.

I run a P4 2.8gig single core, 1gig ram, and an old Raedeon 9800XT. With most things ticked and all sliders up I run 25fps... very playable. (yes volumetric fog is 'ON', yes high res textures is 'ON')

I'm not talking about pointlessly huge resolutions and extreme eye-candy here, y'know...

It would be nice to know what 100 pounds equals?

I'd already figured that, plus I'm planning to upgrade my ram by 1gig and (see first post), I think I'll buy a GF7950GT (plus vista capaple), card as it offers the best comprimise between performance and value ($200 of tigerdirect, about €145 plus 1 gig of Corsair DDR2 ram for under €180! :smug::|\\)

The GF8800 is a bit out of my price range plus its a power hungry and air hungry card which requires more upgrading..... Maybe next time....

Thanks for all the useful info!!!

Sure thing!

I've been quite happy with my XFX 7900GS that I upgraded to months ago. You'll be more than fine with that 7950:up:

8800 For The Win! Hands down. Get the 640mb and dont waste money on any other 8 series unless its a GTX or Ultra :D

And for a little input: Me and my friend did a test the other day to see how the 8 series stacked up to the 7 series. We used Half Life: Lost Coast video test as our base and maxed out the settings. He had a E6600 and SLI OCd 7900GS's. I have a E6400 and a 640 OCd 8800GTS.

We turned the settings up and let the test run. Even with my crappier processor I destroyed him in the test. I got 108fps as a average and he got around 50 something. So for everyone who recommends 7 series. Just stop it, they arent worth it. They are already outdated because they cant play any of the newer games in DX10 and they dont post #s even close to the 8 series.

You might think your saving money now, but your wasting it in the long run.

Also no one even look at anything less than a 8800. THe other 8 series are crap.

My 2 cents

Well, sure, a 7 series won't support DX10 but some of us don't have $350+ to sink into a video card much less sink any money into one of the sh!tty low-end 8 series cards. Thanks!