Cheap Video Card...

ReallyDedPoet · 02-14-12, 11:48 AM

Currently using a 8600GT, 512RAM
Pci - Expess x 16 slot.

I am running this with a Dual Core 3.2ghz,
with 2 gigs of RAM.

My motherboard: Here Asus P5NSLI

The system is an older one for sure, looking at upgrading
the video card. Any thoughts? Believe it or not
the above ran SH5 ( fairly well ) before I did a reformat
of the computer.

I am struggling a bit installing and uninstalling
various drivers to get the game to run like it did.
I forget what driver was installed. Thinking
instead to just update with a cheaper type card.

Don't want to spend to much as the system
I have does not warrant this. Any suggestions?

AVGWarhawk · 02-14-12, 05:51 PM

Nvidia 9800 or better card will work great. Fortunate you have PCI. Finding AGP is very hard. Your rig has plenty of life left!

ReallyDedPoet · 02-14-12, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

Nvidia 9800 or better card will work great. Fortunate you have PCI. Finding AGP is very hard. Your rig has plenty of life left!

Thanks AVG, I'll have a look at it.

CaptainHaplo · 02-14-12, 10:37 PM

Is it a standard or low profile machine?

You can get a good PNY Geforce 430 in either profile for well under 100 bucks. Its not a screamer card, but a solid one for most games. Even though its not "hardcore" - it doesn't require a PS plug, and its fast enough that it won't be the bottleneck in your current rig. You would need a MB/CPU/Ram upgrade before you throttle the card, so for the price its worth it depending on your long range plans.

$63 bucks here:
http://www.amazon.com/PNY-GeForce-PC...9276890&sr=8-1

I have used the card and recommend it highly for the use your looking at. I actually put this in my Low Profile machine at work (its my "test" machine that has a few games on it - for BENCHMARKING purposes only, I assure you!) and it handles games like World in Conflict, Dragon Age /DA2, etc without issue. Not on highest settings or max rez, but still looks really good.

ReallyDedPoet · 02-15-12, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainHaplo

Is it a standard or low profile machine?

You can get a good PNY Geforce 430 in either profile for well under 100 bucks. Its not a screamer card, but a solid one for most games. Even though its not "hardcore" - it doesn't require a PS plug, and its fast enough that it won't be the bottleneck in your current rig. You would need a MB/CPU/Ram upgrade before you throttle the card, so for the price its worth it depending on your long range plans.

$63 bucks here:
http://www.amazon.com/PNY-GeForce-PC...9276890&sr=8-1

I have used the card and recommend it highly for the use your looking at. I actually put this in my Low Profile machine at work (its my "test" machine that has a few games on it - for BENCHMARKING purposes only, I assure you!) and it handles games like World in Conflict, Dragon Age /DA2, etc without issue. Not on highest settings or max rez, but still looks really good.

What is the main difference between standard and low profile?
Amount of space available.

Also is Pci-express x 16 the same as 2.0?

Thanks for the reply CH

CaptainHaplo · 02-15-12, 10:02 PM

Standard vs low profile - cases come in various "sizes" - business ones usually are smaller "boxes" - the components are packed in a lot tighter. These use the "low profile" style card - its about half height of a standard sized card. This is because the box they fit into is not as high (or "thick") as a standard XT case. Basically your normal is 4.2"and a low profile is 2.1" height.

Standard is what you normally would get with a regular size pc case. If your existing 8800 is a regular card, then you need a standard sized card to fit.

The thing about the PNY I linked - is it is a smaller card but comes mounted on a standard size end - so it fits a standard pc. If you need it for a low profile machine - there is a "shorter" faceplate that you switch out - so it fits in the smaller machine. Really nice design to work in either "size".

Now - PCIe. "x16" - It has 16 "lanes" for data to travel back and forth. More lanes = faster data transfer.

But the version is important. V1 or 1.1 can transfer stuff at 250MB/s - while V2 doubles that rate. This means that the version is a multiplier for the lanes. They have a x32 card - and running at v1.1 would be the same data transfer rate as a x16 card running v2.

Basically - as long as its a V2 capable card, and most are - your fine. Even if your running v1 - its backwards compatible.

V2.1 breaks that - but not many cards/boards are 2.1 for that very reason. 3.0 was released, but it is not readily available either.

Just stick with a x16 card - v2 preferably and you will be fine.

ReallyDedPoet · 10-02-12, 10:28 AM

Finally have the computer working properly. Did a reinstall ( had not done this for quite some time, my system needed it ) of XP, various drivers etc. When I first installed the RAM and VC I did so without doing the above, I messed things up and did a system restore which did not help.

It was a busy summer so I am just getting back to this now.

Anyway, with the reinstall things seem to be working much better. Initially I am getting 10 + frames better with SH 5 than previously. And at a higher resolution.

02-14-12, 11:48 AM	#1
ReallyDedPoet Canadian Wolf Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Canada. The one and only, East Coast Posts: 10,885 Downloads: 946 Uploads: 5	Cheap Video Card... Currently using a 8600GT, 512RAM Pci - Expess x 16 slot. I am running this with a Dual Core 3.2ghz, with 2 gigs of RAM. My motherboard: Here Asus P5NSLI The system is an older one for sure, looking at upgrading the video card. Any thoughts? Believe it or not the above ran SH5 ( fairly well ) before I did a reformat of the computer. I am struggling a bit installing and uninstalling various drivers to get the game to run like it did. I forget what driver was installed. Thinking instead to just update with a cheaper type card. Don't want to spend to much as the system I have does not warrant this. Any suggestions? __________________ Back in the Day Last edited by ReallyDedPoet; 02-14-12 at 02:19 PM.

02-14-12, 05:51 PM	#2
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,255 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	Nvidia 9800 or better card will work great. Fortunate you have PCI. Finding AGP is very hard. Your rig has plenty of life left! __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

02-14-12, 10:37 PM	#4
CaptainHaplo Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 4,404 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 0	Is it a standard or low profile machine? You can get a good PNY Geforce 430 in either profile for well under 100 bucks. Its not a screamer card, but a solid one for most games. Even though its not "hardcore" - it doesn't require a PS plug, and its fast enough that it won't be the bottleneck in your current rig. You would need a MB/CPU/Ram upgrade before you throttle the card, so for the price its worth it depending on your long range plans. $63 bucks here: http://www.amazon.com/PNY-GeForce-PC...9276890&sr=8-1 I have used the card and recommend it highly for the use your looking at. I actually put this in my Low Profile machine at work (its my "test" machine that has a few games on it - for BENCHMARKING purposes only, I assure you!) and it handles games like World in Conflict, Dragon Age /DA2, etc without issue. Not on highest settings or max rez, but still looks really good. __________________ Good Hunting! Captain Haplo

02-15-12, 10:02 PM	#6
CaptainHaplo Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 4,404 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 0	Standard vs low profile - cases come in various "sizes" - business ones usually are smaller "boxes" - the components are packed in a lot tighter. These use the "low profile" style card - its about half height of a standard sized card. This is because the box they fit into is not as high (or "thick") as a standard XT case. Basically your normal is 4.2"and a low profile is 2.1" height. Standard is what you normally would get with a regular size pc case. If your existing 8800 is a regular card, then you need a standard sized card to fit. The thing about the PNY I linked - is it is a smaller card but comes mounted on a standard size end - so it fits a standard pc. If you need it for a low profile machine - there is a "shorter" faceplate that you switch out - so it fits in the smaller machine. Really nice design to work in either "size". Now - PCIe. "x16" - It has 16 "lanes" for data to travel back and forth. More lanes = faster data transfer. But the version is important. V1 or 1.1 can transfer stuff at 250MB/s - while V2 doubles that rate. This means that the version is a multiplier for the lanes. They have a x32 card - and running at v1.1 would be the same data transfer rate as a x16 card running v2. Basically - as long as its a V2 capable card, and most are - your fine. Even if your running v1 - its backwards compatible. V2.1 breaks that - but not many cards/boards are 2.1 for that very reason. 3.0 was released, but it is not readily available either. Just stick with a x16 card - v2 preferably and you will be fine. __________________ Good Hunting! Captain Haplo

10-02-12, 10:28 AM	#7
ReallyDedPoet Canadian Wolf Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Canada. The one and only, East Coast Posts: 10,885 Downloads: 946 Uploads: 5	Finally have the computer working properly. Did a reinstall ( had not done this for quite some time, my system needed it ) of XP, various drivers etc. When I first installed the RAM and VC I did so without doing the above, I messed things up and did a system restore which did not help. It was a busy summer so I am just getting back to this now. Anyway, with the reinstall things seem to be working much better. Initially I am getting 10 + frames better with SH 5 than previously. And at a higher resolution. __________________ Back in the Day