Ghraphics Card Question

[IrischKapitan]

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:

[FooFighters]

Originally Posted by IrischKapitan

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

[The General]

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.

[switch.dota]

@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.

[FooFighters]

Originally Posted by switch.dota

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

[rls669]

Originally Posted by switch.dota

@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.

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

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.

[NefariousKoel]

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.

[switch.dota]

Originally Posted by rls669

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

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

[seafarer]

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.

[d@rk51d3]

Originally Posted by seafarer

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.

I have the same setup and the same dilemma. I am seriously considering that ATI card too. The 9600 works, but does struggle a bit, and there seems to be no point in DX10 compatiblity at the moment.

If you do get it, let me know how it goes.

[Gh3ngis]

I have just bought an ATi X1950 pro. I have 2 gb RAM and an old P4 3.2 and runs SHIV no problems on decent settings (not the highest). IMHO you dont need to run SH on everything maxxed out as pointed out by somebody else as long as it looks half decent with some eye candy, gameplay is what its all about.

Decent card on a budget, I paid £115 for mine which is about $233 or 168 Euro.


Good luck

Gh3ngis

[Bezoomney]

Originally Posted by Gh3ngis

I have just bought an ATi X1950 pro. I have 2 gb RAM and an old P4 3.2 and runs SHIV no problems on decent settings (not the highest). IMHO you dont need to run SH on everything maxxed out as pointed out by somebody else as long as it looks half decent with some eye candy, gameplay is what its all about.

Decent card on a budget, I paid £115 for mine which is about $233 or 168 Euro.


Good luck

Gh3ngis

Same here, P4 (s478) 3.0Ghz, 2gb ram, ATI 1950 pro (AGP x8). Just upgraded from ATI 9550 pro, it's a major improvement.
SH4 runs perfectly with all settings maxed out.
I recommend it!