What video card would you recommend?

[Torplexed]

Haven't played SH4 much since it came out due to sluggish performance. I hate having having to restart the computer everythime I exit this sim or GWX, because the performance takes sucha hit. I'm currently got a 256 MB DDR ATI Radeon 9800XT card installed. What out there would be more ideal? :hmm:

[Rockin Robbins]

Well, I built a computer for SH3 with 2 EVGA 7600GT 256mb cards SLi configuration. I can run it WFO in SH4 but they can get overloaded. I can't use the hi-res foam in ROW. If I were to do it again I'd buy one of the new 8800GT cards. The price is right at just under $300 in the States, and the performance is everything you need.

[Torplexed]

Originally Posted by Rockin Robbins

Well, I built a computer for SH3 with 2 EVGA 7600GT 256mb cards SLi configuration. I can run it WFO in SH4 but they can get overloaded. I can't use the hi-res foam in ROW. If I were to do it again I'd buy one of the new 8800GT cards. The price is right at just under $300 in the States, and the performance is everything you need.

Thanks for the info.

[maerean_m]

Since your card is a 9800, it means you have an AGP motherboard so the great 8800GT won't help as it works on PCI-Ex.

The best card for you depends on your budget. Have a look at Tom's hardware recommendation.

I have a Leadtek 7800 GS (overclocked from 375/1200 to 500/1400) that scores a fine 6700 points in 3D Mark 2005 and 1470 in the Shader Model 3 test in 3D Mark 2006 (you can see here how it stands, e.g. it beats the 1950Pro which is considered the best AGP card).

[Torplexed]

Originally Posted by maerean_m

Since your card is a 9800, it means you have an AGP motherboard so the great 8800GT won't help as it works on PCI-Ex.

The best card for you depends on your budget. Have a look at Tom's hardware recommendation.

I have a Leadtek 7800 GS (overclocked from 375/1200 to 500/1400) that scores a fine 6700 points in 3D Mark 2005 and 1470 in the Shader Model 3 test in 3D Mark 2006 (you can see here how it stands, e.g. it beats the 1950Pro which is considered the best AGP card).

Wow. More great advice. Thanks for the link. I find all this card stuff baffling. According to my computer's manual I have card connector slots for PCI and AGP, but maybe it's better to stick with AGP.:hmm: I can't say I know the difference though.

[stabiz]

Yes, you need AGP. Pci Express and Pci is not the same. The difference between the AGP and Pci Express is how fast data is transferred. (Mainly)

But I agree with the others here, the new 8800GT is awesome. Its nearly as good as the GTX, which costs more than twice the money.

[THE_MASK]

Asus Eah2600xt

[maerean_m]

PCI is a very useful interface for rather slow devices (audio cards, modems, tv tuners, 100 mbit LAN cards etc). In the old days (Voodoo II), video cards were slow enough to use PCI and didn't even need a radiator. When VooDoo Banshee appeared, it was so fast it needed active cooling and a faster interface with the motherboard (e.g. AGP - Advanced Graphics Port or Accelerated Graphics Port). Then even that was not enough, so AGP 2x, 4x and 8x were developed.

When AGP also reached its limitations, PCI-Express was developed but on a much modular base, allowing motherboards to include more than one port and even at different bandwidths: you could have two PCI-Exp x16, one x4 and one x1 (which are smaller in size, having fewer wires).

So PCI and PCI-Express are not the same thing and even coexist in today's motherboards.

BTW, if all these details are "baffling" you, the card's price isn't. If it's cheap, it sucks.

[maerean_m]

Originally Posted by sober

Asus Eah2600xt

I'm curious of this card's performance in 3D Mark 2006.

[The General]

Which is better do you think? I have a Nvidia 7600GT PCI-Ex, any good? OR should I upgrade?

[maerean_m]

Originally Posted by The General

Which is better do you think? I have a Nvidia 7600GT PCI-Ex, any good? OR should I upgrade?

A card is good if you're happy with the performance. As for the 7600GT, I think you are.

7600GT is as powerful as the stock 7800GS and is OK for playing games (such as SH4) at 1280 resolution and below with settings on High.

If you're playing Crysis, you'll find that is SLOW, but then some say all cards are slow for Crysis . (i have to use 800*600 to be able to set it on medium-high).

[Rockin Robbins]

If you did have a longing for the 8800GT, which needs a PCI-e slot, you could do what I did for my son and buy a relatively inexpensive motherboard. If you're a penny pincher like me and use AMD processors, I purchased a Gigabyte GA-M61P-S Slot AM2 nVidea motherboard for $74.99 from NewEgg and it has a PCI-e slot to run the 8800GT. There are other inexpensive but highly effective motherboards that will work with other microprocessors. The way computers are made today, doing a motherboard transplant is not a job you have to be afraid of.

@General: PCI-e is by far better than AGP. I'm running two 7600GTs SLi'd together and running wide open at 1153 x 864 with pretty good results. The cards can bog down if you're close to port at high TC. I can't use ROW hi-res foam. Actually I'm considering moving up to the 8800GT. But if you're thinking of moving up, the 7900 cards wouldn't be a great increase and you'd be forced to the 8000 series for meaningful improvement. The 8600 cards haven't been really well received, with some saying their 7900 cards do better. This leaves the 8800GT cards as the best upgrade. Even Newegg is charging a $30 premium over suggested retail price right now, and most sources are out of stock due to incredible demand. If you're willing to wait a few months, prices will be in the $250 American range. Looks like Eurpoean prices are finally starting to show some value too. Too bad Aussies have to pay so much of a premium for computers and computer components.

[Snuffy]

Anything by nVidia ...

[The General]

Originally Posted by Rockin Robbins

If you did have a longing for the 8800GT, which needs a PCI-e slot, you could do what I did for my son and buy a relatively inexpensive motherboard. If you're a penny pincher like me and use AMD processors, I purchased a Gigabyte GA-M61P-S Slot AM2 nVidea motherboard for $74.99 from NewEgg and it has a PCI-e slot to run the 8800GT. There are other inexpensive but highly effective motherboards that will work with other microprocessors. The way computers are made today, doing a motherboard transplant is not a job you have to be afraid of.

Thanks Maerean_M & R.R.

I just did what you suggest and put an ASROCK Motherboard in and bought a second-hand 1.6Ghz Core 2 Duo. All works ok. However, I don't have any DDR2 Ram yet and am thinking about getting the 2.6 Ghz Processor. Would the DDR2 Ram really make an improvement to SH4. I even bought a new 450W Power supply because on my old system the polygons started to breakdown after playing a short while, I was told the processor (Pentium 4 3.4 Ghz)was too hot. However, the same thing still happens after about 40 mins, which is a little disheartnening. What do you think the problem is? The Processor, the Card, or the memory?

[Rockin Robbins]

What is your ASRock mb's serial number, what kind and amount of memory do you have now and what kind of graphics card(s)? Need details, man! In the meantime I'm looking up ASRock specs.