whats the best graphics card to run this game with?

ABBAFAN · 03-18-06, 07:23 AM

is it possible to have two graphics cards in your machine and flip between the two?

XXi · 03-18-06, 08:08 AM

Depends on the mainboard and graphic card. There are now quite many mainboards with double PCI-E slots, so that you can install two cards and use them together, but note that it HAS to be the same model.
You can buy some packs of two cards already prepared for such use, I`ve seen some GeForce 7800 double boxes...

AO1_AW_SW_USN · 03-18-06, 11:31 PM

Currently, I'm using the NVidia GeForce FX 6600GT 256MB AGPX8.

Upgraded from a NVIDIA GeForce FX5200 and the results are great. In all the FPS has increased and now I can use 100% particle density while running IUB 1.03.

vodkajello · 03-19-06, 12:09 AM

I think you should qualify that question with a price range.

The BEST video card setup in the word right now is 2 ATI Radeon 1900XTX PCI-E boards. That setup would cost you something like $1400US just for the graphics cards.

Something more practical but still pretty high end would be an ATI Radeon 1800, or Nvidia 7800. These would be less than $400US.

Good medium range cards are Nvidia 6600GT with 256MB, 6800GT or ATI x800xl or x850pro or x800pro. I've seen the 6600GT 256MB for $150US, the Radeons are a bit more (170?), 6800gt is about $250 last time I looked.

I play on an x800xl AGP at 1280x1024 with 8xAF and 4xAF. No slow downs at all that I can see. (I bought my card for $270US about 6 months ago.

)

(OK I was wrong about the BEST setup. Nvidia recently announced Quad SLI Geforce 7900GTX enabled systems. So that would be about $2400US in video cards for your computer! Good Lord! It would take two power supplies just to run the thing.)

ArmorDuck · 03-19-06, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vodkajello

The BEST video card setup in the word right now is 2 ATI Radeon 1900XTX PCI-E boards.

Actually, there's a system available that beats that. You can get four NVIDIA GeForceÂ® 7900GTX graphics processing units with an NVIDIA nForce4 SLI-based motherboard in a single system. Look here.

03-19-06, 12:52 AM

That leaves you bugger all room for anything else !

Yes it be nice on the Vid side, but at what cost to do other things with your PC. Dont get me wrong I'm a Nvida user, but there is a limit to whats practical if you ask me.

ArmorDuck · 03-19-06, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cdre Gibs

That leaves you bugger all room for anything else !

You're not kidding. Monetarily as well as physically.

Hartmann · 03-19-06, 01:44 AM

I have the 6600 gt 128 ddr3 and is a great card .

i have 16 km mod and runs very well, despite a some slowndown in ports, but iÂ´m running with 512 mb of ram

Kpt. Lehmann · 03-19-06, 03:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hartmann

I have the 6600 gt 128 ddr3 and is a great card .

i have 16 km mod and runs very well, despite a some slowndown in ports, but iÂ´m running with 512 mb of ram

Thanks Hartmann, this is great to know. I am switching to a 6600GT next month.

Now that I am finished with a big modding project... let the upgrading begin!

(I've been afraid to mess with my PC for fear of damaging the GW mod contents.)

Paukenschlag · 03-19-06, 07:16 AM

Got myself a Raedon 1600Xt last month and it's great.

tycho102 · 03-19-06, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ABBAFAN

is it possible to have two graphics cards in your machine and flip between the two?

Probably.

You are better off getting the fastest damn processor you can buy, and then getting a reasonable video card. The Nvidia 6800 series, or the Ati X800 series (or above) will play the game well, all the time.

The reason is that the game only stresses the video card when you are in the sub pen. Out in the open ocean, in the middle of a 20 ship convoy, it's that processor that is slowing things down. Under/Over clock your CPU, and you will find out just how CPU limited the game is in the middle of a convoy.

kz26 · 03-19-06, 02:07 PM

Poor me... I am running an ATI Radeon 9550 256MB AGP 8x... darn sucker is overclocked with ATI Tray Tools to 418/418. But with SH3 it gives pretty decent performance, no slowdowns or anything

zombiewolf · 03-19-06, 04:54 PM

I have a fx5200 PCI ugh I can run ok but IUb kills me i use the 8kb range. What is the best PCI card out there
I have a p4 with 1024 ram.
I have no agp slots

kiwi_2005 · 03-19-06, 05:54 PM

Highend PCI cards are probably very hard to get. I mean they're practically obsolete. You would be better of buying a motherboard with a agp slot and go for a cheap agp card to keep costs down. For instance you dont need to spend major bucks unless you want to start from scratch. But just buy say a "KT-600 A" motherboard cost around $80 then buy a geforce 5700 128 ram cost around $130. And replace everything from your old motherboard onto this one.
Providing your CPU and RAM will accept the new mobo. Find out what your cpu/ram is then go look for a mobo that will accept it.

Average Joe · 03-19-06, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ABBAFAN

is it possible to have two graphics cards in your machine and flip between the two?

Hello,

It is possible (probably?) to have 2 video cards in your computer, and switch between the 2, if that's what you mean.

A friend of mine used to run an older (PCI) Voodoo card, along with another AGP card. I assume he disabled one while using the other.

I've never tried it but it seems all that need be done is to 'disable' the video card you don't want to use, and 'enable' the other one, via Window's Device Manager.

If this isn't what you meant I have no ideas

03-18-06, 07:23 AM	#1
ABBAFAN Commander Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 456 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	whats the best graphics card to run this game with? is it possible to have two graphics cards in your machine and flip between the two? __________________ CHOOSE RFA! LESS GRAFT, MORE PAY.

03-18-06, 08:08 AM	#2
XXi Ensign Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Warsaw, Poland / Nagoya, Japan Posts: 227 Downloads: 20 Uploads: 0	Depends on the mainboard and graphic card. There are now quite many mainboards with double PCI-E slots, so that you can install two cards and use them together, but note that it HAS to be the same model. You can buy some packs of two cards already prepared for such use, I`ve seen some GeForce 7800 double boxes... __________________ lasciate ogni speranza... voi, chi entrate

03-18-06, 11:31 PM	#3
AO1_AW_SW_USN Loader Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Dallas, Texas USA Posts: 85 Downloads: 106 Uploads: 0	Currently, I'm using the NVidia GeForce FX 6600GT 256MB AGPX8. Upgraded from a NVIDIA GeForce FX5200 and the results are great. In all the FPS has increased and now I can use 100% particle density while running IUB 1.03. __________________ Give me an Army of West Point Graduates, and I'll win a battle... give me a handful of Texas Aggies, and I'll win a war!! George S. Patton (1885 - 1945)

03-19-06, 01:44 AM	#8
Hartmann Sea Lord Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Grid CH 26, Spain ,Barcelona Posts: 1,857 Downloads: 204 Uploads: 0	I have the 6600 gt 128 ddr3 and is a great card . i have 16 km mod and runs very well, despite a some slowndown in ports, but iÂ´m running with 512 mb of ram __________________ But this ship can't sink!... She is made of iron, sir. I assure you, she can. and she will. It is a mathematical certainty. Strength and honor

03-19-06, 07:16 AM	#10
Paukenschlag Sailor man Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 44 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Got myself a Raedon 1600Xt last month and it's great. __________________ Paukenschlag

03-19-06, 12:09 AM	#4
vodkajello Helmsman Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Calgary, Canada Posts: 109 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	I think you should qualify that question with a price range. The BEST video card setup in the word right now is 2 ATI Radeon 1900XTX PCI-E boards. That setup would cost you something like $1400US just for the graphics cards. Something more practical but still pretty high end would be an ATI Radeon 1800, or Nvidia 7800. These would be less than $400US. Good medium range cards are Nvidia 6600GT with 256MB, 6800GT or ATI x800xl or x850pro or x800pro. I've seen the 6600GT 256MB for $150US, the Radeons are a bit more (170?), 6800gt is about $250 last time I looked. I play on an x800xl AGP at 1280x1024 with 8xAF and 4xAF. No slow downs at all that I can see. (I bought my card for $270US about 6 months ago. ) (OK I was wrong about the BEST setup. Nvidia recently announced Quad SLI Geforce 7900GTX enabled systems. So that would be about $2400US in video cards for your computer! Good Lord! It would take two power supplies just to run the thing.)

03-19-06, 12:52 AM	#6
Cdre Gibs Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	That leaves you bugger all room for anything else ! Yes it be nice on the Vid side, but at what cost to do other things with your PC. Dont get me wrong I'm a Nvida user, but there is a limit to whats practical if you ask me.

03-19-06, 02:07 PM	#12
kz26 Watch Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 27 Downloads: 17 Uploads: 0	Poor me... I am running an ATI Radeon 9550 256MB AGP 8x... darn sucker is overclocked with ATI Tray Tools to 418/418. But with SH3 it gives pretty decent performance, no slowdowns or anything __________________ That missed! Fire Tube 2!

03-19-06, 04:54 PM	#13
zombiewolf 中国水兵 Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 270 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I have a fx5200 PCI ugh I can run ok but IUb kills me i use the 8kb range. What is the best PCI card out there I have a p4 with 1024 ram. I have no agp slots __________________

03-19-06, 05:54 PM	#14
kiwi_2005 Eternal Patrol Join Date: May 2004 Location: Aeoteroa Posts: 7,382 Downloads: 223 Uploads: 1	Highend PCI cards are probably very hard to get. I mean they're practically obsolete. You would be better of buying a motherboard with a agp slot and go for a cheap agp card to keep costs down. For instance you dont need to spend major bucks unless you want to start from scratch. But just buy say a "KT-600 A" motherboard cost around $80 then buy a geforce 5700 128 ram cost around $130. And replace everything from your old motherboard onto this one. Providing your CPU and RAM will accept the new mobo. Find out what your cpu/ram is then go look for a mobo that will accept it. __________________ RIP kiwi_2005 Those who can't laugh at themselves leave the job to others.