Video Card Recommendations

[SneaksieDave]

Bought a GeForce6800. So far it's running pretty good. It's not going to screeeaaaaammmm of course, because I've still got a slow processor, but I've definitely become CPU limited at least. Starting a new game of Doom3, where you get dropped off by the ship, I used to get between 7-8 FPS (no lie). I now get up to around double that, so it's a definite improvement, if modest.

[Dram]

My bro has that card. My card is only marginally worse - 6600GT. Now all you need is the CPU and you're in the 40fps section in that first part

[Komag]

I would think it would be better than that, even with your CPU. Do you have recent NVidia drivers? Have you optimized any settings? This site has a LOT of stuff you can do to improve things:

 

http://www.tweakguides.com/Doom3_1.html

[Dram]

I would think it would be better than that, even with your CPU. Do you have recent NVidia drivers? Have you optimized any settings? This site has a LOT of stuff you can do to improve things:

 

http://www.tweakguides.com/Doom3_1.html

 

Thanks! But yeah, just tried it again and I get 60fps in the first spot (it can't go higher), so yeah you're right

[squill]

Bought a GeForce6800. So far it's running pretty good. It's not going to screeeaaaaammmm of course, because I've still got a slow processor, but I've definitely become CPU limited at least. Starting a new game of Doom3, where you get dropped off by the ship, I used to get between 7-8 FPS (no lie). I now get up to around double that, so it's a definite improvement, if modest.

 

nice... i bought one a while ago for a 1.8 GHz Celeron machine, but it was also limited by the CPU. What kind of CPU is it... AMD, Pentium 4, Celeron?

 

Be carefull with overclocking. Do it in small steps, you don't want to overheat or worse damage parts of your system.

[AluminumHaste]

nice... i bought one a while ago for a 1.8 GHz Celeron machine, but it was also limited by the CPU. What kind of CPU is it... AMD, Pentium 4, Celeron?

 

Be carefull with overclocking. Do it in small steps, you don't want to overheat or worse damage parts of your system.

 

Why not, fry the proc so he has an excuse to get a new one.

Go for a Core 2 Duo @ 1.8 or 2 Ghz. You'll get 10x the performance.

http://www.pricegrabber.com/p__Intel_Core_...ssor,__22879558

 

Not bad, 213$

 

Or course you will need a mobo, and some new ram

[squill]

Why not, fry the proc so he has an excuse to get a new one.

Go for a Core 2 Duo @ 1.8 or 2 Ghz. You'll get 10x the performance.

http://www.pricegrabber.com/p__Intel_Core_...ssor,__22879558

 

Not bad, 213$

 

Or course you will need a mobo, and some new ram

 

why break it if it's not broken? I'm just saying take small steps with speed jumps. Besides even if he gets a new PC, a second machine is always handy as reserve or whatever.

[SneaksieDave]

Komag: Yep, latest drivers, but I will look at the tweak guide. *rubs chin*

Squill: I've got a pentium IV 1.4GHz running right now. Might push it up to 1.6, but I'm not so sure about that yet...

 

Actually, with regard to overclocking the card itself, I don't see how it's done. With the standard drivers, I get no option to do so. Do I need those forcewares or whatever it's called instead? I might not bother with that though.

 

Yes, I'd need a whole new system, not just board and RAM. Besides when it's upgrade time, this will become my primary backup (as opposed to my secondary (P2-350! haha) backup or the laptop).

[ascottk]

Actually, with regard to overclocking the card itself, I don't see how it's done. With the standard drivers, I get no option to do so. Do I need those forcewares or whatever it's called instead? I might not bother with that though.

 

Yes, I'd need a whole new system, not just board and RAM. Besides when it's upgrade time, this will become my primary backup (as opposed to my secondary (P2-350! haha) backup or the laptop).

If it's not a gf 6800 ultra/gt you might be able to unlock the pixel pipelines with rivatuner:

http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?id=13

 

Here's directions for that:

http://firingsquad.com/hardware/geforce_68...cking/page2.asp

 

Coolbits allows extra functions to be displayed in the control panel like overclocking. Same site as above.

 

Although I wouldn't try the 9x.xx series of forceware drivers since I consistently had a black screen when exiting a 3d program like the nvidia demos or d3.

[SneaksieDave]

Hey, I got that too! Twice so far. It seemed changing the settings of a game, and then exiting the game triggered it. Once I restarted, it hasn't happened again.

 

And it better not.

[ascottk]

Hey, I got that too! Twice so far. It seemed changing the settings of a game, and then exiting the game triggered it. Once I restarted, it hasn't happened again.

 

And it better not.

I read somewhere that the nv software is trying to use the other monitor connection. I really didn't want to find out though

[New Horizon]

Time to resurrect an old thread. Just placed an order for a new video card today. I think I got a pretty sweet deal on it...$135, after a $30 rebate. Also picked up a 500 Watt power supply while I was at it, so it would push my order over $200 and I would qualify for the $5 shipping special that was being offered. The same card was $171 yesterday, glad I waited. This is the card I bought.

 

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/Sea...=2&NoMapp=0

[Komag]

Ah, very nice deal, that card should serve you well for a good while

[New Horizon]

Ah, very nice deal, that card should serve you well for a good while

 

Yup, for all the gaming I do...it should work out nicely. I can open up the 4 extra pipelines and additional shader on this version too. I've had the FX 5200 for around 2 or 3 years now....I'll likely get two years out of this one. I don't demand a whole lot as a gamer...I'll only be playing Dark Mod levels anyway....well, perhaps Far Cry and Fear as well. I was never able to see them beyond low settings. Also hoping I'll be able to record some nice beta level footage to release publicly on the rare occasion.

[Komag]

Holy crap! If you're going from a 5200 you're going to see a MONSTROUS improvement!!! I almost envy you!

 

...but I think the XTs (and the GTs, which I have) already have the full 16 pipelines open, it's only the vanilla 6800's that are running 12 and you can possibly open the other 4.

 

I previously had a 6800 and tried to open the 4, but I got tons of artifacts, lines, and junk on the screen no matter what I did, so I closed them back and it worked back to normal and I breathed a sigh of relief!

 

 

...EDIT - wait a minute, the site says it only has 8 pipelines, what the...?

[Vadrosaul]

That's the same video card I bought over a year ago, only I got the PCIE16x version.

 

One thing that has occured is that after mildly overclocking (380/1070) it for a year it started to destabilize, the screen kept distorting, shrinking and expanding. I don't know if it was just a weak card I got or XFX poor overclocking capability.

[AluminumHaste]

Yup, for all the gaming I do...it should work out nicely. I can open up the 4 extra pipelines and additional shader on this version too. I've had the FX 5200 for around 2 or 3 years now....I'll likely get two years out of this one. I don't demand a whole lot as a gamer...I'll only be playing Dark Mod levels anyway....well, perhaps Far Cry and Fear as well. I was never able to see them beyond low settings. Also hoping I'll be able to record some nice beta level footage to release publicly on the rare occasion.

 

There's a reason that they repackage these cards as only having 8/12 pipes; there's something wrong with the others that is preventing them from selling it for more money with all pipes enabled. So unlocking the pipes is iffy for most cards. Sometimes you get a card where the pipes are completely not working so you really have no choice. But if you are lucky, you might get a good one.

 

Nice find there though, that is an amazing upgrade from the shit (sorry, it's true) 5200.

[New Horizon]

For the price, I really can't complain.

[OrbWeaver]

That's about the same price as I paid for my X850 XT a few months ago, except that we get ripped off by a ridiculous 1 GBP = 1 USD conversion (when in fact 1 GBP is about 2 USD).

[AluminumHaste]

That's about the same price as I paid for my X850 XT a few months ago, except that we get ripped off by a ridiculous 1 GBP = 1 USD conversion (when in fact 1 GBP is about 2 USD).

 

Yeah pretty close: 1 British pound = 1.9594 U.S. dollars

[New Horizon]

Received my new card yesterday. Now I have to wait for my new 500 watt power supply before I can run it. My little 350 just won't cut it for this card.

[sparhawk]

Which one did you buy?

[New Horizon]

This is the card I bought. With a $30 rebate, got the card for around 135 canadian.

 

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/Sea...=2&NoMapp=0

 

Then I just picked up a standard 500 w Coolmax powersupply for around $50.

[New Horizon]

Power supply came in today...WHOA..huge difference. I'm finally able to see things the way they were meant to be seen...without over clocking my clunky little 5200. Our beta maps have never looked better.

[ascottk]

6800s are great Although I had to relock the hidden pipelines because of artifacts in max & maya