f13.net

So, after a nice discussion with some fellow f13 members (Viin, you are the man, I owe you a beer) I evidently need a new graphic card.  Obviously.

Looking at my hardware it seems I would best be served with a nVidia 8800GT.  Quick run down of my setup:

CPU:  Dual Core 3.0 Pentium 4
RAM:  2Ghz
Video Card:  x1600 512M RAM Radeon
OS:  Windows XP

Lets use this thread as an advice thread for those having hardware issues. 

Rattran did all the heavy lifting, I just assisted. :P

Girlfriend is currently running AoC with your exact set up, but instead of a 8800 GT we got her a 9600gt, which is doing an awsome job of it. The reason we opted for the 9600 was that it had a lower power requirement, and she's stuck with a dell 325 watt power supply. The game looks awsome, without a hitch at medium-high settings.

9600GT is nowhere neat the 8800GT.

He knows that.

I forgot to take my tinfoil hat off to make sure my mind-reading was enabled. I posted it because I didn't want Cheddar to think the 9600GT was in any way a good substitute.

You're right to point that out.

8800 GT (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150252)
9600 GT (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150304)

Although NewEgg's spec sheet only signals that the stream processors on the 8800 gt are about double that of the 9600 gt and it has near double the texture filling/addressing according to this article on anandtech (http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3234),  I hear there are greater differences than that, but I will let more knowledgeable people comment on it.


That said, if you are working on a limited pocket book or power supply, the 9600gt is a very very good bang for the buck

Easiest way to understand Nvidia's card numbering scheme:

First number: generation
Second number: how powerful the card is.

In almost every case the second number is the important one.

Thus, an 8800 is better than a 9600, which is in turn better than a 6400.

It's a VERY rough measurement, but helps if you're in a Fry's or something wondering WTF to buy.

Also, ATI cards are currently lagging behind Nvidia in the bang-for-the-buck department, but that can *always* change.

As has been stated elsewhere, Dell's power ratings are too conservative. I have a Dell 375 watt PSU and am running an 8800 GTS SSC (overclocked) with a minimum PSU rating of 450W IIRC, with no problems.

Best Buy has the card on sale for $150USD. (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8657553&st=8800+gt&lp=2&type=product&cp=1&id=1196469743507)


Debating on wether to splurge now or try and find a deal on the 1gig version.




edit.  Fixed link

I have a Dell as well, so I bought a dedicated power supply for my video card.  Works great. It's hard drive sized and fits in there nicely.

Just letting you know that if power supply is your constraint, you do have options.

That is my system and it handles AoC brilliantly.

That system has a better processor than mine and AoC runs really well with the 8800GT (the one with the wee cute fan), on high with some tweaks that give more responsibility to the video card.  Lum was right on that.   This games loves the video card so feed it what it wants!

URL is broken.

Fixed.

This one is even cheaper if you don't mind rebates ($159.99 before $30 rebate):

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150280

Since I am stuck with my vid card. Here is my setup and the main issue I am having.

CPU:  Dual Core 3.0 Pentium 4
RAM:  3Ghz
Video Card:  AGP Radeon 2600PRO 512MB
OS:  Windows Vista

The best settings I have found is to set it on high then turn off shadows, water, ambient occlusion and tweak some of the distances and put shaders on 2.0 (which resets to 3.0 everytime log in).

I get on average about 20-25 FPS with down in the 10 to 15 range in really busy areas. Would like better but it is playable in at least PvE. The main issue I get is graphic flickering. Whole sections will flicker in and out. Like plants, characters, walls etc. It's not game breaking to me but it is annyoing as hell whenever I first log in. Anyone have any idea what may cause this?

Possibly overheated/damaged video card :/ AoC is an absolute terror on even a top end video card in terms of making that card work its ass off. Even at low settings, my card's heat spikes like no other game has made it do.

The new Nvidia cards launch next week, completely redoing their numbering systems again. The card line will be the 200 series, the GTX 260 and GTX 280 look to be based on the d10u chip. Should be available by late June, and as usual will drive down the price of the older cards.

At least ATI seems to be sticking with their numbers, the 4000 line should be revealed in a few days.

Nvidia's changing the fucking numbering AGAIN? Shit, I just got used to the last change. Fuckheads.  :awesome_for_real:

I have the x1950 and I've had zero problems with AoC, so while it could be your specific card I don't think it's ATI in general.

Of course, I've sort of come to the conclusion that I've officially burned out on the Diku MMO.  Even decapitations and b00bs couldn't keep my interest.

So- I just ordered some Best Buy gift cards through work - thus the card will be FREE.  I will update once I get the card as to how my performance issues work out.

They are not really changing it, just think of it as a rollover, they just broke 10,000 and rolled that over to 00. So instead of the 10,250 we are getting the 250.

 :awesome_for_real:

This card is sex.  Pure sex.  Frame Rates are about double/triple what they were before; this is by far the greatest investment ever.  I did miss out on the 100 bucks off, but oh well.

If you are having issues BUY THIS CARD.  Its like a whole new game!

You didn't make an investment. You stole some money from work. >_<

This is how rumors start!

I got the cards through a performance reward program thingy.  My company has deals with thousands of other companies in this regard.  Sometimes its nice working for a bully!

No, rumors start when people are vague with privileges they have.

Sheesh, you are grumpy lately.  You need a hug! 

Well just to add to the consensus - I was playing on my middle-aged dual core machine and wasn't at all happy with the results even with all the tips and the various details turned down to low. I was getting 12 - 30 fps with spikes down to 2 or 3 fps in crowds. (2.0 core 2 duo, 2 Gig Ram, 6800GT 256MB, Seagate barracuda 500 GB). So I dropped $150 on an 8800GT and the difference is night and day. I was able to turn on a bunch of visual effects (AA, particle effects, grass) and still gain massive fps - now am averaging 35 - 70 with drops down to 25 in crowds. Very happy with the upgrade.

As an aside I had a weaker power supply as well and since I'm doing a full system refresh this fall didn't want to get a new PS so I got one of these video card power supplies (http://www.thermaltake.com/product/Power/PurePower/w0130/w0130.asp) for $30.00. Fits in a 5" bay and has 250W dedicated power which solves the issue easily. Anyway, big difference for me in game between a 6800GT and 8800GT.

I agree, now I'm pretty sure I know where that 3 gold went I'm missing in AOC. What class is Cheddar playing?

In regards to the new 4870's from ATI check out this review.

4870's in XFire are money apparently.
http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?p=1032677354#post1032677354

My main problem with ATI is that every few years I hear "ATI has really shaped up this time, they are finally better than nvidia" and I run out and buy an ATI card.

Then I regret it.

Are they really better than nvidia this time?

Hopefully I'll find out before I build a new computer in August as I'm leaning towards 4870's in Xfire.

That review is totally flawed in the fact that AoC is the acid test for him. Crysis is till the acid test. That's simply the reality of it. I find Lost Planet in DX10 mode to be a good test of a card also. It's absolutely amazing how gorgeous that game can get.

http://www.getdropbox.com/gallery/39720/0/screenshots/lost%20planet/?h=4e9911

I only like that review since it's the only game I'm playing right now.