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Phalanx
04-04-2007, 07:02 PM
So a month or sometime around then ago...I got a more or less new pc, 2HDs in there, runs quite well, and a
Geforce 7300GS
Which isn't great, but I assumed would play most games...

Anyways, this is what it says in my system specs...
There's a p4 3GIG in there.
2x 1.99 gig of ram

That's all the info I could find, so I've got that, and the gf7300gs.
I also got a new motherboard...something about SLI or whatever...

Anyways, first a question.
I understand I can put an additional graphics card into the motherboard...is this true?

I have a friend who CLAIMS that if I were to do that, it would have to be exactly the same brand and model as the existing graphics cars, is THAT accurate?

Ok...another question - SHOULD this system be capable of playing F.E.A.R and games of that calibur.
See, I bought it last week...and ended up taking it back...it played but there was still some I dunno...like it skipped during play?
Yeah, I COULD have played it, but IMO this minor problem would've spoiled it for me.

Another thing I've noticed is that with other games, even with older games,
during FMVs and gameplay, sometimes a horizontal line goes up the screen?
It's not too much of a problem, but I'd prefer it if that DIDN'T happen...I mean it happens on silent hill3 (same prob with FEAR), it even happens on full throttle and Runaway.
Any ideas what the problem is here?
Is it a settings thing, or is this card particularly shithouse? I mean I've read there's some issues with it as it's set for 64 rather than 128 or some shit like that...but I'd think that since it was new-ish, it should perform a little better one way or another...

One more thing....if I DID go ahead and throw yet another graphics card in (same model, or higher) would that make a great deal of difference or not?

Anyways, here's hoping someone can help out...

Posher778
04-04-2007, 07:06 PM
I don't know MUCH, but, recently buying a new computer myself, I learned a few things. Some computers have the ability to hold 2 graphics cards, so you may be right when you mentioned that, but you need to check obviously.

An Nvidia Geforce 7300 isn't good for gaming. I mean, it's GOOD, but it's the bare minimum. I had it with our dell we bought 5 years ago, so you should get a new one. My recommendation is at least get an Nvidia 7600 or higher, or get an ATI Radeon like I got with my new Dell. Preferably the ATI. I've used it a little for gaming, and it works nicely with no noticeable flaws or problems. if you need any other info on them i'd be happy to look it up for you.

Phalanx
04-04-2007, 07:16 PM
Yeah, in my experience, the radeons have less problems...
So, how much for a good, but not "stupidly overpriced just 'cos it's new" kinda card?

Posher778
04-04-2007, 07:20 PM
Yeah, in my experience, the radeons have less problems...
So, how much for a good, but not "stupidly overpriced just 'cos it's new" kinda card?

let me check, one sec.

Posher778
04-04-2007, 07:22 PM
http://ati.amd.com/buy/pricespcusa.html

Lot's of options, and a large amount of good choices. Ask me if you have a question about one.

ManchestrMorgue
04-04-2007, 08:46 PM
SLI means that there are two graphics card (PCI-E) slots on your motherboard. So you can put in two graphics cards, connect them with a 'bridge' and get increased performance.

SLI is Nvidia only, the ATI equivalent is Crossfire

They have to be two of the same cards. You don't get "double" the performance, but you do get more.

If you want a significant increase in performance, I would suggest the following:

Nvidia 7900GS, which you can get for around $275 (www.umart.net.au)
ATI X1950pro which you can get for around $245 (www.fluidtek.com.au)

Or if you want to spend a bit more, an Nvidia 8800GTS 320Mb card would set you back about $390 (www.fluidtek.com.au). This is DirectX 10, and would be a significant step up from the others mentioned.

(these shops are all in Sydney)

Unfortunately, as you have discovered, a 7300 is not a great gaming card. It is a step up from motherboard graphics, but is about the bottom of the line for current series graphics cards.

I don't think it would be worth getting another 7300 - better off going one of the above options.

A 7300 is not going to play a game like FEAR at full graphics options - I had a 7800GTX previously, and it would struggle with FEAR at full graphics. And that was a much better card than a 7300.

When you talk about a horizontal line going through the screen, do you mean like the screen is tearing in two? If this is the case try setting Vertical Sync to ON in the graphics options for the game.

Hope this all helps.

ManchestrMorgue
04-04-2007, 09:02 PM
Oh I have just heard that the 8600GTS has been released today in australia. It is around $310, or so I have heard. Better value to get the 8800GTS 320mb listed above IMO...

Phalanx
04-05-2007, 01:39 AM
Thanks for the local info, MM.
Is the 88 their latest? what's the word on that...like...will my current onboard stuff run it alright?
Seems cheap enough...

ManchestrMorgue
04-05-2007, 02:26 AM
No problems.

8800 series are the latest and greatest by Nvidia.

8800GTX = best
8800GTS 640mb
8800GTS 320mb
8600GTS

etc

8xxx series cards are the only DirectX 10 cards available at the moment. ATI doesnt have DX 10 cards out yet.

From what I can see, you have a P4, and 2 gigs of ram.

2 gigs of ram is good - plenty for xp and enough for vista.
P4 is getting on a bit now - C2D are much faster. These cards I mentioned would work ok with this system - the P4 wouldn't bottleneck them. Wouldn't be worth getting anything faster though, as the CPU would start to bottleneck their performance I think.

I think any of the cards I mentioned would give you a real boost in gaming.

8800gts would be the best by a long shot because it will also do DX 10 when the games come out (if you have vista - no dx 10 on XP) and even in dx 9 and xp it will be noticeably better than the others I mentioned. But it costs more.

Kane_Hodder
04-05-2007, 07:35 AM
For today's gaming machines an nVidia 7600 G-series card is a bare minimum and a must. My own computer has a 7600GT and runs smooth as hell with my Core 2 Duo 6600 2.4 GHz processor on a Gigabyte 965 motherboard. I loaded up Evil Dead Regeneration from DVD recently and the graphics were quite impressive and the game ran smoothly.