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Thread ID: 46798 2004-07-05 23:01:00 Graphics Cards help_me (1501) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
250128 2004-07-08 03:29:00 > > (its amazing how many people who game dont know
> what
> > AA + AF is, and then say that their graphics cards
> > can handle all the modern games
> It's amazing how many people don't know what the
> radius of the moon is to know that it affects Earth's
> gravity. Knowing exactly how anastropic filtering
> and anti-aliasing work doesn't mean I can't switch
> them on or off to find the best settings

I was trying to get at the point that alot of people go around claiming they can run the latest game, yet dont take in consideration AA + AF. Recently there has been a big shift in the gaming industry away from pure FPS in the quest for better image quality ([H]ardOCP recent change of their reviewing process is testment to this fact). If you look at a game without AA it is very blocky and not smooth, turn on AA and its alot smoother and pleasing on the eye. Its one thing to run UT2K4 with detail settings at high, and its another thing to run UT2k4 with high detail settings and AA + AF. Application preference as a rule of thumb means that AA + AF wont be used.
Pete O'Neil (250)
250129 2004-07-08 04:14:00 > I'll have to go and look at a demo somewhere to be able to evaluate that. Suffice it to say I've been quite happy with what I've got, apart from the framerate which I guess could be a lot better (I've heard of some guys getting 100fps!)

There is absolutely no point in getting 100fps if your monitor refresh rate is only say 85Hz (only capable of 85fps). It just shows tearing on the screen and makes the graphics even worse. That's why with the powerful video cards you should turn on VSync to slow them down a little.

My old Geforce MX440 could play every game, but very poorly. With far cry you don't know what you are missing. Like if you turn the full details up, you can see fish in the water, birds flying around, the lights sway etc all sorts of cool stuff that you miss out on with useless cards.
kiki (762)
250130 2004-07-08 04:24:00 what card could i get for $100?
iv got a ge4mx440
is it worth upgrading to a $100 card?
Mirddes (10)
250131 2004-07-08 04:34:00 Mirddes, short answer - NO
With 100 bucks there is no desent card that you can buy which would significantly improve ur gaming performance.

Whats ur specs? What games do u play / want to play? perhaps ur cpu or ram might be limiting ur frame rates, which means u should look at upgrading those before ur graphics card.
Sulley (2555)
250132 2004-07-08 04:42:00 um, my specs are...

AthlonXp 2100
512mb DDR ram
ge4mx440
60Gb HDD


and the games i play

nfs:u
gta:vc
bf1942
planetside
Mirddes (10)
250133 2004-07-08 05:07:00 Those games arent that graphicly intensive, so unless your willing to shell out more cash dont bother with a GFX upgrade. What core is that Athlon? T-bred or Palmino? If its a t-bred b and youve got a solid motherboard you could overclock it and get a cheap preformance increase. T-bred B's overclock like crazy, you would struggle to finda t-bred b that wont do 2.0Ghz. My 1800+ will go from 1529mhz (11.5 x 133) to 1916mhz (11.5x166) on stock vcore + HSF. I would expect a 2100+ to do the same. Pete O'Neil (250)
250134 2004-07-08 05:09:00 > um, my specs are...
>
> AthlonXp 2100
> 512mb DDR ram
> ge4mx440
> 60Gb HDD

theres no pointing telling us what size harddrive you have, size wont affect preformance. You would be better telling how fast it spins eg. RPM? What interface it uses ATA100, ATA133 or SATA150? How much cache/buffer? Those things all affect preformance.
Pete O'Neil (250)
250135 2004-07-08 05:14:00 i dont know what the core is, and since im staying on a farm(im not at home), i cant check, dialup hurts.
would swaping out that graphics card, or any of teh components for that matter, void the warrenty?

and please dont mock me, slow computers are messing with my head
Mirddes (10)
250136 2004-07-08 05:47:00 Did you build it yourself? If not who built it for you? HP Compaq? If it was a large company such as Compaq or HP then it might void your warrenty. Have a read of your manual/warrenty and see what it says.

Have you ever opened your PC up before? Changed CD-ROM/HDD's?
Pete O'Neil (250)
250137 2004-07-08 07:44:00 > and please dont mock me,

Pete and others... yeah give the guy a damn break - he's called on us for help, not to be humiliated. You hardware wizards are a bit up yourselves hey?. This guy is humble enough to read thru the thread, realise that there's some help to be had here, and has exteneded himself by asking - don't blow him away with your damn jargon and other Cow Droppings!
Greg S (201)
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