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Thread ID: 92894 2008-08-27 04:33:00 Advice on getting a cheapish new graphis card Daniel.Drache (10574) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
700785 2008-08-27 04:33:00 My System requirements are
XP home
1gig ram
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 3500+, MMX, 3DNow, ~2 . 2GHz (dxdiag)

Graphics Card (dxdiag)
Card name: RADEON X800 Series
Chip type: RADEON X800 GTO

Not sure What my Sound card is



I got Mass Effect, thinking that I could run it on the low settings, it looked so good that I figured I'd risk it .
But my card won't even let the game start, let alone run it .

So I was wondering if I could get a suggestion for a new graphics card .
I don't know how to check if I need/want a PCI Express one or not .
I'm hoping that I can get one for approx $200

I had a look at . gpstore . co . nz/ & http://www . pricespy . co . nz/cat_16 . html?s=p" target="_blank">www . gpstore . co . nz/ & http: but don't know what I'm looking for .

Mass Effect's Minimum is
* NVIDIA GeForce 6800 or better (7300, 7600 GS, and 8500 are below minimum
system requirements)
* ATI X1300 XT or better (X1300, X1300 Pro, X1600 Pro and HD2400 are below
minimum system requirements)
* Shader Model 3 . 0 required
* 100% DirectX 9 . 0c compatible sound card and drivers .



Any help at all would be great
Daniel

P . S I've installed ram & a ethernet card, I had a look at . directron . com/howtovideo . html" target="_blank">www . directron . com & a video card doesn't look to difficut, would it be better to get a shop to do it?
Daniel.Drache (10574)
700786 2008-08-27 05:00:00 My System is (according to Belarc)

Operating System
Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 2 (build 2600)

Processor
2.20 gigahertz AMD Athlon 64
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 3500+, MMX, 3DNow, ~2.2GHz <-(dxdiag)

Main Circuit Board
Board: ASUSTeK Computer INC. A8N-E 2.XX
Serial Number: 123456789000
Bus Clock: 200 megahertz
BIOS: Phoenix Technologies, LTD ASUS A8N-E ACPI BIOS Revision 1001 01/21/2005

1 Gig Memory

Display
RADEON X800 Series [Display adapter]
RADEON X800 Series -Secondary [Display adapter]
Chip type: RADEON X800 GTO <-(dxdiag)

ControllersStandard floppy disk controller
NVIDIA nForce4 ADMA Controller (2x)
NVIDIA nForce4 Parallel ATA Controller
Standard IDE/ESDI Hard Disk Controller

Bus Adapters
SCSI/RAID Host Controller
Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller
Standard OpenHCD USB Host Controller

Other Devices
Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
Microsoft PS/2 Port Mouse (IntelliPoint)
NVIDIA Network Bus Enumerator
USB Root Hub (2x)

Virus Protection
ZoneAlarm Security Suite Antivirus Version 7.0.483.000
Realtime File Scanning On
Eset NOD32 antivirus system 2.51 Version 2.51
Realtime File Scanning On
(I don't have Nod32 anymore though



I'm hoping I can get a Graphics card for $200ish, but if I can't get one that will play Mass effect, What would a card be that can play it?
Daniel.Drache (10574)
700787 2008-08-27 06:32:00 Check the links

6800 (www.trademe.co.nz)

7800 (www.trademe.co.nz)

8800 (www.trademe.co.nz)

And new...


6 and 7 Series (www.pricespy.co.nz)

8 and 9 Series (www.pricespy.co.nz)
DeSade (984)
700788 2008-08-27 07:05:00 So any of the 6, 7, 8 & 9 Series would work fine?
Also Should I get the PCI Express or Not

Also how does the card progression go?
6500 made one year
6600 made the next year
6700 made the year after
etc?

is the 6000 series a basic model, the 7000 model average & the 8000 model advanced?

Thanks for the help, I don't know much about Viedo Cards
Daniel.Drache (10574)
700789 2008-08-27 07:16:00 So any of the 6, 7, 8 & 9 Series would work fine?
Also Should I get the PCI Express or Not

Also how does the card progression go?
6500 made one year
6600 made the next year
6700 made the year after
etc?

is the 6000 series a basic model, the 7000 model average & the 8000 model advanced?

Thanks for the help, I don't know much about Viedo Cards

This (www.asus.com) is supposibly your motherboard so yes PCI Express is what your after in terms of connection type.


The Nvidia series went:

Old

6000
7000
8000
9000
200
New

Generally the higher the second digit in the model number the higher performance the card is within it series.

In terms of suffix it goes:

GT
GTS
GTX
stormdragon (6013)
700790 2008-08-27 07:19:00 The numbering is a little weird but what you want to be looking for is either
And no not "any" you need as a minimum a 6800. I wouldn't bother with any of the inbetween cards in this range.

Minimum spec - 6800
Medium spec - 7800
High spec - 8800

A 9 series is latest if you can afford it
DeSade (984)
700791 2008-08-27 07:27:00 ahhh, thanks I understand alot more now.
I figure that's my motherboard, I threw out all the boxes when I moved house, kept the driver disks.

& I know to get a PCI, so I should be able to choose a good card.

Thanks to both of you for all the info & clarifying everything!
Daniel.Drache (10574)
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