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Thread ID: 69155	2006-05-23 13:30:00	Explain Graphic Card Specs	GaryW (10329)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
457198	2006-05-23 13:30:00	Hi, I need some help to make an informed decision . I only use my computer for playing games like Morrowind and Black and White 2 . I have a NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 LE at present and I want to buy a better “cheap” AGP graphics card . I have looking on Trademe and Pricespy but I am not sure about some of the numbers that are given for graphic cards . How important is the amount of RAM 128MB or 256MB? Does the type of RAM DDR or DDR2 or DDR3 matter? What difference does 64 bit, 128 bit or 256 bit memory interface make? Does the RAMDAC speed determine how good a graphics card is? Does a graphic card help with editing video? Last and probably least, is there any performance benefits in buying a NVidia or ATI card or is this just a matter of preference? :confused: GaryW	GaryW (10329)
457199	2006-05-23 20:04:00	So what are the rest of the system specs? Motherboard? CPU? Hard drive(s) Operating System? The type of RAM does matter. The memory interface matters. RAMDAC speed makes a difference only if you are on the bleeding edge and is not the only thing to think about. The card will help in editing video but is not the only issue in the equation. NVidia or ATI is more a matter of preference but I believe NVidia is front at the moment. More importantly, since you want "better and cheap" the latest cards will not be cheap. I guess what you really want is the best bang for the buck. You will need an AGP card rather than PCI-E unless you change the motherboard of course. I suggest too you tell us what you want to pay. What is wrong with your current card for what you want to play?	Sweep (90)
457200	2006-05-23 20:06:00	I will try and answer so of these :D I have never heard of these games, are they new or old? With the DDR, DDR2 and DDR3 that is just how fast the memory on the card runs (these are divisions) (DDR3 is the fastest) . Now, the 64 bit, 128 bit and 256 bit is how much data can fit through at one time (256 is the best) . as far as I know, the RAMDAC has no difference (it only converts the signal for the monitor) . No GFX card can do any video encoding as far as I have heard, that is all up to the CPU . There is no real difference , just preference, ATI's x1900xtx is the best at the moment but I like NVidia, I have heard NVidia are more stable cards but don't know fully .	The_End_Of_Reality (334)
457201	2006-05-23 20:56:00	. I only use my computer for playing games like Morrowind and Black and White 2 . I have a NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 LE at present and I want to buy a better “cheap” AGP graphics card . How important is the amount of RAM 128MB or 256MB? Does the type of RAM DDR or DDR2 or DDR3 matter? What difference does 64 bit, 128 bit or 256 bit memory interface make? Does a graphic card help with editing video? NVidia or ATI card This chart ranks them, the top is the best of course: . tomshardware . com/2005/07/05/vga_charts_vii/page4 . html" target="_blank">www . tomshardware . com More ram is better, DDR2 is better than DDR, DDR3 is better than DDR2 . 256bit is best . No, editing video isn't really helped by a gaming card . These are gaming cards . Its preference mainly although certain games perform better with one or the other but I wouldn't worry too much about that for what you are playing, just get the best you can afford .	pctek (84)
457202	2006-05-23 20:58:00	I have never heard of these games, are they new or old? What planet have you been on? The latest Morowind is Oblivion . Which is all over the net . Black & White 2 is the sequel to Black & White, its a god game, go look it up . Not your usual sort of game .	pctek (84)
457203	2006-05-23 22:32:00	Well my system certainly is not on the bleeding edge . However, for the most part it does what I need it to do . I don’t play games much, but with three teenage sons this system does get used a lot for games . They are trying to tell me that their games would run better if I got a new graphics card . My idea of them buying their own computer did not go down too well so I am looking for a cheap compromise . I am only prepared to spend up to $200 on a new graphics card . My system: :groan: Motherboard: GA-7VT600 1394 Processor: AMD Athlon XP 2500+ RAM: 768 MB DDR Hard-drives: 2 X 80GB SATA OS: WinXP Home	GaryW (10329)
457204	2006-05-23 22:46:00	What planet have you been on? The latest Morowind is Oblivion. I have heard of Oblivian, but not Morowind... If you can stretch another $50 you can get a 6600 GT (www.pp.co.nz)	The_End_Of_Reality (334)
457205	2006-05-24 11:39:00	Would these cards make a significant improvement to game playing on my computer? It has been suggested that I get a 6600 GT but that is just out of my price range. I have found these two cards that are within my budget. Asus N6600/TD 256Mb = $189.00 Chip Maker: nVidia Chipset: Geforce 6600 Core/Mem Frequency: 300Mhz/ 500Mhz Memory Size: 256Mb Memory Bus: 128bit Pixel Pipelines: 8 Interface: AGP 8x Outputs: 15pin VIVO: No MSI NX6600-VTD128 Diamond = $183.40 Chip Maker: nVidia Chipset: Geforce 6600 Core/Mem Frequency: 400Mhz/ 800Mhz Memory Size: 128Mb Memory Bus: 128bit Pixel Pipelines: 8 Interface: AGP 8x Outputs: 15pin/ DVI/ TV Out VIVO: Yes VIVO is not very important to me as I have a TV tuner/video capture card. I would also like to find a couple of ATI cards with similar specs and prices. I am not sure whether ATI RADEON 9800 PRO 128MB/256bit or ATI RADEON AGP 8X 9600 XT 256mb 128 bit are similar in specs but they are close in price. :help:	GaryW (10329)
457206	2006-05-24 21:43:00	Take a look at the tomshardware chart. The vanilla 6600 is useless. You'd be better off with a 6600GT.	pctek (84)
457207	2006-06-08 10:59:00	Hi all I have saved for a bit longer and now have about $250 to spend on a graphics card . I was planning to buy a GeForce 6600GT but I found an ATI x1600 card that appears to have better overall spacification than the 6600GT and it costs less as well any advice about which card is the best buy would be appreciated . Here are the specs for these 2 cards . $224 . 08 Price including GST Brand POWERCOLOR Model X1600PRO 256MB AGP Interface Interface AGP 4X/8X Chipset Chipset Manufacturer ATI GPU Radeon X1600PRO Core clock 500MHz PixelPipelines 12 Memory Memory Clock 800MHz Memory Size 256MB Memory Interface 128-bit Memory Type GDDR2 3D API DirectX DirectX 9 OpenGL OpenGL 2 . 0 Ports D-SUB 1 DVI 1 TV-Out S-Video Out RAMDAC 400 MHz Cooler Heatsink and Fan Operating Systems Supported Windows 2000/XP Features Transform Your PC with Intense 3D and High-Definition Visuals -The Radeon X1600 is designed to deliver outstanding entertainment and 3D graphics through its unique ultra-threaded core architecture and Avivo™ video and display technology . Revolutionary Avivo Video and Display Technology -With Avivo technology the Radeon X1600 connects to home entertainment devices and produces vibrant colors, sharp images, true-to-life image reproduction, and the smoothest video playback ever offered by ATI . The Most Advanced 3D Performance Technology -Experience state-of-the-art graphics technology and enjoy unparalleled gaming with the most advanced 3D performance technology including: a 90-nanometer process GPU, a new ultra-threaded core processing architecture, a 128-bit ring-bus memory controller . . A New Era of Visual Realism Brings Your Games to Life -Radeon X1600’s 90-nanometer process technology and new 3D architecture support Shader Model 3 . 0 . Intelligent Software for Clear and Stable Images -Squeeze every drop of performance out of the Radeon® X1600, with Catalyst™ Control Center . $233 . 10 Price including GST PixelView 6600GT 128MB DDR3 AGP -GPU GeForce 6600GT -Core speed 550MHz -Memory speed 1000MHz -Memory size 128Mb -Memory interface 128bit -DVI -TV-OUT -Pixels/clk 8 -RAMDAC 400 -Direct X 9 . 0 -CineFX 3 . 0 Engine -UltraShadow II Technology -Intellisample 3 . 0 Technology -Unified Driver Architecture (UDA) -nView Multi-Display Technology -Digital Vibrance Control 3 . 0 Technology -Full-Speed 32-Bit Color Precision -Video Scaling and Filtering -OpenGL(r) 1 . 5 Optimizations and Support -Integrated HDTV Encoder	GaryW (10329)
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