Computer Hope

Software => Computer games => Topic started by: Sinkhan on December 20, 2006, 03:13:47 PM

Title: Good vid card to play games?
Post by: Sinkhan on December 20, 2006, 03:13:47 PM
I'm buying a new comp soon and I'll want to play things like BF 1942, 2, and 2142, and maybe a little Half-Life 2 here and there. What'd be a card that'd get me decent results and would still be cheap? I don't want to spend to much because DX10 is going to come out soon and none of the current cards support it.
Title: Re: Good vid card to play games?
Post by: linuxlover on December 20, 2006, 09:01:42 PM
Don't spend any money on Windows Vista. I repeat, do not spend any money on windows vista! It is unbearably slow and resource intensive. Just use XP. I'd get a 7600GT if I were you. How much RAM do you plan on installing? And whats your budget? Are you getting a 64-bit CPU?
Title: Re: Good vid card to play games?
Post by: Neil on December 21, 2006, 05:59:20 AM
If you want to play Battlefield 2 on high detail, you'll need more than 1gb of RAM. I have 1.25 and the load times are unbearable (minutes) but my friend has 2gb and it loads in about 20 seconds. I would say 1.5gb RAM is a good number to have. I would purchase the RAM above the graphics card, but it's up to you (and depends on your money). At least your RAM won't be made obsolete by DX10.

So basically, you can get lots of RAM and medium graphics card to enjoy smooth, medium detail, or less RAM and good card to enjoy beautiful - but choppy - play. (Or you could get lots of RAM and good card :D)
Title: Re: Good vid card to play games?
Post by: ned1 on December 22, 2006, 11:46:38 AM
Quote
I'm buying a new comp soon and I'll want to play things like BF 1942, 2, and 2142, and maybe a little Half-Life 2 here and there. What'd be a card that'd get me decent results and would still be cheap? I don't want to spend to much because [highlight]DX10 is going to come out soon and none of the current cards support it[/highlight].

Hi, Could someone tell me you are taking, DX10, whats that  :-?  
Title: Re: Good vid card to play games?
Post by: Calum on December 22, 2006, 11:51:43 AM
DX = DirectX (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Directx)
Read that article. hopefully it will explain to you what DirectX is.
DX10 is the latest version.
Title: Re: Good vid card to play games?
Post by: Neil on December 22, 2006, 03:24:45 PM
Quote
DX = DirectX (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Directx)
Read that article. hopefully it will explain to you what DirectX is.
DX10 is the latest version.

Is going to be the latest version. ;)
Title: Re: Good vid card to play games?
Post by: ned1 on December 22, 2006, 04:25:50 PM
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I don't want to spend to much because DX10 is going to come out soon and none of the current cards support it.


So is it software or hardware, If its software do you not update the software, as there has been many updates before DX 10.
Thanks for any help understanding this  :-[ :-?
Title: Re: Good vid card to play games?
Post by: Neil on December 23, 2006, 06:48:39 AM
DirectX is software and is free available. Most game CDs include the latest version of DirectX at the time and it is freely available to download from Microsoft.

The problem is, your graphics card needs to have hardware that can use the new features of each DirectX release. For example, most graphics cards today are DirectX 9. Although, as far as I know, you can download and install DirectX 10 with a DirectX 9 card, only a DirectX10 card will be able to use it to its full potential.
Title: Re: Good vid card to play games?
Post by: Calum on December 23, 2006, 07:25:57 AM
Quote
Quote
DX = DirectX (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Directx)
Read that article. hopefully it will explain to you what DirectX is.
DX10 is the latest version.

Is going to be the latest version. ;)
DX10, the software, is going to be the latest version, you are correct. My bad.
But DX10, hardware support, is available, with cards such as the 8800GTX.
I remember now, DX10 (software) will be available with Vista.
Correct me again if I'm wrong.
Title: Re: Good vid card to play games?
Post by: linuxlover on December 23, 2006, 07:21:11 PM
I would advise against microsoft. If you just want gaming, get a console. If you want games and other PC stuff, get a cheap PC and a gaming console. If you have tons of computer games already, then make the switch and just get what you need for your current games.
You have 3 options for gaming consoles:
Wii) My personal favourite, it has a really cool controller but not the best graphics
360) Excellent graphics, pretty eXpensive though.
PS3) dont even bother...
Title: Re: Good vid card to play games?
Post by: Neil on December 24, 2006, 07:03:00 AM
Yet another not-well-disguised anti-Microsoft rant with little advice value. He doesn't want a gaming console, he wants a gaming computer. The fact that the games he wants to play are not available on those consoles, at least not the same for the PC verions (BF2 for the XBox is very different), should be enough reason.
Title: Re: Good vid card to play games?
Post by: Track on December 27, 2006, 01:08:13 PM
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Yet another not-well-disguised anti-Microsoft rant with little advice value. He doesn't want a gaming console, he wants a gaming computer. The fact that the games he wants to play are not available on those consoles, at least not the same for the PC verions (BF2 for the XBox is very different), should be enough reason.

If ur going to PAY for games, why not buy a console?

Graphics cards to buy (having we been here before?) :

X1800GTO - 120$
X1900GT - 150$
X1950XT - 250$
Title: Re: Good vid card to play games?
Post by: Neil on December 27, 2006, 02:19:22 PM
Because I want to support the game companies in their making of good games? Because I want to be able to play on multiplayer without going through the hassle of bad serial key?
Title: Re: Good vid card to play games?
Post by: Track on December 27, 2006, 04:56:34 PM
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Because I want to support the game companies in their making of good games? Because I want to be able to play on multiplayer without going through the hassle of bad serial key?

Yeh, that serial is bummer. I can get around most of the time.. but its a hassle. Makes me wish i worked at a video game store.. Curse u United States of Americaers! I could have been working at GameStop if it wasn't for the fact that i no longer live in the U.S.

I mean how stupid is this - i have to win a lottery to become a U.S. citizen?? What is this, a game show??
"Oh look at me, im a terrorist but im a U.S. citizen now because i won the green card lottery".. fukcing idiots..
Title: Re: Good vid card to play games?
Post by: GX1_Man on December 28, 2006, 08:30:51 PM
What is the point of that little fit?
Title: Re: Good vid card to play games?
Post by: Neil on December 29, 2006, 06:46:54 AM
If you don't like America so much, why do you want to live there. Have you tried England? We welcome terrorists and give them free houses.
Title: Re: Good vid card to play games?
Post by: Calum on December 29, 2006, 08:28:08 AM
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If you don't like America so much, why do you want to live there. Have you tried England? We welcome terrorists and give them free houses.
LOL!  Unfortunately all too true.
Someone remind me, why has this thread turned into a political debate?
Oh well.
Title: Re: Good vid card to play games?
Post by: Track on December 29, 2006, 12:09:24 PM
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If you don't like America so much, why do you want to live there. Have you tried England? We welcome terrorists and give them free houses.

I dont like America.. yeh thats a smart post.
Title: Re: Good vid card to play games?
Post by: GX1_Man on December 29, 2006, 04:40:28 PM
I thought you lived in Israel, though you are listed as living in Missouri.

And the reason you don't like America is.......
Title: Re: Good vid card to play games?
Post by: Neil on December 29, 2006, 05:13:40 PM
Quote
I thought you lived in Israel, though you are listed as living in Missouri.

And the reason you don't like America is.......

They won't let him in ::)
Title: Re: Good vid card to play games?
Post by: Track on December 31, 2006, 12:09:32 AM
Quote
I thought you lived in Israel, though you are listed as living in Missouri.

And the reason you don't like America is.......

I do.. i dont know why it says i live in Missouri.  :-?

Who says i dont like the US?
Title: Re: Good vid card to play games?
Post by: Track on December 31, 2006, 12:12:51 AM
Quote
Quote
I thought you lived in Israel, though you are listed as living in Missouri.

And the reason you don't like America is.......

They won't let him in ::)

Let me know when you're getting your FID chip  ;)
Title: Re: Good vid card to play games?
Post by: Calum on December 31, 2006, 06:10:10 AM
OK . . . what's going on here?
Almost every thread Track joins seems to become very strange and confusing.
Title: Re: Good vid card to play games?
Post by: GX1_Man on December 31, 2006, 06:14:01 AM
Quote
Who says i dont like the US?

Well you did, for one. Be consistent.

Quote
Yeh, that serial is bummer. I can get around most of the time.. but its a hassle. Makes me wish i worked at a video game store.. [highlight]Curse u United States of Americaers![/highlight] I could have been working at GameStop if it wasn't for the fact that i no longer live in the U.S.

I mean how stupid is this - i have to win a lottery to become a U.S. citizen?? What is this, a game show??
"Oh look at me, im a terrorist but im a U.S. citizen now because i won the green card lottery"..[highlight] fukcing idiots[/highlight]..


Quote
I dont like America.. yeh thats a smart post.


Title: Re: Good vid card to play games?
Post by: Calum on December 31, 2006, 06:15:10 AM
. . . slightly less confusing . . . but now I'm confused about Track :-?
Title: Re: Good vid card to play games?
Post by: GX1_Man on December 31, 2006, 06:18:26 AM
Quote
OK . . . what's going on here?
Almost every thread Track joins seems to become very strange and confusing.

It's because he is opinionated and occasionally wrong, but he never admits it, choosing to blame others and becoming verbally agressive when challenged.

I guess that sums it up.
Title: Re: Good vid card to play games?
Post by: Calum on December 31, 2006, 06:21:18 AM
OK, that's pretty much what I thought.
He seems to get very defensive of his opinions and what he thinks people should do or want.
Sometimes helpful, often offensive and rude.
Fair summary?
Title: Re: Good vid card to play games?
Post by: GX1_Man on December 31, 2006, 06:38:42 AM
Spot on.
Title: Re: Good vid card to play games?
Post by: Calum on December 31, 2006, 06:40:22 AM
Fair enough.
Title: Re: Good vid card to play games?
Post by: GX1_Man on December 31, 2006, 06:56:05 AM
Quote
Problems are like mistakes - they are positive as long as they are resolved.

Title: Re: Good vid card to play games?
Post by: Brin on January 01, 2007, 06:48:45 AM
I have a similar question to sinkhans.  Im hopefully getting my new AMD athlon 64 with HT, and i already have my motherboard with pci-express x16, and a 7300Gt pci-express x16 video card, and 1 gig of RAM.  Would a game like BF2 fun nice and smooth on this new system or would there be chopiness and fpslag?
Title: Re: Good vid card to play games?
Post by: panboy on January 01, 2007, 09:22:36 AM
To be honest Ive never seen BF2 run smooth, BF2142 runs much better, but yes the system you suggesting should be able to run the game Pretty Well, i might suggest more ram 2 Gigs helps a whole bunch when it come to performance, also you gfx card is at the lower end of the Range, so it might not give you the Best Results, but it should be satisfactory

i used to Run BF2 on a Geforce 5600, all settings at low , and it ran fine, i could put it up to medium on small maps
Title: Re: Good vid card to play games?
Post by: Neil on January 01, 2007, 10:35:27 AM
I agree. BF2 is the most RAM hungry game I have ever met.
Title: Re: Good vid card to play games?
Post by: Calum on January 01, 2007, 11:36:18 AM
BF series eat RAM like nothing else.
I have a fairly decent gaming computer, and I get 25-35fps at everything on medium with BF2142.
According to some friends who play BF2142, it's because I have 1Gb of RAM - apparently if I had 2Gb I'd get around 50fps on medium settings.
Title: Re: Good vid card to play games?
Post by: Neil on January 01, 2007, 12:19:52 PM
I don't think the RAM makes that much difference to the fps. The main problem with low RAM is long game load times and frequent choppiness and pauses as the paging file on the harddrive is access. I don't think "memory lag" of this kind makes much of a change to the fps.
Title: Re: Good vid card to play games?
Post by: Calum on January 01, 2007, 12:23:15 PM
In that case, they probably don't know what they're on about.
I've noticed that BF people can get a little carried away.
Long game load times . . . you got that right.  I could walk to Australia in the time it takes me to load one map.
And it's not like I have a slow computer either.
I wish I could afford the extra RAM . . .
Title: Re: Good vid card to play games?
Post by: panboy on January 01, 2007, 01:21:00 PM
I had the money to by extra ram, i was happy , i put it in my computer and it wouldn't turn on, and the shop wont give me back my moneys, now i dont have money for more ram :( im sad now

DDR2 is stupid :P
Title: Re: Good vid card to play games?
Post by: GX1_Man on January 01, 2007, 01:24:00 PM
www.crucial.com is smart.  ;)

Lifetime warranty, guaranteed compatibility and reasonable (though not the lowest) price. I've never had a regret there.