Curse

SNIEVES · Jun 22, 2007, 01:19 PM // 13:19

Hi This is the OP - I really dont have the funds to replace the power supply at this tme, i am not really a hardcore gamer per say, mainly play guild wars, i have found a card that should work , that has a 300 watt minimum requirement, its the Nvidia Geforce 8500 GT, card is avaliable at best buy were i plan on having it installed, there fee is only $ 39 for the installation, i dont know much about computers , and mainly play guild wars, does anyone have any expeirence with the Geforce 8500 GT. thks.

Zodiak · Jun 22, 2007, 01:39 PM // 13:39

I dont have any experience with the 8500 but i would SERIOUSLY NOT recommend getting anything lower then a GTS model, the GT model is the lowest there is, it comes before the GTS

GT, GTS, GTS Superclocked, GTX, GTX Superclocked, Ultra, Ultra Superclocked

thats how the nameing convention goes

Quaker · Jun 22, 2007, 02:19 PM // 14:19

To get the sort of graphics power that most people here are recommending, (and which would match your machine better) you would probably need to upgrade the power supply too. However, if you really don't want to do that, you may be satisfied with a less powerful graphics card such as the 8500GT. Just dial some of the graphics detail levels back, turn off AA (Anti-Aliasing), etc. Actually, in GW, going to Options, then Graphics, and clicking on Auto-detect would be the simplest solution.

My setup is similar to yours. I have an AMD 64 X2 3800+, 2 gigs of RAM, and a Gateway 21 inch wide monitor running GW at 1680x1050. I'm currently using an x1800XL based card (which is the low end of the x1800 series), and I get acceptable frame rates. I don't know what the actual fps is. AA (Anti-Aliasing) is turned off at the moment - vsync on. (I haven't been too concerned about it because I'm planning to get a 2900XT card very soon.)
The main problem is that 1680x1050 is a lot of pixels to push around. You may have to turn down the graphics quality a lot, although, as I said earlier, it would still be better than the on-board.

Zodiak · Jun 22, 2007, 03:33 PM // 15:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quaker

Actually, in GW, going to Options, then Graphics, and clicking on Auto-detect would be the simplest solution.

Can you believe that when I chose Autodetect with the current hardware I have, even though I only have a AMD x2 dual core 3800+ and 1gn of DDR400 ram, Guildwars will NOT max everything out on autodetect?

lol even though when i set the settings myself on 1680x1050, 60hz refresh, everything on the highest ive had 300fps.

Guildwars does NOT do the best job on figuring out what settings it should be at but at least it tries.

SNIEVES · Jun 22, 2007, 04:09 PM // 16:09

i have pretty much looking at the Geforce 8500 GT, it does not require me to change my power suppl since it requires a minimum of 300 watts, which i have and 512 k ram, which i have 1 gig DDR PC 4200,the questions i cannot find any reviews or anyone familiar with the card to tell me if its a decent card or garbage

SNIEVES · Jun 23, 2007, 06:04 AM // 06:04

Well, i went to best buy , and got the Geforce 8500 GT(512MB), plus 1 gig more of DDR Ram,My new system configuration is :
Gateway GM5094E- AMD 64 Antalon X 2 Dual Core 4200, 2 gig of DDR Ram, 320 Gig Hardrive, Nividia Geforce 8500 GT(512 MB), its running very smooth, pictures agristal clear and life like, geetting up to 90 FPS, averaging 65 FPS mostly