Curse

majoho · Sep 13, 2006, 10:19 AM // 10:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by lordxephon

hmm really....well what would you reccomend?

this is the one im buying btw

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEBI%3AIT&rd=1

Well it's crap but then again there's not really any point in upgrading your computer with a more expensive card so I guess it will be ok.

lordxephon · Sep 13, 2006, 02:19 PM // 14:19

btw is it 4x agp? im using a Dell optiplex GX150 and I'm not sure if it has 4x agp

Mushroom · Sep 13, 2006, 02:41 PM // 14:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hollerith

Buy a Dell. You don't even know if you motherboard supports AGP 4X+

That is actually not a help at all.

Most Dell computers do not come with a graphics slot at all. I see an average of 20 Dell Dimensions a week, and maybe 10% have an AGP port.

And the newer ones are no better. I have seen several of the newer ones, with LGA-775 and SATA hard drives. And inside, there are PCI and PCIe 1x slots. But no AGP, and no PCIe 16x video slot.

In all of these systems, you are stuck with either the on-board video (which really sucks - most will not even play Halo), or adding a PCI video card (which sucks, speed in these is dismal).

And to be fair, HP, Compaq, Gateway, E-Machine, and all of the other major brands do the exact same thing. To them, AGP or PCIe is a "luxuary", which justifies an additional $200+ on the final price.

Mushroom · Sep 13, 2006, 02:52 PM // 14:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by lordxephon

btw is it 4x agp? im using a Dell optiplex GX150 and I'm not sure if it has 4x agp

OK, here is the scoop on the GX150.

The GX150 was one of Dell's "Slimline Business" models. It was aimed at small businesses, where a decent computer was needed, but without taking up the space of their calssic "OptiPlex" computers.

Now the good news: This computer does have an AGP 4 video slot.

Now the bad news: You have to find a "Small Form Factor" video card.

The only one I have ever seen is the Sapphire Radeon 9250. It was a full-size card, but they came with a removeable back-plate. You could remove the regular backplate, and they included a SFF backplate. This entitled removing the VGA connector, and having to work through a DVI connector.

But the box also comes with a DVI to VGA converter, so it still works just fine. I have installed many of these in other systems that required SFF cards (Gateway was notorious for that).

Your only other choice is to use PCI. The PCI cards are in a sideways mounted bracket, so you can use any conventional PCI card without a problem. BUt if you want AGP, you have to find something that is Small Form Factor.

Hope that helps out a bit more.

Hollerith · Sep 13, 2006, 04:40 PM // 16:40

Buying a Dell was a huge help for me. I knew that I wanted to potentially upgrade videocards but didn't know how to specify it, so I did the old fashioned thing and called them up and talked to the CSR's. There are tons of AGP Dells out there, you just need to look.

My first gaming computer was from the Dell refurbished section. Gave me everything I needed at a price a highschooler could afford. I see a 512MB P4 system that comes with a 256meg PCIe nVidia card for $500 (only thing it doesn't have is ethernet), not too shabby if you ask me.

lordxephon · Sep 13, 2006, 11:43 PM // 23:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mushroom

OK, here is the scoop on the GX150.

The GX150 was one of Dell's "Slimline Business" models. It was aimed at small businesses, where a decent computer was needed, but without taking up the space of their calssic "OptiPlex" computers.

Now the good news: This computer does have an AGP 4 video slot.

Now the bad news: You have to find a "Small Form Factor" video card.

The only one I have ever seen is the Sapphire Radeon 9250. It was a full-size card, but they came with a removeable back-plate. You could remove the regular backplate, and they included a SFF backplate. This entitled removing the VGA connector, and having to work through a DVI connector.

But the box also comes with a DVI to VGA converter, so it still works just fine. I have installed many of these in other systems that required SFF cards (Gateway was notorious for that).

Your only other choice is to use PCI. The PCI cards are in a sideways mounted bracket, so you can use any conventional PCI card without a problem. BUt if you want AGP, you have to find something that is Small Form Factor.

Hope that helps out a bit more.

aw jeez so i cant use the Geforce4 mx 440? Well its not that I want to use agp but, if theres a good pci card that can run guild wars and i can use then that would be great anyone know one?

johan the destroyer · Sep 14, 2006, 12:14 AM // 00:14

Yes, there is a great PCI card that runs Guild Wars. The BFG Geforce 6200 OC card comes in PCI and runs GW at 1280x1024, Second to highest quality, 40 FPS on my computer. Its about $160 last I checked, but its worth it, as it supports technology such as DirectX 9, OpenGL 2.0, and Pixel Shader 3.0. So, if you want to run Guild Wars fast, that is definitely your best bet.

lordxephon · Sep 14, 2006, 01:09 AM // 01:09

Cool well um i dont have money so i buy off of ebay lol >.<

http://cgi.ebay.com/BFG-GeForce-6200...QQcmdZViewItem

1st of is this the one ur talkin bout? Well Im preety sure thats it but im just worried about if it is compatiable with my cpu. Mushroom said I can use "any convetional pci card" but can i use this one?

johan the destroyer · Sep 14, 2006, 01:24 AM // 01:24

That's the one. I wouldn't recommend it because it doesnt come with the software, but you can download that off the Nvidia website. Just make sure there is a return policy before you buy it, since I don't trust used cards. But yeah, thats the card. Also, what kind of CPU do you have? And what kind of power supply? One last thing: How many Amps are there on the 12 Volt rail of the power supply (yeah, this matters)

Added: It says that OpenGL 1.4 is supported. Its supposed to support 2.0, so check on that

lordxephon · Sep 14, 2006, 02:18 AM // 02:18

How to I check on information on my Power supply?

Add: Ok I checked some stuff on top of the power supply so far what I know is 90W "110 Max"

For everyhting else I'm not sure but it says

100-120V ~ 3.5A, 200-240V ~ 2.0A
50-60Hz

not sure what that means but how do I find it?

johan the destroyer · Sep 14, 2006, 02:42 AM // 02:42

Umm...I don't think that will work with the graphics card. You need at least a 250 Watt Power Supply to run it. No problems there if you want to spent a little more money ;-). I believe you can get a pretty good one that will work for it with a little extra juice (300-400 Watt) for about 20-30 bucks. Here is a good one:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...240&CatId=1077

Check to see if it will fit in your case though.

lordxephon · Sep 14, 2006, 03:11 AM // 03:11

Think im gonna buy a new power supply but that one is a petium 4 proccessor im using p3

llsektorll · Sep 14, 2006, 03:20 AM // 03:20

i've run guild wars for over a year on 2.4Ghz onboard GeForce 2MX 32mb on NForce Motherboard ... and on GeForce1 256(not the ram just the model) 32mb....

i would get around 17fps on a empty clear town and around 10fps on normal towns and 2-7fps on a busy town. Sometimes the gfx lag would suck when you pvp .... cant complain about what i use now... GeForce6600 256MB

Mushroom · Sep 14, 2006, 04:08 PM // 16:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by lordxephon

Think im gonna buy a new power supply but that one is a petium 4 proccessor im using p3

The problem with the Dell Slimline series is that you can't upgrade the power supply. They are propriatory units, and only come from Dell. And even the new units are only 250 watts. SO you are pretty much stuck with what you have now.

And I would not bother with a PCI video card, since you can use a slimline AGP model. The extra GPU will not help you at all if the performance is tied to the slower PCI bus. You may get more capability, but the increase in lag in a rapidly moving game like GW will force you to tune settings back down to prevent lag and stutter.

johan the destroyer · Sep 14, 2006, 06:35 PM // 18:35

Hmm, yeah. At this point either upgrade your computer or get another card. I just checked the System specs and its not even worth buying a graphics card thats that expensive.