Curse

Nigy · May 06, 2005, 03:24 AM // 03:24

Yes, im sure you get a lot of these. I'm on the verge of getting GW, but...my computer's fine except for the bad graphics card. I think it's the graphics card...
Start>>Control Panel. Find "intel extreme graphics". that's the graphics card right?

i have a fine computer: 120 GB hardrive, 512 ram, intel pent. 4 2.5 gigahertz.

but my graphics card is the intel extreme graphics, it has 64 mb max graphics memory. and many bad things have been said about intel extreme.

So..it's most likely obvious im leading to: "can i run guild wars safely at lowest settings? can even run it at all? i couldnt run Knights of the Old Republic 2.

and i have cable internet so that's not a problem.

Thanks in advance. It's a shared computer, and im not dying to take it apart (again) to reinstall a new card.

DeadNite · May 06, 2005, 03:37 AM // 03:37

You dont actually have a graphics card(not insulting, educating). you actually have an integrated graphics accelerator. the differance between a card and an integrated accelerator is that an actuall card has dedicated memory. An integrated accelerator uses what most companies call "shared memory" which mean that it uses your system RAM for its graphics memory. for obvious reasons this is not a good thing. The more memory your system has, the more it will use for video. if you notice when in windows it says your computer has 510 or 511mb of ram instead of your actual 512. that is because your system sets aside a dedicated 1mb of ram for your video. as the need for ram increases, your system draws more ram for your video. however, you can buy a graphics card for your computer. I thinnk you may have to buy a PCI card as im sure your integrated card uses the AGP features of your motherboard.

[Edit] I dont know if you can play GW. I just thought i could give you a little usefull/useless info.

Nigy · May 06, 2005, 03:48 AM // 03:48

ooooooooh i see. hm. If i were to buy a graphics card (a low end one most likely) could i still use the services of the accelerator thingie AND the newly installed graphics card?

and do you know if enough ram would be drained to significantly slow down the computer? and is there a way to find out, while playing a game, how much ram is being used? thanks.

Serafita Kayin · May 06, 2005, 03:59 AM // 03:59

His is either 845 or 865 chipset, so he probably will have an AGP slot, unless his board vendor was just really stupid. It does happen though...

Pull the side and check for an offset brown slot next to the white PCI slots. If there's one there, it has it.

Nigy · May 06, 2005, 04:06 AM // 04:06

it's 845, and im reluctant to take the cover off because i gotta unplug everything.....

DeadNite · May 06, 2005, 04:27 AM // 04:27

Well, the only way to tell is if you actually pull the side. hes right about those 2 chipsets. You have to understand how pc manufacturers work. To cut costs and to offer pcs at lower prices. I dont think you do have an AGP slot tho because the integrated graphics accelerater utilizes the AGP/PCI-E so it can gain those speed boosts. I have never seen a system with both integrated and an AGP port. Because like i said before, the board vender uses the AGP/PCI-E pipeline to get better integrated video.

Nigy · May 06, 2005, 01:48 PM // 13:48

OK, does anyone know, to be mostly sure, if this chipset (chipset, is it a chipset) can run guild wars? i dont care about having minimum settings.

Drevay · May 06, 2005, 01:54 PM // 13:54

He (or she) may not have to buy a PCI card. I have integrated graphics (Geforce 4 MX 440) that uses the AGP bus when enabled, but since I have an AGP slot, yeah, there's no problem there.

*pets X800 XL* What? >: (

Drevay · May 06, 2005, 01:56 PM // 13:56

By the way, yes, it will be able to run guildwars. Playability, is another factor. On the lowest settings possible you will probably be able to run around with, relatively, decent frame rates (30 fps if you're lucky).

Integrated graphics is horrible, by the way, and all integrated graphics accelerators use there max amount of RAM at all times now. Intel, Geforce, all that crap. So you, unless you get an ACTUAL graphics card, will permanently have 64 MB of RAM issued out to that horrid onboard video.

Nigy · May 06, 2005, 02:14 PM // 14:14

so i can run it but not well? ok. and, are there any reccomendations for ok graphics cards, under $70 that could handle guild wars WELL?

emmonsh · May 06, 2005, 04:25 PM // 16:25

unless im missing something i havent seen a computer with intregated craphics and agp that wont over ride the chipset when you put in the card. as far as the card is to bad you cant afford around $150 because the 6600 gt are amazing for that price. but i know how it can be for money so i know a lot of people hate them but my card in my 2nd computer has a geforce fx5200(about $40) and my kid plays guild wars with everything on high with no problems. a cheap card that plays good for the money.

Principa Discordia · May 06, 2005, 05:44 PM // 17:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeadNite

I have never seen a system with both integrated and an AGP port. Because like i said before, the board vender uses the AGP/PCI-E pipeline to get better integrated video.

Any motherboard using nForce technology has a built-in graphics accellerator and an AGP or PCI-E slot as far as I am aware.

adam.skinner · May 06, 2005, 05:51 PM // 17:51

Some motherboards have integrated video, but no expansion slot (consumer OEM machines from Dell etc).
Some motherboards have integrated video and an AGP slot (nForce2, others).
Some motherboards have integrated video and a PCI-E slot (ATI Xpress 200).
Most motherboards do not have integrated video, but simply an AGP (nForce2/3) or PCI-E (nForce4).

Nigy · May 10, 2005, 02:14 PM // 14:14

So, should I conclude that without buying a new graphics card, i will be able to run guild wars but not well even at low settings?

llsektorll · May 10, 2005, 10:44 PM // 22:44

I have a question im looking into a new graphics card... namely a nvidia 6600 I was wondering if that would be enough to run the game at max quality with 1024x768 res?
What can i xpect FPS wise and will it look anything like the screenshot of the game in guildwars.com??

currently i have:
AMD 2400+
512mb RAM
GeForce2 MX built into my Nforce motherboard.... yea i know thats crappy... yes my laptop has a better gfx card... but it runs fairly smooth at low quality

Nigy · May 11, 2005, 01:51 AM // 01:51

ahhh my topic got jacked!!!!

llsektorll, do you know how much nvidia 6600 costs (yes I know newegg is a click or four away, but...bleh)

Castanza · May 11, 2005, 02:05 AM // 02:05

i have the same situation that you do my friend i have an intel extreme graphics accelorator 2, 96mb. I have guild wars and it runs just fine, the graphics look a little messed up at times but it doesn't effect the game play and as long as you don't know how good it really looks on a good graphics card it doesn't bother you that much, on a side note i ordered my computer from dell and was absolutly shocked to find that there was not agp slot, they have two holes in the motherboard that says agp underneath them, right where an agp slot would go but no agp slot

needless to say i was pissed.

Castanza · May 11, 2005, 02:07 AM // 02:07

in response to your question about a good graphics card that cost around $70 im going to walmart this weekend to get their radeon 9200 128mb graphics card that costs 69.99, you can also find this item at walmart.com, ohh and its for the pci slot since that's all i have

dogluck18 · May 11, 2005, 02:12 AM // 02:12

Do you guys think this card will work? The rest of the PC is above system requirements, but needs a PCI card.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150040

SilverSifer · May 11, 2005, 03:40 AM // 03:40

i think that this card is best bang for buck its 89$ and its pci but u should be able to play with max settings http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814140041