Video Woes

[lynxreign]

I believe I need a new video card for my PC. Every time I've tried to play CoH lately, everything is heavily pixillated and after a short time, the program crashes.

Unfortunately, I have no idea what to look for in getting a new card. Can anyone make suggestions for what card I should buy? Or which cards would be worth choosing?

Thanks!

Comments

[telepresence.livejournal.com]

Plain old PCI, or PCI-E?

[lynxreign.livejournal.com]

DOOOM!
I don't know.
I'd done a search on Google for Dimension 8300 and on the Radeon 9800 card I currently have. I got hits for both PCI and AGP. I tried letting Dell check my system and suggest upgrades: It suggested both PCI and AGP. Finally, I looked at My Computer again, and while the Hardware List was less than helpful, I did fine another tab where it listed my video card as PCI.

[telepresence.livejournal.com]

Okay, a Dimension 8300 won't have a PCI-E slot, so we're talking plain PCI. However, if you have a Radeon 9800, that's almost certainly AGP.

Really, if the board is PCI/AGP only, it's time for a new computer. But if you don't want to get a new computer right now, then this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102730


Is about the best AGP card you're going to get nowadays, and Sapphire is a good manufacturer.

[lynxreign.livejournal.com]

I'd love a new computer. However, I don't have the $3K to plunk down on one right now.

[telepresence.livejournal.com]

I understand. Although keep in mind I could build you a lovely modern gaming rig for 1000 (I don't know if you do something exotic that would require a 3000 dollar box).

[lynxreign.livejournal.com]

I tend to buy a high-end machine because of the programming I do.

[telepresence.livejournal.com]

Do you have a sense of what you need for the programming?

[lynxreign.livejournal.com]

Mostly.

In the email you sent me, would I have to put the machine together myself?

[telepresence.livejournal.com]

If you wanted to? I don't know if you find putting computers together fun. Otherwise I was proposing to do it.

[lynxreign.livejournal.com]

I do not! : -)

I appreciate the offer. Let me check and see what the software I usually get bundled with it will bring it to and compare it to other machines.

[telepresence.livejournal.com]

Any time, I'm not trying to pressure you.

[lynxreign.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I appreciate all the information. It hadn't even ocurred to me to build my own machine.

[telepresence.livejournal.com]

It would look something like this, plus or minus:

http://secure.newegg.com/Shopping/ShoppingCart.aspx?Submit=view

3 gig dual core processor, 2 gigs of memory, 1TB hard drive, nice powerful video card, etc. 4 gigs of memory for ~50 dollars more, upgradable to a quad core processor later, etc.

[telepresence.livejournal.com]

Enh, I realize that cart view is useless. I'll email it to you.