Video Card Recommendation

[msommers]

I picked up Oblivion yesterday and the first thing I noticed is how low of visual settings I need to have in order for the game ot play properly. Loading is really fast but when you start fighting more than 2 guys it gets pretty buggy. Can anyone recommend a card for me that isn't best of the best but deliver good performance? I'm looking to spend at most 300. Are video cards just a plug and play deal?

[Xaroxantu Zero]

I assume you use AGP, so I recommend this:

Geforce 6800GS (http://www.oemdepot.com/Itemdesc.asp?CartId={07C538C0-BE02-4910-8B8C-606916FDFA71}&ic=VIDEVG%2D6800GSCA&Tp=)

This chart will help you choose as well:
http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics.html?modelx=33&model1=318&model2=288&chart=93

[msommers]

I'm actually don't know if I'm using AGP or not. I was looking at this one as well today

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?sku_id=0665000FS10071702&catid=10524&logon=&langid=EN

anyone use this card or heard anything about it?

[dragonone]

well you're kinda wasting time if you don't know AGP or PCIe
there are many gd 6600gt buys in the marketplace if you are using PCIe

[Xaroxantu Zero]

The X1600 does not compare with the 6800GS. It's cheaper but can't even play Call of Duty 2 at a decent framerate (1024x768).

[msommers]

Originally posted by dragonone
well you're kinda wasting time if you don't know AGP or PCIe
there are many gd 6600gt buys in the marketplace if you are using PCIe

Well is there a way to find out so I'm not wasting my time then???

[Xaroxantu Zero]

Download Sandra Lite 2007 (http://www.sisoftware.co.uk/index.html?dir=dload&location=sware_dl_3264&langx=en&a=).

[dragonone]

or this (http://www.pcanalyser.com/download/pcanoemwin/pcanoemwindemo_v180.zip)
i wasn't trying to be mean or anything but it's kinda like asking i need MS office but i don't know if i have a mac or ibm/pc

also the benchmarks are at max detail, altho you want to enjoy your game fully, i'd sacrifice detail for fps for a more enjoyable exp. if you're on a budget (but $300 to me is not a small budget at all)

[msommers]

Alright I got the program, it says PCIe capabilities physical slot implemented - NO. The card I have on the computer now is a radeon X300 SE...probably the reason why oblivion is laggy. But for a matter of putting in this new card..do I just take the cover off and pretty much pull the old one out and put in the new one and install the software for it?

I know you weren't intentionally being mean but it came off bad...plus I don't have a lot of computer knowledge which at this point is fairly obvious!!

EDIT: While I was checking under different categories of that program, I went under mainboard. There it has a sub category that says expansion slots. I have 3 PCI slots and one PEG slot. One of the PCI slots is not being used and says

"PCI 32-bit +5V +3.3V Full length available (Intel Corporation Grantsdale-Host PCI express graphics bridge)"

Does this mean I can use a PCI express card?

[msommers]

Well I'm learning a lot about this computer from that program, thanks so much! I'm almost positive I have a PCI card

I have another slot open as well. Thanks for your help guys. Now just an answer to the installation process and I'm set! I'm also thinking about the ATI X1800 XT now, it is $100 more but it excels on the benchtest webpage provided. Provides better resolution than my stupid LCD monitor!

[dragonone]

those are PCI slots
that's different from PCI-express~
maybe copy and paste the results and we can try and help you out
but based on the fact that it has a x300se, i think it's PCI-e
maybe mr. zero can confirm this

[msommers]

Yes it is a PCIe slot. Under adapter I have PCIe Bus 1 (3/1x PCI/Clk) and device is my graphics card. I did some more looking around and I didn't even realize that visually the AGP and PCI GPU's are different..all I did was look inside my computer today.

[Xtrema]

AGP

http://www.oemdepot.com/mmOEM_EXP/Images/MBDABI-KV80.gif

PCI-E

http://www.oemdepot.com/mmOEM_EXP/Images/MBDASU-A8NVM.gif

Doesn't sound like you know much about computers. Have someone do it for you.

[msommers]

http://www.formulapc.net/modules/news/images/decembre/agpvspcie1.jpg

http://www.hardware.no/nyheter/images/agp_vs_pcie.jpg

The pin configurations are entirely different on these examples, it was what I was basing my visual difference statement off of.

The PCI-e card, they used, has the same pin configuration as mine

[msommers]

Found somemore information between PCI-e and AGP

http://www.tech-mods.net/modules.php?name=Reviews&file=viewreview&id=57&page=3&pp=1

http://www.tech-mods.net/web56n/ATI%20Video/ATI%20AIW%20X600/20.JPG

Unless there is something I'm not seeing Xtrema, I really have nothing else to say.

[frostyda9]

Originally posted by Xaroxantu Zero
I assume you use AGP, so I recommend this:

Geforce 6800GS (http://www.oemdepot.com/Itemdesc.asp?CartId={07C538C0-BE02-4910-8B8C-606916FDFA71}&ic=VIDEVG%2D6800GSCA&Tp=)

This chart will help you choose as well:
http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics.html?modelx=33&model1=318&model2=288&chart=93


Excellent recommendation. I use the 6800 GS @ a slightly juiced up 425/1100 setting, and it plays Oblivion at high detail. It's an awesome value :D

If you don't mind spending a little more, THIS (http://www.memoryexpress.com/index.php?PageTag=&page=file&memx_menu=EmbedProductDetail.php&DisplayProductID=7436&SID=) is also a very capable AGP card.

edit: NM, just realized your card is PCI-X. That gives you even more to choose from :D

[frostyda9]

double post...lol FFS

[Lexxan]

just grab a 7900gt from memex.. get the evga superclocked one ull be good for awhile

[dragonone]

so how about this (http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=007594&cid=999.243), a x800xl
7600gt
6600gt
6800GS
x1600xt

how do these stack up to each other

[frostyda9]

Just checked Memex....this card is a steal for the performance you get: LINK (http://www.memoryexpress.com/index.php?PageTag=&page=file&memx_menu=EmbedProductDetail.php&DisplayProductID=7578&SID=)

At only $100 or so more than some of the cards mentioned, it's worth the extra cost, IMO.

[msommers]

Originally posted by dragonone
so how about this (http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=007594&cid=999.243), a x800xl
7600gt
6600gt
6800GS
x1600xt

how do these stack up to each other

yeah I was wondering about the 800 or the 850 b/c of their lower prices compared to the other ones

[DeeK]

I use the N6600GT Pci-e

Love it for the price :)