Author Topic: Will new vid card help? (Read 315 times)

tkor · « **on:** March 22, 2005, 08:07:21 AM »

Skuzzy, Star, or any of you other gurus out there....
I have an ATI 9500 pro vid card on a P4 2.8 with 512 RAM (I run Win98), settings to 1024x768, and 512 textures. Most of the time I'm a solid 35 to 50 fps, but down low and in a furball I drop to 15 to 20 fps.
Do you think I would benefit from a new vid card like a t 9800pro or a 6800GTC? Or am I CPU limited?
Also, currently running DirectX 9.0B, should I upgrade to 9.0C?
Thanx for any help, guys!:aok

Estes · « **Reply #1 on:** March 22, 2005, 09:23:10 AM »

I would say the 6800 would be too much of a card for your computer.

But, most defineatly a 9800 Pro would do great.

It's the card I use, and my CPU is a little less powerful than yours (2.6)

I'm usually locked at 50 frames. Really consistent.

tkor · « **Reply #2 on:** March 22, 2005, 09:31:15 AM »

Thanks, Estes, that really was the crux of my question whether or not a 9800Pro is a substantial jump over the 9500Pro. I kind of thought that it was, but I wasn't sure.

Estes · « **Reply #3 on:** March 22, 2005, 09:37:30 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by tkor
Thanks, Estes, that really was the crux of my question whether or not a 9800Pro is a substantial jump over the 9500Pro. I kind of thought that it was, but I wasn't sure.

Definately a big jump.

Also, if budget and computer allows, I would pick up another 512 stick of RAM in conjunction with that 9800.

tkor · « **Reply #4 on:** March 22, 2005, 10:10:03 AM »

Budget not a problem, but I'm running WIN98 SE, which I'm told will not be able to utilize anything more than 512 meg:(

StarOfAfrica2 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 22, 2005, 10:44:32 AM »

Thats not true, you can use 1GB of RAM with Win98SE, you just have to make the necessary adjustments. Try searching the BBS, it has been posted more than once. I have to run for a meeting right now, if it has not been posted when I get back I'll put it up.

tkor · « **Reply #6 on:** March 22, 2005, 10:57:54 AM »

Thanks Star, I'll take a look.

StarOfAfrica2 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 22, 2005, 11:43:22 AM »

Here's one thread that offers a fix.

http://www.hitechcreations.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=137727

Roscoroo also has posted a website to download SP updates for Win98 that fix this issue. I know I saved a link to it but it may be at home. It also has been posted here at least twice in the last year, maybe another search will bring it up, or maybe he'd be kind enough to repost the link for you.

In all seriousness though, I'm not sure how much performance gain is realized under 98 with more RAM. I had alot of issues with IRQ sharing and dumped my 98 setup for XP finally last year so I could play AHII. Best of luck getting yours working!

tkor · « **Reply #8 on:** March 22, 2005, 12:40:44 PM »

Thanx, Star, I did find a Rocoroo post that linked to the SP update site. In it he says he has been running his with no problems, so I may try that when I get home. I am reluctant to upgrade to XP because I am worried that my CH Products HOTAS set up will become useless. Also, I have XP at work here, and I just don't like it as much as my 98 setup at home. Maybe just hard to get an old dog like me to accept new tricks!:lol

StarOfAfrica2 · « **Reply #9 on:** March 22, 2005, 12:58:16 PM »

I was the same way. And really, if you are running 98 now and have no problems you cant work around, there is no sense in spending the money to upgrade to XP yet. 98 and XP arent compatible so unless you swap to a new hard drive you have to reformat it. Some older hardware items dont have drivers for XP. Some of the CH stuff works fine in XP (as long as you download the CH analog drivers for XP from their website) but there is some functionality lost in some items. The Force Feedback stick, for example, will work fine as a joystick and all the buttons work, but there is no XP driver for the FF functions. I have also heard there is some problem getting some of the buttons or the hat to work on the analog Pro Throttle. My Flightstick Pro and Pro Pedals work fine in XP.

I held onto 98 until the bitter end, and I'd probably still be using it if I hadn't had such problems with IRQ conflicts. XP just has more available to assign, and it does a better job of managing memory. I always hated the way Win98 handled its resources. XP solved those issues for me. There are new ones to deal with, mostly in the area of security, but they arent that difficult. If you have any experience with NT 4.0 or Win2k, XP is fairly intuitive to understand.

tkor · « **Reply #10 on:** March 22, 2005, 01:54:42 PM »

Thanks again, Star,
My WIN98 is running good, and I'm not that comfortable with the potential problems I may have if I upgrade. Your mention of the loss of functionality in my analog CH stuff is one of my main concerns. I have been looking at some tech comparisons of the 9500Pro and the 9800Pro, and it looks like the 9800 is a vast improvement. Checked ATI's web site, and though they say they no longer offer ceritfied drivers for WIN98, they say the Cat 4.3's are OK for the 9800 family. I think I have the Cat4.3s loaded now. If I buy the new card, can I just not muck with the current driver? In other words, can I just do the mechanical swap and assume the drivers will pick up without a hitch?

tkor · « **Reply #11 on:** March 22, 2005, 03:11:48 PM »

Apologies Pyro,
the more I read this thread I see it should have been in the hardware and software area.
My bad:confused:

StarOfAfrica2 · « **Reply #12 on:** March 22, 2005, 03:48:26 PM »

I think I would use the Cat 4.1 drivers, unless you already know for sure that the 4.3 drivers are stable on your comp. And while its true that normally you wont have any problems, if you do you are just SOL because they wont support an install using Win98. There are alot of good reasons for you to upgrade, but theres one good reason not to. You dont need to. Yet. As the old saying goes, "If it aint broke, dont fix it."

And yes, the 9800 would be a big improvement over the 9500.

tkor · « **Reply #13 on:** March 24, 2005, 10:53:39 AM »

Hola Estes and Star,
Just a follow up report, I did install the 9800Pro card and it worked flawlessly on boot up. Never did even change out the drivers, just mechanically installed the new card.
Thanks for your help and expertise, guys!:aok