Dell

[1701E]

Well as much as I hate Dell computers,I am stuck using one on M/W/F till an unknown hour.
I am attempting to use this 'Dell Optiplex 745' to play AH, and the Frame rate is anything but playable.  I have turned everything to low/off and still get FR of 3-5.  I have seen worse PCs play better, and out of ideas as to why the FR is so low.  Anyone have any idea wha ay cause it?  I can post DxDiag if needed.

Spec:
XP Pro
Pentium D 3.40GHz (Dual)
1024MB ram
Q965 Express Chipset Integrated GPU 256MB Ram


Is the GPu really that bad, or am I missing something?


 
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[Fulmar]

Onboard video chipsets are designed to give you amazing graphics....in Word and Excel.  A lot of them lack the most basic shaders etc that low end video cards offer.  Plus that 256mb isn't dedicated and is taking away from your system memory.  Honestly, I'm pretty amazed the AH isn't playabe.  What settings are you trying to run at and what is the Ctrl+I frame rate?  I'd start off low at say 800x600 resolution and either the 128 or 256 texture setting.

Also, I believe the 745 has a PCI-E slot (not sure what speed) as other models had an 'upgraded' Radeon X1300 available.

[1701E]

I have tried 1024x768 (native resolution) with 128 Graphic level.  I get Frame rates between 2-5.

Also it has a PCI-E slot; however the PC is a mini and the width is too small to fit a card in.  Tried getting a GeForce 7100 (had an old one laying around).  The card sticks out the side by about 1".  Unless I am missing something.


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[drdeathx]

170,

There is nothing wrong with Dell. Dell makes computers with the same motherboards/proccessors/graphics like any others.Post your results from DXDIAG and I am sure Skuzzy will help ya brother!  Start/Run type dxdiag and save. Cut and paste results here on forum.

[MrRiplEy[H]]

I have tried 1024x768 (native resolution) with 128 Graphic level.  I get Frame rates between 2-5.

Also it has a PCI-E slot; however the PC is a mini and the width is too small to fit a card in.  Tried getting a GeForce 7100 (had an old one laying around).  The card sticks out the side by about 1".  Unless I am missing something.


  X

You are missing something.. A pci-e riser card. With one you can install the graphics card lying flat on the motherboard instead of sticking up.

[drdeathx]

Possibly you are doing something wrong. Here is a link and this should be tour motherboard. The 2 white slots are the ones you need to use. I am unsure if your slots are 16x or 8x. look for 16 x white slot.

http://www.txcesssurplus.com/servlet/the-2535/Dell-Optiplex-740-745/Detail

[MrRiplEy[H]]

Possibly you are doing something wrong. Here is a link and this should be tour motherboard. The 2 white slots are the ones you need to use. I am unsure if your slots are 16x or 8x. look for 16 x white slot.

http://www.txcesssurplus.com/servlet/the-2535/Dell-Optiplex-740-745/Detail

To me it looks like the black slot is the only pci-e slot and the two white ones are regular pci.

[Fulmar]

I don't think that's the exact board he has.  If you look at the picture closer, just above the CMOS battery is a chip that says "Nvidia" on it.  From what I researched about the 745 is that is came with the Intel Graphics or an expansion X1300 Radeon.

[drdeathx]

did a quick search for him it may be or may not be

[1701E]

Well the Dell is a school computer, so the 'PCI-E riser card' is looking like a good option.  Since gas prices are just annoying we all car pool and that causes me to be stuck with this PC M/W/F 11am-3ish.
I have only looked in the PC a couple times, and it appears to have one (1) PCI slot and two (2) PCI-E slots.  One PCI-E has a black connection, other is white.  It appears to have room for a different GPU with the Riser card, so I am looking into that.

Now a new question.   Anyone know a good Riser Card?  Found a few but ratings are normally either bad or non-existent.
Since this is the only upgrade option I can make without Tech support at the school noticing, I am stuck with only a GPU upgrade.  Currently I am thinking of putting an old GeForce 7100 in (ran AH rather well before).


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