AKAK and others: ATI HD 3850 agp install help

[Eagler]

Just grabbed an AGP HIS HD 3850 video card from newegg:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161225

I am upgrading from a nvidia evga 7800 gs.

I removed the nvidia drivers using windows add/remove and installed the 8.12 hotfix for WinXp from here:
http://support.ati.com/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=894&task=knowledge&questionID=31625

Computer started fine but the card doesn't seem any faster, if as fast as the 7800gs.
What settings do you use in the ati control panel for AA and such?

I have an Operton dual core with 2 gig of system ram on an asus mb.

thanks for any suggestions.

[humble]

From everything I've read there should be a pretty big difference. I usually use a 3rd party driver cleaner but what you did should work.

[Fulmar]

What are you using the 'bench' how fast the game is?  Aces High isn't a proper benchmark as its video card requirements are not all that high.  If you have any other games like Company of Heroes, Call of Duty, Far Cry, etc... I'd try those since they are quite a bit more intensive in the graphics department.

[drdeathx]

The card really will not be faster as far as FPS. Even if you run unlimited your FPS will be the same as your refresh rate unless you unlock vsync which is not recommended. I run a 1 G GTX280 and I run  60FPS. Thats it 60 but it pretty much runs 60 anywhere in  the game (low/high, busy areas). I did unlock vsync in  DA and saw over 500FPS but this is not recommended. All my settings are maxed. I have a pretty stout system and one of best vid cards out. I bench about 15,000 3dmark06 and 554 fps freestone video card stability test.

There is software to benchmark your card. I use 3dmark06. Here is a free utility by freestone:

http://freestone-group.com/video-card-stability-test.htm

As far as anti alias, you need to play around with your settings. Crank em up all the way and play AH. If you experience any stuttering back em down a bit. Same thing with hi res pack. Run it and if you have problems don't run it. It is kinda like a honeymoon. See what she likes!

[Eagler]

thanks for the replies
I am just comparing it in AH. I am only getting in the 30's for frame rate if there is any action going on and it seems jerkier than the old card.
I am using the hi res pack as I was on the nvidia card but it seems to chug more now than before.
What 3rd party driver cleaner can I use to make sure all the nvidia stuff has been removed?
I tried benchmark with 2dmark06 which worked witht eh nvidia card but doesn't seem to want to start with the new card even when I re-installed it.
The monitor is a dell 24" lcd so I cap the fr at 60 but only see that when alone down low or cruising above the clouds.
vsync is on as i have always had it on.

[drdeathx]

Ok with ATI, I believe you need to clean drivers. This was a major problem for me as I bought 2 -3870(512) cards and crossfired them. A lot of guys that used the 3000 and 4000 series were having driver problems. I returned cards and went 4870 x 2 and had other headaches. Returned it and am a happy  Nvidea gtx280 user!

OK. 1st thing, make sure you download the latest ATI drivers and save them to your desktop. DO NOT INSTALL THEM. In your add/remove programs there is a ATI unistall utility for vid drivers. Unistall then reboot computer. After reboot install new drivers and catalyst. YOU DO NOT NEED A "DRIVER CLEANER" but it won't hurt.



Get your device manager up and make sure drivers are gone after running uninstall utility.









Good Luck!

[drdeathx]

OOOh you may need net2.0 also!!!!! to install!!!!!!

[Fulmar]

!!!!!!

[Eagler]

have net dot something installed in my xp already - the catalyst app opens properly
I'll try to clean out the drivers with a driver cleaner in safe mode and try to reinstall the hotfix again and see if it helps

[drdeathx]

Eagler please forgive Fulmar... He likes to follow me around(looking over shoulder). Let me know what happens. I went through this with my 3870. It was simple but a pain. Remember there is an uninstall in add/remove programs.

[MrRiplEy[H]]

Make sure you have the proper AGP driver also installed.

[Eagler]

AGP driver? how can I tell which driver I am using and if it is the proper one?
Check the asus board and didn't see an agp driver..

I cleaned out the drivers again with driver pro and installed the 8.12 hotfix drivers.
I then started up AH and got the spinning clipboard so I re-installed the amd dual core patch.
that got rid of the spinning clipboard but now the computer locks solid after about 10 minutes of flying - have to hit the reset button to get out of the lock up.
any more suggestions?

[Fulmar]

Call HIS Tech support?

[TilDeath]

I think this "upgrade" was more of a laterial move.  AGP is gonna max out on the game no matter the card...

[Fulmar]

You did plug in the extra power plug in the back of the card right? The AGP interface doesn't supply enough power to fully operate the GPU of the card, so it needs extra power from your PSU.  It's located on the top right of this picture:


The card should have also come with this Power Cable if your PSU does not have a PCI-E adapater.