certain cards have detailed terrain grayed out?

[hymi]

i just bought a new video card, ati 9250 radeon, it works ok but can't turn on detailed terrain.  My oldcard, a invidia 5200, had these options available but could not handle the terrains. Just wondering if this will be resolved by hightech creations, or is it something the card manufacterer has to deal with?

[Blooz]

Post your DXdiag info and let's see what you've got.

[hymi]

here you go,





System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 8/2/2009, 15:50:09
       Machine name: HOME
   Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.090206-1234)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Gateway                       
       System Model: MIDWAY                         
               BIOS: BIOS Date: 08/01/03 14:34:42 Ver: 08.00.09
          Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.80GHz (2 CPUs)
             Memory: 510MB RAM
          Page File: 314MB used, 1699MB available
        Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
    DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
     DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.5512 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
  DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
      Display Tab 1: No problems found. DirectDraw test results: All tests were successful. Direct3D 7 test results: All tests were successful. Direct3D 8 test results: All tests were successful. Direct3D 9 test results: All tests were successful.
        Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
          Music Tab: No problems found.
          Input Tab: No problems found.
        Network Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D:    0/4 (n/a)
DirectDraw:  0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectPlay:  0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow:  0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
        Card name: RADEON 9250
     Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
        Chip type: RADEON 9200 Series (0x5960)
         DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
       Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_5960&SUBSYS_01601092&REV_01
   Display Memory: 256.0 MB
     Current Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (75Hz)
          Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
  Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
      Driver Name: ati2dvag.dll
   Driver Version: 6.14.0010.6497 (English)
      DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
 Driver Date/Size: 11/30/2004 23:12:50, 221184 bytes
      WHQL Logo'd: Yes
  WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
              VDD: n/a
         Mini VDD: ati2mtag.sys
    Mini VDD Date: 11/30/2004 23:12:28, 873984 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71EE2-1A20-11CF-436A-6A21A0C2CB35}
        Vendor ID: 0x1002
        Device ID: 0x5960
        SubSys ID: 0x01601092
      Revision ID: 0x0001
      Revision ID: 0x0001
      Video Accel:
 Deinterlace Caps: n/a
         Registry: OK
     DDraw Status: Enabled
       D3D Status: Enabled
       AGP Status: Not Available
DDraw Test Result: All tests were successful.
 D3D7 Test Result: All tests were successful.
 D3D8 Test Result: All tests were successful.

[The Fugitive]

From what I can find the 5200 benchmarks as a better card. Both are on the low end of the performance scale. If its grayed out, your card can't run it. You also have very little ram so that isn't going to help you much.

[gyrene81]

Could start by addressing these items:

Memory: 510MB RAM - you need 1Gigabyte


Driver Date/Size: 11/30/2004  - need this updated, it's the Microsoft WHQL signed which is outdated.

[hymi]

gyrene, the ram is on order, had to use this driver because the new ones have color problems, as i have already downloaded them and had to roll back to 2004 driver. thank you

[Skuzzy]

The 9200 series of ATI cards uses a video chip which was released in 10/2001.  Originally known as the ATI 8500.  The only difference is the 9200 series has been slowed down from the original 8500 release.

If you buy a "new" 9200 series card, you are getting a card with an 8 year old graphics part on it.