External Video Card

[Krupinski]

Would it improve frame rates? If so, by how much?

[Bino]

Need lots more detail about your machine: your current video set-up, current CPU, etc. (dxdiag output is good for starters)

By "external" I presume you mean a video card in a PCI-E slot (vs integrated in chips right on the motherboard)?  If that's so, then yes, a video card would likely help, *if* the CPU is fast enough and *if* your power supply can handle the extra load.  Can't say how much of an improvement you'd see without having much more info about your machine.

[mbailey]

I believe hes talking about the External VC that you plug into a usb port. Id be curious also

[MrRiplEy[H]]

Would it improve frame rates? If so, by how much?

Most likely it's a joke. USB doesn't have the bandwith or the power required for graphics. Get a regular PCI-E graphics update instead. If your current card is very old you can get substantial improvement from current 100 dollar range cards.

[Krupinski]

Most likely it's a joke. USB doesn't have the bandwith or the power required for graphics. Get a regular PCI-E graphics update instead. If your current card is very old you can get substantial improvement from current 100 dollar range cards.

I would have done that already if I wasn't on a laptop.

Time of this report: 8/24/2010, 07:52:37
       Machine name: TYLER-PC
   Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit (6.1, Build 7600) (7600.win7_gdr.100618-1621)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Hewlett-Packard
       System Model: HP Pavilion dv7 Notebook PC
               BIOS: Default System BIOS
          Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU     P7450  @ 2.13GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.1GHz
             Memory: 3072MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 3070MB RAM
          Page File: 1441MB used, 4694MB available
        Windows Dir: C:\Windows
    DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
   User DPI Setting: Using System DPI
 System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
    DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
     DxDiag Version: 6.01.7600.16385 32bit Unicode

Card name: ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4650
       Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
          Chip type: ATI display adapter (0x9480)
           DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
         Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_9480&SUBSYS_3624103C&REV_00
     Display Memory: 2297 MB
   Dedicated Memory: 1019 MB
      Shared Memory: 1278 MB
       Current Mode: 1600 x 900 (32 bit) (60Hz)
       Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
      Monitor Model: unknown
         Monitor Id: LGD01DD
        Native Mode: 1600 x 900(p) (60.080Hz)
        Output Type: Internal
        Driver Name: atiumdag.dll,atidxx32.dll,atidxx64,atiumdva.cap,atiumd64,atiumd6a,atitmm64
Driver File Version: 8.14.0010.0678 (English)
     Driver Version: 8.632.1.2000
        DDI Version: 10.1
       Driver Model: WDDM 1.1
  Driver Attributes: Final Retail
   Driver Date/Size: 8/18/2009 03:20:38, 3105280 bytes
        WHQL Logo'd: n/a
    WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
  Device Identifier: {D7B71EE2-D7C0-11CF-2A71-2E16A1C2C535}
          Vendor ID: 0x1002
          Device ID: 0x9480
          SubSys ID: 0x3624103C
        Revision ID: 0x0000
 Driver Strong Name: oem24.inf:ATI.Mfg.NTx86.6.0:ati2mtag_M9x:8.632.1.2000:pci\ven_1002&dev_9480
     Rank Of Driver: 00E62001
        Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_C

[MrRiplEy[H]]

I would have done that already if I wasn't on a laptop.

Time of this report: 8/24/2010, 07:52:37
       Machine name: TYLER-PC
   Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit (6.1, Build 7600) (7600.win7_gdr.100618-1621)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Hewlett-Packard
       System Model: HP Pavilion dv7 Notebook PC
               BIOS: Default System BIOS
          Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU     P7450  @ 2.13GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.1GHz
             Memory: 3072MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 3070MB RAM
          Page File: 1441MB used, 4694MB available
        Windows Dir: C:\Windows
    DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
   User DPI Setting: Using System DPI
 System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
    DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
     DxDiag Version: 6.01.7600.16385 32bit Unicode

Card name: ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4650
       Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
          Chip type: ATI display adapter (0x9480)
           DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
         Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_9480&SUBSYS_3624103C&REV_00
     Display Memory: 2297 MB
   Dedicated Memory: 1019 MB
      Shared Memory: 1278 MB
       Current Mode: 1600 x 900 (32 bit) (60Hz)
       Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
      Monitor Model: unknown
         Monitor Id: LGD01DD
        Native Mode: 1600 x 900(p) (60.080Hz)
        Output Type: Internal
        Driver Name: atiumdag.dll,atidxx32.dll,atidxx64,atiumdva.cap,atiumd64,atiumd6a,atitmm64
Driver File Version: 8.14.0010.0678 (English)
     Driver Version: 8.632.1.2000
        DDI Version: 10.1
       Driver Model: WDDM 1.1
  Driver Attributes: Final Retail
   Driver Date/Size: 8/18/2009 03:20:38, 3105280 bytes
        WHQL Logo'd: n/a
    WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
  Device Identifier: {D7B71EE2-D7C0-11CF-2A71-2E16A1C2C535}
          Vendor ID: 0x1002
          Device ID: 0x9480
          SubSys ID: 0x3624103C
        Revision ID: 0x0000
 Driver Strong Name: oem24.inf:ATI.Mfg.NTx86.6.0:ati2mtag_M9x:8.632.1.2000:pci\ven_1002&dev_9480
     Rank Of Driver: 00E62001
        Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_C

Well then I have only two pieces of advice to give:

1) Try before you buy
2) Consider using a desktop for gaming. Laptops are a big pile of do-doo when it comes to games.

[Easyscor]

If I'm not mistaken, that ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4650 might still be ATI's top of the line laptop VC. You can check on the net.

Regardless, I think you'll find that a program like End-it-all, will be more beneficial then a new VC because of all the background crap, opps, features, that HP loads their system with. I'll bet you show over 80 processes running in the task manager, and shutting these down by hand can leave your HP practically useless if you don't know what you're doing. (I don't know if they've done a Win7 version)

Good luck.

[Easyscor]

Maybe someone else will comment, but isn't 1 GB of memory a little light for Win7?

nm, I see you have 3

[Krupinski]

Maybe someone else will comment, but isn't 1 GB of memory a little light for Win7?

nm, I see you have 3

I think that's for RAM not video memory.

My computer has been running slower than usual lately, got it down to 52 processes and had gamebooster running, still slower than usual.

Another thing that's confusing me... This shows that I have DirectX 11, I believe my video card is only capable of running DirectX 9?

[Bino]

...
My computer has been running slower than usual lately, got it down to 52 processes and had gamebooster running, still slower than usual.
...

To get unneeded processes out of the way while you fly, you might want to check out AlacrityPC.  Very easy to set up and use, IMHO.

[Ack-Ack]

I think that's for RAM not video memory.

My computer has been running slower than usual lately, got it down to 52 processes and had gamebooster running, still slower than usual.

Another thing that's confusing me... This shows that I have DirectX 11, I believe my video card is only capable of running DirectX 9?

The ATI 4xxx series are DX11 compatible cards.  Even though its a mobility Radeon, the 4650 should be enough to play AH at high resolution.


ack-ack

[Tigger29]

I think that's for RAM not video memory.

My computer has been running slower than usual lately, got it down to 52 processes and had gamebooster running, still slower than usual.

Another thing that's confusing me... This shows that I have DirectX 11, I believe my video card is only capable of running DirectX 9?

Even if that were the case, Win7 would STILL have DX11 installed... the video card just wouldn't be able to take advantage of DX10 or DX11 effects.  Dxdiag would still show DX11.

[Krupinski]

Thanks, didn't know my card was DirectX11 capable. Playing on default settings I rarely drop below 40fps but the game is so choppy it's unplayable.  

[MrRiplEy[H]]

Thanks, didn't know my card was DirectX11 capable. Playing on default settings I rarely drop below 40fps but the game is so choppy it's unplayable.  

Your card is DX11 capable just like a Yugo is capable of doing 220mph.. when dropped off a cliff 

[Tigger29]

LOL yeah.. just because it's 'compatible' doesn't mean it's going to perform very well...