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General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: artik on September 17, 2005, 06:41:21 AM

Title: nVidia 5500 128MB - is it fine
Post by: artik on September 17, 2005, 06:41:21 AM
Hello,
I want to buy a new PC,
I'm not heavy gamer and I don't want to waste money for something that I will use once in a week or two...

So will this card run AH2 with 1280x1024 resolution (my LCD) with acceptable framerate?

xfx 5500 128MB

thanks
Title: nVidia 5500 128MB - is it fine
Post by: Delirium on September 17, 2005, 07:32:35 AM
I just stopped using a 5700... mine could run that resolution, but you'll have to turn graphic detail down, and even lower in big furballs.

My 5700 could run it..
Title: nVidia 5500 128MB - is it fine
Post by: eagl on September 17, 2005, 04:53:08 PM
I personally wouldn't consider any 5xxx series nvidia cards "acceptable".  I held on to my 4200 and made the big jump to a 6800GT, and I don't recommend to my friends getting anything slower than a low-end x800 or 6600GT.
Title: nVidia 5500 128MB - is it fine
Post by: Deth7 on September 17, 2005, 05:31:16 PM
runnin a 5200 ultra works fine
Title: nVidia 5500 128MB - is it fine
Post by: whels on September 17, 2005, 05:32:12 PM
Quote
Originally posted by eagl
I personally wouldn't consider any 5xxx series nvidia cards "acceptable".  I held on to my 4200 and made the big jump to a 6800GT, and I don't recommend to my friends getting anything slower than a low-end x800 or 6600GT.


im running my backup video card till my 6800 ultra is replaced by factory. its a 6600 GT PCI-E 128 meg, and i get 60s+ in tower and 90 to130+ flying with it.

so a 6600 GT would run AH fine for anyone.

whels
Title: nVidia 5500 128MB - is it fine
Post by: OOZ662 on September 17, 2005, 06:40:27 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Deth7
runnin a 5200 ultra works fine


Ewww....

The whole 5XXX series runs horrible; especially when you've used one before and get a 6800. ZOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOM! :D
Title: nVidia 5500 128MB - is it fine
Post by: MrRiplEy[H] on September 18, 2005, 03:30:12 AM
The 5xxxx series is also notorious for its heat production and noisy cooling fans. They soon developed a nickname 'hoover' and were considered a total failure for nvidia.

I wouldn't touch one with a mile long pole.
Title: nVidia 5500 128MB - is it fine
Post by: zmeg on September 18, 2005, 09:11:19 AM
Any 5xxx ULTRA series card will work well enough, but there is no 5500 ultra. You would be better off with a pos MX4000 or an X300 for that price range.
Title: nVidia 5500 128MB - is it fine
Post by: Delirium on September 18, 2005, 06:14:56 PM
I was thinking about this and I'd have to agree with everyone...

You CAN run AH, but the biggest problem I found with my 5.XX cards (I had 2) is that they have a real issue trying to draw smoke.

I'd go with another card, as when you fire your guns you'll have a problem. I got used to it, now that I have a new card I realize how bad it sucked.
Title: nVidia 5500 128MB - is it fine
Post by: StarOfAfrica2 on September 18, 2005, 08:13:38 PM
When setup properly they work just fine.  There are issues with them, but its liveable.

Basically, if you are saying you HAVE one and want to use it, yes, you can use it and it will work just fine.

If you are asking should you BUY one, then no, I'd buy a newer series card.  Especially as cheap as the 6600's are now, there's not much sense in investing in anything older.  

I'll probably keep my 5900 Ultra when I move to the new computer in the next couple weeks, but thats because I'm a cheap SOB.  :)
Title: nVidia 5500 128MB - is it fine
Post by: OOZ662 on September 18, 2005, 08:42:30 PM
Quote
Originally posted by StarOfAfrica2
I'll probably keep my 5900 Ultra when I move to the new computer in the next couple weeks, but thats because I'm a cheap SOB.  :)


Need us a "Get SoA a Real Card" fund :D
Title: nVidia 5500 128MB - is it fine
Post by: RTSigma on September 19, 2005, 02:49:07 AM
Get a nVidia 6600 GT AGp 128mb at NewEgg for $130 bucks. Works great.
Title: nVidia 5500 128MB - is it fine
Post by: Krusty on September 19, 2005, 02:59:02 PM
GeForce 4400Ti (128MB) kicks ass. With the new OPT test and 2.05 I get 90+fps on slightly higher than standard settings at 1024x768 (or is it 1152?) screen resolution.

Usually I get 50+ in most situations (flaming B24s over a cv fleet and I still get 50fps on a P4 2.66GHz cpu)
Title: nVidia 5500 128MB - is it fine
Post by: StarOfAfrica2 on September 19, 2005, 05:31:28 PM
Quote
Originally posted by OOZ662
Need us a "Get SoA a Real Card" fund :D


OOZ, the only problem th 5900 has running AH2 is the "animated water" thing.  Something in the way the 5xxx series cards are setup wont let it display that without darn near locking up the computer, everything slows down so much.  But then alot of people that CAN use it dont for other reasons, so I dont feel like I'm missing out on much.  I was consistently getting better frame rates than alot of guys with much better cards.  Its all in the optimization.
Title: nVidia 5500 128MB - is it fine
Post by: x0847Marine on September 20, 2005, 06:15:23 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Delirium
I just stopped using a 5700... mine could run that resolution, but you'll have to turn graphic detail down, and even lower in big furballs.

My 5700 could run it..


If it was a 5700LE, did you clock it to its factory spec? the LE has a 5700 Ultra GPU thats clocked way down.

Mine came clocked at 225Mhz GPU, I think 200 for the RAM.

Using coolbits it runs flawlessly at 450Mhz GPU / 550Mhz memmory...

If anyone has a 5700LE, you can breathe new life into it safely, you're just upping the gpu to its factory spec.

Edit: I'm running AH at 1280x960, 1024 textures, preloaded skins/textures V sync off, AA set to "2Q" (apparently this does nothing).. in game my fps jumps between 118 and the low 60's. My detail sliders are pushed a wee bit above default. My system isn't that great either, XP3200, 1024 dual CH PC3200, Sata 8M buffer drives. I keep thinking I'll upgrade sooner, but it rus AH pretty well and I'm lazy. I aLso usually (90%) run my MP3 player in the background blasting tunes.

Alot of it has to do with how well your system is set up, an off brand stick of ram here or some foul Windows funk will hose game performance.
Title: nVidia 5500 128MB - is it fine
Post by: Delirium on September 20, 2005, 08:59:53 PM
I did both, normal and overclocked.

Nothing fixes the problems that whole series card has with smoke and water.