Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: Tigger29 on August 09, 2006, 07:18:20 PM

Title: Graphics Card
Post by: Tigger29 on August 09, 2006, 07:18:20 PM
Hey guys.. this isn't a question.. just a recommendation.

I have an AMD XP2000+ (1.7GHZ)... not exactly state of the art, but
this sucker seems faster than the 2.4GHZ P4's we have at work.. much faster.  768MB ram... 2X40GB 7200RPM hard drives (IDE)... nothing spectacular, but does the job.

I recently upgraded my video card from a GEFORCE 5200 128MB to a GEFORCE 6200 256MB.. and let me tell you.. the difference is astounding!

Before my framerates averaged about 20 to 22... if I looked straight up with no map showing, I might see 40.. if I flew into a lot of action, and there was a lot of smoke, flames, etc... it would really drop.. 5-8 frames max... zoomed in full zoom in a tank.. I'd be lucky to see 3 FPS...

NOW with the new card... hooked up to my 19" flatpanel now with DVI (instead of VGA cable) and no other hardware changes... 45-50FPS... looking straight up maxes out at 75fps!!!  Flames/action I still see 25+ and zoomed full zoom in a tank turret.. well.. 8fps.. but still an improvement!!!

To make matters even better, I loaded 1024 textures (previously at 512) and downloaded the high texture pack (just to see what happens) and guess what?  my frames actually seemed to improve a little!  I'm so happy.. this sucker is the best $35 I ever spent! (well it's up there anyway)  I was actually considering upgrading my computer just for this crazy, addicting game but now it seems I won't have to (It's plenty fast enough for everything else I do)

My next purchase will be a new CPU fan, as the last few months I've been flirting with overheat (140+ degrees F).. I actually had to disable overheat detection, as my computer kept turning itself off.  I've tried reapplying the paste and de-furballing my fans and fins and all, I just think this cooler has been too wimpy since I bought this computer 3 years ago.  Any suggestions?

Out of curiousity, how about you post your basic system specs and tell me your frame rates?  I'm curious.
Title: Graphics Card
Post by: 38ruk on August 10, 2006, 10:02:31 PM
I'm really suprised that 1024 textures makes your FR better. My frame rate is capped at 100 , and i see a low of 70ish in high traffic areas.
Title: Graphics Card
Post by: Roscoroo on August 10, 2006, 11:14:25 PM
I suprised to with 768mbs of ram ... it runs the hires pak so nice.

well just to make ya temp jelous ... here's mine  its about 76-78 F in my house .
(http://www.onpoi.net/ah/pics/users/thumbs/301_1155268809_asustemp2a.jpg) (http://www.onpoi.net/ah/picpopup.php?ImgId=39057)
2500+ M barton @ 2.4 ghz , 2x 512 corsair extreame ,9600pro ,asus a7n8x-e dlx, Water cooled ...
85 fps ...  35-39  in extreame furballs  

Any thing over 54 deg C.  with a athlon cpu will cause look-ups and stutters in my experience ... I've been over clocking for a while now .

its takes a really good "mostly aluminum" heatsink fan combo to keep one under 46c when oced slightly(0.1-.25 ghz) .... its near impossiable to go higher without water ...
Title: Graphics Card
Post by: Kev367th on August 10, 2006, 11:44:15 PM
Specs in sig.

Run AH2 all eye candy at 1280x1024 (sweet spot for AH2 according to Skuzzy, or was it 1024x768)
hi res texture pack
textures at 1024

Frame rates capped by monitor 85fps.
Turn off vsnych can hit well over 500fps.
Title: Graphics Card
Post by: 38ruk on August 11, 2006, 11:33:22 PM
Temps @ 76-78 degrees  :)


(http://members.toast.net/rukkee/4.bmp)
Title: Graphics Card
Post by: YankZulu on August 22, 2006, 11:38:25 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Kev367th
Specs in sig.

Run AH2 all eye candy at 1280x1024 (sweet spot for AH2 according to Skuzzy, or was it 1024x768)
hi res texture pack
textures at 1024

Frame rates capped by monitor 85fps.
Turn off vsnych can hit well over 500fps.


I'm curious and I gotta ask...where you guys getting your systems?  Are you piecing them together or what?

I'm looking at upgrading my old dell 2400 soon.  

I'm looking at the HP  m7500y, Intel(R) Pentium(R) D 820 (2.8GHz, 2MB,800MHz FSB, 1GB DDR2-667MHz dual channel SDRAM, 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GS

I'm getting a tad frustrated with my performance in AH2 with my Dell 2400.  I don't have a lot of cash to spend, but some of the systems I see listed here blow my mind away with $600+ video cards and such.  Just amazing.

I want good performance, but don't want to spend a TON of cash, will the m7500y be what I'm looking for?

Yank
Title: Graphics Card
Post by: Krusty on August 22, 2006, 05:07:11 PM
A lot of us are building our own systems (choosing our own parts). It may sound pricey but it's actually cheaper than buying a pre-built HP.

Example:

Highest graphics card you can get costs $300, next step down is about $160.

Motherboards range in price a LOT. So do cooling systems. Let's go with a hypothetical system.

Case: $50
PSU: $75
Motherboard: $150
Processor (3+ GHz or so): $200 (give or take, this one depends)
Highest end video card you can get: $300
RAM (2GB): $250 (thereabouts)
Hard Drive: $150 (for ~200GB)
Sound Blaster Audigy: ~$75 (?)
DVD-RW: $50
Floppy Disk (actually useful in BIOS updating): $10

So you get a VERY high end system with kick-arse graphics, RAM, and CPU, a large new HD, all for (in this case) $1310.

A comparable setup sold to you by Dell or HP, despite the fact that they bog it down with proprietary hardware, OEM software, and all that other stuff, will cost you upwards of $3000 (if you're LUCKY!).

Also, when you buy Dell, or Gateway, or HP, you have the problem of not being able to upgrade later. You can choose a case that you KNOW will take standard ATX motherboards (so you can keep the case when you upgrade in 3 years), as opposed to my old Gateway case, which had a STAMPED STEEL backplate (that, quite conveniently, only fit the motherboard that came with it). You get the peace of mind in knowing that you have a common socket type, and not the most obscure types that Dell and HP seem to favor, which never allow you to upgrade your CPU later on. You know that your RAM type is common, and not RDRAM, or takes only one special type of PC2700 (like my sister's PC).

So it's not just about saving money, it's about picking a PC with the best parts for the best price, and knowing that you'll be able to change said parts later on in life, without fear.

That's my philosophy on it. I'm not buying a pre-built PC ever again, after I found the freedom with my current (custom-built) system.
Title: Graphics Card
Post by: Brenjen on August 22, 2006, 10:49:48 PM
My eVGA 7950GX2 rocks; I use 2GHZ od DDR Ram & I have my Athlon64 4000+ OC'd to 2.8GHZ...I hit 3GHZ but it wasn't stable on prime 95 for more than 30 minutes so I kicked it back down. I run the 1024 textures & all the eye candy turned on with the detail sliders maxed out, plus all my Nvidia settings are maxed out too, the AA & AF etc. My frame rates never go below 75fps & are well over 200fps usually. (The nvidia drivers vertical sync control doesn't sync)
Title: Graphics Card
Post by: Krusty on August 22, 2006, 10:50:59 PM
Man... I have GOT to get a better graphics card!!!
Title: Graphics Card
Post by: YankZulu on August 23, 2006, 05:25:11 AM
Couple of questions.  10 years ago, I did the same thing where I worked.  We bought PC's boxes and then just upgraded the guts.  And, as an old fart in his 40's, the world of building PC's was about the only way to afford a system farther back than 10 years....I go back to the 1980's.

Perhaps it was the times, but the perceived approach was a matter of break/fix/warrantee issues and dependability.  My corporate experience has been that Compaq/HP has been that the systems run like tanks.

Is my perception perhaps skewed incorrectly then?

Also, are you buying your parts local or on the internet?  For someone who hasn't purchased PC parts in "e-centuries", where do I start?

Yank

Quote
Originally posted by Krusty
A lot of us are building our own systems (choosing our own parts). It may sound pricey but it's actually cheaper than buying a pre-built HP.

Example:

Highest graphics card you can get costs $300, next step down is about $160.

Motherboards range in price a LOT. So do cooling systems. Let's go with a hypothetical system.

That's my philosophy on it. I'm not buying a pre-built PC ever again, after I found the freedom with my current (custom-built) system.
Title: Graphics Card
Post by: Krusty on August 23, 2006, 07:26:18 AM
Buy them wherever you want to, just decide well before you buy the first part.

Corporate PCs is another issue. Folks buy Dell because then Dell handles all repairs. However you generally can't update them too much (just a video card, maybe some RAM) before you're forced to buy an entirely new box to replace it.

Personally, I bought my parts online from newegg. If I ever get any free $$$ in the future (*stupid bills*) I'll shop there again.
Title: Graphics Card
Post by: Brenjen on August 23, 2006, 08:22:05 AM
Krusty is right & might I add....shop Newegg for everything you can & only buy elsewhere if:

A - the item you want is not in inventory

B - they charge taxes where you live

C - you find an incredible price too good to pass up somewhere else (it's worth an extra $10 or $15 to use Newegg, they are cheaper a lot of the time)

 Because Newegg has the fastest & most reliable processing & handling in the industry, I have gotten purchases from the egg in less than 24 hours to my door on more than one occasion. They also have a good return policy; 30 day refund or exchange, 1 year exchange only; & their RMA process is so easy it takes a little of the anger away when something doesn't work correctly.
Title: Graphics Card
Post by: YankZulu on August 23, 2006, 10:34:03 AM
Thanks Krusty, I'll check out newegg.

Yank

Quote
Originally posted by Krusty
Personally, I bought my parts online from newegg. If I ever get any free $$$ in the future (*stupid bills*) I'll shop there again.
Title: Graphics Card
Post by: Krusty on August 23, 2006, 11:05:57 AM
Don't be afraid to shop around. Check other online stores if you like.
Title: Graphics Card
Post by: YankZulu on August 23, 2006, 12:08:52 PM
Nearest I can figure, I can save between $600-$800...

This is what I'm thinking about:



newegg = $1140 including logitech keyboard, mouse
Title: Graphics Card
Post by: Krusty on August 23, 2006, 12:48:52 PM
Socket478 is obsolete. Get SocketT or LGA775 (different names for the same thing). This way in 2 years you can just pop a chip in and there's more of a chance that your motherboard will accept it.
Title: Graphics Card
Post by: sonicboom970 on August 23, 2006, 03:38:31 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Krusty
Socket478 is obsolete. Get SocketT or LGA775 (different names for the same thing). This way in 2 years you can just pop a chip in and there's more of a chance that your motherboard will accept it.

not for conroe :(  i made my 478 like 2  2 years ago maby i should upgrade soon...) (note that it is technically family but i use it much more than anyone else)
P.S. I think i read this somewhere else but, does your frame rate increase polling intervel ( have no idea what its really called) how often your computer askes for data according to where you are and how often it sends data ?\


P.S.S. i normally get 40 in normal flight lookin straight ahead 16 in really low alt and when there are a ton of trees and lookin up somtimes 60
my smaller buffer size but slightly faster ram and cpu make em about even

i wish i had lga 775 Core2 Ex OC'd to 3.6 ghz H20 cooled
2.5 GB of DDR 800(lower latency)
2 GeForce 7950GX2s in Quad SLI mode and some REALLY good drivers for it.
Windows vista Ultimate
Sound Blaster Audigy (not too sure which model)
AND a 24 inch lcd w/ a .24 mm pitch and 6ms response time and 2 dvi inputs
(not 30 inch cuz i dont think that would fit on my already crowded desk
HAHAHHAHAH  i wish i had half of that computer:cry
Title: Graphics Card
Post by: Krusty on August 23, 2006, 03:49:22 PM
Quote
Originally posted by sonicboom970
not for conroe :(  i made my 478 like 2  2 years ago maby i should upgrade soon...


I'm not sure what you mean here. Conroe will be Socket 775. 775 showed up after 478. Newer chips will use it, older chips won't fit.

EDIT: You put Windows Vista on it and you'll have LESS than half of that computer! :rofl
Title: Graphics Card
Post by: sonicboom970 on August 23, 2006, 03:55:16 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Krusty
I'm not sure what you mean here. Conroe will be Socket 775. 775 showed up after 478. Newer chips will use it, older chips won't fit.

EDIT: You put Windows Vista on it and you'll have LESS than half of that computer! :rofl


YOUR FAST MAN i just posted that and went back to edit that :confused: :eek: :O

ya i know it will SLOW you computer w/ nothin else and even if i won the lottery or somthin i would only put home premium on it and then be able to boot to XP for 16 bit apps (what 16bit apps it runs) and for games and vista for fun and games or 64 bit programs

only certain mobos fit conroe most made now will but so you have to buy a new mobo they tweak voltage enough to make it so u purty much have 2 or at least thats what i got from conroe thread and CPU mag..

well TECHNICALLY conroe will fit any lga 775 but it wont work in some of em.
Title: Graphics Card
Post by: Krusty on August 23, 2006, 04:57:03 PM
Yes, that's true. The BIOS has to support Conroe. But if you're looking at parts to BUY, as in NEW parts, why get an obsolete socket type? It would be like buying a Socket A AMD mobo -- the chips are still around but nothing new will ever be made for it.

Trust me, if you're going Intel, and you're getting new stuff, get Socket 775.
Title: Graphics Card
Post by: sonicboom970 on August 23, 2006, 05:28:22 PM
ya i know :D  i was sorta being well me with the comment on how it wont work w/ conroe if you got a T a year or even 2 months ago

if i got a new intel system go for Krustys LGA775 to look it up type 775, lga775 or socket T almost all processors there are faster dual cored and AH2 really supports multithread/core processors so youll get improved frame rates and support for PCI E WOOOHOOOO (now you know why i want a 7800 GS) it isnt avalible on socket 478 or 423 (some P4's had socket 423 or somthing like that.)
Title: Graphics Card
Post by: Tigger29 on August 24, 2006, 11:22:20 PM
Guys I hosed my motherboard!  Installed a new heatsink/fan and noboot.  Install went very smooth.. but.. well who knows.  I've done hundreds with no problem :mad:

Anyways.. i lost my job.. right after i got the new video card and money's so tight right now we're going to have a heck of a time paying rent this month.  So I'm out of the game for awhile (I'm on my backup comp.. 450mhz).

I'll stay on the boards though.. have fun guys
Title: Graphics Card
Post by: Krusty on August 24, 2006, 11:51:56 PM
Before you panic, Take the motherboard out and hold it over a light source. Try gently flexing it to see if it is in fact cracked. It might just be a short somewhere.

You might have created the short when installing the new heatsink (depending on the backplate mount). Or by spilling thermal grease past the top of the CPU, or any number of issues.

Take it apart, check the individual parts, and if you see no problems reinstall it taking the utmost care for every step.
Title: Graphics Card
Post by: YankZulu on August 26, 2006, 11:34:46 AM
Wow, I did a quick gander at my frame rate:

looking up with little clouds 31
System memory 766
Used Memory 555-615

In a tank, goes down to about 14...or if there's a lot of action in the sky.

AHII Video Settings:
Resolution: 1024x768
Hardare Vertex Processing Checked
Max Texture Size: 256
Optimize Object Checked
Optmize Terrain Checked
Max Frame Rate: 60
Title: Graphics Card
Post by: Tigger29 on September 03, 2006, 02:57:04 PM
No cracks found... still no-go...

I think i might have bumped up against a resistor or something... I'll get a replacement one of these days.. at least I have another system to get on the internet with.

Any socket-A motherboards laying around collecting dust?  with AGP 4Xslot... supports XP2200 processor? hehe
Title: Graphics Card
Post by: Tigger29 on September 06, 2006, 11:18:38 AM
OK guys.. got a job today.. start as soon as they get my pee-in-a-cup results.  Money will still be tight for a month or two until I start getting my monthly commission pay.

I'll be in the market for a used motherboard in the next few weeks until I can save up and get a nice upgrade.

So let me know what you got.. or if you have any advice finding one..

thanks!
Title: Graphics Card
Post by: Roscoroo on September 06, 2006, 08:14:51 PM
look in craigslist.org or ebay for a socket A board ... asus a7n8x series are the best .
Title: Graphics Card
Post by: Tigger29 on September 09, 2006, 10:53:31 PM
hey Dichotomy, email me if you see this

bradpool@charter.net
Title: Graphics Card
Post by: Hap on September 12, 2006, 11:45:55 AM
http://www.newegg.com/ProductSort/BrandSubcategory.asp?Brand=1157&Subcategory=343

Been 4 years since I bought a processor.  Newegg sells 31 :O intel and 48 AMD processors in the $200 to $750 (eek) price range.

How do you begin?

hap
Title: Graphics Card
Post by: Krusty on September 12, 2006, 02:47:24 PM
Go for a P4 Pentium D if you're into Intel. Or a Conroe (only 6 of those total).

For AMD I don't know. I think the x64 is one of the higher-end chips.