Video Card part II

[Jaguar]

I went with the Radeon 9600 SE. I got it for 129.99, but there's a 20 dollar rebate and a coupon for a free half-life 2 copy. And, let's not kid ourselves, even if I didn't have a coupon, I'd still end up shelling out 50 dollars for HL2, so I'm saving $50 as well. So the end result is that it effectively cost me only 70 bucks.

The one thing that I'd like to know now is whether my computer is AGP, PCI, or both. I'd prefer not to open up the computer, and so I'm wondering if there's an easier way to check. It's a Dell Dimension 4100, PIII 1.0 Ghz, and it's current card is a Geforce 2 MX. It's 2 years and 5 months old.

If it's PCI, then I'm gonna have to return the Radeon, and the place I bought it only lets you return in 14 days. Am I gonna have to open up the computer, or is there an easy way to check?

[Evil Knevil]

It'll be AGP trust me. If you've got any card beyond a Voodoo-3 (and you do) it'll doubtlessly be AGP. Just open 'er up


On a simular note, I think I might wait for the 9800 and HL2 bundle thats coming along. Then again I need a general upgrade, but I don't know wether to do the g/card or the processor/mobo first (XP 1800).

Will the 9800 be a decent long term investment?

[Nubclear]

Open up the computer.
Would you rather hear "Yea! It's AGP!" and then 30 days later....it's not? Or would you rather save money and simply open it up?!

[Evil Knevil]

Your also going to need a faster processor and at least 512 of ram for HL2 I think. No point strapping a ferrari engine to a Ford mondeo. The speed of your PC is as fast as its slowest components. At least in terms of dataflows and bottlenecks.

[Jaguar]

Originally posted by Evil Knevil
It'll be AGP trust me. If you've got any card beyond a Voodoo-3 (and you do) it'll doubtlessly be AGP. Just open 'er up


On a simular note, I think I might wait for the 9800 and HL2 bundle thats coming along. Then again I need a general upgrade, but I don't know wether to do the g/card or the processor/mobo first (XP 1800).

Will the 9800 be a decent long term investment?

It looks good, but I'm not gonna spend much money on a graphics card for a 30 month old PC

[Evil Knevil]

If your upgrading your card just to play H/L 2 then I think you're wasting money. The entire PC will need an overhaul to run it at the levels your card demands.

[Nubclear]

But why would anyone upgrade for HL2?
Deus Ex 2 looks sooo much better.

[Evil Knevil]

Deus Ex 2 is less demanding though

Hopefully It'll run on my GF4 Ti4400.

[Jaguar]

Originally posted by Evil Knevil
If your upgrading your card just to play H/L 2 then I think you're wasting money. The entire PC will need an overhaul to run it at the levels your card demands.

Also for Halo, Simcity 4, and Railroad Tycoon 3. Those three games all are fine with my PC speed, but are more demanding video-card-wise.

[Nubclear]

Originally posted by Evil Knevil
Deus Ex 2 is less demanding though

But it's much better

[Adagio]

Originally posted by Jaguar Warrior
(...) Simcity 4, and Railroad Tycoon 3 (...)

Don't buy that card, if you intend to play those two games...

Since I installed my card, those two games freezes my computer

[Jaguar]

It freezes your computer, but it won't necessarily freeze mine. Computers are mysterious things. Plus I consider Halo more important than either of those two games.

[alva]

Sim never froze mine (except on the fastest setting which is a known issue and has nothing to do with the 9600 )

Still having problems ADG?

You know they very recently released new drivers? I think it was about a week or 10 ago, give it a go, you never know ( hey, that rhymes )

[The Mad Monk]

...I'm still trying to figure out how he's going to install that card without opening the computer...

[Urban Ranger]

Yeah, that's what I was thinking too.