Larian Studios Forums Divine Divinity (English) Technical Problems Graphics card and RAM..... ?

ok, hoping this isnt <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/offtopic.gif" alt="" /> but this seemd like a sensible place to put it....

I'm gonna get a new graphics card and RAM stick soon, so i can play <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/div.gif" alt="" /> better and also so i'll be able to run <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/riftrunner.gif" alt="" /> . I'm looking for advice from those in the know <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
(My current PC is a lowly 128Mb RAM and only an on-board normal non-3D graphics card... yes it can run <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/div.gif" alt="" /> , its just a bit slow and jerky )

I'm thinking of getting the following graphics card:
Asus V9560TD GeForce FX 5600 256MB (GX-018-AS)
from overclockers UK (scroll most of the way down this page:http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Asus_137.html its the second up from the bottom)

And of getting one of the following RAM's:
Either:
Kingston HyperX 512MB DDR PC2700 (KHX2700/512) CAS2.0 (MY-004-KS)
(near the top of this page: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Kingston.html its the second one down)
Or:
Adata 512MB DDR PC2700 CAS 2.5 (MY-002-AD)
(near the top of this page: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Adata.html second one down)

(basicly im not sure weather the more expensive one is worth it)

If any of you in the know have some helpfull advice it would be appreciated <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Thanks in advance
Koiju

ok, here's the thing!
I work in a computer store, and I have worked with the geforce card and it works just fine, but there are some problems with the nforce board in the drivers.

First you need a power suply of 400wts for the card to work correctly.

If you are going to buy that expensive video card, try to buy yourself an Asus board(P4P8X recomended).
http://usa.asus.com/products/mb/socket478/p4p8x/overview.htm#

Second I do recomend the Kingston all the way because I have never have any problem with that ram.

Now, if you are goiong to buy that asus board, get yourself two of those Kingston HyperX 512MB DDR PC2700 and put to your advantage that dual channel memory( you won't be sorry).

Anyway Remember this is just my opinion, so have good luck hunting down a good video card and some memory

p.s.

those ati video card are the best (9800)

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/alien.gif" alt="" />

Thanks oBosch

I dont want to buy a new motherboard tho, way too much hassle, cant be arsed, lol
And uh, my power supply is only 110wts O.o (its an ikkle cute one ^_^)

Hmmm, any suggestions?

P.S. holy s**t! I'm not getting one of those ATI 9800's. £300+! thats insane! *was thinking more along the lines of around up to £150 max graphics card, prefferable up to around £100*

P.P.S. Oh, and im not using an Nforce board, just using an intel one in my computer here, hehe

well you got a little problem man!!
the box of the new geforce cards says that needs a 300 wts power suply minimum for it to work.

You can get a geforce 4 mmx 64 megs and will be very happy with the results you will get.

also you need to be sure if your intel board supports ddr

if you're going to buy sdram, check out the pc133 before you buy the pc100, and also chek the compatibility of the ram with the board.

happy hunting!!!!

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/alien.gif" alt="" />

For the RAM, the CAS2 Kingston should perform better than the CAS2.5 Adata, but I doubt the difference would be as high as the price difference. I'm not familiar with Adata, but as long as they can produce good quality RAM (search for reviews and opinions online), I'd go with the cheaper one.


"my power supply is only 110wts O.o (its an ikkle cute one ^_^)"

um.. is that as in a half sized HP power supply? If so, do you have a mini or mid sized case? HP's smallest PCs are not necessarily upgrade friendly.


I am thinking about getting a Radeon 9600XT (much cheaper than the high end {about CAN$250/£110}, but most of the performance) or possibly a GeForce FX 5700. I'm leaning towards ATI, but have not checked many reviews yet.

Hmm personally I am playing all 3d games happily with my Nvidia mx 460, which here in Oz cost about A$195.00 incl GST/VAT or whatever <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

ufff, so complicated
i dont want any spectacular graphics card anyway, just one that runs the modern games and works will be fine, im happy with 30 fps and 800x600 to be honist, no need for 200 fps and 8,000x6,000 resolution O.o

im tempted to buy the RAM from somwhere that lets me return them and just go through there list of RAM sticks trying each one till i find one i want to keep, seems like less hassle at the moment o.O

yes my power supply appears to be 'half-sized' but i dont think its HP, and the case is medium sized. The computer isnt by HP, its by RM... heh

Other than high refresh rates, I don't need that much in a video card either. However, getting something at the high end of the budget category will have the best chance of lasting longer with future games. My PCI GeForce 2 is the only thing left in my computer that I can upgrade effectively, and I don't plan on building a new one for awhile.

As long as the case has room for a full sized power supply, there shouldn't be any problems upgrading it.

Hmmm, ok

I think I might get the GeForce then and get a better power supply. (I'll check first tho, and if i need to I'll just get a cheaper GeForce)

I'll stick with the RAM I chose, it should be ok, but I can double check.

I dont really have the money to get a whole new computer yet, heh

Thanks very much everyone
Koiju

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/alien.gif" alt="" />I'm running my PC with ATI radeon 8500. Though it's an old device(still no.1 for most of the gamers), I managed to find last stock around 4 months ago. I bought it deliberately, cause I already know it's loads better than anything for the price around 70-80$. My advice: Any Creative product, but you've already chosen that one, the other: Radeon 9500. It's a modern chip, with reasonable speed and price. Suggetsions on RAM, same as previously mentioned Kingstone HX. Cas Latency doesn't matter if you run WinXP, it always will stay the same 2.5, even if you change it in BIOS. Most important of all: BUY A NEW MB!!!! and I mean it. No Video card, and no matter how much RAM, buy fast FSB(like 400x2MHZ) MB, to get the full profit. Otherwise, your computer will choke. :P

I dont have the money to buy a new MB at this time, nor do I know how to change it over, I only know how to install RAM, new drives, and cards, heh
This MB is acctually quite a good one, considering (its on-board graphic controller can run divinty very smooth... only problem is i run out of RAM fast and start getting lots 'n lots of RAM lag :/)

hello koiju & everybody else. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wave.gif" alt="" />

here's another opinion(don't we all have one) to confuse u more. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/badsmile2.gif" alt="" />

since u're near london, why not buy RAM from crucial website where delivery's free to your doorstep? since your motherboard is intel-based, i believe any brand of RAM will do. if u or anyone uses MSI motherboard, especially for AMD, be wary of pairing that board with Kingston RAM as the two at times tend to clash.

as for graphic card, set yourself a budget & buy the best that money can buy. u'll save yourself a lot of grief & 'i-could-have' situation that way. no point comparing performances as there'll always be a better one next week/month.

hope this helps.

p/s: raze's advice on checking the RAM type your motherboard supports will help a lot in decisions.