reccomend a moderately priced video card? Just want to run Half-Life 2.

[jer7583]

I'm using a Pentium 4 2.8 gHz with 512 mb ram. It's got some shitty integrated intel graphics. I got Half Life 2 for $10 this week Price Matching the circuit city ad.. It's running pretty terribly, even in 640x480 with everything set to low. I don't need something fancy, but I don't have any idea what I need, really. I thought that the game might be old enough to get by without a real video card, but it seems not.

Any recommendations for under $50?

[Oktoberfest]

under $50... hmm... AGP I'm guessing... try this
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102410

this aint bad: $50 after $50 mail in rebate http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814241044 (this would be worth going a little over $50 for)

[jer7583]

thanks for the reccomend. I might go with that $45 one. I heard that installing a new card when you've got integrated graphics is tough sometimes.. is that true?

[Kendro]

I'd skip the 9600 Pro and go for the 9800 Pro, a much more powerful card. You can typically buy one off eBay for $50 shipped (that is how much I sold mine for a year ago). It is an excellent card that runs HL2, Doom III, and Far Cry at decent settings.

http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics_2006.html

The above link gives a good indication of graphics performance with the various cards for HL2. At 1024 resolution, max details, and no AA or AF, a 9800 Pro (which isn't shown on the chart but is slightly less powerful than a 6600 GT) runs the game at 57 fps. A 9600 Pro (which isn't listed on the chart since it is an older card but is pretty much the same as an X600 Pro) runs at 25 fps.

Edit - I did a search for 9800 in the Trading Forum and what do you know, there is a CAG selling a 9800 Pro for $45.

http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=92343&highlight=9800

[CYRiX]

First time installation might be hard but if you want we could go through it step by step for you.

[Vinny]

You just have to remember to install the graphics drivers before installing the new video card and it's drivers.

That's what I like about the Source Engine- it looks fantastic and has pretty petty requirements.

[Liquid 2]

thanks for the reccomend. I might go with that $45 one. I heard that installing a new card when you've got integrated graphics is tough sometimes.. is that true?Integrated graphics chips are on the motherboard. They'll just not do anything once you have a graphics card with its drivers installed.
They won't affect anything.

[ITDEFX]

Before they added HDR to HL2 and episode 1, Half Life 2 ran like a dream on my evga 6800gt agp 256. After they added that, now I cannot play any Source powered games without a crash, lock up or reboot :(

So get something in the 7 series.

[Liquid 2]

Before they added HDR to HL2 and episode 1, Half Life 2 ran like a dream on my evga 6800gt agp 256. After they added that, now I cannot play any Source powered games without a crash, lock up or reboot :(

So get something in the 7 series.
You can disable HDR...shit's annoying as fuck anyways.

[ITDEFX]

You can disable HDR...shit's annoying as fuck anyways.

i did it but the thing still locks up/crashes/reboots my system. Heck I can't even play Sin Episode 1 :( Many cags have had similar problems.

[CaseyRyback]

thanks for the reccomend. I might go with that $45 one. I heard that installing a new card when you've got integrated graphics is tough sometimes.. is that true?

Open your PC up and find out which slot for graphics you have before you buy a card.

And something like a 6600 GT would work well if you just want to run Half Life 2. Episode 1 is well worth getting as well and I know gamestop sells it for 9.99.

[Vinny]

Open your PC up and find out which slot for graphics you have before you buy a card.

And something like a 6600 GT would work well if you just want to run Half Life 2. Episode 1 is well worth getting as well and I know gamestop sells it for 9.99.

I'd just buy the Orange Pack... otherwise, in case he does want to play the rest of the games, he'll end up with HL2 (and possibly HL2 Ep1) again.