Need a new graphics card. Help?

secondnightmare

secondnightmare

CAG Veteran
Okay, I just bought the Penumbra Collection at my local Gamestop and have run into a problem playing it...That being my graphics card sucks terribly. I get halfway into the tutorial on Black Plague before it freezes and once the opening cinematics end on Overture my computer freezes.

My current graphics card is a:
Intel G33/G31 Express Chipset Family (approx. 384MB memory)

My computers specs are:
MODEL: OptiPlex 330
OS: Windows XP Pro (5.1, Build 2600)
MEMEORY: 1012 MB RAM

So, using that, can anyone tell me what a GOOD gaming graphics card is THAT WOULD BE COMPATIBLE with my computer?

Thanks in advance!
 
Judging by this .pdf file, it states that the OptiPlex 330 has one PCI-Express x16 slot for graphics. That being said, you need to tell us your budget before anyone can give you any advice on which PCI-Express card you should purchase. You will probably be able to get away with a low end PCI-Express card for that game to run smoothly.
 
[quote name='Richard Longfellow']What graphics slot?[/quote]

What he means by that is whether your motherboard supports PCI-E or AGP
 
If you're looking for budget-

Radeon 4650 : 60ish
VVV
Decent Boost
VVV
9600 GT : 85ish
VVV
Decent Boost (for 5$ more)
VVV
Radeon 4830 : 90ish
VVV
Decent Boost
VVV
Radeon 4850: 160ish = GeForce 9800 GTX+ : 140ish

I currently own a radeon 4870 1gb, 4850, and an older version of the 8800 GTS.
When the radeon cards work and if you anticipate any issues with them by doing some research ahead of time, they will give you the best performance for your money. However, certain cards are prone to certain issues.

Nvidia is solid in its drivers and costs a little more and you get a little less, but in my personal experience and popular forum opinion (whatever that's worth) shows that you're less likely to have problems with an Nvidia card.

Personally, I've had issues with the 4850 and 4870, but I knew how to deal with them so it wasn't an issue for me.
 
Wow! Thanks for the replies! Umm, call me weird but I was expecting to pay more for a graphics card so that's AWESOME! If I'm gonna shell out for a card, I may as well get something that'll run the new games too. What card would run Crysis (and other new PC games) at a decent graphics setting and framerate (and still work with my computer)? I'd like to stay between $100-200...
 
A Radeon HD 4870 wouldn't even break a sweat playing Crysis at high details @ 1680x1050 staying above 30 fps provided your Dell at least has a decent dual or quad core CPU. If you are serious about playing Crysis you will want to buy more memory though. Crysis was unplayable on my old rig with only 2 gigs of memory until I bumped it up to 4 gigs and it was smooth.
 
I haven't looked at the spec sheet so I don't know what kind of PSU your opti330 has, but the 4870 does require a good chunk of power, x2 pci-e power plugs which means you'll probably have to use an adapter for at least one of those if your PSU can even put out the amps.

SO you'd have to make sure you have the spare power cables to use AND enough power to run it in the first place.
 
Wait now you want to play Crysis? Ummm that's different from Penumbra...Like crystal said you may not have enough PSU. And you may not have enough CPU either depending on what your Dell came with. If you're looking to build a serious gaming machne you're better off starting from scratch rather trying to soup up a pre-built.
 
4000 series ATI has been built cooler, getting a 4850 should be cheap and fast and still not have to worry about power.

I've felt the opposite on reguards to Crystalkear64, nvidia's drivers are far and few, and you'll have stability on ATi's side due to monthly drivers, if something is wrong, it'll be fixed within a month, Nvidia, who knows.

I think Nvidia can be cheaper but you won't get the best value.... ATI has alot for the buck.. bang for the buck... I would see about getting a deal for cheap with rebate, stay away from HIS but every other ATI rebate should be good.

Chart below is good, a little dated by a few months, and it doesn't show all the fucking variations of Nvidia cards..

screenshot048.jpg
 
Also watch out for Sapphire cards as they only carry 2 year warranties on them. Although you generally never have serious problems, it is worth noting.
 
I would recommend an Nvidia 8800GT or 9800GT. I've got the 8800 hooked up to my living room 52" LCD screen. I've played Guitar Hero, Crysis and now Assassin's Creed on it at 1920x1080 resolution with no issues. The 9800, I hear, is pretty much a newer version of the 8800; Newegg has it for about $100 right now. http://promotions.newegg.com/NEemail/Mar-0-2009/DaylightMar03/index-landing.html

Just note that these cards are HUGE. So, make sure you have enough space: width and height.
 
I can't tell. Are you kidding? I haven't had any issues, but I played it like a year ago. All setting were default except that the resolution was bumped up. Otherwise, I have a dual-core and 2gb of ram.
 
[quote name='hordak']All setting were default except that the resolution was bumped up..[/QUOTE]
Alright, maybe at medium/low settings with no AA.
 
[quote name='crystalklear64']bullshit[/quote]

Why are you such an asshole? Or maybe more appropriately, why can't you contain your assholiness to your private life? You know, kick puppies, whatever it is that gets you off. Just keep it to yourself, some people here are just trying to ask questions and help people, and aren't looking to satisfy their egomaniacal superiority complexes.
 
OP might have read that post and thought he could run Crysis well with an 8800GT. Perhaps my standards are higher than other people's, but unless I'm running a game on at least whatever the game considers to be high with x2 AA (since that shit is basically free) with a minimum of 30fps at monitor's native (within reason), its not running the game well.

I know what the fuck I'm talking about most of the time, have helped out extensively in the PC forums in the past, and plan on continuing to do so.
 
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You might want to be careful about what you'd think about buying for your PC for a graphics card.

Here's links to the user guide for your PC. You'd need to pick if it's a desktop or a minitower:
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/op330/en/ug/index.htm

Either way, you don't have a very big power supply. 285W for the desktop, 305W in the minitower.

That would limit severely the power of the graphics card you can put in your PC. I wouldn't go much higher than a NVidia 9600GT or ATI 4830/4850. Plus, depending on the size of your case, you might not be able to fit some of the larger cards in your PC.

I'd check the User Guide at the above link and see how big of space you're working with.

Regardless of what you do for a graphics cards, I'd take the PC up to 2GB, if you plan on keeping it for a while. 2 1GB DDR2-667 modules would work to up it another 1GB to 2GB. You only have 2 DIMM slots, and they're populatied with 2 512MB memory modules.
 
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[quote name='crystalklear64']OP might have read that post and thought he could run Crysis well with an 8800GT.[/quote]

He can, and I've experienced it. If I can run it with at least 30fps on a 52" LCD at 1920x1080, then i'm sure he'll run it just fine on a small screen.

BTW, Richard, you should have kept your comment. :)
 
[quote name='hordak']He can, and I've experienced it. If I can run it with at least 30fps on a 52" LCD at 1920x1080, then i'm sure he'll run it just fine on a small screen.

BTW, Richard, you should have kept your comment. :)[/quote]


Size does not matter at all, only resolution. You can run any game at any size of screen with the same result. It is only when you change the resolution is where it matters.

When you change the size of the screen, you video card does not do anything different. It does not send 'big' pixels. It sends renders the same amount as it would on a smaller screen. The screen just has a bigger pixel size. When you change the resolution you change the amount of pixels being rendered by the card and take a performance hit.
 
[quote name='hordak']He can, and I've experienced it. If I can run it with at least 30fps on a 52" LCD at 1920x1080, then i'm sure he'll run it just fine on a small screen.

BTW, Richard, you should have kept your comment. :)[/QUOTE]
High, 1920x1200, aa/af 0/tri: 20-21fps
Very High, 1920x1200, aa/af 0/tri: 12-13fps
High, 1920x1200, 4xAA, 8xAF: 10-13fps
Very High, 1920x1200, 4xAA, 8xAF:5-8fps

You aren't going to run the game well with a 8800gt.
 
personally i say get the 4870x2

I have it and never have to worry about silly things like system requirements

I just KNOW it'll play maxed out
 
[quote name='s2k']personally i say get the 4870x2

I have it and never have to worry about silly things like system requirements

I just KNOW it'll play maxed out[/quote]OP's budget is under $200.
 
[quote name='silent h3ro']OP's budget is under $200.[/quote]


should be a price drop once the 4900 series is out, though the 4870x2 might float just above that value for a long time.

I would suggest ether waiting and getting a 4950 or just save a bit more money and get the 4870x2, it'll still be a great card and probably will be more than just a single 4950.
 
[quote name='crystalklear64']High, 1920x1200, aa/af 0/tri: 20-21fps
Very High, 1920x1200, aa/af 0/tri: 12-13fps
High, 1920x1200, 4xAA, 8xAF: 10-13fps
Very High, 1920x1200, 4xAA, 8xAF:5-8fps

You aren't going to run the game well with a 8800gt.[/quote]

I think you're confusing the 8800gt with the 8800gs.

But, believe what you will. I ran it just fine at 1920x1080.
 
Thanks to all for the suggestions!

The computer I was going to upgrade was a friend's (but I had access to it), but I have the funding to build my own and figured now is the time to do it... I think I've asked this before (months ago..) but could anyone help me out with what I need to build a good gaming computer?

My budget is $600-700... This is for the core computer only. I don't need a monitor, keyboard, or mouse. And I'd like the computer to have a great graphics card and memory and all that...

Can anyone tell me everything I need (including extra cords, drives, fans etc) to make a good gaming PC and post links to the parts?

--Just a note to those interested in helping, please make sure the parts are compatible with eachother...And I've never built a PC before so I'll need to know EVERYTHING I'll need to have it running.

Thanks again!
 
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