Need video card help

[deathsvengeance]

The video card I have currently is apparently not good enough to run FFXI. I was wondering what I should be looking for in a video card so that FFXI looks good and runs smoothely?

I also don't have a ton of money heh, but I really need help because I am not very technologically inclined. ^^;

(Sorry if this was already addressed somewhere else on the forum, I did a search but couldn't make heads or tails out of it heh)

[Ending]

I asked some time ago about a matter that should interest you too: "Could you recommend this computer to your friend?"

[deathsvengeance]

Sadly, I read the first page of that thread, but for me, most of it made no sense.

[durrem]

Sorry, but we need a little more info than you gave. Could you please tell us what processor, memory, motherboard and video card you have now?

For memory/processor: Right click My Computer=> Properties

For video card: Right click My Computer=> Properties=> Hardware=> Device Manager=> +Display Adapter (for 2000/XP)

For motherboard: Hmm, try CPUZ.

[theanimedude]

Originally Posted by deathsvengeance

The video card I have currently is apparently not good enough to run FFXI. I was wondering what I should be looking for in a video card so that FFXI looks good and runs smoothely?

I also don't have a ton of money heh, but I really need help because I am not very technologically inclined. ^^;

(Sorry if this was already addressed somewhere else on the forum, I did a search but couldn't make heads or tails out of it heh)

Ok...assuming ur computer is decent enough and taht u atleast have about....384mb of ram, ddr or normal old school ram, just get an ati radeon 9000. My friend has a 1.6 ghz pentium 4 processor, 384mb of old school ram (sdram) and an ati radeon 9000. he plays FF 11 24/7, and it runs smoothly. So, just get that, it's about 100 if u buy it from best buy but probably cheaper if u buy it from fatwallet.com or just wait for the thanksgiving sale.

[deathsvengeance]

CPU: AMD Duron 1.30 GHz
Ram: 224 MB
Display Adapter: SiS 650_651_M650_740
Motherboard: PC Chips Mainboard

oh and my current video card is on board and I only have PCI slots, no AGP.

Does that help?

[Liddo]

Originally Posted by deathsvengeance

CPU: AMD Duron 1.30 GHz
Ram: 224 MB
Display Adapter: SiS 650_651_M650_740
Motherboard: PC Chips Mainboard

oh and my current video card is on board and I only have PCI slots, no AGP.

Does that help?

OH shnapp.. i just saw the last part of your post... no AGP... uhh.. my friend there are only a few options that u haev here.... scatter all over the world are PCI video cards... now no one really sell them anymore due to their pci interface..... as far as i know.. the highest PCI video card there is a geforce 4 TI4400... that will set you back about 60-80 bucks.. but will give you a very good boost.. so long as u dont have too many other things connected to your PCI slots... this is i think a temporary solution.... the motherboard that u have does not seem to be a very good one.... since it does not have AGP slot there is only so much that u can do.. if u are willing to spend a little time and some extra money u can get much better performace...

if u just go buy a new motherboard.. with a agp card u will be surprised at the performance.. if u want more on where to buy a mobo and stuff of the sort just ask.. but for now PCI video cards are very hard to find
Liddo~

[Ending]

@ deathsvengeance

Just ignore everything after AGP -simple enough.

[deathsvengeance]

thanks for all of your help

I found a Conquerer FX 5200plus Video Card, PCI, 128MB DDR /cheer

[hamiko_san]

10 things more, you never know.

[Kurz]

Yes he did say no AGP

[hamiko_san]

10 things more, you never know.

[deathsvengeance]

*cries a river* it would figure that the bloody thing wouldn't install! I have to call the tech support people Monday now ... *sulks in a corner with her teddy bear*

[durrem]

Originally Posted by deathsvengeance

*cries a river* it would figure that the bloody thing wouldn't install! I have to call the tech support people Monday now ... *sulks in a corner with her teddy bear*

Do you mean that when you plug in the new video card and hook up the monitor you get no signal? You probably need to disable the onboard video to get the video card to work. You either need to set a jumper on the motherboard or you need to go into the BIOS on startup to set this option. You could google the motherboard manual with the motherboard model (the second item on the cpuz motherboard screen) to find out how to do this. I just googled "pc chips motherboard manual" and came up with this.

As an aside, if you can return that 5200, I would recommend you pick up a 5700LE instead. I found a few at newegg here but it will run you $100 with tax and shipping ($110 for the 256MB version).

[deathsvengeance]

Originally Posted by durrem

Do you mean that when you plug in the new video card and hook up the monitor you get no signal? You probably need to disable the onboard video to get the video card to work. You either need to set a jumper on the motherboard or you need to go into the BIOS on startup to set this option. You could google the motherboard manual with the motherboard model (the second item on the cpuz motherboard screen) to find out how to do this. I just googled "pc chips motherboard manual" and came up with this.

As an aside, if you can return that 5200, I would recommend you pick up a 5700LE instead. I found a few at newegg here but it will run you $100 with tax and shipping ($110 for the 256MB version).

We did disable the onboard video... we are at a loss lol And I don't recall what specific model of motherboard it is so I can't download that manual.

Sadly for me, I can't afford anything over $100 at this time. At least not until I get a job lol.

[Cichlisuite]

I would SERIOUSlY consider getting a new system, or atleast a new mobo and video card

[deathsvengeance]

Originally Posted by Cichlisuite

I would SERIOUSlY consider getting a new system, or atleast a new mobo and video card

Know where I could get a new system for $100 that wouldn't suck?

[durrem]

Originally Posted by deathsvengeance

We did disable the onboard video... we are at a loss lol And I don't recall what specific model of motherboard it is so I can't download that manual.

Sadly for me, I can't afford anything over $100 at this time. At least not until I get a job lol.

It's usually printed on the motherboard itself. In this case it's by the CPU socket, but it might also be around the PCI slots or anywhere.

Spoiler:

(oh, and the vid card is $96.33 with tax shipped (if they tax the 1.99 shipping))

[Cruzz]

Originally Posted by deathsvengeance

Know where I could get a new system for $100 that wouldn't suck?

I think under 100$ is a bit unrealistic, so here's my not-too-much-over-$100 suggestion.

These prices are from Newegg:

ASRock K7VT6 motherboard - 43.00$ (other decent choices: ASRock K7V88 RAID (46$) and Soltec STK600(46$))
SAPPHIRE ATI RADEON 9000PRO 64MB - 51$ (Or a FX5200/R9200, though I'm not a particular fan of 64-bit memory)
V-DATA 184 Pin 256M DDR PC-2700 - 38$ (cheapest they have, not really sure about the manufacturer)
Total: 132$

Trying to run FFXI with less than 256MB of RAM is just asking for trouble.