Computer & EQ2

[Thorpe]

Originally Posted by Twobit Whore

I'd say look at a 1900 series if you are set on ATI, they arent much more and are exponentially more powerful. A 1300 isn't much more powerful than even an older 800, or 6800 from Nvidia. The 7800/7900s and 1800/1900s are dropping in price due to the DX10 cards coming out.

Newegg.com - ATI Radeon X1950PRO 100-437807 HDCP Video Card - Retail

How about that? I think I'll wait so they can drop a little more once DX10 cards come out.

[Twobit Whore]

That's about the best card of this generation you can get. Well, other than a 7950GTX2, which is basically SLI on one card.

I don't think you will be disappointed with it. I am contemplating the AGP version myself.

[Vorph]

You can get a 7950GT with 512MB of video RAM on it for as low as $225AR (but I'd spend a few bucks more and get eVGA brand instead). It's about the same as a X1950Pro in most games, and 512MB does matter in EQ2. If you're going to wait for DX10 cards to drive prices down, just wait for the 8600GT or 8800GT to be released and get one of those instead.


Or if you just want to buy the lowest priced card that will get you decent (say, High Quality w/a few custom tweaks into Very High @ 1280x1024) IQ and performance in EQ2 -- Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE Radeon X1900GT 100189L VIVO HDCP Video Card - Retail

Edit: This X1950Pro is a better deal than the one you linked. It's available in a lower-clocked model that doesn't take up 2 slots for $250 w/no rebate too, but imo the best part about HIS brand cards is the excellent heatsink/fan they use on the big cards. $10 extra for an IceQ is well worth it. As far as ATI vs. Nvidia goes, the only real difference is that ATI is better at doing both AA and HDR at the same time. I'm not sure if that affects EQ2 though.

[Thorpe]

I am looking at a few sites were I can get cheap video cards through my friend's company but don't see any of the ones discussed above listed. I was wondering what specific features I should look for in a video card that would help me decide how effective it will be?

[Vorph]

Tom's Hardware has a decent page for comparing almost every card out there in actual game benchmarks. Tom's Hardware Guide Processors: VGA Charts

Just remember that Tom's isn't known for being unbiased, so take anything you read there with a 20lb. block of salt. (In other words, try to find another review of the same card at HardOCP or Anandtech, or just post here before you buy).

What you mainly want to avoid is buying a SM2.0 card (ATI prior to the X1x00 series) or getting a card with 512MB of memory that can't even begin to push textures that large at a playable framerate in EQ2.

[Thorpe]

Originally Posted by Vorph

Tom's Hardware has a decent page for comparing almost every card out there in actual game benchmarks. Tom's Hardware Guide Processors: VGA Charts

Just remember that Tom's isn't known for being unbiased, so take anything you read there with a 20lb. block of salt. (In other words, try to find another review of the same card at HardOCP or Anandtech, or just post here before you buy).

What you mainly want to avoid is buying a SM2.0 card (ATI prior to the X1x00 series) or getting a card with 512MB of memory that can't even begin to push textures that large at a playable framerate in EQ2.

These are the two I am looking at. I can't afford a DiVx10 card, so I really am just looking for something to replace my stock card for the time being;

Albatron GeForce 7600GS 256MB AGP Video Card w/TV-Out DVI Albatron AGP7600GS AGP7600GS

nVidia GeForce 7600GS 256MB PCI Express VCD w/DVI/TV-Out PC Partner GEFORCE 6700GS

ATI RADEON X1300 Pro 256MB PCIe Video Card ATI TECHNOLOGIES DISTRIB. 100437601

Also, what is the difference between AGP 256MB Video Cards and 256MB PCI Express (PCIe)?

[Vorph]

AGP is the older slot for graphics cards. You have an X2, so there's no way you have a AGP motherboard.

X1300Pro is a terrible card for EQ2, or any other games more graphics-intensive than, say, Bejeweled. 7600GS is a bit better, but for $99AR you could get a 7600GT instead at newegg, which is a vastly better card than either of those. Newegg.com - eVGA GeForce 7600GT 256-P2-N550 -T2 Video Card - Retail

Edit: or this one that's more money upfront but $10 cheaper after the rebate, and is also factory overclocked. eVGA's warranty and upgrade policies are better than BFG's at the moment, however. Newegg.com - BFG Tech GeForce 7600GT BFGR76256GTOCE Video Card - Retail

[Thorpe]

Originally Posted by Vorph

AGP is the older slot for graphics cards. You have an X2, so there's no way you have a AGP motherboard.

X1300Pro is a terrible card for EQ2, or any other games more graphics-intensive than, say, Bejeweled. 7600GS is a bit better, but for $99AR you could get a 7600GT instead at newegg, which is a vastly better card than either of those. Newegg.com - eVGA GeForce 7600GT 256-P2-N550 -T2 Video Card - Retail

Edit: or this one that's more money upfront but $10 cheaper after the rebate, and is also factory overclocked. eVGA's warranty and upgrade policies are better than BFG's at the moment, however. Newegg.com - BFG Tech GeForce 7600GT BFGR76256GTOCE Video Card - Retail

So of those two Vorph, which would you take?

[Vorph]

BFG, unless you think you might want to use the step-up thing from eVGA to upgrade again in the next 90 days. Other than that the two cards are basically identical except for price/rebate and a small overclock on the BFG card. The warranty thing I mentioned really only applies if you're doing stuff like replacing the fan or other modifications, which isn't something worth doing on a 7600GT anyway.

[Thorpe]

Originally Posted by Vorph

BFG, unless you think you might want to use the step-up thing from eVGA to upgrade again in the next 90 days. Other than that the two cards are basically identical except for price/rebate and a small overclock on the BFG card. The warranty thing I mentioned really only applies if you're doing stuff like replacing the fan or other modifications, which isn't something worth doing on a 7600GT anyway.

Any idea if Newegg.com an "authorized reseller, retailer, e-tailer, or distributor of EVGA products"? I read through the terms and conditions on their site and I couldn't figure something out. If I purchase from Newegg, I assume the credit value will be what I paid for it. Can I get my upgraded card from Newegg when I take advantage of the program or do I have to get it from eVGA? If that's the case, I assume I would have to discount the eVGA price by the amount I paid for the original card from Newegg?

[Vorph]

Yea, newegg is most likely eVGA's #1 reseller so you're fine there. When you get the step-up card you have to buy it direct from eVGA. From what I read it does sound like they credit you what you paid for the trade-in card, but I have never used the program myself so I'm not 100% on that.

[kedwyn]

Trade in?

[Vorph]

EVGA | Step-Up Program

[Thorpe]

As you could tell Vorph, I'm an idiot when it comes to this shit. How can I tell if the card will support dual-monitors?

EDIT: I went with the BFG.

[Vorph]

They pretty much all support dual monitors now, it's just a matter of enabling it in the drivers. It has two DVI ports, but should have DVI-to-VGA adapters in the box if you need them.