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Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia (More info?)

I made the mistake of telling my husband that I want to upgrade the
video card on my own (I'm a programmer, but the insides of computers
are nothing but foreign to me).

If someone could give me general advice and suggestions, I'd appriciate
it!
I want a video card under $150. My PC (an HP) can take AGP or PCI
cards. The HP website says to go with the AGP if possible. Does an
AGP card really give better results?

Looking at Radeon 9550 comments in this newsgroup, it looks like they
aren't highly regarded and the 9600 is usually recommended insted. If
I can get the 9550 with 256MB, but the 9600 comes with 128MB, how is
that superior? is the real differance in the clocking?

And finally, why would I want an ATI chipset over and NVidia (or would
I?) I did read on cnet that the NVidia is a pain to install the
drivers.

And is it really important to gt a neon fan light with the card?

So many thanks to anyone who answers any or all of my questions! (it's
amazing what my love for Sims2 will force me to do.)
 
Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia (More info?)

Sophietje wrote:
....
> And is it really important to gt a neon fan light with the card?
....

ROFL
 
Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia (More info?)

"Sophietje" <eschaafin@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1104893641.619297.60330@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
>I made the mistake of telling my husband that I want to upgrade the
> video card on my own (I'm a programmer, but the insides of computers
> are nothing but foreign to me).
>
> If someone could give me general advice and suggestions, I'd appriciate
> it!
> I want a video card under $150. My PC (an HP) can take AGP or PCI
> cards. The HP website says to go with the AGP if possible. Does an
> AGP card really give better results?
>

AGP

> Looking at Radeon 9550 comments in this newsgroup, it looks like they
> aren't highly regarded and the 9600 is usually recommended insted. If
> I can get the 9550 with 256MB, but the 9600 comes with 128MB, how is
> that superior? is the real differance in the clocking?
>

9600 is faster.

> And finally, why would I want an ATI chipset over and NVidia (or would
> I?) I did read on cnet that the NVidia is a pain to install the
> drivers.
>

Both ATI & Nvidia are the same when it comes to installation.

> And is it really important to gt a neon fan light with the card?

No & really not recommended if you are not doing a case mod. No one will
see it in your HP right?

> So many thanks to anyone who answers any or all of my questions! (it's
> amazing what my love for Sims2 will force me to do.)

What is your current video?

The ATI 9600 seems to be the best bet right now for a value upgrade card, in
my oh so humble opinion.
 
Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia (More info?)

Sophietje:
> I want a video card under $150. My PC (an HP) can take AGP or PCI
> cards. The HP website says to go with the AGP if possible. Does an
> AGP card really give better results?

Sims 2 doesn't require much in the way of video cards. $150 is way
overkill if Sims 2 is the only game you play. Here are the recommended
cards:

Supported video cards (and the more video memory the better):

* ATI RadeonTM series (7000 or better)
o Radeon 7000/VE series (non-T&L; requires 2.0 GHz processor)
o 7200, 7500
o 8500, All-In-Wonder 8500
o 9000, 9200, 9500, 9600, 9700, 9800
o X300, X600, X800

* Nvidia® QuadroTM series
o Quadro, Quadro2, Quadro4

* Nvidia® Geforce series (GeForce2 and better)
o GeForce2
o GeForce3, 3 Ti
o GeForce4, 4Ti, MX 420, 440
o GeForce FX 5200, 5600, 5700, 5800, 5900, 5950
o GeForce 6600, 6800

* Intel® Extreme Graphics (non-T&L; requires 2.0 GHz processor)
o 82845, 82865, 82915

Here are a couple of suggestions for Sims 2:

Nvidia
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-128-189
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-122-177
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=14-150-031

ATI
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-102-320
--
Mac Cool
 
Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia (More info?)

Bruin wrote:
> > And is it really important to gt a neon fan light with the card?
>
> No & really not recommended if you are not doing a case mod. No one
will
> see it in your HP right?

Yeah, no. I think I might skip that one then.


> What is your current video?
>
> The ATI 9600 seems to be the best bet right now for a value upgrade
card, in
> my oh so humble opinion.

Right now, I have the NVidia TNT2 RIVA something. It came in the
computer, so it's a couple of years old. It's a 32MB thing.

Someone farther up said that this card is overkill for Sims2. I also
play (and this will be even more embarrassing to admit) Lemony Snicket
and every SimCity game I can get my hands on. It's probably overkill
for these, too, but I'd rather get a card that will last through the
next 2 years of games I'm likely to get.

Thanks everyone for the advice and explanations. Now I won't look like
a complete dolt (just partial) when I go to buy it.
I think I'll go with the ATI 9600se AGP, which is on sale right now for
$99US. Whoo hoo!
 
Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia (More info?)

The 9600se is not a very good card. I recommend you get a 9600XT. Better
performance for the dollar and who knows, you may want to play Sims 3 or 4
down the road and the 9600se may not cut it.
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-164-008&depa=1

DaveL


"Sophietje" <eschaafin@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1104936214.763265.313740@c13g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
>
> Bruin wrote:
> > > And is it really important to gt a neon fan light with the card?
> >
> > No & really not recommended if you are not doing a case mod. No one
> will
> > see it in your HP right?
>
> Yeah, no. I think I might skip that one then.
>
>
> > What is your current video?
> >
> > The ATI 9600 seems to be the best bet right now for a value upgrade
> card, in
> > my oh so humble opinion.
>
> Right now, I have the NVidia TNT2 RIVA something. It came in the
> computer, so it's a couple of years old. It's a 32MB thing.
>
> Someone farther up said that this card is overkill for Sims2. I also
> play (and this will be even more embarrassing to admit) Lemony Snicket
> and every SimCity game I can get my hands on. It's probably overkill
> for these, too, but I'd rather get a card that will last through the
> next 2 years of games I'm likely to get.
>
> Thanks everyone for the advice and explanations. Now I won't look like
> a complete dolt (just partial) when I go to buy it.
> I think I'll go with the ATI 9600se AGP, which is on sale right now for
> $99US. Whoo hoo!
>
 
Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia (More info?)

Thanks for letting me know what SE stands for.
:)

I think I'll order the Rosewill 9600xt from newegg (it's so cheap!).
I'm also getting some new ram (i'm at 256 and will take it to at least
512- I can fit 2 512s in there.)
messing around with the inside of the computer is fun! Next is the
motherboard, but that'll have to wait....
Many thanks to everyone who advised and answered questions.
 
Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia (More info?)

Agreed - the SE in ATI cards stands for "Shitty Edition".. 😀 It's
basically a butchered 9600. The XT can't be much more - I've seen it for
$200CDN.. so it's probably $130-140US or something. MUCH better performance
than the SE, for only a little more money.

"DaveL" <dave1027@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:HfCdne6WkKRojEHcRVn-jg@comcast.com...
> The 9600se is not a very good card. I recommend you get a 9600XT. Better
> performance for the dollar and who knows, you may want to play Sims 3 or 4
> down the road and the 9600se may not cut it.
> http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-164-008&depa=1
>
> DaveL
>
>
> "Sophietje" <eschaafin@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:1104936214.763265.313740@c13g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
>>
>> Bruin wrote:
>> > > And is it really important to gt a neon fan light with the card?
>> >
>> > No & really not recommended if you are not doing a case mod. No one
>> will
>> > see it in your HP right?
>>
>> Yeah, no. I think I might skip that one then.
>>
>>
>> > What is your current video?
>> >
>> > The ATI 9600 seems to be the best bet right now for a value upgrade
>> card, in
>> > my oh so humble opinion.
>>
>> Right now, I have the NVidia TNT2 RIVA something. It came in the
>> computer, so it's a couple of years old. It's a 32MB thing.
>>
>> Someone farther up said that this card is overkill for Sims2. I also
>> play (and this will be even more embarrassing to admit) Lemony Snicket
>> and every SimCity game I can get my hands on. It's probably overkill
>> for these, too, but I'd rather get a card that will last through the
>> next 2 years of games I'm likely to get.
>>
>> Thanks everyone for the advice and explanations. Now I won't look like
>> a complete dolt (just partial) when I go to buy it.
>> I think I'll go with the ATI 9600se AGP, which is on sale right now for
>> $99US. Whoo hoo!
>>
>
 
Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia (More info?)

cowboyz wrote:
> "Sophietje" <eschaafin@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:1104893641.619297.60330@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...

>> And is it really important to gt a neon fan light with the card?
>
> Essential.

On the off chance that the OP is serious I think it only fair to mention
that cowboyz is just kidding about the light.

--
dvus
 
Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia (More info?)

Sophietje wrote:

> Thanks for letting me know what SE stands for.
> :)
>
> I think I'll order the Rosewill 9600xt from newegg (it's so cheap!).
> I'm also getting some new ram (i'm at 256 and will take it to at least
> 512- I can fit 2 512s in there.)
> messing around with the inside of the computer is fun! Next is the
> motherboard, but that'll have to wait....
> Many thanks to everyone who advised and answered questions.

Heh, give these folks in here enough of a budget and your hubby will rue the
day he agreed to your doing your own upgrading. Hell, he'll be begging you
to let him use your machine!

--
dvus
 
Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia (More info?)

"Sophietje" <eschaafin@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1104956165.147389.324960@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...
> Thanks for letting me know what SE stands for.
> :)
>
> I think I'll order the Rosewill 9600xt from newegg (it's so cheap!).
> I'm also getting some new ram (i'm at 256 and will take it to at least
> 512- I can fit 2 512s in there.)
> messing around with the inside of the computer is fun! Next is the
> motherboard, but that'll have to wait....
> Many thanks to everyone who advised and answered questions.
>

Highly doubtful you can change out that motherboard. I could be completely
wrong, but usually you can't put a standard ATX motherboard in a OEM box.
Think along the lines of a new case, motherboard, CPU & sorry to say...
RAM. Unless the RAM your getting is DDR3200 you will prolly need new stuff.
=/

Glad your getting a XT, I agree with the above posts, SE=bad.
 
Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia (More info?)

as a coder you may end up trying linux, if this is at all a possibility
then avoid ati cards at all costs the drivers are an instrument of pure
evil, my advice would be an older geforce 4600ti{1} or wait till geforce
6600's get affordable.


{1} probably need to hit ebay now but a awsome card and can still play
doom3
 
Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia (More info?)

I just wanted to post that I got the 6600 XT yesterday from Newegg
(that was fan-bleeping-tastic service!) and got it installed last
night. (I was amazed how simply it installed- I'd never done anything
inside a computer before, and so was slightly intimidated- and the
drivers were just a matter of hitting 'Yes' and 'Next'.)

I am extremely happy with the preformance. With all of the detail
settings on Sims2 up to their max, it was a little jerky, but I got rid
of a few of the settings that annoyed me anyways (like shadows) and it
was just fine. It did bomb out after about 4 hours of playing (it
froze in the middle of one of the movements), which I am inclinded to
think is the video card. I had the same thing previously, but usually
after 20 minutes of playing.
I was amazed at all of the little detail in the Sims I had been
missing! Like I can now see the pepperoni on the pizza (what had
previously just been a red circle!)
Anyhow, thank you everyone for the advice! I am a very happy woman
now!
(and yes, my husband is looking forward to playing some of his games,
too!)
 
Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia (More info?)

Sorry but now you will have to go over to the ATI group. But before you go,
does the computer hard lock? If so it's not the video card that's doing it.
Also, did you load the driver from CD?

DaveL


"Sophietje" <eschaafin@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1105462092.591197.206490@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> I just wanted to post that I got the 6600 XT yesterday from Newegg
> (that was fan-bleeping-tastic service!) and got it installed last
> night. (I was amazed how simply it installed- I'd never done anything
> inside a computer before, and so was slightly intimidated- and the
> drivers were just a matter of hitting 'Yes' and 'Next'.)
>
> I am extremely happy with the preformance. With all of the detail
> settings on Sims2 up to their max, it was a little jerky, but I got rid
> of a few of the settings that annoyed me anyways (like shadows) and it
> was just fine. It did bomb out after about 4 hours of playing (it
> froze in the middle of one of the movements), which I am inclinded to
> think is the video card. I had the same thing previously, but usually
> after 20 minutes of playing.
> I was amazed at all of the little detail in the Sims I had been
> missing! Like I can now see the pepperoni on the pizza (what had
> previously just been a red circle!)
> Anyhow, thank you everyone for the advice! I am a very happy woman
> now!
> (and yes, my husband is looking forward to playing some of his games,
> too!)
>
 
Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia (More info?)

yes, I loaded the driver from the CD that came with the card.

And yes, it hard locked (does that mean I couldn't even use
ctl-alt-del?). So that means that it's likely not the video card? (My
computer has an AMD Athalon 1.3ghz and 256 mb ram.)

It didn't occur to me to actually try to figure out what caused the
freezing.... but maybe I should, in which case I'll go to the ATI
newsgroup. :)

thanks
 
Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia (More info?)

"Sophietje" <eschaafin@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1105464410.175278.141430@c13g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> yes, I loaded the driver from the CD that came with the card.
>
> And yes, it hard locked (does that mean I couldn't even use
> ctl-alt-del?). So that means that it's likely not the video card? (My
> computer has an AMD Athalon 1.3ghz and 256 mb ram.)
>
> It didn't occur to me to actually try to figure out what caused the
> freezing.... but maybe I should, in which case I'll go to the ATI
> newsgroup. :)
>
> thanks
>

Might have been that CPU over-heating, or alot of other things causing that
lock-up. Heat does build up after hours of use. Also, games lock up.
It's the nature of the beast, 4 hours, one lock up is prolly nothing.
BTW, 6600GT is an Nvidia chipset, they will; razz ya at the ATI group. =)
 
Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia (More info?)

"Bruin" <bruinwarBLAH@BLAHexcite.com> wrote in message
news:V-udnT5-wPpY_nncRVn-pg@comcast.com...
>
> "Sophietje" <eschaafin@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:1105464410.175278.141430@c13g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
>> yes, I loaded the driver from the CD that came with the card.
>>
>> And yes, it hard locked (does that mean I couldn't even use
>> ctl-alt-del?). So that means that it's likely not the video card? (My
>> computer has an AMD Athalon 1.3ghz and 256 mb ram.)
>>
>> It didn't occur to me to actually try to figure out what caused the
>> freezing.... but maybe I should, in which case I'll go to the ATI
>> newsgroup. :)
>>
>> thanks
>>
>
> Might have been that CPU over-heating, or alot of other things causing
> that lock-up. Heat does build up after hours of use. Also, games lock
> up. It's the nature of the beast, 4 hours, one lock up is prolly nothing.
> BTW, 6600GT is an Nvidia chipset, they will; razz ya at the ATI group. =)
>

She meant to type 9600XT.

Sophie, the hard lock usually means it's not the graphics card. When a
graphics card has an error it will usually drop to 2D which will dump you to
the desktop. You could have an overheating cpu. Check that by blowing a
house fan into the case with the side panel off. Maybe you have bad memory.
Try a test program called Memtest. It's a free download.

DaveL
 
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