Best Graphics Card for Everquest (Need Help)

[Sitruk]

Well first off, thanks for even coming looking at this thread. I am going to be building a computer for my father, and the only goal of the system is to play Everquest. He is currently running an Intel based system with a P4 1.5ghz on an Intel mobo (Not sure which one) with 1024mb of Rambus 800mhz. He also has a Built by ATI 8500 128mb. I am looking to move to an Asus A7N8X Deluxe with a Athlon XP Barton 2500+ using 1024mb DDR 2700. The only thing he uses his computer for is a little web surfing and a whole lot of that addictive game Everquest. My main question is, what graphics card should I get. He doesn't need anything super fast, as he won't be playing any FPS games at all. He needs a card that will have THE best overall image quality. I do not want to get the top of the line graphics card, so no 5900's or 9800. Budget will be roughly $100-$200. He doesn't like overclocking or any of that good stuff, no 9500 with flashed bios etc. I just need a good all around stock video card that can run Everquest with extremely good visuals. I recently gave him my 21" Viewsonic P815, so he can run 1600x1200 at 85hz, If I remember correctly. My main question is, what cards will give the best visual appearance and stay between $100-$200. If a 8500 is all he needs, and anything else would be overkill, then that's fine. I don't want speed, just something that looks excellent and will maintain a decent pace for Everquest. He did mention that when he saw the game on another one of our systems, that he thought it looked better on Nvidia cards. He is an ATI fan, so that came as a suprise to me. I'm pretty sure I've came to the right place, so by all means let the ideas flow. All opinions and discussions on this topic are welcome, any help is appreciated.


Thanks for reading that rather long post, I hope someone out there can help me out.

Right now I've been looking at a 9600 Pro for $155, so I guess we can start there

 

[Schadenfroh]

extend your budjet to 210ish and get a 9700 non pro

 

[Sitruk]

Hey Schadenfroh, thanks for the reply! Could you please give me a little information on why you think that is the best route? I would kinda like to hear some feedback on this as well. I don't want to be like "Yeah dad I got you a blah blah blah with a blah blah blah" (Dad) "Oh really why'd you get that one?" "Some guy on Anandtech.com forums told me to." No, really in all seriousness, I would like to be able to do a little research on my own as well. I already have to a point, but I want to know what I should be looking for, and what I should be looking at to compare. Thanks again for your reply, and I look forward to hearing your opinion on why I should get that card!

 

[GtPrOjEcTX]

read some articles and compare scores.

 

[Schadenfroh]

a 9700 non pro is basically a slightly underclocked 9700 pro. easily o/c to beyond pro levels.

Right now I've been looking at a 9600 Pro for $155, so I guess we can start there

the 9600 has 4 pipelines and a 128bit memory buss
the 9700 has 8 pipelines and a 256bit memory buss, doubling your memory bandwidth and games will also benifit by the double pipe lines.

here are some benchmarks

notice the differance, expecially when FSAA and AA get enabled

sry, i could not find any benchies from everquest, but look thru the differant games in the article i linked, should give you an idea. i hope this helps

 

[Sitruk]

Thanks for the replies you two. I could look at Benchmarks and Scores all day long, and it really won't help me determine image quality. I have done some searching on Everquest to try and find some articles, though I came up short with any useful information. Framerates won't really matter a lot when it comes to Everquest, the 8500 isn't having any issues with latency, and it's not all that powerful of a card. What I really am looking for, is what will produce the most crisp images and visual effects. If the faster cards also produce better images, then by all means the benchmarks say a lot. I know AA/AF will help reduce the jagged edges, but I assume even 20-30 fp ? On everquest would suffice. I myself don't play the game, so I really don't know what a good card for it would be. The raw power of a 9700 non pro is without question better than a 9600, but

A.) Does it produce better image quality?

B.) Would it be overkill for a game like Everquest seeing as power and frames aren't as much of an issue as in FSP.

These, I guess are my main two questions. I need a card with great visuals, and enough raw power for a game like Everquest. You guys are helping, but I guess I'm looking for some hard to answer questions. Thank you both for your reponses.

 

[KillaBong]

I doubt there is any difference in image quality at all. The main reason they are recommending the 9700np is just because it's much more raw power for that money and you won't have to upgrade for longer. I understand that you only want it for everquest, but it'll last you through numerous other computers if you need it to. It's just more futureproof because of the power. So if you really won't ever need more power than for everquest, I would save a few bucks and get the 9600. The aa and af will indeed increase the image quality though, so I would personally get the 9700np and overclock it to pro levels if you ever need extra power.

 

[modedepe]

I agree with killabong, the AA and AF will help out your image quality and since you'll get the better performance with it on with a 9700np I'd recommend you get that. Don't bother overclocking it though unless you actually need more performance, which I doubt you will.

 

[clevere1]

If you father is going to be playing everquest, where the frame lag get's TERRIBLE, I highly recommend getting the fastest graphics card that you can. I would recommend atleast a 5600, or 9700 pro. Otherwise, it's a good waste of the system. Everquest will eat most video cards alive.

 

[unclebud]

everquest? which one? the voodoo was handling them fine here... dude was sleeping in the walk-in closet

 

[big4x4]

If you want good image quality, get a ti4600 (A fast card without aa/af) and use Omega 43.45 quality drivers! They look beautiful, and have far better iq than anything I have seen!!!!!! I think you can pick up a 4600 for around 150 or something

 

[Jwyatt]

If you father is going to be playing everquest, where the frame lag get's TERRIBLE, I highly recommend getting the fastest graphics card that you can. I would recommend atleast a 5600, or 9700 pro. Otherwise, it's a good waste of the system. Everquest will eat most video cards alive.

I agree. I play everquest alot. In large encoutners with 20+ pc's and 5-10NPCs running around casting spells with all the fluffy pretty stuff on EQ will eat the best of video cards alive. Now if you father plays with pickup groups with 6 players doing single pulls then it might be overkill. I used to use the 8500 and it ran really well for a while, but when i started turning on the fluff it would get bogged down pretty quickly during guild raids.

Right now im using a geforce2 pro(had to replace my 8500) It does fine with everything turned off.

it all depends on play style and where/what he's doing.

GL

 

[Hexametaphosphate]

as an EQ player, I also have to say that the game can eat a vid card alive..... this game is working with an old graphics engine, may have nearly a hundred characters on the same screen (actually, more in the Bazaar), has a ton of sparkly spell effects and stuff, and also has pretty detailed graphics with the new character models and new zones. I have a ti4200 and I do fine except in the bazaar (don't do too many big raids just yet). In the bazaar I have to look at the floor (so all the character models cannot be seen) to turn without massive lag.

my friend has a ti4600 and he runs the old character models (less detailed) and turns off all optional effects on big raids..... so get the most powerful card you can and then still prepare to have him experience lag in some situations... my friend also says that EQ works better with NVidia cards, but I do not know how the newer ATI cards run. They might do just as well (or better).... you might look up some everquest dedicated sites and see if they have message boards... and if anything is said.

good luck, and hope you find a good card.... going to buy my roomie a card (pretty much just for EQ) in the next day or two, so kinda interested in this thread too

-Hex..