Graphics Card Purchase and Gaming Question

[Ashe20019]

Hey, I'm new here and was hoping to find some help. I'm a big PC Gamer but had a few questions. I am getting ready to purchase a new graphics card and have already found the one I want. Before I buy it however, I wanted to find out if it was necessary. 1. Any PC game I play (ex. Need For Speed Carbon:Collectors Edition) seems to only run decently if ALL the graphics are turned to their lowest point, including the resolution being 640*480. Why is this? My graphics card is an NVidia GeForce 7050 PV. I'm running 1.4G in Video Ram, Pixel Shader and Vertex Shader 3.0. A site called: Can You Run It? States that I should be able to run this game fine with my current system, but doesn't as mentioned in the latter. My CPU is an: AMD Antholon 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 5600+ 2.90GHz. Sorry for the lengthy message. My final question is, is it the graphics card that needs to be improved? or is it something else in my system?

P.s. Bioshock runs at maybe 20fps with all graphics/resolution turned down, while an emulated Super Smash Bros. Melee runs at between 50-60fps.

PLEASE HELP!!! Thank you!

 

[LiuKangBakinPie]

I hope this answer your question

 

[Ashe20019]

To be honest, I'm not sure what all of that means. I mean, I get the jest of what your saying, but it doesn't quite answer my question, not that I don't appreciate you replying. I'm trying to figure out whether or not it is the graphics card that needs to be improved to improve my overall game experience or if it's something else. I don't believe it would be my processor, but I'm still kind of new to this. Thank you again for replying!

 

[LiuKangBakinPie]

Go here

http://www.ea.com/games/nfs-carbon-collectors-edition

Now run their system checker

 

[toyota]

To be honest, I'm not sure what all of that means. I mean, I get the jest of what your saying, but it doesn't quite answer my question, not that I don't appreciate you replying. I'm trying to figure out whether or not it is the graphics card that needs to be improved to improve my overall game experience or if it's something else. I don't believe it would be my processor, but I'm still kind of new to this. Thank you again for replying!

he was showing you that your integrated graphics are only about 1/4 as fast as a midrange card from 6 years ago. in other words a 7050 is horrible for playing games.

 

[Ashe20019]

OH, I see. So, would either of you recommend that I go ahead and upgrade my graphics card then? I'm looking to purchase an: Radeon HD 5670 1024MB GDDR5 PCIe 2.0 x16 Video Card. Would this card substantially increase, at least to 60fps with decent quality graphics? I really appreciate your guy's patience with me. Like I said, I'm new to this and hope to do it right the first time around. Thanks for all your guys' help thus far!

 

[LiuKangBakinPie]

64MB DirectX 9.0c compatible video card (NVIDIA Geforce4 Ti+/ATI Radeon 8500+)

Thats the requirement. What windows are you using?
1.4gb ram will that be shared ram option available in your bios?

Now do the following

Update your drivers to the latest possible
Install netframework 4.0
Download nhancer
http://www.nhancer.com/?dat=downloads

Then tweak the crap out of its profile

 

[LiuKangBakinPie]

OH, I see. So, would either of you recommend that I go ahead and upgrade my graphics card then? I'm looking to purchase an: Radeon HD 5670 1024MB GDDR5 PCIe 2.0 x16 Video Card. Would this card substantially increase, at least to 60fps with decent quality graphics? I really appreciate your guy's patience with me. Like I said, I'm new to this and hope to do it right the first time around. Thanks for all your guys' help thus far!

Yes get a better card if you can.

 

[Ashe20019]

I am using Windows 7 64-bit. Running 3 (2.75 usable) GB of ram. I've built my system custom, but the only thing I didn't yet upgrade is the graphics card.

 

[toyota]

OH, I see. So, would either of you recommend that I go ahead and upgrade my graphics card then? I'm looking to purchase an: Radeon HD 5670 1024MB GDDR5 PCIe 2.0 x16 Video Card. Would this card substantially increase, at least to 60fps with decent quality graphics? I really appreciate your guy's patience with me. Like I said, I'm new to this and hope to do it right the first time around. Thanks for all your guys' help thus far!

what res do you want to play at? your cpu is pretty slow for many modern games but a 5670 would be a good card for your setup. in other words a really fast card like a 5870 would not be a really choice because your cpu would hold it back especially at a lower res.

also you need to see what psu that you have?

 

[Ashe20019]

I plan on buying the card today. I'm getting it from Microcenter. I wanted to know whether or not the graphics card I mentioned would be a good choice? (Budget for a new graphics card (110-130$) If either of you would like to volunteer to look at the cards Microcenter sells on their site and suggest one better, I'd much appreciate it. Thanks again in advance.

 

[LiuKangBakinPie]

640*480<------------------Is this your monitors resolution

 

[Ashe20019]

I built the system myself. It only has a 300w Power Supply, but I was planning on buying a new one. I have an Nvidia GeForce 7050PV/NVidia GeForce 630a Motherboard. Running with 3.00GB of ram. And the CPU mentioned in the latter. I would love the best quailty increase possible for the sum mentioned. P.S. I'm running Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit.

 

[Ashe20019]

My monitor Resolution is 1280*1024 native. At 75Hertz Refresh rate.

 

[toyota]

I built the system myself. It only has a 300w Power Supply, but I was planning on buying a new one. I have an Nvidia GeForce 7050PV/NVidia GeForce 630a Motherboard. Running with 3.00GB of ram. And the CPU mentioned in the latter. I would love the best quailty increase possible for the sum mentioned. P.S. I'm running Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit.

what are the exact psu details? it may be enough for your system with a 5670.

 

[Ashe20019]

I'd like to play at 1280*1024, but am comfortable with playing at 1024*768. i want to be able to play games at either of these resolutions with medium or high graphics quality settings. I will purchase a power Supply with the graphics card to support it.

 

[Ashe20019]

How would I find out the exact PSU? I am looking at the Power Supply that I have as we speak.

 

[toyota]

How would I find out the exact PSU? I am looking at the Power Supply that I have as we speak.

just look at the name of it and the exact specs that are listed on the label.

 

[happy medium]

is there a name on it?

 

[LiuKangBakinPie]

for that resolution i would go for the 4650 or 4670

 

[LiuKangBakinPie]

See that red circle gimme that amount

 

[Ashe20019]

It's a Coolmax Model:V-500
AC-Input/Voltage 115v- 230v- Current 11 A 5.5A Frequency 50/60Hz
DC Output +3.3V {30A} +5V {45A} +12V1 [18A] +12V2 [16 A]

Max. 275 W 380 W 12W 12.5W

 

[toyota]

for that resolution i would go for the 4650 or 4670

5670 is fine for 1280x1024. I had a 4670 and even over 2 years ago there were still plenty of games that were a bit too slow at settings I wanted to use. heck a 9600gt murdered the 4670 in Lost Planet 1 for example.

 

[Ashe20019]

I don't have a Combined Power On my label

 

[toyota]

It's a Coolmax Model:V-500
AC-Input/Voltage 115v- 230v- Current 11 A 5.5A Frequency 50/60Hz
DC Output +3.3V {30A} +5V {45A} +12V1 [18A] +12V2 [16 A]

Max. 275 W 380 W 12W 12.5W

you are fine to go with a 5670 with that psu. its name brand and has plenty of 12v amps for your system with a 5670.