My son got a game and it won't work because my GPU

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OfficeLinebacker

Senior member
Mar 2, 2005
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I have several systems that are mostly 5 year old technology or so, that work fine for folding and internet and light office use. The fastest proc I have is probably an AMD T-bird Core that I can OC to about 1.65GHz.

Anyway this game recommends 2.4G or better and stuff, but should be playable on this 1.4GHz P4 Willammette S423. I tried it with some old ATI Rage 3D card and it didnt' work. Then I dug out what I believe to be the best graphics card I have, which is out of some old Gateway job that died on my Aunt (I think MoBo died and she just gave me the whole thing).

The card I have now, according to Everest, is:

Video Adapter Properties:
Device Description NVIDIA GeForce2 MX 100/200 (Microsoft Corporation)
Adapter String GeForce2 MX 100/200
BIOS String Version 3.11.01.30.65
Chip Type GeForce2 MX 100/200
DAC Type Integrated RAMDAC
Installed Drivers nv4_disp (6.14.10.5673 - nVIDIA Detonator 56.73)
Memory Size 32 MB


I assume I would be well advised to buy a whole new Mobo/CPU/GPU combo, which is fine, but what do I look for? OR is it possible that there are new drivers/BIOS available for this GPU that would allow me to play? It'd be a shame to spend $200+ to be able to play a $35-50 Xmas present.

Thanks,

L
 
T

theMan

Diamond Member
Mar 17, 2005
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nope. if you want to play those games, you need a new card. is it AGP? maybe you can just stick a new card in there without a new mobo. or is it PCI?
 
N

nts

Senior member
Nov 10, 2005
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There are no new drivers for the pixel shading functionality, although vertex shaders could be emulated on the CPU (I believe NVIDIA already does this with GF2/4MX).

If its just to play this game you could just get a cheap AGP card.

I suggest, ATi 9xxx generation and above (Xxxx gen, X1xxx gen) or NVIDIA 6xxx generation.

 
W

Wingznut

Elite Member
Dec 28, 1999
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Originally posted by: OfficeLinebacker
It'd be a shame to spend $200+ to be able to play a $35-50 Xmas present.
Click to expand...
Yeah, it would be... Especially depending on the game. (What game is it, anyway?)

 
DAPUNISHER

DAPUNISHER

Super Moderator CPU Forum Mod and Elite Member
Super Moderator
Aug 22, 2001
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31,557
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Yes, if it is AGP you should eb able to find used cards like the Geforce4 TI4200 and 9600pro in the $35-50 range. That will be plenty to just make games run
 
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OfficeLinebacker

Senior member
Mar 2, 2005
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Thanks for all the help guys.

I do not know for sure how much the game cost, it was just a guess.

It is LEGO Star Wars Revenge of the Brick.

Minimum: PIII 1 GHz
256MB Memory
Graphics: 100% DirectX9
Compatibe 32MB Direct3D Card
w/ Vertex and Pixel Shader V1.1 Support
Sound: 100% DirectX9 Compatible

Recommended:
P4 2.4 Ghz or higher

rest same as mimimum

Looks like he also got Yu-Gi-Oh! Online but it's copyright 1996 and lists no reqs on the front so I am thinking HW will not be an issue with that one.

Note that I wouldn't MIND buying $200 worth of parts, but I already have like 10 machines mostly folding and doing miscellaneous tasks here So it would be nice to use what I have. OTOH who knows what other games he may get in the future. He does have an XBOX and plenty of games on that, so I am hoping he doesn't get hardcore into PC gaming (he is 7).

You guys have been really helpful and that's why I like anandtech!
 
O

OfficeLinebacker

Senior member
Mar 2, 2005
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BTW Yes I have an AGP slot. It's an ASUS P4T-M Mobo (Socket 423 with 512MB RDRAM). I switched GPUS back and here is the one that I have been using (and it's been working perfectly):

[ ATI Technologies Inc. 3D RAGE II PCI ]

Video Adapter Properties:
Device Description ATI Technologies Inc. 3D RAGE II PCI
Adapter String 1002-4754-41-1002-4754
BIOS String 113-37905-100
Chip Type ATI 3D RAGE II (GT-B1S2)
DAC Type ATI Internal DAC
Installed Drivers atiraged (5.1.2493.0 (Lab01_N(ericks).010612-1818))
Memory Size 2 MB


On another note, when I had the thing apart I decided to upgrade the fan on the stick aluminum heat sink and blow off all the dust. Well when I restarted Everest was listing CPU temps in the high 90s. Didn't crash though. I guess the fan wasn't an upgrade at all! I took the heatsink off and noticed that it had this piece of foil right where it contacted the CPU heatspreader, and it was all gooey. I removed it completely (why add another layer between the CPU and the heatsink?) and cleaned heat sink base and heat spreader with acetone. AS5+ strongest fan I have and now I am running at 35C while folding with SSE2 boost on. w00t!
 
K

KBTuning

Senior member
Mar 22, 2005
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get atleast a GeForce4 Ti 4200 good and cheap card that is WAY more than you need.
 
W

Wingznut

Elite Member
Dec 28, 1999
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Originally posted by: KBTuning
get atleast a GeForce4 Ti 4200 good and cheap card that is WAY more than you need.
Click to expand...
Yeah, you should be able to find a used one for under $50.

 
O

OfficeLinebacker

Senior member
Mar 2, 2005
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Thanks, guys. Time to go to bed but I will be scanning the for sale forum tomorrow. Maybe I can pick up some more RDRAM while I am at it.

 
N

natto fire

Diamond Member
Jan 4, 2000
7,117
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Originally posted by: KBTuning
get atleast a GeForce4 Ti 4200 good and cheap card that is WAY more than you need.
Click to expand...

He said he needed a DirectX9 card. GF4Ti is DX8.
I think you will need an R300 Radeon or above or NV30, but those are not reccomended unless you can find a great deal on one. (They are severe underperformers)
 
F

Fadey

Senior member
Oct 8, 2005
410
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Ti4200 has vertex and pixel shader 1.1 , its 2.0 it doesnt have so the damn thing cant run bf2 =(
 
N

nts

Senior member
Nov 10, 2005
279
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Originally posted by: Rollo
Originally posted by: TOAOCyrus
This is a good dx 9 card. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814131227 Should run that game fine.

EDIT The 128 MB version will be a bit cheaper if you can find it.
Click to expand...

That's good advice. 9600Pro for the low end DX9 win.
Click to expand...

Agreed, I used to have the 9600XT. Should handle that game and some future games fine (low end but it'll run them).

You wont need 256MB on that card, see if you can get the 128MB version.

*puzzled* Rollo recommends ATi...
 
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imhungry

Golden Member
Jul 30, 2005
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If you want a really cheap solution, just get a fx5200, fx5500 etc. But the 9600pro will be better for a little more.
 
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imported_Kiwi

Golden Member
Jul 17, 2004
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Originally posted by: KBTuning
get atleast a GeForce4 Ti 4200 good and cheap card that is WAY more than you need.
Click to expand...
The least expensive Dx9 card with moderate 3D speed is the Radeon 9600 Pro, or the X600 (same GPU, I think). Only the top two or three of the nVidia's 5 series were mostly Dx9 capable, and the 128 Bit AGP GF 6200's disappeared after the cheap 64 Bit 6200's showed up.


:(

 
O

OfficeLinebacker

Senior member
Mar 2, 2005
799
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You guys are so helpful. I'm glad there's such a diverse base of knowledge on AT. Is there a 64-bit version of the card absolut3 posted?

:L
 
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imported_Kiwi

Golden Member
Jul 17, 2004
1,375
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Originally posted by: OfficeLinebacker
You guys are so helpful. I'm glad there's such a diverse base of knowledge on AT. Is there a 64-bit version of the card absolut3 posted?

:L
Click to expand...
If you can get the 128 Bit bandwidth without a premium extra cost, you should do so. Same for 128 MB's of RAM, but no more than 128 MB's for a 128-Bit card. The 9550 is a GREATLY less- capable card than the 9600 Pro that several of us suggested, and (IMO) doesn't have a particularly cheaper price commensurate with the reduced capability.

Look at this: http://www.gpureview.com/show_cards.php?card1=80&card2=75


;)
 
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