Need help with video card...upgrade to FX series or not?

[ppaik]

I am playing ffxi and every now and then my computer just crashes. I did a clean format and tried playing again and the same thing happens. A friend of mine told me that he had the same problem running a ti4200, which I have. It is 128mb and 4x agp.

Is it worth upgrading to a lets say fx5200 ultra, fx5600, or even a ti4600 or so? I don't have the money to upgrade to a 9700 or 9800 radeon nor do i have enough for a fx5900 card.

any recommendations, help, suggestions...etc.


Thanks in advance.

Phil


Also, if you are interested in selling me a video card, please pm me. I do have a FS/FT/WTB thread in the for sale forum.

 

[Corporate Thug]

how much do u have to spend?

the 5200 will be a huge downgrade from a 4200
the 5600 will also be a downgrade (5600 ultra will be a slight upgrade)
going from a 4200 to a 4600 is not a worthwhile upgrade

 

[TheAudit]

I wouldn't change out your video for any of the cards on your list.

 

[Megatomic]

Maybe your GPU is overheating? Have you tried to reapply some good thermal compound between your GPU and the GPU cooler? I'd try that before abandoning the card altogether.

And I agree with the others, don't upgrade to either of those cards. They are both slower than your current card in most cases (non DX9).

 

[ppaik]

ok thanks for the help guys...will try to add some compound to the gpu...

 

[SneakyStuff]

Yea, the card you have now is your best bet, there is prolly a heat or power problem in your system, because that video card is just fine.

 

[Special1Sauce]

5600's aren't that bad of a card. What I'd do is downclock if your overclocking, and then attempt to add some heatsinks to your videocard's ram.

 

[stardust]

why hasn't anyone mentioned the 9600pro?

Just how much do you have to spend? a 5700U or 5900 are around $170 and $200 respectively. I think even a light version of the 5900 is better than the 5700.

Other than that, the ti4200 is fine and I don't think your FFXI is related the the kind of vid card you have. Do you have the latest drivers?

 

[ppaik]

I do have the latest drivers and it work perfectly fine for my warcraft game. I just don't know what to do.

I have only $148.09 to spend on a video card, powersupply, and hsf for my cpu. I was also thinking about getting some cooling for my video card. I just don't know what the problem is.


Someone offered me a ATI 8500 in my fs/ft thread...how does this card compare with my ti4200. Also, would you guys recommend a ti4600? I found a couple selling for $100...


thanks

 

[lordtyranus2]

Unless you have ~$200, theres nothing really thats a worthwhile upgrade from a 4200.

 

[rbV5]

Unless there is a known issue with the ti4200 and ffxi, I doubt a different card will fix the problem. Sounds like troubleshoot time to me.

 

[InterWebGuy]

I am playing ffxi and every now and then my computer just crashes. I did a clean format and tried playing again and the same thing happens. A friend of mine told me that he had the same problem running a ti4200, which I have. It is 128mb and 4x agp.

I think that I'm running into the same problem you are with a gf3 ti200- any of the new detonators screw up my system and result in alot of crashes (to desktop or otherwise). Though I've got no idea how to fix this problem, reverting to the original manufacturers drivers fixes things for me. Unfortunately, this results in a significant performance hit, along with incompatibility with some of the newer games, so if anyone has a fix, I'd greatly appreciate the help.

 

[ppaik]

well i did install the driver disk from evga first, and after it crashed a couple of times, I went to Nvidia's site for the detonator drivers...i dunno whats wrong


my next thing is to buy another video card, I may have cooling issues with this one....i dunno...im lost


Is a Radeon 9200 any good? I can get one for $50. Or a 8500 for $90. I normally dont like ATI, but it looks like that may be the card of choice now...

 

[CaiNaM]

imo unless you have the $ to spend on a 5900 or better, or 9800 or better, you're better off figuring out what's wrong and saving up you money for a better upgrade.

ati 8500 and 9200; nv 5600 or lower would actually be a downgrade, and ti 4600 or 5700u wouldnt be enough of an upgrade to justify the cost really. the 9600xt might be an exception, but heck at that price you might as well get a 5900nu.