Old games on new video cards

[MajorCatastrophe]

Hello, I'm interested in hearing about people's experiences with older games on new video cards.

I'll be upgrading my old GF2 soon hopefully in time for Far Cry etc. but I really don't want to break backwards compatability with my old favourites like System Shock 2, Carmageddon 2 and Worms World Party (my favourite! - i know wwp is not 3D but it doesn't work on my brother's Radeon 9000, WinXP Pro SP1 fresh install, DX9.0b, Cat 4.2).

I'm leaning towards ATI right now, I can get a 9800 Pro 128MB for £160, if I can't wait until the next gen cards that is!

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Video cards are, in general, pretty much backwards-compatible barring any weird things like card-specific coding (Glide, ViRGE).

Far as your brother's WWP issues, what makes you think the Radeon's at fault? Given that I've run the same config with no issues, I think there's a PEBKAC error at work.

- M4H

 

[clicknext]

Old games definately have some compatibility problems with new systems, but it's usually not the video card's fault. I'd say that problems with the game are usually the OS's fault. If the game runs too fast, though, then it's either CPU or video card speed problem.

 

[MithShrike]

Yeah, you should be fine with a new video card.

 

[BFG10K]

If the games use DirectDraw, Direct3D or OpenGL they should work just fine.

 

[SneakyStuff]

I ran final doom, commander keen, heretic, the original wolfenstien, quake, ALLLL those classics on my system/card, no problems at all. The fps were AMAZING!

 

[MajorCatastrophe]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire


...Far as your brother's WWP issues, what makes you think the Radeon's at fault? Given that I've run the same config with no issues, I think there's a PEBKAC error at work.

- M4H

Just that the system is an A7V333 with latest BIOS and drivers for everything. The only card in there is the Radeon, so it seems like a pretty basic system. From everything I've read about different hardware and driver issues, the Radeon is the thing I'm most suspicious of (i know that's a pretty lame excuse really). Didn't have any trouble with DirectX 8.1 and Cat 3.4 though, the problems appeared with DirectX 9.0b and the latest Cats didn't make any difference, so I suppose the sound drivers could be to blame too.

Thanks everyone for the comments anyway, doesn't make it any easier for me to resist buying that 9800 pro now - dammit!

Btw - what is a "PEBKAC error?"

EDIT: forgot to mention, I think those games and others I'm interested in all need DirectX 6 or 7.

 

[Lonyo]

PEBCAK - problem exists between keyboard and chair (ie: user messing up)

Also: 5900XT here for £125 excl shipping (+~£5) if you're interested. Gainward are meant to be good too.

 

[BenSkywalker]

If the games use DirectDraw, Direct3D or OpenGL they should work just fine.

Depending on what OS you are using. Try getting NFS3 to work under a clean install of 2K or XP as an example. The issue is entirely EA's fault(for that particular title), but you are not assured that older games will work on newer OSs.

 

[thraxes]

Yup.. Duke3D runs like a champ with my 9600pro

 

[PCTweaker5]

Redneck Rampage aint worth sh*t on new systems it actually runs slower lol

 

[FelixDeCat]

Yeah I had to deal with this when going from from gf3 to gf5. This might help - Text

 

[BFG10K]

Depending on what OS you are using.

But he didn't say he was changing his OS, all he's changing is his card. Thus if the games worked before they will continue to work.

 

[kylebisme]

i can vouch for system shock 2 running on my 9700pro, i don't have the other two games so i can't say one way or another for them. in general though, all my old games work, some require goofy compatablity settings tweeks in windows xp but nothing that isn't resolvable.

 

[BenSkywalker]

But he didn't say he was changing his OS, all he's changing is his card. Thus if the games worked before they will continue to work.

But if he decided to upgrade his OS it could break his games(even if it uses a standard API). Also, in the game I mentioned above- NFS3, if you install it under Windows98 and then upgrade to Win2K(at least, didn't try it with XP) it will work just fine, but it will not install under Win2K or WinXP.

 

[Insomniak]

What API? As long as they have D3D or OGL support you should be fine. If it's a Glide-Only game, you're pretty much screwed but there were so few...