Preparing for HL2, need help

[gyromind]

Okay I have a Dell Dimension 4550, and I want to prepare it for Half Life 2. I was all set to buy a new video card for it, probably a 9600XT, then I realized that my motherboard's AGP bus speed was 4x. Seeing as the 9600xt utilizes 8x, I was wondering how much of a bottleneck this is going to be for me. I don't really know that much about video cards. Right now I have a Geforce4 MX 420. Is the upgrade going to help at all? Will it help to an extent that would justify the cost of the new card? Or will I have to upgrade my motherboard too?

I'm Running:

Windows XP Pro SP1
Pentium 4 2.52G
512megs DDR RAM

I would like to at least be able to play this game a 1024x768 with moderately high video settings. Do I need to get more ram too? Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

 

[Matthias99]

8x AGP provides *zero* performance improvement over 4x, and all 8x cards are backwards-compatible to 4x (as long as your motherboard supports the 1.5V AGP spec). Don't worry about it.

Based on the year-old early leaked alpha of HL2, I would think your system equipped with a card like a 9600XT would be fine. It would be a BIG improvement over the GF4MX for HL2, especially since the GF4MX can't even run DX8.1 shaders (and will probably thus *look* a lot worse in HL2, beyond running like crap). However, since neither the final game, nor even a demo, is currently available, there's no way to be absolutely sure.

 

[StrangerGuy]

We don't even know whether HL2 will ever see the light of the day.

 

[gyromind]

Originally posted by: Matthias99
(as long as your motherboard supports the 1.5V AGP spec). Don't worry about it.

Hmm, is it likely that it does? I can't find this info. I have Sisoft Sandra open, and I'm looking at my board specs, but I don't see anything about the AGP voltage. Thank's for the help by the way. That was a big relief. What the heck does the speed mean if not speed?

 

[BlueWeasel]

Originally posted by: gyromind

Originally posted by: Matthias99
(as long as your motherboard supports the 1.5V AGP spec). Don't worry about it.

Hmm, is it likely that it does? I can't find this info. I have Sisoft Sandra open, and I'm looking at my board specs, but I don't see anything about the AGP voltage. Thank's for the help by the way. That was a big relief. What the heck does the speed mean if not speed?

Google is such a wonderful thing

According to that, your board supports the 1.5V AGP spec in 2x and 4x modes.

The AGP 8x speed is basically nothing more that a marketing ploy. As stated earlier, there is generally no increase in performance in going from 4x to 8x (maybe 1-2% in some games).

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: gyromind

Originally posted by: Matthias99
(as long as your motherboard supports the 1.5V AGP spec). Don't worry about it.

Hmm, is it likely that it does? I can't find this info. I have Sisoft Sandra open, and I'm looking at my board specs, but I don't see anything about the AGP voltage. Thank's for the help by the way. That was a big relief. What the heck does the speed mean if not speed?

I'm not saying that 8xAGP isn't faster than 4xAGP. It's just that, for current video cards, they don't really make use of the extra speed -- there just isn't that much information to move around. This is also why PCI-Express is not going to speed things up (at least not right away).

your system's specs from Dell

It supports 1.5V AGP (in fact, ONLY 1.5V AGP, like most newer systems), so you should be fine with any 8xAGP graphics card.

Edit: lol, clearly I'm not the only one who can use Google.

 

[gyromind]

Sorry about that guys. Thanks for your help.

 

[imported_obsidian]

Is there NOTHING you have learned with the whole HL2 vouchers? If you are going to upgrade for HL2, WAIT until HL2 is actually out.

 

[BlueWeasel]

Originally posted by: Matthias99

Originally posted by: gyromind

Originally posted by: Matthias99
(as long as your motherboard supports the 1.5V AGP spec). Don't worry about it.

Hmm, is it likely that it does? I can't find this info. I have Sisoft Sandra open, and I'm looking at my board specs, but I don't see anything about the AGP voltage. Thank's for the help by the way. That was a big relief. What the heck does the speed mean if not speed?

I'm not saying that 8xAGP isn't faster than 4xAGP. It's just that, for current video cards, they don't really make use of the extra speed -- there just isn't that much information to move around. This is also why PCI-Express is not going to speed things up (at least not right away).

your system's specs from Dell

It supports 1.5V AGP (in fact, ONLY 1.5V AGP, like most newer systems), so you should be fine with any 8xAGP graphics card.

Edit: lol, clearly I'm not the only one who can use Google.

Well, great minds think alike....

 

[jiffylube1024]

Any motherboard that has AGP 4X runs at 1.5V.

 

[Concillian]

Originally posted by: obsidian
Is there NOTHING you have learned with the whole HL2 vouchers? If you are going to upgrade for HL2, WAIT until HL2 is actually out.

Yes, one thing I have learned way before the HL2 vouchers was that don't upgrade specifically for a game BEFORE that game is out.

By the time HL2 is out, who knows if there will be GeForce 7800 Super Ultra Extremely Extreme cards or ATi z800 XT Gold-plated-platinum-pro edition that push current 'out of your price range' cards down into your price range.

I upgraded 5 years ago for that new Duke Nukem game that was in the works (not really...lol)

 

[Tab]

Originally posted by: Matthias99
8x AGP provides *zero* performance improvement over 4x, and all 8x cards are backwards-compatible to 4x (as long as your motherboard supports the 1.5V AGP spec). Don't worry about it.

Based on the year-old early leaked alpha of HL2, I would think your system equipped with a card like a 9600XT would be fine. It would be a BIG improvement over the GF4MX for HL2, especially since the GF4MX can't even run DX8.1 shaders (and will probably thus *look* a lot worse in HL2, beyond running like crap). However, since neither the final game, nor even a demo, is currently available, there's no way to be absolutely sure.

Its a leaked beta, as a owner of a 9600XT and use of the leaked beta I wouldn't personally recommend a 9600XT.

 

[Transistor]

If you are looking at a 9600XT, then you are probably on a budget. What I would do is wait for HL2 to actually become available before getting a new graphics card. Maybe by that time you may be able to afford a 9800Pro for the same price. You will always be better off waiting until you actually need the hardware before purchasing it.

 

[Evdawg]

Originally posted by: StrangerGuy
We don't even know whether HL2 will ever see the light of the day.

 

[Ages120]

Hl2 will run decently on a 9500 pro and non pro with a 2ghz cpu and 512mb of ram. Screaming is 9700 and 3ghz and 1gb. Hl2 will be an awsome game. Played the leaked beta and only other game that has weapons that feel that good is COD. Physics and better graphics only add to the splender. I would say if you can get UT 2004 running decently hl2 will run about the same although instead of the ultra high textures and models you would be able to turn FSAA and AF on in hl2.

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

I think farcry would be more of a measure for hlf2. I couldn't run it at full settings with a radeon 9800 pro, but I could run ut2004.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: Evdawg

Originally posted by: StrangerGuy
We don't even know whether HL2 will ever see the light of the day.

do like i am doing dude, dont upgrade untill HL2 and doom3 ARE ON THE SHELVES (and not just the empty demo boxes that you accidentally take up to the check out counter and get embarrased)

 

[Sonic587]

Don't waste your time upgrading when the games aren't even out yet. It's a really bad buying decision. It will be MUCH better when we can get some reviews of HL2 and they truly show what cards will run this decently. NEVER base a $100+ purchase on vaporware. There's even been rumors that HL2 might not make 2004....