Planning on getting a new video card. What do you recommend?

from Demigod Forums

Well, it turns out that Demigod won't work with my video card.  So I'm thinking about getting a new one.  Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of money to spend, and I only have an AGP slot on my computer, so none of the new PCIe cards will work.  I've found a Radeon x1600 on Ebay for only 35 dollars, buy-it-now.  But will DG be able to run well with that?  I know it's the minimum requirement, but I'm not sure how well the game will run on the very minimum.  So what do you recommend?  Should I go with the x1600?

 

EDIT-- I currently have an x300/x550/x1050.

44,392 views 15 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

Ew.... AGP sucks. Period.

That said, Stardock min-specs are usually somewhat forgiving. You won't be able to max out the settings, but it should run.

Just make sure you have a decent enough CPU. Thats something that strategy games often need more than graphics, especially in large single player games. If you plan on doing multiplayer, the CPU won't need to be quite as good since it will not have to run the AI controlling enemy groups.

Reply #2 from Demigod Forums Top

Well, I don't have the money for a new computer, so I'll have to go with AGP.  We actually have another computer that's really nice, but it has Windows Media Center, so we use it as a DVR on our TV.  The resolution on our TV using the computer is pretty poor, so it's just about impossible to play a game where you want to read about abilities before you get them.

Offworld Trading Company
Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top

X1600 would be an upgrade...probably enough as a stopgap to upgrading more.

I use an X850 XT which works fine, but it was at the top of it's generation. The X1600 was a midrange card. I probably won't get a newer card until I find something that doesn't work at all...I can still generally max out or put high settings on games. But i play at 1280x1024.

For $35 it can't hurt.

Reply #4 from Demigod Forums Top

Well, I bought the card.  I guess I didn't look close enough on my computer.  It turns out I dont have a bloody AGP slot.  I have two PCI slots (not PCIe), some sort of Dell video slot, and a PCIe x1.  Are there any decent PCIe x1 video cards out?

 

A week and 2 days after preordering the game, and I still can't play XO

Reply #5 from Sins Forums Top

Well, AGP is kind of defunct these days.  One thing to be absolutley sure of is what sort of AGP slot you've got.  Is it a 4x or 8x type.  Most modern AGP cards require an 8x slot and despite a lot of them having "4x/8x" written on the packaging and the specs alegedly being backwards compatible they have a massive shit fit when they actually meet a 4x slot.

Moving on, you say "Dell video slot"???  Now that's something I've never heard of personally but considering you have PCIe x1's I wouldn't be surprised if this is a PCIe x16.  It might be a good idea to punch the model number in to google and see what (if any) reviews of it exist as they'll refer to components in standard terms; rather than marketting ones.

If none exist, be cheeky.  Phone Dell sales and tell them you want to upgrade your machine (or if it's a current model play with the website) and if it starts offering you PCIe x16 cards as options... you're a winrar as I believe the meme goes.

And no, I've yet to see a full on GFx card use a x1 slot, I'm sure they exist in some fashion somewhere but never seen them; I have seen capture cards (Hauppage HVR's and such) make use of them though.

Reply #6 from Sins Forums Top

PCI-Ex1?  Dang, that's... highly unusual.  I know there are some PCI-E x 1 cards out, or were.

 

You could look at this, but I don't know how well it will run, or even how much of an upgrade it will be:

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161197

Reply #7 from Demigod Forums Top

Well, this here is what you call irony.  It turns out I do have a PCIe x16 slot ;P   So, I'll try to sell this AGP card on Ebay, and I'll go to Best Buy and get a new PCIe card this afternoon.

 

I feel like a royal idiot :S

Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Lesson learned, man. Alway's double check your hardware.:P

Reply #9 from Demigod Forums Top

So, with that in mind, what card would you recommend? I don't have a huge price range; the max is probably around 110 dollars, and my power supply is only 300W.

Reply #10 from Demigod Forums Top

I went to Best Buy and got an NVIDIA GeForce 9500 GT.  Demigod runs great!  It will run fairly smoothly on high graphics settings.  Not perfectly, but not bad either.  I think medium will probably be best for me.

 

Anyway, thanks for all the help!

Reply #11 from Sins Forums Top

thats not good......300 watts is kind of low and ur graphics card is gonna burn out.... you should have atleast 500 watts

Reply #12 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting generalkyle, reply 11
thats not good......300 watts is kind of low and ur graphics card is gonna burn out.... you should have atleast 500 watts
End of generalkyle's quote

 

that wont burn out a graphics card. I dont think powersupplies can short these days..Not enough power though can def cause ur computer to shut off sparadically

Reply #13 from Demigod Forums Top

Well, I don't have a ton of stuff in my computer, so I think it should be fine.  But if the power supply starts heating up too much, I'll get a new power supply.

Reply #14 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

It's a 9500GT, he'll be fine.  If it were a 9600GT, he might run into trouble.

Reply #15 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting Aarojw, reply 7
Well, this here is what you call irony.  It turns out I do have a PCIe x16 slot   So, I'll try to sell this AGP card on Ebay, and I'll go to Best Buy and get a new PCIe card this afternoon.

 

I feel like a royal idiot
End of Aarojw's quote

 

Don't worry about it, as I said google and you'll get puka terms not the ones marketting drones use to try and flog you extras.

I'll take my bows and be on my way :)