Vid card upgrade on old system
By
je_saist,
Posted on: 2009-11-08 23:00 in ALL ACCESS Gameplay Technical Issues Bugs
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Short version, no. While the RadeonHD cards do actually have an onboard Intel azalia compatible chip / circuitry, it's only exposed to your speaker system through HDMI / DisplayPort. So if you aren't using a receiver with an HDMI input to feed your speaker set-up, you'll need to use another sound card.|
Originally Posted by Tannim222
I'm still using my old PC (put together by me), and will be for at least 3 to possibly 4 years. My current vid card is a Ultra 6800 GS, which does work fine (I have a lot of stuff turned off in game for decent fps). Now I know that AGP cards are showing their age, and ideally, an entire upgrade would be more beneficial, finances however, won't permit that. So with Christmas around the corner, I have an opportunity to try and get the most out of my system.
Another problem I have is an ancient audio card. So old that the last drivers that I could find after much searching of the net (the manufacturer doesn't even recognize the product anymore) are from 2002. I hope what I've found settles both my problems for me. Or will eventually, since I don't think I can connect my pc speakers to the card, so that's kind of a strike against me there. |
I also have some more bad news for you. The Radeon 4670 isn't actually going to be that much more powerful than the 6800 GS on an AGP bus. A little while back I had picked up two of the RadeonHD 4650 cards... which I eventually sold off because, A: They didn't actually have a crossfire hardware bridge as advertised, which was desperately needed, and B: A single card coupled with a Core2 @ 2.3 atop my D975XBx motherboard was running about 90% of the rendering power of a Radeon x1900 AIW or Geforce 7900 GT KO (factory overclocked edition). While the slightly faster RadeonHD 4670 is going to be a bit faster... the AGP bus is going to be a bit of an issue.
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| Another thing is I still run windows XP (32 bit), and while there are drivers that support the card and xp I still wonder if everything will work well. |
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Finally, while the card is high def compatible, my pc flat screen isn't HD (420p I believe). So, will this card work for me, or should I wallow in my old pc misery for several more years and not even bother? Thanks! *edit* I forgot to add that my PSU is 550 watts, so I know I'm safe there. |
I could pick up A Socket AM2 motherboard from Asus for $60: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131391
And a 3ghz Socket AM2 Athlon64 for also around $60: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103772
That puts you close to the $120 mark...
but if you can scrounge up another $65 you could get the PCIE version of the 4670: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102854
Overall, it would probably be a lot more powerful than the computer you currently have, presuming you could use the system memory from before.
I'm not sure how much of a boost a graphics card upgrade would give you. I've got two computers that can run CoH: an Athlon XP2000 with a GeForce 6600GT, and a Core2 Quad Q6600 with a GeForce 9400GT. In terms of basic pixel-pushing ability, the two cards are roughly equal in power, but the Core2 Quad gets between three and eight times the framerate of the Athlon XP.
First, thanks for the reply and the assistance.
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That's what I figured. | Short version, no. While the RadeonHD cards do actually have an onboard Intel azalia compatible chip / circuitry, it's only exposed to your speaker system through HDMI / DisplayPort. So if you aren't using a receiver with an HDMI input to feed your speaker set-up, you'll need to use another sound card. |
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| I also have some more bad news for you. The Radeon 4670 isn't actually going to be that much more powerful than the 6800 GS on an AGP bus. |
With GR coming out, I was hoping to get a bit better visuals. Heck I know the 7900 AGP cards can handle a lot more than my 6800, I've seen what CoH looks like on my frieds PC.
Also I gave the incorrect information on the card, I have a 6800 GT not the GS.
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| Okay. Budget of $125. You don't mention the memory, but I'm betting DDR2. |
Also, any change to another cpu outside of the old intel chips won't be possible for me without further hardware purchases for my cooling case which uses liquid cooling for the cpu.
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That is a bit depressing. |
Originally Posted by Tannim222
First, thanks for the reply and the assistance.
That's almost down right depressing. My card is definitely showing its age, in fact, just to get at least 30 fps (especially when on Red side), I have a lot of options turned off. Facing a wall, I get 71 though so that's something. With GR coming out, I was hoping to get a bit better visuals. Heck I know the 7900 AGP cards can handle a lot more than my 6800, I've seen what CoH looks like on my frieds PC. Also I gave the incorrect information on the card, I have a 6800 GT not the GS. I appreciate the info on the mobo and cpu upgrades, that won't be possible at the moment. Quite literally at my limit at $125 and really, looking at $100 since the card has a $25 manufacturer rebate. Also, any cash that happens to come my way will have to go to replacing the funds in the checking account for this Christmas purchase. Also, any change to another cpu outside of the old intel chips won't be possible for me without further hardware purchases for my cooling case which uses liquid cooling for the cpu. |
Honestly, you are going to be better off not spending the money on getting new components for your system and saving up till you can afford a better base platform.
Thanks for the help and effort je_saist. I guess I'll have to be patient. Maybe I should get a newer sound card, then maybe I won't get blasted with sound loops whenever multiple mobs are effected in the warehouse maps 
What's your current system? The Athlon XP2000 I mentioned above is perfectly capable of playing CoH, with the exception of Rikti and Zombie invasions (and even then, 3fps is fast enough to make a meaningful contribution on a blaster or scrapper). There may be a simple upgrade you can do, such as an extra gigabyte of RAM for $25.
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He's planning for Ultra Mode in Going Rogue Katie, and his system is so far behind the curve of what we know Going Rogue to require there's no realistic upgrade-path for him on an AGP bus.|
Originally Posted by Katie V
What's your current system? The Athlon XP2000 I mentioned above is perfectly capable of playing CoH, with the exception of Rikti and Zombie invasions (and even then, 3fps is fast enough to make a meaningful contribution on a blaster or scrapper). There may be a simple upgrade you can do, such as an extra gigabyte of RAM for $25.
|
(well, at least I think that's why he's looking at upgrades)
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I know there's nothing I'll be able to do with my current rig for ultra mode in GR. What I'm looking for really is just better over-all performance from my system since I'm still a few years away from putting together a completely new rig. |
Originally Posted by je_saist
He's planning for Ultra Mode in Going Rogue Katie, and his system is so far behind the curve of what we know Going Rogue to require there's no realistic upgrade-path for him on an AGP bus.
(well, at least I think that's why he's looking at upgrades) |
Right now, solo, I can get 40-50 fps in instanced missions. Large groups with multiple effects I sometimes get jittery hiccups (as well as some really horrible sound looping - then again I get loops even solo in any warehouse map with any power that hits multiple foes). Red side, out doors its a different situation, I get between 20-35 fps and if I move around a lot I'll get spiked down to sometimes single digits. In order to not have that happen I have to tune down textures and world detail quite a bit.
Heck I even shrink down the UI to 90% because it nets me 3-5 more fps, which ends up making a noticeable difference to me.
I'm still using my old PC (put together by me), and will be for at least 3 to possibly 4 years. My current vid card is a Ultra 6800 GS, which does work fine (I have a lot of stuff turned off in game for decent fps). Now I know that AGP cards are showing their age, and ideally, an entire upgrade would be more beneficial, finances however, won't permit that. So with Christmas around the corner, I have an opportunity to try and get the most out of my system.
Another problem I have is an ancient audio card. So old that the last drivers that I could find after much searching of the net (the manufacturer doesn't even recognize the product anymore) are from 2002.
I hope what I've found settles both my problems for me. Or will eventually, since I don't think I can connect my pc speakers to the card, so that's kind of a strike against me there.
Another thing is I still run windows XP (32 bit), and while there are drivers that support the card and xp I still wonder if everything will work well.
Finally, while the card is high def compatible, my pc flat screen isn't HD (420p I believe).
So, will this card work for me, or should I wallow in my old pc misery for several more years and not even bother? Thanks!
*edit*
I forgot to add that my PSU is 550 watts, so I know I'm safe there.