Graphics Card?

[eat_sleep_breathe_USC]

I just got a new pc about a week ago. I figured I would have to make a few upgrades for my gaming needs, but I thought I'd run it by the techie guys on here a bit. My main goal is playing Crysis at higher levels(I'm currently running low with very fluid fps but can push it to medium without too much slow down, but gets stuttery)

My current rig is:

Windows Vista
2.4 ghz quad-core intel
3gig ram
Nvidia 8500 256mb video card


I was thinking of a Nvidia 8800 GTS. Should I get that or is something cheaper and as effecient? Should I go ahead and grab a ram upgrade too?(mine can take up to 8)

[garnet812]

3 gigs of ram should definitely be okay for now, you can always upgrade it later if you have to. So I'd got with 8800 gts for now, if it's in your budget.

[The Yancey]

I'll need to upgrade mine after a bit as well. I have the 512 MB 8400 GS. What sound card do you use? I have a Creative Labs XI-FI Gamer with 64 MB of ram. I love it! The problem is that Vista moves sound management from machine to user level. That negates the value of the sound card. It is one of the reasons that XP is a better OS for gaming. I'll bet that if you run XP on your system it will play Crysis much better.

[ultimatetailgater]

there isn't a PC today that can run Crysis on high detail and resolution. Even a Three-way SLI rig only gets about 30-40 fps on max settings.

This http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814143119
or the 8800gt are the best bang for you buck right now but, don't expect to run Crysis anywhere near high settings with 1 Graphics card until the new Nvidia cards come out this fall. The ones coming out this spring are just a G92 refresh and only about 30% more powerful than the current 8800gtx. Also even the new Penryn CPUs can't handle Crysis maxed out. The new 8 core 45nm Nahelm cpu from Intel is due out winter 2008.

Don't expect anything above 1024x768 maybe 1280x1024 if you use Anti-Aliasing and Anistropic Filtering on 1 GPU. Even the new Three-way SLI setups with 8800 ultras(approx: 2,000 just for the video cards) only get about 30-40 fps on 1920x1200 and 4xAA/8xAF

[eat_sleep_breathe_USC]

I'll need to upgrade mine after a bit as well. I have the 512 MB 840 GS. What sound card do you use? I have a Creative Labs XI-FI Gamer with 64 MB of ram. I love it! The problem is that Vista moves sound management from machine to user level. That negates the value of the sound card. It is one of the reasons that XP is a better OS for gaming. I'll bet that if you run XP on your system it will play Crysis much better.

Mine came with a Sigma Tel HD Audio (or atleast that is what device manager says, lol). It isn't too shabby, may update eventually, but it does the job. That and I don't know anything about audio cards. I know enough about graphics cards and ram to upgrade myself, but thought i'd run it by some of the techier guys here. Thanx to anyone who helped.

[acejrock]

there isn't a PC today that can run Crysis on high detail and resolution. Even a Three-way SLI rig only gets about 30-40 fps on max settings.

This http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814143119
or the 8800gt are the best bang for you buck right now but, don't expect to run Crysis anywhere near high settings with 1 Graphics card until the new Nvidia cards come out this fall. The ones coming out this spring are just a G92 refresh and only about 30% more powerful than the current 8800gtx. Also even the new Penryn CPUs can't handle Crysis maxed out. The new 8 core 45nm Nahelm cpu from Intel is due out winter 2008.

Don't expect anything above 1024x768 maybe 1280x1024 if you use Anti-Aliasing and Anistropic Filtering on 1 GPU. Even the new Three-way SLI setups with 8800 ultras(approx: 2,000 just for the video cards) only get about 30-40 fps on 1920x1200 and 4xAA/8xAF

this is true.. looks like we are several months away

[eat_sleep_breathe_USC]

there isn't a PC today that can run Crysis on high detail and resolution. Even a Three-way SLI rig only gets about 30-40 fps on max settings.

This http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814143119
or the 8800gt are the best bang for you buck right now but, don't expect to run Crysis anywhere near high settings with 1 Graphics card until the new Nvidia cards come out this fall. The ones coming out this spring are just a G92 refresh and only about 30% more powerful than the current 8800gtx. Also even the new Penryn CPUs can't handle Crysis maxed out. The new 8 core 45nm Nahelm cpu from Intel is due out winter 2008.

Don't expect anything above 1024x768 maybe 1280x1024 if you use Anti-Aliasing and Anistropic Filtering on 1 GPU. Even the new Three-way SLI setups with 8800 ultras(approx: 2,000 just for the video cards) only get about 30-40 fps on 1920x1200 and 4xAA/8xAF

I have no idea if I can run multiple cards (how can you tell if you have SLI technology?) but that 8800 GTS OC 512MB was the one I am planning on getting. Do you think I should wait and get the 9000 series when it comes out or will it really make that big of a difference?

[SpuR48]

I have no idea if I can run multiple cards (how can you tell if you have SLI technology?) but that 8800 GTS OC 512MB was the one I am planning on getting. Do you think I should wait and get the 9000 series when it comes out or will it really make that big of a difference?

Find out the model number of your MoBo. Is this a DIY rig or did you buy it? DIY should be easy to find out if your MoBo supports SLi; if you bought it then I guess you need to open it up and find out your model/part number. Then just google it and see.


Ultimate:

Does Crysis still look pretty good on a single card rig? Something running a high end card like an 8800 gtx?

[acejrock]

or use and advisor that can read the drivers.. i think belarc will do if not there are several programs that will identify everything for you..

[ultimatetailgater]

Find out the model number of your MoBo. Is this a DIY rig or did you buy it? DIY should be easy to find out if your MoBo supports SLi; if you bought it then I guess you need to open it up and find out your model/part number. Then just google it and see.


Ultimate:

Does Crysis still look pretty good on a single card rig? Something running a high end card like an 8800 gtx?
It still looks pretty good on medium settings and 1024x768 but no where near the quality of the demo footage you've seen in the trailers. Also even at medium settings its still not very smooth gameplay. Its playable but a little choppy. My E6600, 2GB DDR2 800 and 8800GTS gets about 40fps average down in the teens on some parts with 1024x768 4xAA/8xAF