current AGP video cards:

We want to buy the best AGP card for SL!

Please help us by adding to this list with constructive comments or suggestions, please note that this is about AGP cards that currently sell and play well with SL (15-20 FPS and up + no hickups etc.):

Edit: I updatet the list with all comments and will do so for any further suggestions, thanks+++! I also added "Second hand card?".


General:

Nvidia 7xxx higher series cards:
++ Play smooth with SL on good framerates.
+- Vista: turn of Aero.
-- VWR-8211, (not all cards!) black terrain below seawater, altough possibly fixed in 1.23?.

most ATI 2xxx-3xxx-4xxx cards:
+- good framerates ?
-- VBO problems and other graphical issues.
-- VWR-7281, VWR-10810, VWR-11053, VWR-5559 etc. all sound like showstoppers to me for a HD3650 & HD3850 card? not?

Running a fast graphic card in combination with a slow system gives colored results.


Cards:

7950 DDR3-512, AGP:
++ One of the fastest AGP cards available! Should run SL VERY smooth.
++ DDR3 memory.
+- Available: hard to find but possible!

7600GT, DDR3-256, AGP:
++ good framerate, smooth SL. (this one we owned)
++ DDR3 memory.
-- very hard to find new for us. (DDR3 ones).

7600GT, DDR2-512-256, AGP (for example MSI NX7600GT):
+- Any experiences on smooth performance in SL?
+- Not readily available, but possible to order.
-- DDR2 memory.

7600GS, DDR2-512-256, AGP:
++ readily available.
++ Runs SL smoothly with a P4-3GHz.
-- Does perform less on a P4-2Ghz with AGP4x.
-- DDR2 memory.

7300GT, DDR2-256, AGP:
++ readily available.
+- Not too slow for SL?
-- DDR2 memory.

7200:
mentioned to play well with SL as well altough I could not find any AGP 7200 cards easily?

6600GT, DDR3-128-256, AGP:
++ runs SL almost like 7600GT (but more power hungry).
++ DDR3 memory.
+- available: hard to find but possible.

HD3850, DDR3-512-256 AGP:
++ readily available.
++ should be the fastest AGP card available (?)
++ DDR3 memory.
+- Showstoppers? VWR-7281, VWR-11053, VWR-5559 etc.

HD3650, DDR2-256 AGP Cards:
++ readily available.
+- Any experiences on smooth performance in SL?
+- Showstoppers? VWR-7281, VWR-11053, VWR-5559 etc.
-- DDR2 memory.

HD3450, DDR2-256, AGP:
++ readily available.
++ Linux: Go for it! no problems, good framerates.
+- Any experiences on smooth performance in SL?
+- Showstoppers? VWR-7281, VWR-11053, VWR-5559 etc.
-- Windows: do not use this card.
-- DDR2 memory.

X1650Pro AGP, ddr2:
++ readily available and cheap too.
+- Any experiences on smooth performance in SL?
-- DDR2 memory.

X800RX AGP, DDR3:
++ readily available.
++ DDR3 memory.
+- Should be fast and smooth with SL?
+- Can it run a widescreen screen resolution?

HD2600Pro AGP, DDR2:
++ readily available.
+- Any experiences on smooth performance in SL?
-- DDR2 memory.

HD2400Pro AGP, DDR2:
++ readily available and cheap too.
+- Any experiences on smooth performance in SL?
-- DDR2 memory.

Second Hand Card??? DDR3-256-512, AGP:
++ readily available.
++ DDR3 memory.
++ Great choice of top-cards from some time ago (7900 etc.)
-- Risk of buying a dead or almost dead (overclocked etc.) card..


Thanks for anything that might complete this list!

Pat Chemistry

ps: we did find that table in the knwoledge base that
compares framerates, but it is not so detailed.

geforce 6600GT's pop up here and there, and is about the same as a 256mb 7600, but more power hungry

I'm not able to reproduce it, though I only run Linux on the machine that has that GPU. If you're running Vista, you'll want to turn off any chrome like Aero before trying to run anything that uses OpenGL.



If this is going into a Windows machine, stay away! All three of the VWRs you mentioned shouldn't be filed against SL viewer, but against the ATI drivers themselves (ie, not SL's fault). If ATI's drivers supported OpenGL properly on Windows (a difficult task, since Windows is still stuck in the 1980s in terms of graphics capabilities, and barely does itself). If this is going into a Windows machine, stay away!

If it's going into a Linux machine, go for it! It doesn't suck the life out of my battery even running SL, gets good framerates and is all around a well supported GPU.

I have the HD3400 in my laptop from that same series (though PCIe, it uses the same drivers AFAICT). I run both Vista and Debian Linux on that machine, I can safely say that Linux is where all the driver attention is going to.

keeping an eye on this thread

my old comcrap is still running an FX5200 lol

burn it!

any geforce with a 2 in as its second number will be slow, especially for SL

I have a 7200 and run on ultra without issues.

... i didnt say that you would have "issues", but slap a 7900GT in there and repeat that statement

i didnt have "issues" with my 1.9ghz athalon xp and a geforce 2 gtx, set on ultra either

Unless you consider being lucky to get 2fps an issue.

What kind of computer is it going into? A slow CPU will hold back a good video card.


I ran one of these (512MB) earlier this year. It ran smoothly in a 3Ghz Pentium 4 system.

It's in a 2Ghz P4 with an AGP 4x slot now, and it's not nearly as impressive.

Thanks so much all!! good points really.
We left the PC specs out of the question because we will probably change the processor as well (to a 2.5 dualcore or P4-3.0). It will run Windows XP but I use Linux too so I would swap instantly to that as well if it works better for SL.

If anybody has some framerate/smooth playing experiences on the other cards, please let us know.


THX++

Pat Chemistry

I just bought an Nvidia 7950 for $180. Hopeing that it will ship out today.


My point is that this card is AGP and you can still find a FEW of them brand new and advertised as still in the box without necessarily haveing to spend a great deal of money.

It is difficult to find then but it is possible.

So check that one out and maybe ad it to your possibilities list.

I just bought an Nvidia 7950 for $180. Hopeing that it will ship out today.


My point is that this card is AGP and you can still find a FEW of them brand new and advertised as still in the box without necessarily haveing to spend a great deal of money.

It is difficult to find then but it is possible.

So check that one out and maybe ad it to your possibilities list.

HD3650, DDR2-256 AGP Cards:
++ readily available.
+- Any experiences on smooth performance in SL?
+- Showstoppers? VWR-7281, VWR-11053, VWR-5559 etc.
-- DDR2 memory.

i have ati radeon hd 3650 512mb and i have issues with it i start sl its all fine for a while then it freezes and turns my screen off then on again like it restarts or something it does this 2x then SL crashes then i need to restart my pc to open sl again please please give me advice!

If you're going to spend that kind of money, I'd reconsider sticking with AGP.

For $180 you can buy an Nvidia 9800GT and a motherboard with a PCIe slot to put it in.

milla can u help me with my issue above? do u think i shud try it on linux

Wow i think my first SL computer had that card.

In fact..i think FlipperPA sent me that card!

Are you on Windows? If so, before logging in, turn off VBO and if you're in Vista, disable Aero first, then give it a go.

I just installed this card on a P4 2.6ghz w/2g ram running XP.

Now instead of my system hitting red, the lag meter shows the server as being the bottle neck at yellow. I also went from an average 18fps to high 30's/low 40's. I'm still adjusting the 'custom' graphics settings I used to speed up the last card to get better quality on this one, so I don't have an exact average yet.

I would recommend this card.