Second Life Forums Archive

Napili Sands

Registered User

Join date: 8 Jun 2007

Posts: 29

09-24-2008 12:42

I'd like to upgrade my system with a new video card aimed primarily at SL.
Do you think an Nvidia 9800GT with 1G ram would let me run in ultra at a descent frame rate? Will SL use all that video ram effectively?
I'm looking at this card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133244

I'm running a 3.4MHz core-duo MB with 3GB ram on XP

tia

Ann Launay

Neko-licious™

Join date: 8 Aug 2006

Posts: 7,893

09-24-2008 13:05

I just read another post which indicated the 9xxx series is really intended for Vista machines and those with XP should stick with the 8xxx series. I'm not geeky, so I won't attest to the veracity of that statement, but the poster seemed to know what they were talking about.

Edit: Here we go...it was on another forum.

From: someone

I'd only get a 9500 or better if I had windows Vista -- the support for directX stops at version 9 in XP, which is what the 8000 series card supports, so a 9000 series card is just paying for features you may never see.

_____________________

~Now Trout Re-Re-Re-Certified!~

From: someone

I am bumping you to an 8.5 on the Official Trout Measuring Instrument of Sluttiness. You are an enigma - on the one hand a sweet, gentle, intelligent woman who we would like to wrap up in our arms and protect, and on the other, a temptress to whom we would like to do all sorts of unmentionable things.

Congratulations and shame on you! You are a bit of a slut.

Novis Dyrssen

Girl Geek

Join date: 6 May 2007

Posts: 1,452

09-24-2008 13:08

I run the same card (on an XP machine incidentally) and SL is running smooth as a baby's butt. Even on ultra.

Then again, I invested in a totally new machine, so if you own an older system and just want to update the graphics card, you might not have such good results.

_____________________

~~ immortal words of Rob Thomas ~~
Hey-yeah, welcome to the Real World
Nobody told you it was gonna be hard

Kathy Morellet

Registered User

Join date: 26 Jul 2006

Posts: 809

09-24-2008 13:26

From: Ann Launay

I just read another post which indicated the 9xxx series is really intended for Vista machines and those with XP should stick with the 8xxx series. I'm not geeky, so I won't attest to the veracity of that statement, but the poster seemed to know what they were talking about.

Edit: Here we go...it was on another forum.

That quote was referencing DirectX support. Since SL uses OpenGL I don't believe that limitation applies. However, if the person buying the card plays other games that depend on DirectX then they would want to consider that issue as well.

Milla Janick

Empress Of The Universe

Join date: 2 Jan 2008

Posts: 3,075

09-24-2008 13:42

Both the 8800 and 9800 are DirectX 10 cards, so it shouldn't be an issue.

Napili Sands

Registered User

Join date: 8 Jun 2007

Posts: 29

09-24-2008 13:55

I really don't care too much about directX 10, especially as I'm running XP, but I can get the 9800GT with 1GB RAM, which I've heard helps with SL textures.

Or would a 9800GTX with a faster clock (2200MHz vs 1800Mhz), 16 more stream processors, but only 512MB RAM be better. Hmmm, I'm going to guess the 9800GTX could be a better choice.

Ann Launay

Neko-licious™

Join date: 8 Aug 2006

Posts: 7,893

09-24-2008 13:58

Like I said, not geeky.

_____________________

~Now Trout Re-Re-Re-Certified!~

From: someone

I am bumping you to an 8.5 on the Official Trout Measuring Instrument of Sluttiness. You are an enigma - on the one hand a sweet, gentle, intelligent woman who we would like to wrap up in our arms and protect, and on the other, a temptress to whom we would like to do all sorts of unmentionable things.

Congratulations and shame on you! You are a bit of a slut.

Welcome to the Second Life Forums Archive

New Video Card

New Video Card
Napili Sands Registered User Join date: 8 Jun 2007 Posts: 29	09-24-2008 12:42 I'd like to upgrade my system with a new video card aimed primarily at SL. Do you think an Nvidia 9800GT with 1G ram would let me run in ultra at a descent frame rate? Will SL use all that video ram effectively? I'm looking at this card http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133244 I'm running a 3.4MHz core-duo MB with 3GB ram on XP tia
Ann Launay Neko-licious™ Join date: 8 Aug 2006 Posts: 7,893	09-24-2008 13:05 I just read another post which indicated the 9xxx series is really intended for Vista machines and those with XP should stick with the 8xxx series. I'm not geeky, so I won't attest to the veracity of that statement, but the poster seemed to know what they were talking about. Edit: Here we go...it was on another forum. From: someone I'd only get a 9500 or better if I had windows Vista -- the support for directX stops at version 9 in XP, which is what the 8000 series card supports, so a 9000 series card is just paying for features you may never see. _____________________ ~Now Trout Re-Re-Re-Certified!~ From: someone I am bumping you to an 8.5 on the Official Trout Measuring Instrument of Sluttiness. You are an enigma - on the one hand a sweet, gentle, intelligent woman who we would like to wrap up in our arms and protect, and on the other, a temptress to whom we would like to do all sorts of unmentionable things. Congratulations and shame on you! You are a bit of a slut.
Novis Dyrssen Girl Geek Join date: 6 May 2007 Posts: 1,452	09-24-2008 13:08 I run the same card (on an XP machine incidentally) and SL is running smooth as a baby's butt. Even on ultra. Then again, I invested in a totally new machine, so if you own an older system and just want to update the graphics card, you might not have such good results. _____________________ ~~ immortal words of Rob Thomas ~~ Hey-yeah, welcome to the Real World Nobody told you it was gonna be hard
Kathy Morellet Registered User Join date: 26 Jul 2006 Posts: 809	09-24-2008 13:26 From: Ann Launay I just read another post which indicated the 9xxx series is really intended for Vista machines and those with XP should stick with the 8xxx series. I'm not geeky, so I won't attest to the veracity of that statement, but the poster seemed to know what they were talking about. Edit: Here we go...it was on another forum. That quote was referencing DirectX support. Since SL uses OpenGL I don't believe that limitation applies. However, if the person buying the card plays other games that depend on DirectX then they would want to consider that issue as well.
Milla Janick Empress Of The Universe Join date: 2 Jan 2008 Posts: 3,075	09-24-2008 13:42 Both the 8800 and 9800 are DirectX 10 cards, so it shouldn't be an issue.
Napili Sands Registered User Join date: 8 Jun 2007 Posts: 29	09-24-2008 13:55 I really don't care too much about directX 10, especially as I'm running XP, but I can get the 9800GT with 1GB RAM, which I've heard helps with SL textures. Or would a 9800GTX with a faster clock (2200MHz vs 1800Mhz), 16 more stream processors, but only 512MB RAM be better. Hmmm, I'm going to guess the 9800GTX could be a better choice.
Ann Launay Neko-licious™ Join date: 8 Aug 2006 Posts: 7,893	09-24-2008 13:58 Like I said, not geeky. _____________________ ~Now Trout Re-Re-Re-Certified!~ From: someone I am bumping you to an 8.5 on the Official Trout Measuring Instrument of Sluttiness. You are an enigma - on the one hand a sweet, gentle, intelligent woman who we would like to wrap up in our arms and protect, and on the other, a temptress to whom we would like to do all sorts of unmentionable things. Congratulations and shame on you! You are a bit of a slut.