Graphics card query

I've searched around a bit, but haven't found an answer to this question:

Why is SL only compatible with 2 types of graphics cards? I don't really fancy purchasing a new graphics card just to play SL when my current card is quite sufficient for the other 99% of my computing needs.

The game works...well, OK for me, except when I'm in the appearance changing mode, when random textures are sporadically superimposed on the preview views, as well as on my avatar, making it a real trial to change appearance because I can't preview what I'm altering (I'll try to attach a screenshot). Other than that, graphics are mostly OK.

I just wonder why the game isn't more user-friendly when it comes to system requirements.

It's not so much that other types of cards are excluded, it's that thise are the only two major manufacturers that make video cards that are powerful enough to handle the extremely high demands that SL puts on your system.

There are other companies that make cards that will work, but in most cases they are just that companies' version of a card design originally made by NVidia or ATI.

P2

What Phoenix stated and my 2 cents worth.

As with most cutting edge software companies, especially the game devs, it only makes sense to write the support code in to support/fully use feature sets of the most distributed or widly know products. Each vid cars requires it's own unique set of "instructions" on how to display things such as textures and perspective drawing which is used for 3D applications. Not only does it take hours/days/months to incorporate support for other chipsets, you also run the risk of breaking one just to get another one working. That is the wonderful world of shared files known as dll's, api's and catalog files. If you need to tweak one of those files out for say an intel card but the nVidia and ATI cards work ok before the tweak but get broken afterwards, it is not a good thing and you are wasting your time as a dev since hardware is cheap in comparison to years ago and the larger companies products are proven and already have a larger install base. I remember years ago when the Diamond MM S2000 stealth PCI 4 MB card was the card to have. Then 3DFX came out with the voodoo line which devs ran for and supported them, same with ATI then nVidia. Where are 3DFX or Diamond MM now? Gone, finished, replaced as are the games that favored these video chips. Perhaps in the near future, Intel will get off their butt and come up with the next cutting edge vid technology that will leave ATI and Nvidia scrambling as devs write support code for the latest Intel chipset.

I think they are the graphics cards that support "Open GL" or something like that.. Which is needed for SLs ever changing and intensive world.. Or thats how I explain it to myself anyway.. Someone will tell me what Open GL is one day..

http://www.sgi.com/products/software/opengl/

A good informative link to what Open GL actually is. To much info to post here though.

(falls off chair, laughing uncontrollably)

Thanks for the replies! I'm a fairly competent computer user, but not well-versed in the technical whatsits of different graphics cards and all. My 7 day trial is up, and I'm just wondering whether it's worth the quarterly fee to hang onto SL for a few months....I think I might - I can function passably with my current setup, and - it's nearly Yule, which means someone might gift me with one of those nifty high-falutin' graphics cards!

7 day trial is up? Sure, ok, but SL is free now for basic members so dont give up yet. Perhaps, Yule will bring better graphics card and perhaps the update next week will increase your performance. You joined during a nightmare upgrade of SL and many of us who enjoyed smooth graphics, movement and so on are now experiencing what you describe. My Nvidia GeForce 4 was dandy in 1.6 and in 1.7 I am basically screwed. Perhaps, you are a victim of 1.7 as a lot of us are and your graphics card is not even the problem. You will know soon I hope as new update is promised next week.

bright blessings and welcome to SL,

kaia

Thanks, Kaia! After reading some of the other posts, I was wondering if some of my troubles might be a result of a wonky update! Sounds like some of the long-time members are having some major issues with the most recent version. I don't know if the upcoming update will solve my graphics troubles, but I'm willing to give it a go. And, I can always just go for the basic membership, as well!