I currently have a GeForce 5900FX (128 MB) video card, and am considering upgrading to a GeForce 7600 GS OC (512 MB) card. I know the recommended is a 7800, but I don't want to drop the $350+ that card will cost into a 3 year old rig (3.2 GHz, 1 GB RAM) when I can get the 7600 GS for $130.
Does anyone have opinions on if this will deliver a significant performance increase, or should I just limp along on my 5900 until I do a complete system upgrade in a year or so?
(EDIT - since this was moved to the tech support forum, this question specially applies to getting NWN2 to run with more than 800X600 minimal graphics settings.
Video Card Question
Fable, I could be wrong but I think the performance increase Mordraken implies to refers to NWN2.
[INDENT]'..tolerance when fog rolls in clouds unfold your selfless wings feathers that float from arabesque pillows I sold to be consumed by the snow white cold if only the plaster could hold withstand the flam[url="http://bit.ly/foT0XQ"]e[/url] then this fountain torch would know no shame and be outstripped only by the sun that burns with the glory and honor of your..'[/INDENT]
Yup, you're right. This was a question specific to getting NWN2 to run better (since it would run every other game without problem).Tricky wrote:Fable, I could be wrong but I think the performance increase Mordraken implies to refers to NWN2.
I don't mind it being in the tech support forum as long as any answers have that in mind
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fable
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My bad. Tell you what I'll do: I'll move it back to NWN2, with a stub in Tech Support. Two forums for the price of one. Hopefully, someone will be able to help out.
Hopefully, someone will be able to help out.To the Righteous belong the fruits of violent victory. The rest of us will have to settle for warm friends, warm lovers, and a wink from a quietly supportive universe.
I would recommend the intermediate upgrade to the 7600GS - that card will run NWN2 very well. I run the game on a AMD XP2000+ with 1.5gb ram and a ATI 9600XT (which is appreciably less powerful than the 7600GS you are looking at) and I run it at 1024x768 at medium detail. It runs very smoothly on my system and I feel no need to upgrade to play the game at this time. A 7600GS would be a substantial upgrade from a 5900FX (the 5900FX was a dog when it was released and is surely your systems main performance bottleneck)
One more point - this game is a RAM hog - you need at least 1 gig RAM to run it well...also - dial down the draw distances - this will not visibly affect graphics or gameplay but is makes a big difference in framerates...and, of course - patch to the most recent update - the patches have made many improvements in framerates and load times.
One more point - this game is a RAM hog - you need at least 1 gig RAM to run it well...also - dial down the draw distances - this will not visibly affect graphics or gameplay but is makes a big difference in framerates...and, of course - patch to the most recent update - the patches have made many improvements in framerates and load times.
Check out Mirrors Online a premier NWN2 roleplaying persistent world and D20 campaign world publishing project.
Would you be looking for an APG or PCIXpress card?
I would like to know would this 7600 GS to help NWN2 run better be the best APG card NVidia has to offer or is there a better solution, atm?
I would like to know would this 7600 GS to help NWN2 run better be the best APG card NVidia has to offer or is there a better solution, atm?
Trust me, most of the names I have been called you can't translate in any language...they're not even real words as much as a succession of violent images.
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Siberys
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This is just a personal experience from myself, so it might be different with you, and then again, it might not, it could be just as good.
I have an Nvidia FX 5500 256mb ram video card. NWN 2 technically did run, but I couldn't get past the character creation without major lag. Then, I borrowed my friends Nvidia Geforce 6200 256mb ram card, and with the settings on low still, it was a MAJOR difference, so much better.
I still can't play the game right now, as I don't own a card better than that crappy 5500, but I do know that on the same computer, that small of an upgrade made a HUGE difference.
I have an Nvidia FX 5500 256mb ram video card. NWN 2 technically did run, but I couldn't get past the character creation without major lag. Then, I borrowed my friends Nvidia Geforce 6200 256mb ram card, and with the settings on low still, it was a MAJOR difference, so much better.
I still can't play the game right now, as I don't own a card better than that crappy 5500, but I do know that on the same computer, that small of an upgrade made a HUGE difference.
Listen up maggots, Mr. Popo's 'bout to teach you the pecking order.
It goes you, the dirt, the worms inside of the dirt, Popo's stool, Kami, then Popo.
~Mr. Popo, Dragonball Z Abridged
It goes you, the dirt, the worms inside of the dirt, Popo's stool, Kami, then Popo.
~Mr. Popo, Dragonball Z Abridged
I assume that you're using AGP, is it (because of the Geforce FX5900)? As what most have mentioned here, an upgrade to a Geforce 7600GS is worth it and highly recommended. However, I'm not sure if upgrading to a factory overclocked version of that card is worth it. I'm afraid that this type of card might not last very long but it's just a hunch on my part.
Who is the manufacturer of that card?
As what most have mentioned here, an upgrade to a Geforce 7600GS is worth it and highly recommended. However, I'm not sure if upgrading to a factory overclocked version of that card is worth it. I'm afraid that this type of card might not last very long but it's just a hunch on my part.Hmm. This is the first time I ever come across a 256MB version of the Geforce 6200. I thought they're mostly 128MB?Siberys wrote: Then, I borrowed my friends Nvidia Geforce 6200 256mb ram card, and with the settings on low still, it was a MAJOR difference, so much better.
Who is the manufacturer of that card?''They say truth is the first casualty of war. But who defines what's true? Truth is just a matter of perspective. The duty of every soldier is to protect the innocent, and sometimes that means preserving the lie of good and evil, that war isn't just natural selection played out on a grand scale. The only truth I found is that the world we live in is a giant tinderbox. All it takes...is someone to light the match" - Captain Price
I see. I also had a ASUS Nvidia Geforce 6200 before but it's 128MB only (PCI-E). Can't believe that the AGP version had 256MB.
''They say truth is the first casualty of war. But who defines what's true? Truth is just a matter of perspective. The duty of every soldier is to protect the innocent, and sometimes that means preserving the lie of good and evil, that war isn't just natural selection played out on a grand scale. The only truth I found is that the world we live in is a giant tinderbox. All it takes...is someone to light the match" - Captain Price
Well I know you didn't ask specificly about ATI, but iirc their best AGP card is much better and a 512 card for $125 US, is why I asked to make sure.
Have you looked at a reveiw of the 1600 Pro 512 card?
ATI has surpassed NVidia on drivers as well as performace on many cards, though ATI has been about 6 months behind for the last year or so on release mostly due to creating the dual graphic chip for the xbox 360.
Have you looked at a reveiw of the 1600 Pro 512 card?
ATI has surpassed NVidia on drivers as well as performace on many cards, though ATI has been about 6 months behind for the last year or so on release mostly due to creating the dual graphic chip for the xbox 360.
Trust me, most of the names I have been called you can't translate in any language...they're not even real words as much as a succession of violent images.
When in doubt about graphic card performance go to the experts: Tom's Hardware
Here is a link to their interactive performance charts where you can compare any two cards head to head in multiple benchmarks.
The Nvidia 7600GS scores significantly higher than the ATI 1600pro in most of the benchmarks. For under $130 the 7600GS is your best bang for the buck in AGP cards.
Here is a link to their interactive performance charts where you can compare any two cards head to head in multiple benchmarks.
The Nvidia 7600GS scores significantly higher than the ATI 1600pro in most of the benchmarks. For under $130 the 7600GS is your best bang for the buck in AGP cards.
Check out Mirrors Online a premier NWN2 roleplaying persistent world and D20 campaign world publishing project.
No kidding, I must have been confusing it with the PCI 1650.
Thanks for the link, Tom's has been going strong for at least 10 years now, great site.
Too bad they don't have NWN2 as a choice, though I am guessing it's due to poorly omptimised game and engine giving so many people trouble running it.
Thanks for the link, Tom's has been going strong for at least 10 years now, great site.
Too bad they don't have NWN2 as a choice, though I am guessing it's due to poorly omptimised game and engine giving so many people trouble running it.
Trust me, most of the names I have been called you can't translate in any language...they're not even real words as much as a succession of violent images.
That's exactly why I posted here. I read a good review (The best gaming cards for the money) that listed the 7600 GS as a great mid-level card which in my area is half the price of the 7800. The problem is that I know NWN2 is a beast, and an upgraded graphics card may not be enough. The last page of that article is good though since it shows all the cards and the various levels they are.Acleacius wrote:Too bad they don't have NWN2 as a choice, though I am guessing it's due to poorly omptimised game and engine giving so many people trouble running it.
To respond to Acleacius in particular, yes, I'm looking for an AGP card, and the tops for Nvidia is the 7800 (a few generations behind their PCI-e cards). ATI has a higher end card, but it's in the $450-$500 price range.
Thanks all! I'll keep looking for other responses.
From my earlier post - you will be fine with a 7600GS as long as you have a decent processor and at least a gig of RAM.I run the game on a AMD XP2000+ with 1.5gb ram and a ATI 9600XT (which is appreciably less powerful than the 7600GS you are looking at) and I run it at 1024x768 at medium detail. It runs very smoothly on my system and I feel no need to upgrade to play the game at this time
Check out Mirrors Online a premier NWN2 roleplaying persistent world and D20 campaign world publishing project.
Mordraken
Thanks for posting that link.
I knew I had seen something about a 1600 being very good, it was re-issued with a small core technoligy as the 1650 which slightly beats the 7600 GS according to Tom's on page 2.
"The efficient shaders and very high memory speed for this class help the X1650 PRO compare well to with the 12-pipeline 7600 GS, beating it by a small margin in most benchmarks."
I didn't realise the 1950 had a version for AGP, though as Tom's mentions it's hard to find in stock, though thats another $100,
Thanks for posting that link.
I knew I had seen something about a 1600 being very good, it was re-issued with a small core technoligy as the 1650 which slightly beats the 7600 GS according to Tom's on page 2.
"The efficient shaders and very high memory speed for this class help the X1650 PRO compare well to with the 12-pipeline 7600 GS, beating it by a small margin in most benchmarks."
I didn't realise the 1950 had a version for AGP, though as Tom's mentions it's hard to find in stock, though thats another $100,
Trust me, most of the names I have been called you can't translate in any language...they're not even real words as much as a succession of violent images.
There is a hardware performance guide for Neverwinter Nights 2 on Gamespot but when I looked at the results, I can tell you that it isn't pretty ([url="http://www.gamespot.com/features/6163248/index.html?tag=features;title;1"]link[/url]).
''They say truth is the first casualty of war. But who defines what's true? Truth is just a matter of perspective. The duty of every soldier is to protect the innocent, and sometimes that means preserving the lie of good and evil, that war isn't just natural selection played out on a grand scale. The only truth I found is that the world we live in is a giant tinderbox. All it takes...is someone to light the match" - Captain Price
"Isn't Pretty" sure is right! On the bright side, the person who had the 6600 would see about an 80% improvement by moving up to a 7600 GS. And since the 6600 is about double the performance of my 5900... looks like it might be a good investment.DesR85 wrote:There is a hardware performance guide for Neverwinter Nights 2 on Gamespot but when I looked at the results, I can tell you that it isn't pretty ([url="http://www.gamespot.com/features/6163248/index.html?tag=features;title;1"]link[/url]).
I also noted that the 7900 was the highest of the low-to-mid range cards, but at a 33% frame rate improvement for about 265% the price, it's hard to justify. Then again, none of those low-to-mid range cards meet the magical 32 fps that will result in a "smooth" game, meaning that 1280 is probably too high a resolution (I assume they had AA turned off for the tests).