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[mrklaw]

Hear me out.

I'm getting a new desktop PC soon (have a laptop which will be relegated to browser/email)

Price is an issue, but I'd like to play games eventually. Am I right in thinking that most optional graphics card upgrades are a waste of time, unless you are at GX5900/Radeon 9800 kinds of levels (I'd want to play Doom 3 at OK quality)

In which case, will normal windows (video editing, photoshop etc) be fine with onboard graphics until prices of high end cards come down, or I can save up for a big bugger?

 

[DaCocoBrova]

Integrated graphics suck. Just make sure there's an AGP slot so you can get a real grfx card later.

 

[Diablos]

You will want to share no less than 64MB for desktop applications. That already takes you down to 448MB of total memory (assuming you have 512), which is still a lot. However because the memory between the GPU and CPU is shared, sometimes the system's timing will get extremely slow and the mouse will jitter.

 

[AntoneM]

you are wrong... even a Geforce 5200 is better than integrated. but for a significant boost for cheap take a look at the midrange cards (9600 series and 5700 series for last gen, x700 series and 6600 series for this gen) they will smoke the shit out of integrated graphics.

 

[mrklaw]

sure. but there is smoke, and there is smoke.

Would a midrange card like a 9600 play doom 3/half life 2? I don't want mega resolutions (I'll be feeding an LCD TV/monitor, so 1280x768 max res).

Its just that I don't want to be shelling out £50+ on a mediocre graphics card if I'll be throwing it away in 6 months. I'd rather put that towards more RAM.

PS. Any good base unit deals in the UK at the moment? I'm thinking Athlon 64 3000, 1GB, 160 ATA HDD. AGP Slot

 

[DaCocoBrova]

Just spend $200 on a 9800 Pro and call it a day.

 

[AntoneM]

sure. but there is smoke, and there is smoke.

Would a midrange card like a 9600 play doom 3/half life 2? I don't want mega resolutions (I'll be feeding an LCD TV/monitor, so 1280x768 max res).

Its just that I don't want to be shelling out £50+ on a mediocre graphics card if I'll be throwing it away in 6 months. I'd rather put that towards more RAM.

PS. Any good base unit deals in the UK at the moment? I'm thinking Athlon 64 3000, 1GB, 160 ATA HDD. AGP Slot

yes, a 9600 Pro/XT will run both HL2 and Doom 3, at 800 X 600 with high details. If you want to run those games and others like them at high a higher resolution you will have spend more money. An integrated chip might be able to run those games at 640 X 480 with medium to low details. These are just guesses, educated guesses, but guesses none the less. You'll really have to research it yourself... one site I've found to be very helpful as far as finding reviews is http://www.neoseeker.com

 

[mrmyth]

Sure, embedded graphics are fine.

FOR ME TO POOP ON!



In other news, slitting your wrists is a great way to get some much-needed rest.

 

[mrklaw]

well you go and have a nice long rest then












9600 sounds interesting though, thanks. Certainly a bit more education while trying to get a good card for a good price.

 

[BigGreenMat]

I don't think Integrated chipsets would even be able to run those games at 640x480. I don't think the integrated chipsets available even have the shader functions necessary in those games. If you want to play any games that have come out in the past year or so you need at least a 9600 pro I would say. If I were you I would spend at least 150-200 on a card.

 

[marsomega]

If your desktop is PCI Express, go with the X700 vanilla. Its 149.99 and is faster then 6600 vanilla. Being that a X700 XT is faster then a 9800 XT, a X700 vanilla will be a sweat spot for you.

If AGP, i would just buy a 9700 PRO dirt cheap. Its ten percent slower on average then a 9800 PRO. Hopefully you can find one at 130 or so.