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Video Cards; What Would You All Reccomend?
Topic Started: Jul 15 2005, 12:01 PM (217 Views)
Richman
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Captain
I brought the Sims 2 yesterday, and after playing it for a few minutes, the game always crashes on me. The same thing has happend with other high-performance games that I have purchased (Rome: Total War, C&C Generals, etc...). I've tried everything I can think of with my computer, and the only thing I can think of now is to buy a new video card to replace the one that I own now. I don't know if any of you guys are experts in this area, but if anyone could reccomend a good video card of me to buy, it would be greatly appriceated :)
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digifan2004
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Electronic genius
First, some questions.

Did your computer meet the minimal system requirements for these games? I know from experience. When I first brought American Mcfee's Alice, I installed it on my second computer system which had the following configuration:

Intel Celeron 800 MHz CPU
64 MB RAM
16 MB video card
16 bit sound card
40 GB HDD
Windows98 O/S.

The game didn't run because it required a minimal of 32 MB RAM video card, 128 MB RAM and DirectX 8 or better. I got the much dredded blue screen of death. After I upgraded my computer I didn't receive this error screen again.

Other PC games had a minimal system requirements as well. If your computer configuration didn't meet these requirements, it will crash on a continuous basis.

My recommendations - Check your computer's system setup. If it meet the minimal game parameters than start checking for video cards.

Some hardware upgrades maybe in order here as well. :yes:
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Richman
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Captain
I have an Intel Celeron 2.8 Ghz Cpu with an 128 MB video card and a gig of RAM, which is why I don't understand why it won't work :shrug:
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WayneSTOSfan
Lieutenant
What OS are you running?
It probably should be 2000 or XP....NOT 98..

What video card are you using? nVidia or ATI chipsets?

PCI -express or AGP??

Here is my take:
1) You are trying to run with WIN98..Need better..

2) What generation is your card? 128mgs of video ram is OK, but NOT if its on an old Geforce 3 or ATI 9200!! You should be at least on a 5xxx series card from Nvidea or a 9800 from ATI

3) More likely you are using an outdated driver..Are you STILL using the one that came on the CD with your video card??? Whatever it was, it now WAY too old...

UPDATE your drivers..then see if your card will run those games...bESIDEs driver updates are free!!............
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Richman
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Captain
Ahhh! that could be the problem! I have an ATI 9250 card, but on fully updated drivers, and AGP.

I have xp so that shouldnt be the problem...
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Franko
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Shower Moderator


Friends of mine have reported these same problems, and in each case solved it by updating their driver cards. Also, sometimes they found they had to re-install the game a couple of times before it configured itself properly.


Since my laptop has only a pathetic 64mg of video ram, I rely on Xbox.


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Richman
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Captain
Well it looks like im going to have to find a new video card...can anybody reccomend a good one?
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digifan2004
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Electronic genius
It depends on your budget and what you can afford. Zdnet perform a regular reviews of the latest video graphics cards. Check here for their latest reports.
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