Graphics Cards?

[Bfbcool]

I would like to have a better understanding of Graphics cards. Which are good, and which aren't?

 

 

 

I have an Nvidia 8200m Graphics card. Looking at the high number, I thought that it was a spectacular graphics card upon purchase, but I found out the truth once I actually got on my computer and started gaming.

 

 

 

Here are my specs:

 

 

 

Os- Vista Home Premium

 

Ram- 3gb

 

CPU- AMD Turion X2 (2.00 Ghz)

 

Graphics Card- Nvidia 8200m

 

 

 

Runescape runs decently on High Definition. Its not bad, but its not great. But I am thinking about buying WoW and I don't want to have to play it on the lowest detail just to have it run smoothly. I'm aware that it might not be possible to run it in high detail smoothly, but I have my hopes up.

 

 

 

What I would really like to see is a list of Graphics cards from worst to best. Perhaps starting a couple below my Nvidia 8200m, to a graphics card powerful enough to run WoW smoothly on High Detail. If anyone would be willing to take the time to do this, I would really appreciate it.

 

 

 

Thank you

 

 

 

Edit: I found this chart, its kind of confusing but I can see that my card is at the bottom.

 

 

 

http://www.nvidia.com/object/geforce_m_series.html

[i_love_burritos]

Okay, before you do anything make sure the actual graphics card fits within your case. And you've got enough backspace for the pin slots.

 

 

 

Right with the operating system : Can you tell me what drivers for the 8200 you have ?

 

 

 

Some general tips : NVidia has always had T&S platform on their cards, but some manufacturers dont - make sure they have T&S - WoW does need it and so do many other games. Just for future reference.

 

 

 

For WoW - make sure you have the most recent service packs installed for Vista.

 

 

 

There literally hundreds of different types of video cards but -

 

 

 

I'll give you the most trusted brands and in 3 price ranges - all that can play WoW well.

 

 

 

The criteria for playing WoW well : [Take directly from the Tech FAQ]

 

 

 

Minimum: 3D graphics processor with Hardware Transform and Lighting with 64 MB VRAM Such as an ATI Radeon 9600 or NVIDIA GeForce Ti 4600 class card or better

 

Recommended: 3D graphics processor with Vertex and Pixel Shader capability with 128 MB VRAM Such as an ATI Radeon X1600 or NVIDIA 7600 class card or better

 

 

 

OK.

 

 

 

Here is a list from the Blizzard Support Centre of Cards Not supported on Vista for WoW:

 

 

 

Radeon 7200

 

Radeon 8500

 

Radeon 9000

 

Radeon 9250

 

GeForce2 MX

 

GeForce2 MX400

 

GeForce2 GTS

 

GeForce2 Pro

 

GeForce3

 

GeForce4 series

 

 

 

And completely unsupported regardless of OS

 

 

 

[hide=Unsupported List]Voodoo Banshee

 

Voodoo Series

 

Voodoo 2 Series

 

Voodoo 3 Series

 

Voodoo 4 Series

 

Voodoo 5 Series

 

3D (Charger / Pro Turbo / Xpression) Series

 

Rage (II / IIc / Pro) Series

 

Xpert (98 / @play / @work) Series

 

Rage 128 (Pro) Series

 

All in Wonder (Pro / Rage 128)

 

Rage MAXX

 

Radeon 7000

 

Extreme Graphics (82810 / 82815) Series

 

SiS300 Series

 

SiS500 Series

 

SiS600FX/SiS600MX Series

 

SiS700 Series

 

Trident Blade Series

 

UniChrome Series

 

AlphaChrome Series

 

Savage Series

 

ViRGE Series

 

Riva 128 Series

 

TNT Series

 

TNT2 (M64 / Pro) Series

 

GeForce 256

 

Millenium G200 Series

 

Millenium G400 Series

 

Millenium G450 Series

 

Millenium G550 Series

 

P750/P650 Series[/hide]

 

Here is a complete list for ATI : Radeon Series

 

[hide=Complete ATI List][/hide]

 

 

 

And for NVIDIA

 

[hide=Complete NVIDIA List][/hide]

 

 

 

So finally my suggestion in the upper-mid-price range [PM me if you want more detail]

 

 

 

Get a NVIDIA GeForce anything above 7500 - should be in the $175 - $225 range, cheaper if you hunt a good deal.

 

 

 

For ATI, the one Blizzard reccommends came out in about 2006 so - it's old. But apparantly still good. Under $100 - you're looking at Radeon XT or preset X series anything above 2000.

 

 

 

The X1600 listed on their website, the average price is about $65 - $75. Your choice !

 

 

 

But make sure it supports T&S, Vertex and Pixel shader [it's to do with when the graphics can "cut-off" depending on the camera angle] and lastly make sure there are suitable drivers.

 

 

 

Hope that Helped.

[sloter]

That graphics card i believe is for a laptop. Is your computer is a laptop?

[OldJoe]

Much spare time Adrenal?

 

 

 

But your hardware is for a laptop, so what are you going to do? You can't change the graphics card in the laptop.

 

For desktop i guess (wow isn't demanding) 9500gt or 4650 (faster than 9500gt) are pretty cheap and good options.

[i_love_burritos]

Much spare time Adrenal?

 

 

 

Eh, I felt bored. Needed a little break. Plus I'm into video cards. :D

[Bfbcool]

Thanks for the help, Yes I do have a notebook and I'm saving up to buy a desktop. Buying a laptop was a huge mistake, as it is not possible to upgrade.

 

 

 

I am still a little confused, is the Nvidia GeForce 7500 in the same series as the 8200? I couldn't find 7500 in the list of notebook graphics cards, but I guess thats probably because its a desktop card lol.

 

 

 

Alright so new question, Geforce 8200 > Geforce 7500? Or the other way around.

 

 

 

Also, as for the drivers, I don't know exactly what I have but I did update them in the past two weeks. I was missing a few apparently but I just had to download them from the Nvidia web site.

[OldJoe]

Why on earth would you want a Geforce 7500LE?

 

For WOW and ability to play other games i'd probably recommend 9600GSO or HD4670.

 

 

 

Geforce 7 series came before the 8 series.

[Nadril]

WoW is not an intensive game, his video card should be fine. :?

[Foooman]

I am still a little confused, is the Nvidia GeForce 7500 in the same series as the 8200? I couldn't find 7500 in the list of notebook graphics cards, but I guess thats probably because its a desktop card lol.

 

 

 

Nvidia used to make 7450/7600 Go Series cards for notebooks, but you will find that if they are going to put a decent graphics card in a notebook these days it will probably be of the 8/9/200 series. After all, nobody wants to buy something really old in something they can't upgrade.

 

 

 

Generally with nvidia, higher numbers means newer and better cards. However, some lower number cards will be better suited for gaming than higher numbered cards. Say the 8800gt vs a 9500gt. The 8200m and 7500LE are about the same. One has a higher core clock, other has a higher memory clock. Both have the same amount of memory. I'd say the 8200m will be better because it's a DX10 card. Both are very cheap and something I wouldn't game on.

 

 

 

As for drivers, just Download and install the latest from Nvidia's site.

 

 

 

And your video card will play WoW just fine, you just won't be able to play with the settings maxed out. I played on an FX5200 for 2 years in vanilla WoW, and I used to log in on my laptop with integrated intel graphics and managed to play just fine. If I were in the market for a new computer, I'd probably buy a 9600gso for around $50 and upgrade it when ATI releases their DX11 cards or Nvidia releases the GTX300 series.

[wormy]

Here is your listing good-bad

 

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/bes ... 362-6.html

 

 

 

There will be a new list in a couple of weeks with the new additions.

 

I do not even try to keep up with vid cards, there are just too many with too many suffixes and the numbers are all over the board(imo)