Wich graphic card should i buy

Automan

considering i want to run EQ2 at its highest settings

im currently owning a fx5200 and gonna get something at xmass.. 

im thinking if a gf6800 128 ram would do it or not ..

what are you using and how does it runs ?

MaC1NrO3

I don't know anything about EQ2 but i think that graphic card would do it ^.^

But if your other parts in the computer suck! Then i don't think you can go for max settings!

 

Dyrtt

personaly, i'd stick with 256 meg card if you want it to have a long lifespan. 128 is fine for anything right now but will be outdated in a year or 2.

as far as which specific card, you cant go wrong with either nvidia or ati. have had both of their cards in the past and have been very happy both ways. i dont think there is really enough of a diference to make a distinction. but thats just my personal opinion.

Jackdog

Best bang for the buck is to buy one generation back in my opinion, I watched 9800 pros drop from US $500 at release til they dropped into the low $200 range (street prices) when the x800 pros came out. Buy the best you can afford but keep in mind that the card that sells for $500 today will drop in  a year when the next new thing arrives. 

Edit oh and I have played the game on 2 machines, one of which is has a old  Nvidia ti 4200 on it and the game ran fine at the low settings.

Automan

the 9800 is nice ..but benchmarks revealed that 6800 128 mb has twice the performance.at $50 more

then there's the 6600gt.. about the same price as the 9800 but 15 % better perfomance in most games.

Jackdog

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Originally posted by Automan

the 9800 is nice ..but benchmarks revealed that 6800 128 mb has twice the performance.at $50 more
then there's the 6600gt.. about the same price as the 9800 but 15 % better perfomance in most games.

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No argument with that , just pointing out that you don't need the latest and greatest. Myself I have owned ATI and Nvidia cards so I am not trying to push either brand. I just quit trying to keep up a few years ago as far as having the latest cutting edge machine to eek out a few more FPS.

Automan

i agree .. getting up to date with the latest Graphic cards require alot of cash .

thats why i wonder if anyone is experienceing good quality graphics with a mid range Card.

add to the discussion that i have a am64 3500 939 slot .1024 3200 ram.

so  on that part i think im up to date.

NoisyMonkey

Get 2 6600's and connect them together :O under 300 dollars.. 6800 gt's are like 450

Automan

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Originally posted by NoisyMonkey
Get 2 6600's and connect them together :O under 300 dollars.. 6800 gt's are like 450

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  yeah hehehe not a bad idea.. but i have Agp  port and not Pci-express..

hopefully when they introduce SLI the  agp card prices will plummet

NoisyMonkey

new mobo and 2 6600's is still cheaper than 1 6800gt.. and... um... 6600's dont have stutter problems like 6800gt? ;p

jayheld90

if you dont want to spend that much and get a good card, check out the fx5700ultra its clock speeds are faster than the 6800 and it has gddr3 ram (not faster than the gt model though)

Automan

ahh thanks jay.. ill be sure to check  that out aswell..

i remember how the grapic performance was in eq1 with 100 ppl raids.i  would love to get a card that can withstand that .and not cost 500 bucks .

Tymora

I've had nvidia and Ati cards.  They are both excellent.  If you want the best performance in Everquest II, I would suggest a video card with 256 mb RAM.  This will allow you to use a higher setting in the textures and lighting options.

The graphics in EQ2 are also CPU dependent, so your video card is not the only thing drives good performance and nice graphics, but from what I have seen, and from experimenting with my 3 computers of all different ranges (High, medium, and low end), Everquest II looks nice even at low setting.  The high setting just turn on some details that sometimes just blow you away.

I am running an Ati X800 XT on my high end machine and the graphics are just about at Maximum.  Even the newest video card cannot be set to the highest settings in EQII, because the game was desgned to be upgradable once newer cards come out.  Even at my high setting with the power my machine has, I usually have to turn it down in some options to get smooth frames in crowded areas or in ares with many shadows and lighting effects.  There is a very good options guide at the Station.com/Everquest II forums. I forgot the link . . .

Anyway, if you do not have the funds for a top of the line video card, then I recommend the next generation down.  I have an Ati Radeon 9800 XT 256 mb which makes EQII looks awesome, to be honest, almost as good as the high end machines X800 XT.  The only thing is I cannot turn up some graphics options and still have a smooth game like I can with the X800, so it's all in how you prefer to play.  My preference is usually better graphics quality and detail over framerate, except in situations where I may endanger my life or my group, in that case I will turn down some options to make the battles more smooth.  But overall, I don't mind some stuttering when I enter an area populated with many characters, it's just a second of stutter and then smooth again.

With a medium to low end machine, and an older video card, options will have to be turned down just to get a constant smooth framerate, however.  Don't worry, EQ2 will still look great, as I said before.  It gives you something to look forward to in the futre when you save up for that brand spankin new  video card or PC and then you'll get to crank it up and see some dazzling effects and detail.

In summary, if you have about $500, go for the latest nvidia 6800 or the Ati X800.  Keep in mind that you'll need a motherboard and power supply that will be compatable with these cards, I won't go into that detail here, but always match up your parts for compatability.  Otherwise, for around $200-300, you can get a great card with nvidia's 5950 256mb ultra or Ati's Radeon 9800 XT 256.  These cards will fit right into your current system with no problems (except the Ati does have a separate power supply plug-in, but it's not a problem on most computers).

Hope this helped . . .

Automan

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Originally posted by Tymora

I've had nvidia and Ati cards.  They are both excellent.  If you want the best performance in Everquest II, I would suggest a video card with 256 mb RAM.  This will allow you to use a higher setting in the textures and lighting options.
The graphics in EQ2 are also CPU dependent, so your video card is not the only thing drives good performance and nice graphics, but from what I have seen, and from experimenting with my 3 computers of all different ranges (High, medium, and low end), Everquest II looks nice even at low setting.  The high setting just turn on some details that sometimes just blow you away.
I am running an Ati X800 XT on my high end machine and the graphics are just about at Maximum.  Even the newest video card cannot be set to the highest settings in EQII, because the game was desgned to be upgradable once newer cards come out.  Even at my high setting with the power my machine has, I usually have to turn it down in some options to get smooth frames in crowded areas or in ares with many shadows and lighting effects.  There is a very good options guide at the Station.com/Everquest II forums. I forgot the link . . .
Anyway, if you do not have the funds for a top of the line video card, then I recommend the next generation down.  I have an Ati Radeon 9800 XT 256 mb which makes EQII looks awesome, to be honest, almost as good as the high end machines X800 XT.  The only thing is I cannot turn up some graphics options and still have a smooth game like I can with the X800, so it's all in how you prefer to play.  My preference is usually better graphics quality and detail over framerate, except in situations where I may endanger my life or my group, in that case I will turn down some options to make the battles more smooth.  But overall, I don't mind some stuttering when I enter an area populated with many characters, it's just a second of stutter and then smooth again.
With a medium to low end machine, and an older video card, options will have to be turned down just to get a constant smooth framerate, however.  Don't worry, EQ2 will still look great, as I said before.  It gives you something to look forward to in the futre when you save up for that brand spankin new  video card or PC and then you'll get to crank it up and see some dazzling effects and detail.
In summary, if you have about $500, go for the latest nvidia 6800 or the Ati X800.  Keep in mind that you'll need a motherboard and power supply that will be compatable with these cards, I won't go into that detail here, but always match up your parts for compatability.  Otherwise, for around $200-300, you can get a great card with nvidia's 5950 256mb ultra or Ati's Radeon 9800 XT 256.  These cards will fit right into your current system with no problems (except the Ati does have a separate power supply plug-in, but it's not a problem on most computers).
Hope this helped . . .

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Sure did Tymora .its nice to get some  imput to  what card ppl use and how well it works with the  specific game .and i think ive come to the conclution to go for the 6800 128 since it outperformes 9800Xt's on all resolutions and costs 150 bucks less.or.. perhaps a x800.pro...hehe as you see im highly uncertain..perhaps i should just put pictures of cards on a dart board and toss a dart blindfolded and choose  the one i hit.

DerfelCadarn

Go with the 6800 GT, it is the best bang for your buck. It can be easily overclocked to a Ultra, and only requires 350w ps and 1 molex power connecter I wouldn't go with the old Series 5 Fx line(just because the clock speeds are similar doesnt mean it performs alike), the ATI line would serve you better(9800). With 2 6600 GT idea, SLI/PCI-E is both expensive and bleeding edge. SLI isnt worth the money, and makes no noticeable effect until you reach 1600X1200. I think that one 6800 Gt is better.

EQ2 Qeynos Guild- http://www.imperium-arcanum.com

Automan

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Originally posted by DerfelCadarn

Go with the 6800 GT, it is the best bang for your buck. It can be easily overclocked to a Ultra, and only requires 350w ps and 1 molex power connecter I wouldn't go with the old Series 5 Fx line(just because the clock speeds are similar doesnt mean it performs alike), the ATI line would serve you better(9800). With 2 6600 GT idea, SLI/PCI-E is both expensive and bleeding edge. SLI isnt worth the money, and makes no noticeable effect until you reach 1600X1200. I think that one 6800 Gt is better.
EQ2 Qeynos Guild- http://www.imperium-arcanum.com

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yeah the 6800gt has been on my mind lately too.seems to be everybodys favorite. i dont know about the stutters effects in eq2 but they will probably fix that within a near future.

the thing with SLI is that you can get a cheap card first and when you feel its getting slow.. just buy another and bridge them together. but as you say its expensive .and i have allready a newly purchanced AGP motherboard.