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Upgrade? Is it worth it? Follow

#1 Aug 10 2009 at 6:33 AM Rating: Good
System specs:

AMD Athelon Dual core 4050e 2.1GHz
3.0 GB DDR2 RAM
32-bit Vista
GeForce 8400 GS

I'm thinking about a new video card in preperation for WoW endgame. As is, with the graphics settings I have in-game, I'm only running around 18FPS while out and about questing.

I'm considering this as an upgrade. Is it worth it?

#2 Aug 10 2009 at 6:40 AM Rating: Good
Terrorfiend
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12,905 posts
doubtful. x600 and x800 are the only good nvidia models. aside from the GTX models of course.

Memory size isnt everything, in fact it's almost not worth looking at.

Speed speed speed.

Dunno if thats about all you are willing to spend, but a 8800 GT would be a better upgrade for about 100 bucks.
#3 Aug 10 2009 at 6:47 AM Rating: Good
I'm pretty hardware illiterate. When you say speed, what should I be looking for in the specs list?
#4 Aug 10 2009 at 7:08 AM Rating: Good
Terrorfiend
*****
12,905 posts
Core clock, processors, memory clock, memory type.

I got a pretty kick *** gtx260 a few weeks ago and it only has 896mb RAM. but it is POWERFUL. Was like buying a brand new computer compared to my old 7600gt.
#5 Aug 10 2009 at 7:31 AM Rating: Default
OK, so in general, everything lol. I'm assuming, processor cores or units are better than just a number after "stream processors"? What's really limiting me is my desire to not upgrade my power supply, which is currently a 300W unit. Most of the $100+ cards I've looked at would require even more money spent on a 400W+ power supply.
#6 Aug 10 2009 at 7:32 AM Rating: Decent
Scholar
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6,129 posts
I have the 8400 GS in my PC (I upgraded to this) and I am running 60fps in any city but Dalaran, and about 30-50 depending on area there.


Raids and arena its 50+ always, I run with max settings, except for color multisampling, which I keep at lowest (every step up in multisampling with this card I saw exactly half FPS, so x1 was 60fps, x2 was 30 and when I went to x4 it was about 10.)

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#7 Aug 10 2009 at 7:41 AM Rating: Default
I'm running 1680X1050 with everything maxxed except shadows (around 1/2) and multisampling (x2). cities are fine, around 30FPS, but out and about questing/fighting, I'm seeing anywhere from 15-20 FPS. It's not bad. But I'm not expecting raids/BGs to run very well with the settings I'm at now. I'd rather just upgrade the graphics hardware once, than tweak my settings every time I wanna do something with a large group of people.
#8 Aug 10 2009 at 7:44 AM Rating: Good
Terrorfiend
*****
12,905 posts
wait, you get better FPS in cities than when questing? something is up...

try turning your terrain distance down?
#9 Aug 10 2009 at 7:53 AM Rating: Default
I don't spend a lot of time in cities, and usually when I am there, it's spent at the trainer, a forge, and minimal AH/bank time. I just ran from the mount dealer in Org to the AH, went from 28fps at the start, to 20fps at the end. But yeah, out and about in the world, I'm usually between 15-20.
#10 Aug 10 2009 at 7:57 AM Rating: Good
Terrorfiend
*****
12,905 posts
well, if i were you id turn terrain distance down to half and see what you can get. its hardly even noticeable and is one of the biggest drains on the system.
#11 Aug 10 2009 at 5:57 PM Rating: Default
OK, that helped to an extent. High 20's, low 30's while out and about beating on stuff. I think I'll deal with this, and forget about anticipating raiding, and see how it does then. I'll just wait to see the system reqs for FFXIV before I do any upgrades, if any.
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