need vid card advice

[RedDeadRider]

Ok let me say from the start that a new computer isn't feasible right now and I am stuck with my current one. So my problem is this; my Geforce 6200 256 AGP died. Since FO3 ran "ok" with the old card, I bought a Geforce 6200 512 AGP to replace it. Now the game lags all to hell! There was only 1 card in my budget to replace with. Here's my question, given that I am bound to an APG/PCI video card (NOT PCIe) was there a better option? I have been reading that the 6200 was a crap card and I'm thinking that I should have bit the bullet and spent a bit more. Would more money made a difference? I figured that the extra 256 of ram would only help.

 

Also, when it comes to video cards I am just a user. Am I bound to a specific type, e.i. Nvidia vs. ATI?

[RedDeadRider]

I noticed something else, the Geforce 6200 calls for at least 300watt power supply and mine is only 260. Will lower wattage cause choppy / laggy game play? Edited September 3, 2011 by RedDeadRider

[DarkWarrior45]

As you have probably found out already, the amount of memory on a graphics card is not the silver bullet in regards to performance. But before you do anything, I would go out and reinstall your nvidia drivers. The geforce 6200 was not a terrible card like everyone makes it out to be; it's an entry level card that is designed solely for pushing out a display to two monitors and not particularly gaming. Somehow that makes a video card suck, haven't been able to figure out exactly how yet.

 

You are not bound to a specific brand of card as far as ATi and nVidia are concerned. Now ATi did support the AGP slot a lot longer than nVidia did, so they would have a much better selection for that slot. I believe there some Radeon HD2000 series cards that were made for AGP, but don't quote on that. I would look on ebay and see what's being tossed around.

 

A lower rated power supply won't cause lag per say, but it can damage the graphics. Probably why your 6200 died.

[Fonger]

it's an entry level card that is designed solely for pushing out a display to two monitors and not particularly gaming. Somehow that makes a video card suck, haven't been able to figure out exactly how yet.

because it doesn't have what it takes to run games

 

it'll play text games fine

 

but trying to get it to display graphics

 

is like trying to cross the atlantic in a Yugo

[prandiningrat]

Video card that good for gaming need at least memory interface 256 bit..Nvidia 6200 is only come out with two versions memory interface, 64 bit and 128 bit..and also Interface AGP 8x is faster than PCI (Not PCIe).

for AGP card, I'd like to suggest ATI 3850 AGP 512(256bit)..there two versions of this card with Interface AGP and PCIe (PCIexpress)..and dont forget to upgrade you PSU if buy this card.

[blove]

Curious to know how much system memory you have since it was okay with a 256MB video card and laggy with a 512MB one. If it is a low amount, the extra memory addressing needed by the 512MB video card may the reason because you would have less system memory to run the game than you previously would have had available.

[RedDeadRider]

system is:

gateway mdw e-4100

Pentium 4 2.60gig

2 gb ram

 

i wondered if it was ram causing this issue but not sure how to test that.

[Paxan_1]

Hi,

Well, upgrading a old agp system is a thing you should have thought abaut. The Radeon 3850 agp is powerfull, but keep in mind, atm the 6xxx series is available and spending 50$ for an outdated card is a lot of cash. The 6200 is very basic and i cant really imagine f3 is working with it. If it was running maybe you can try to run f3 in a window with a lower resolution.

[blove]

You are plugged in to the AGP card and not the integrated video? Had to ask. Odd, Newegg shows those cards as being 64-bit yet nVidia says all of the AGP 6200's are 128-bit. 2GB of RAM should be fine with 512MB video card but not sure why it is faring worse than the 256MB. And I am also not up to date on better performing low-profile AGP video cards.