ATI Video Card

[crucifixio]

Hi Guys,

I currently use an ATI Saphire X1900 GT 256 mb video card, and I haven't yet upgraded to Vista. I've experiencing multiple VPU Recovery incidences lately, which cause me to have to have to close Oblivion and start it up again. Anyway, I was looking around on pricewatch.com at prices for new video cards just for "sh*ts and giggles," and I noticed that some of those new ATI HD 3870 512 mb cards were going for about $170. Does anyone have experiences running Oblivion with one of these cards? I was considering buying one, and wanted some testimonies/advice on the matter before I spent my money on it.

 

 

Dave

 

:thanks:

[SGTBOB]

yep i have a Diamond Radeon HD 3870 graphics card and it runs not only oblivion but crysis also, with no problems at all

just one of these GDDR4 babies and im running crysis on all High settings with 34 fps! (i havnt tried very high yet i still need to install direct X 10 because ive got xp)

you definatly should think of getting one

just some tips are to get riva tuner and adjust the fan speed (i have it at 40%)

this keeps it alot cooler and doesnt make it any louder

i also just today spawned 10,000 watermelons into cloud ruler temple today

 

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q8/SGT-BOB/10000melons.jpg

and those 10,000 melons where all done with the highest graphics settings (except for shaders which make everything look like crap)

so with one of these cards i doubt youll ever have a problem running oblivion lol

 

heres some more screenys of what this card can pump out

 

this is what the card looks like in my awsome rig

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q8/SGT-...computer030.jpg

 

heres a few pics of crysis on all high settings (at a resolution of 1680 x 1050)

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q8/SGT-...screenshot3.jpg

 

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q8/SGT-BOB/Cloak1.jpg

 

dont understand why everyone else says to get nvidea ati is waaaaay more for your money

also get it from frys electronics or newegg they have best prices and service

 

hope this helps,

-SGTBOB

[nelvahin]

i also just today spawned 10,000 watermelons into cloud ruler temple today

 

really amazing!

 

But, with a friend we arived to have a window that sayed that the memory was full! (with 8800 Ultra overclocked)

[RGMage2]

I've been using a Sapphire ATI 3870 since Dec. I run it all settings maxed (in game and on card) with HDR and forced AA, usually at 1920x1200. I'm generally happy with it but there are occasional glitches. I can get a CTD once in a while when moving between cells, but that is just as likely to be mod related instead of a problem with the card. At 1920x1200 I usually get around 25 FPS, but it can drop lower. If I don't force the AA then I get around 60 FPS :smile:

 

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u312/RG...ic/08040802.jpg

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u312/RG...c/08040803b.jpg

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u312/RG...89yrsvaG_fs.jpg

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u312/RG...89zBkxUW_fs.jpg

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u312/RG...89crhbpq_fs.jpg

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u312/RG...89dYICAp_fs.jpg

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u312/RG...89tpFVqX_fs.jpg

[Jesse_Dylan]

You know, the thing about the watermelons though, it's really only taxing the physics engine (and therefore your processor), not so much the graphics card. The watermelons are all identical.

 

Just saying...

 

100 actors on screen, all wearing different outfits fighting each other, and then you cast stark reality on them all at once... now that would impress me!

 

I'm using a semi-similar card--Sapphire's version of the Radeon X 1950 pro. or... something like that. 512mb. I like it! It was a really great deal. I'll stick with it til I decide I need a Direct X 10 card.

[crucifixio]

Thanks for the info. So, since I'm still running XP I'd need to install DirectX 10.0 if I wanted to play a game that uses it? What does Oblivion use? On a side note, 100 actors wearing different outfits, all fighting each other, and suddenly having Stark Reality cast on them would be quite entertaining. I'd like to see that.

[Jesse_Dylan]

Yes, it would be. :)

 

Obliv uses Direct X 9 (version C I think?). As far as I know, Direct X 10 can't be installed on XP. So if you wanted to play a game that required it (are there any?), you'd flat out need Vista.

 

I may be wrong about any or all of the above!

[SGTBOB]

bah dont get vista

just get this

http://rapidshare.com/files/96505022/DirectX.10.for.XP.rar

the guys who made this have closed up shop but the direct x 10 hack is still good

just install it and voila your in direct x 10

(note that oblivion doesnt utilize it much less quad cores and that crysis can be run on all very high without dx10)

On a side note, 100 actors wearing different outfits, all fighting each other, and suddenly having Stark Reality cast on them would be quite entertaining. I'd like to see that.

 

well i suppose i could try and do this,

although the most i could do is maybe 25 at the same time by aggroing all the IC gaurds,

if any of you have a method to get more actors more eastily just tell me (i could also use some code to make everyone go free for all lol)

 

-SGTBOB

[Jesse_Dylan]

Vista really isn't that bad anymore, you know, since SP1... It is, however, ridiculously overpriced.

[crucifixio]

Well, I have a new Power Supply on the way. I was looking at the system requirements on the HD 3870 and it reccomended at least a 450w PSU, and when I opened up my box I discovered (besides the fact that it was ridiculously dusty in there) that the one that Dell had put it in there was only a 350W. So I've got a nice Corsair CMPSU-750TX 750W w/ a single +12v rail coming from Newegg.com :biggrin: . This should be fun to install. I've never installed a PSU before.

 

Cheers,

Dave