Thread: Graphics Driver

Help! I need some advice on purchasing a Graphics Driver. I need one that is DirectX 9.0c compatible. Can anyone give me some ideas of what to buy or where to even ask these questions? Would I just go to a computer store and let them sell me any $1,000 driver?

I assume you mean a graphics card not driver. I'm no expert but you should buy depending on what you do with your machine. Are you into intense graphics like CAD or are you a gaming nut or just need for casual use like surfing and word processing. It would depend. You can spend $150 or so or can spend thousands with multiple cards. The Nvidia 8800 is the current gamers card with 750mb memory. I think it goes for about $600 or so. I'm sure the experts will chime in here.

Do you mean a Graphics card? If so need more info what do you use your PC for that will make the world of difference on a recommendation.

Yes, sorry. Ofcourse I meant a graphics card, or whatever would have been a smarter question!

I just want to play a sims game (actually my gf daughter Emily) wants to play Sims LIfestories.

I do have a wicked cool Pacific Fighters game too. :-)

Hmm, well most new graphics cards should be direct x 9 compatible as it has been out for a while. You need to figure out what kind of slots your motherboard has. There are three kinds, AGP, PCI, and PCI Express. PCI Express is the latest type where as PCI is the oldest of the three. Once you get that figured then I can help more. How old is your computer and what brand is it? Do you by any chance know what brand and model of motherboard you have?

Once I have the above mentioned info then I should be able to point you in the right direction. I am a web and graphic designer so I know a thing or two about these things.

Matt

The computer is about 4 years old and is a Compaq Presario. Up to now I thought it had a Fatherboard and not a Motherboard. Does that help enough?

Get the NVidia 7600 GT. Should be around 110$ But, than again, if the PC is that old, get yourself a new one?

cheers,
Nenad

(happily working with 3D apps on my 7600, after ruining ATI X1600 PRO trying to make it silent. It's silent now, allright...)

Ok well Compaq is no longer in existence as they merged with HP. So I wasn't able to find any info on their older models. The best thing you could do would be to open the case and take a picture of the mother board, and then post it here. Make sure that the graphics card is viewable along with the other slots next to it. You either have AGP or PCI. I am leaning toward PCI, but best to be safe.

If your computer is about 4 years old, it's not going to have a PCI-E (PCI express) bus on it. So you're going to have to go with a graphics card that is either AGP or PCI. You really shouldn't have to spend much money, or even go with the latest stuff. A PC that old will likely hinder the performance of any of the latest cards with lots of horsepower in them. If you have more detailed specifications of the PC I could probably recommend something more specific.

If your PC is that old, it will have an AGP slot for video expansion boards.
That is, if it has a video expansion slot at all. Not all standard PCs have one. Cheaper ones typically don't.

The best thing to do is to open the case, take a picture of the mobo and post it here.

Assuming that it has an AGP slot, I'd go with an nvidia board from the 6000 series.
Those will set you back about 100 dollars, or maybe even less.
Faster boards will not help you because the rest of your PC will not be able to keep up.
Buying an 8800 would be like installing a ferrari engine in a toyota (and about as expensive).

Whenever I build a new computer, I always go for nvidia because their drivers are top notch, and the boards themselves are very fast and stable.