NR2003 graphics card question...

[flametarget]

Ok right now my specs are

Pentium 4 2.0GHz
1GB DDR
60GB HDD
GeForce 5500 FX

I might start saving money to build a new computer, and I want some suggestions.

Some games are designed better for either NVIDIA or ATI Radeon. What graphics company is NR2003 better on?

I was looking at the following cards:
Newegg.com - XFX PVT98GYAF3 GeForce 9800 GT 512MB 256-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

Newegg.com - XFX HD-485X-ZNFC Radeon HD 4850 1GB 256-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card

I also stumbled across this one, but it's about $50 more than the other two options, is it worth it?

Newegg.com - XFX HD-487A-ZWFC Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card

So what do you guys think? The other components im going to try as cheap as I can. I am going to spend the most on the video card.

 

[RP Motorsports]

Theres a sticky right at the top of the page that says "This is not the nr2003 forum, read before posting".
I think your in the wrong place.

-Ryan

 

[jgegner]

Thread moved to the NR2003 General Discussion forum.

James

 

[richsilver]

NR2003 is cpu dependent. I would suggest a 3.0GHz processor at the very least.

That will get the fps up some.

The ATI cards do have very good looking graphics,but personally,I've had trouble
with their drivers. Others have not.

I have had very good results with the 9800GTX. Shouldn't be much more than a GT
these days. Very good card for the money imho.

Look for the cpu to get fps. Gpu for graphic quality. Before I put the GTX280 in my system
I just ran off the motherboard's graphics to see what would happen. Didn't look so good,but kept the same fps as when the 9800GTX was in. Adding the fair GTX280 also gained nothing as far as fps is concerned.

Shoot,I've had pretty good results with even a 9600GT. Had an HD4830 in for awhile too. Awesome graphic quality,but had too many driver quirks for me.

Personal opinion on gpu's for sure. If you can put up with the quirkiness of the ATI drivers,I think they offer the best visual quality. I just haven't found the right combo for them yet. lol

 

[flametarget]

Well, I was looking at this CPU.

Newegg.com - AMD Athlon II X2 255 Regor 3.1GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache Socket AM3 65W Dual-Core Desktop Processor

Will NR2003 perform good with this CPU?

 

[richsilver]

I still have a 2.8GHz 1660 Lima 45w single core. It can almost get to the 30fps playable
mark at the Daytona revamped front stretch. lol

Can't use all shadows with it,but full fields and the car reflections at least. I would think at
3.1GHz,and that price point,it should be a good deal. I have tossed around the idea of getting
that also.

I might add a little memory to the system also. Personally I would look at nothing less than
the 9800GTX that I mentioned,or the ATI cards you posted about. Not enough difference in price down to the 9600GT to make it a choice for an upgrade imho.

I think with those in a system,the game will run and look pretty darn good. I'll bet you'll see a
big difference in playability.

I didn't think of it before now,but I'm pretty sure you'll have to change motherboards to go to an Athlon. Could be wrong,check to be sure if you hadn't planned on that. If you hadn't,maybe
there's a faster Intel that will work with your mb without changing it.

 

[flametarget]

I never tought of upgrading my system, I just want to build one from scratch. This is a Compaq Presario 6000, and it doesn't have much upgrade options. It reached it's max memory at 1GB. I want a fast system with 4GB. So I am going to make a completely new build, when I get the money.