Video Card
by Chris Sargent · in Torque 3D Professional · 07/11/2009 (7:36 pm) · 32 replies
I upgraded my computer for T3d, but now I need to obtain a new video card as this one is an integrated Nvidia card and it gives me a whopping 1.2 fps in the warrior camp!
I was wondering if this would be good for T3d?
XFX GeForce 8400 GS Video Card - 512MB DDR2, PCI-Express, DMS-59, (2) DVI via Adapter, Low Profile
Specifications
Lifestyle: Mainstream
Chipset: NVIDIA GeForce
GPU Series: NVIDIA Geforce 8
GPU/VPU: NVIDIA GeForce 8400 GS
Additional Features: RoHS Compliant
HDCP Enabled
PhysX by NVIDIA
Video Card Profile: Low Profile - Bracket Included
Video Memory: 512MB
Memory Type: DDR2
Memory Interface: 64-bit
Core Clock: 450 MHz
Memory Clock: 800 MHz
Shader Clock: 900 MHz
Interface Type: PCI Express
Interface Speed: x16
Connector(s): DMS-59
Dual DVI (Single Link) via adapters
Multiple Monitors Support: Yes
Max. Monitors Supported: 2
Overclocked: No
APIs: DirectX 10
Shader Model 4.0
NVIDIA CUDA
Video Output: S-Video
DMS-59
Low Profile: Yes
Cooling Type: Fan, Heatsink
I was wondering if this would be good for T3d?
XFX GeForce 8400 GS Video Card - 512MB DDR2, PCI-Express, DMS-59, (2) DVI via Adapter, Low Profile
Specifications
Lifestyle: Mainstream
Chipset: NVIDIA GeForce
GPU Series: NVIDIA Geforce 8
GPU/VPU: NVIDIA GeForce 8400 GS
Additional Features: RoHS Compliant
HDCP Enabled
PhysX by NVIDIA
Video Card Profile: Low Profile - Bracket Included
Video Memory: 512MB
Memory Type: DDR2
Memory Interface: 64-bit
Core Clock: 450 MHz
Memory Clock: 800 MHz
Shader Clock: 900 MHz
Interface Type: PCI Express
Interface Speed: x16
Connector(s): DMS-59
Dual DVI (Single Link) via adapters
Multiple Monitors Support: Yes
Max. Monitors Supported: 2
Overclocked: No
APIs: DirectX 10
Shader Model 4.0
NVIDIA CUDA
Video Output: S-Video
DMS-59
Low Profile: Yes
Cooling Type: Fan, Heatsink
About the author
#2
Its memory bus bandwidth makes its near useless for DX10 and DX10 alike engines like T3D.
GTX 260 and 9800GTX+ should be available at pretty competitive prices and should be what you are looking for at very least.
07/11/2009 (10:01 pm)
Its hard to get a worse DX10 card than that one.Its memory bus bandwidth makes its near useless for DX10 and DX10 alike engines like T3D.
GTX 260 and 9800GTX+ should be available at pretty competitive prices and should be what you are looking for at very least.
#3
07/11/2009 (11:32 pm)
9800 GTX is a great, last year card, and is quite affordable. The GT260' on up are great too. Spend as much as you feel comfortable with, and plan to get the best you can for your money.. you don't want a card that feels slow in a year.
#4
07/12/2009 (3:17 am)
My only problem with the other pci express cards is that this computer only has a 300 watt power supply and the others that I looked at needed a 350 watt :( Money is not a problem my computer power supply is. 
#5
I recently went crazy and bought a gtx295, and quite frankly havent seen much improvement in frame rate, now getting 25.
sure, crysis now runs waaay faster, but T3D is still puttering along.
hopefully beta 4 will begin to show some of the optimization that has been talked about.....
07/12/2009 (5:52 am)
I was getting 23 FPS in the warrior camp on a gt8800 512mb card, bit old, but good.I recently went crazy and bought a gtx295, and quite frankly havent seen much improvement in frame rate, now getting 25.
sure, crysis now runs waaay faster, but T3D is still puttering along.
hopefully beta 4 will begin to show some of the optimization that has been talked about.....
#6
07/12/2009 (6:58 am)
@chris: If you're low on power, get an 9600GT, that will run with a 350 watt PS, and still give you a good framerate.
#7
That's why i'm trying to find a good card that doesn't need over 300.
07/12/2009 (1:49 pm)
Jaimi I only have 300 watts :)That's why i'm trying to find a good card that doesn't need over 300.
#8
07/12/2009 (1:50 pm)
With this onboard Nvidia I can get 33 fps with TGEA 1.8.1 with all the setting maxed in T3D with everything turned to low and no advanced lighting it only gives me 1.2 fps :/ 
#9
07/12/2009 (3:34 pm)
@Chris - You should be getting better performance in Torque 3D in BL than in TGEA. There must be some other bug going on that is causing that.
#10
I was thinking that myself with my old computer which is not as good as this new one I got decent FPS in T3D. Hopefully once I get the new card this week I can see if I get improvements *fingers crossed*
07/12/2009 (3:50 pm)
Tom, I was thinking that myself with my old computer which is not as good as this new one I got decent FPS in T3D. Hopefully once I get the new card this week I can see if I get improvements *fingers crossed*
#11
You should still be OK with 300 watts. But you can still get OK usage with a 8600GT. Take a look here at some wattage requirements:
http://www.pcper.com/article.php?aid=522&type=expert&pid=14
07/12/2009 (4:40 pm)
@Chris - You should still be OK with 300 watts. But you can still get OK usage with a 8600GT. Take a look here at some wattage requirements:
http://www.pcper.com/article.php?aid=522&type=expert&pid=14
#12
Not the best, but that is what I get for not building my own pc and taking the cheesy way out and buying an HP. Though this card still does support Direct X 10 and shader 4.0.
We shall see how it goes.
Thanks again!
07/12/2009 (5:40 pm)
Thanks to everyone for helping me with this decision. After talking to HP and Nvidia people I am purchasing Galaxy GeForce 8400 GS Video Card - 512MB GDDR2, PCI Express 1.0 x16Not the best, but that is what I get for not building my own pc and taking the cheesy way out and buying an HP. Though this card still does support Direct X 10 and shader 4.0.
We shall see how it goes.
Thanks again!
#13
You *can* replace the power supply if you need more power, you know...
07/12/2009 (7:00 pm)
Prepare for some disappointment. The 8400GS is one of the slowest cards you can buy, and its on par with onboard GPUs. Forget T3D advanced lighting on it.You *can* replace the power supply if you need more power, you know...
#14
You say your computer only has a 300W PS and your card needs 300W? Don;t forget you do have hard drives, CPU, memory, CD-Drives all that are going to chisel away at those numbers.
07/12/2009 (7:12 pm)
How do you get a computer to run on 300W??? I have 1200W and need more!You say your computer only has a 300W PS and your card needs 300W? Don;t forget you do have hard drives, CPU, memory, CD-Drives all that are going to chisel away at those numbers.
#15
07/12/2009 (8:42 pm)
Most computers will run fine on 500W that is effecient (80% or better). I have a GTX260 on a 500W with a Core 2 Duo. Unless you plan on dropping in 2 or 3 video cards in a rig you don't really need much more than 500W. 
#16
Make sure you have 25A-30A on the positive 12v (combined if multiple) on the power chart and you should be sufficient for any non-SLI/Crossfire configuration.
07/12/2009 (9:35 pm)
Total watts means very little in terms of a video card. The usual requirement is on the total amps on the 12v rail. Which is why most power supplies have multiple these days.Make sure you have 25A-30A on the positive 12v (combined if multiple) on the power chart and you should be sufficient for any non-SLI/Crossfire configuration.
#17
plug in your usb on key, it needs power, if it has a fancy flashing light, more power.
07/13/2009 (5:48 am)
hell, when I got the gtx295, I thought I would have enough power with my 750 watt ps, no way! had to get a 1200, Randy is right, dont forget that every peripheral that you have, will want a bit of that power.plug in your usb on key, it needs power, if it has a fancy flashing light, more power.
#18
I have one outlet dedicated to 30A for my computer. Nothing else gets on it. Most houses (older) are only rated for 15A, so you may be blowing a fuse everytime you go to print:)(as one of my friends has found out).
07/13/2009 (10:07 am)
Also, make sure your wall socket will handle 25-30A. Sounds dumb, but I know people that plug their computer pushing 30A draw/printer and lights into one power strip and then stick that into a wall socket with a 25A fuse! I have one outlet dedicated to 30A for my computer. Nothing else gets on it. Most houses (older) are only rated for 15A, so you may be blowing a fuse everytime you go to print:)(as one of my friends has found out).
#19
--Josh
07/13/2009 (12:26 pm)
Deepscratch: Probably not enough amps on the rails where 1200 watts pushed enough to get you going as it was pulling more amps in total. Brett is pretty much right on what to check. The 12v rails on some power supplies don't have enough amps to push the higher end GTXs as the requirements are rather insane. I think they want something like 32A combined on both rails for the GTX 260 I have. Quite a bit.--Josh
#20
25A really isn't much, thats 300W or the max power draw from non sli / cf high end cards
A regular fuse here in switzerland is able to keep up till 2200W (10A @ 220V)
07/13/2009 (2:22 pm)
Randy: the 25A are not at 110 / 220V, they are at 12V. So as long as your fuse is able to keep up with xxA * 12V / 110V (USA) or xxA * 12V / 220V (europe), you are fine.25A really isn't much, thats 300W or the max power draw from non sli / cf high end cards
A regular fuse here in switzerland is able to keep up till 2200W (10A @ 220V)
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