fitting new graphics card

[and®ew]

After nearly 10 years of pc ownership im actualy gonna
open up my pc myself this time and fit a new graphics card.

2 questions:
1. simple to fit ? (i have 8xAGP port)

2. these are my current specs and will the new card show much
improvement in games ?


pentium4 2.4 gig
512mb ram
80 gig hard drive
dvd/cd copier blah blah blah .......

I'm replacing the current graphics card ( fx5200 ) for ( FX5700 ultra )
both 128 megs 8 x AGP ......

thanks.......
ps- this is the card im going to buy :

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/creative_nvidia_graphics_cards.html

Creative 3D Blaster 5 GeForce FX 5700 Ultra 128MB - Retail (GX-009-CL)
The 3D Blaster 5 FX 5700 Ultra is Creativeââ‚à ƒâ€šÃ‚¬ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚¢s fastest card based on the GeForceââ€Ã …¾Ã‚¢ FX 5700 GPU. Designed to offer exceptional performance to the dedicated gamer, it features a 475MHz core, 900MHz memory data rate, 128-bit memory interface and 400MHz RAMDAC. This powerful card will process 356 million vertices/sec. at a fill rate of 1.9 billion pixels/sec. and up to 16 textures per pixel, giving smooth, high-quality action in demanding gaming environments. Thereââ‚ƚ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s full support for DirectX ® 9.0 and AGP 8X plus many other NVIDIA® features including CineFXââ€Ã⠀¦Ã‚¾Ãƒâ€šÃ‚¢, for advanced vertex and pixel shading and special effects; Intellisample, the industryââ‚à ƒâ€šÃ‚¬ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚¢s fastest antialiasing solution; and nView multi-display technology.

- CineFX engine with advanced vertex and pixel shading for faster, smoother gaming performance.
- 128-bit studio precision colour ensures optimum image quality, while Digital Vibrance Control 3.0 adjusts graphical output to ambient conditions.
- NVIDIA Intellisample technology offers industry-leading antialiasing performance for ultra-real visuals with no jagged edges.
- 0.13u process technology achieves faster clock rates for improved performance.
- NVIDIA nView multi-display technology gives ultimate performance with multiple displays.
- Full support for AGP 8X and DirectX 9.0. Integrated TV-out and MPEG-2 decoding.

[steve5424]

Yep just a case of uninstalling drivers then switching pc off. and taking one card out of AGP slot and replaceing with the other and then boot up and install new drivers.

[and®ew]

Originally Posted by steve5424

Yep just a case of uninstalling drivers then switching pc off. and taking one card out of AGP slot and replaceing with the other and then boot up and install new drivers.

thanks steve

[Sociable]

One extra tip.

Many AGP slots have some form of arrangement for locking the card in the slot (unlike normal PCI ones) so be carefull to release any catch before pulling on the card so you avoid damage to the board if this is the case in your system.

[and®ew]

Originally Posted by Sociable

One extra tip.

Many AGP slots have some form of arrangement for locking the card in the slot (unlike normal PCI ones) so be carefull to release any catch before pulling on the card so you avoid damage to the board if this is the case in your system.

good tip. thank you

[Steve H]

You bought this card yet?

[and®ew]

Originally Posted by Steve H

You bought this card yet?

not yet steve .. why ?

[Steve H]

Just had a look.. For exactly the same price, bar a few quid, you can get this;

PowerColor Radeon 9800 128MB - Retail (GX-009-PC)

(http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatal...ics_cards.html)

Its a helluva lot better card than the 5700... can be clocked to pro speeds fairly easily as well, as the current batch has SamSung memory.

For example, in 3dmark2001.. A 5700.. compares with a 9600XT.. And would get you around 13k-14k on a AMD2200+... whereas, a 9800np wil get you near 16.5k.. big diff for £4

Buy now tho, they'l be sold out soon.

[and®ew]

Originally Posted by Steve H

Just had a look.. For exactly the same price, bar a few quid, you can get this;

PowerColor Radeon 9800 128MB - Retail (GX-009-PC)

(http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatal...ics_cards.html)

Its a helluva lot better card than the 5700... can be clocked to pro speeds fairly easily as well, as the current batch has SamSung memory.

For example, in 3dmark2001.. A 5700.. compares with a 9600XT.. And would get you around 13k-14k on a AMD2200+... whereas, a 9800np wil get you near 16.5k.. big diff for £4

Buy now tho, they'l be sold out soon.

i think im one of them people that buys a ford or a vauxhall
i cant really get my head round switching from nvidia lol

[Steve H]

Originally Posted by and®ew

i think im one of them people that buys a ford or a vauxhall
i cant really get my head round switching from nvidia lol

There's nothing to get your head around

Trust me, the performance increase is worth it. ATI's drivers are alot better just lately as well.