XFX 8800 GT 512 mb Alpha Dog Edition

[Boanderson]

Just a few general questions and comments based on this card if you will.

My comp specifications are: Dual core, 2.0ghz processor, 3 gig of ram, windows vista. Also of which, orginally came with an 8500 gt card that I replaced with the Alpha dog obviously.

A few things I've noticed with my 8500 GT card before upgrading: WoW ran better then it does with the 8800 alpha dog by a bit I think, less screen tearing a bit better consistant frame rates, and I could use fraps and make pvp videos that didnt get choppy as @#$% like the alpha dog does. its not a huge issue but it doesnt add up in my head i figured id get 60 fps with max settings -_-

Making a lot more sense, my 8500 card could play cod4 with good fps on low, but couldnt handle bioshock or crysis on low unless it was a 800-600 full screen resolution that somehow worked until i alt tabbed out and then would become smaller (my current natice reso is 1440-900 lol) anywho, thats fine, with my alpha dog card, i play bioshock full cod4 full max resolution but crysis is still a bit choppy on medium with no AA.

My point and question: Is my processor power low? this has only recently came to mind, 2.0 Ghz seems sort of low and I'm wondering if that is a factor

o, and btw, I bought a 700 watt PS for my new graphics card and had the store install that i did the graphics card myself only 1 connection to PS so everything is good there, and im sure I updated the drivers.

So basically I have 2 issues

Why am i getting less FPS with and screen tearing sometimes when i turn in wow with my new "superior" card but it runs my other more current games better, is it compatibility issues with DX9? is it windows Vista being a POS? should I just say @#$% it all and get XP and do the Crysis very Hi mode and would it work with my current specifications, or is this all normal?

Like I said I think the determining factors are:
1: windows vista being a pos
2: my processor power? doesnt make too much sense cause then why can I run more current next gen games with high demands better then wow
3: compatibility issues?
4:driver or maybe firmware (tbh i dont know exactly what firmware is but I believe its along the lines of the same thing, lol I figure I should know this)

Any feedback would be appreciated and or suggestions, I just reformatted so im a bit hesitant to swipe drive and get XP for the hell of it, that and I know a lot of things (games software etc) are trying to force Vista for dx10, and a lot of those eye candy games are appealing to me.

Thank you in advance =) Oh and just for the record, wow was on the same settings and my MS (latency) is like 120, its good

[EXreaction]

Did you remove your old drivers and install new ones from nvidia.com?

[Boanderson]

Yes I did... I think lol, gotta check that when I go home, Think before i Installed the new drivers with the CD I got, it wanted me to delete my old ones which I did. Everything virtually runs fine, its gotta be some Dx9 / Dx10 Windows XP/Vista compatibility issue BS is what im thinking. Ill check when im at home though to be sure, Though that would be pretty amazingly stupid of me lol.

[qrs321]

do you have drivers updated for WoW?

[nemowolf]

Originally Posted by qrs321

do you have drivers updated for WoW?

WoW doesnt have any drivers. The client updates and such, but it doesnt have any drivers you need to get.

[EXreaction]

Do not install the drivers you get on the CD. Remove all of your nVidia display drivers then download and install the latest one for your card off of their website.

[nemowolf]

Originally Posted by EXreaction

Do not install the drivers you get on the CD. Remove all of your nVidia display drivers then download and install the latest one for your card off of their website.

Of the CD? Your using drivers that are potentially over a year old now. Do what EX says and remove the old drivers and download the newest ones. I put up an article on the latest Forceware update, its good.

[Boanderson]

wowowowowowow I did have old drivers, I guess I was stupid to think that the windows tool to search the net for new drivers was reliable, lol my bad. got the latest forceware drivers I guess sort of confusing cause it applies to multiple cards, but was the only thing listed when searching my card, so I supposed there is no other drivers or anything (am at a loss of words sleep deprived).

Nevertheless, I've since logged onto wow, and its still a bit sketch, I want 60 fps constant lol, but i dont get screen tearing anymore and i can use fraps without seeing dropped fps really.

Just bought assassins creed and devil may cry 4 need to get a PC xbox controller today, only prob i had so far was the fullscreen w/ AC, Alt + enter worked, so that was nice, not sure where im going wit this, really need sleep

Thanks a bunch for the help
The World of Warcraft Armory
come check me out on alexstrazabad. lol

[EXreaction]

It isn't possible to get a constant frame rate. Every different view has a different load.

[Boanderson]

Yeah, clearly why maxing your frame rate above 60+ fps when i think the human eye can detect only 20-40 somewhere in that range, so that when your frame rate does drop, it will still be above the 20-40. and even as it drops, im pretty sure it is measured as an avg over time, because when things get choppy, its gotta be below 20-30 even tho im getting 25-35 apparntly. I dont know anymore then that, or atleast what i think ive obsevered so corrrect me if im wrong.

Though it is possible to get a constant more or less 60 fps in a game with now sub par graphics like WoW is it not? I am sort of curious why I don't, I think my friend with a 7900 card gets better fps and he was 1 gig of ram and i got 3, I dont know, just doesnt really add up, does vista render gameplay? or is that just something ppl with low ram say because it eats up their memory bandwith. Sure its more noticeable in city's and what not when the screen is more active, but does that have more to do with your latency or your pgrahics capabilities? lol i really need to stop asking questions. I just want max fps from a card that i thought should be able to do that in wow aside from other games