I need help with video cards

wilso · Post by **wilso** » Mon Jul 26, 2004 6:20 pm

i have an Nvidia Geforce 2 GTS (32 mb one, and yes, i know it sucks). I can't enable specular, but my dad's video card has the same things except for the ram, and it works with halo and it can turn on specular and shadows! is there something wrong with my card? ok this is what it has:

32mb ddram
128 bit memory interface thingy (i dunno what that means)
350 mhz clock speed thingy (i dunno what that is either)

so is there something i need to do, or is it just that my video card is too crappy to use specular? And if it's because my video card is too old, what kinds of video cards support specular? please help me, I'm a n00b and i don't know what I'm supposed to do! (please don't flame me)

Beastman · Post by **Beastman** » Tue Jul 27, 2004 11:50 pm

get a new vid card thats my advise. Really for the prices on video cards now I would really say in my oppinion dont get anything under a 9800 pro 128 mb 256 bit card they run around 190 at newegg.com id say go with saphire one. but if anyting id say dont go under a 9600 pro but that right there is only like 40 dollars less than a the 9800 pro and i think its worth saving that last bit for the 9800 pro. im me on aim if u need help or more info

wilso · Post by **wilso** » Sun Aug 08, 2004 6:49 pm

ok thanks. Is there anyone else that can help me?

Spartan Foods · Post by **Spartan Foods** » Wed Aug 11, 2004 9:41 pm

u prob have diff computer specs...

update drivers for video card?

AkiraXX · Post by **AkiraXX** » Wed Aug 11, 2004 11:12 pm

I have a Nvidia Geforce MX 440 8x AGP 64mb card and I can't enable the specular and shadows, but when I put a lower end Nvidia 128mb card in my cpu I was able to enable them, so it may just be that you need a 128mb card or higher to enable them. I'am not sure and don't know alot about it, so don't quote me on this is just a guess on my part with what I've encountered on this.

USMC Cam · Post by **USMC Cam** » Fri Aug 13, 2004 10:55 pm

I have an nvidia geforce go mx440 too, and it doesn't enable specular or shadows. From what you said about your dad's working that doesn't make sense. Halo is stupid in that way because specular effects make it halo, but it randomly tells people if they can do it. If there's a way to override it please tell me and the guy that made this post, because if a geforce 2 can handle it why can't mine.

kasper4christ · Post by **kasper4christ** » Wed Aug 18, 2004 10:03 am

see the thing is, the mx 440 is a VERY low end card, and there were a few different versions of it if memory serves me right,
personally i had an old GF4MZ 440SE, it was the 64meg DDR version, with only an agp4x setting, and prolly had some of the more advanced settings disabled, i remember, halo looked like ****...er.. crap.. w/e it was bad

if you are looking for a CHEAP also low end video card, but supports all of the directX9 functions like shadows and specular, go for the ATi radeon 9600 SE
the card has been vitually castrated, haveing like half of the memory piplines and buffers whatever etc.. but still, you can run halo and it looks all pretty, again, this is all from experience, questions, I/PM me

{GA}Ghost · Post by **{GA}Ghost** » Thu Aug 26, 2004 10:30 am

You did mention why your dad's CPU has Specular and Shadows and why yours does not. He has more RAM than you do, meaning your video card has more resources to run off of. That is the main thing people do not get, if they have bad or ok graphics they say that they need a new video card, but the thing is all they need is more RAM. Such as me, I have a Nvidia GeForce 4 MX 440 w/AGP8X 64Mb and 512Mb of RAM, I cannot enable specular nor shadows, but I am trying to get 512Mb more of RAM so I can have a Gig. Everyone that I have asked that has 1Gb of RAM has specular (even 32Mb users), for some cards all you need is 512Mb, or for some the card can do it itself.

Your video card is not messed up, all you need is more RAM (cheaper), or a new card (more expensive). I hope that I was of some assistance to you all.

If you ever want any more help, or just want to talk you may IM me any time.

Knight · Post by **Knight** » Thu Aug 26, 2004 2:04 pm

I have 256 RAM. And I have specular. It's thanks to my card, tho.

wilso · Post by **wilso** » Fri Aug 27, 2004 6:24 pm

nvm. My dad's video card was not recognized by halo, so i could turn on specular and shadows but i got about 2 fps and it would freeze up after playing for about 10 minutes. I don't think there is a way to "hack" settings so that you can use specular, and even if you can you will get terrible performance and no bump-mapping (well my dad's computer didn't get any bump mapping effects). I think I'll just buy a new video card.

Oh, and Spartan (Foods?), those aren't my system specs. that's my video card. I have:
2.0 ghz cpu
256 mb ddr ram
32 mb hacked and messed up Elsa Gladiac Nvidia Geforce 2 (GTS? I dunno)
and an 80 gig hard drive. I don't really know the details

DirEnGrey · Post by **DirEnGrey** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 1:02 am

I wouldn't mind some help...I have a Nividia GeForce 5200 128 MB Ram

My system specs are:
512 RAM
2.8 Ghz P4 processor
80 gig hardrive (7200 rpm I think)

Now I either want to get a new video card or more ram (possibly a new hardrive but I don't want to lose everything I have)

Now the Nividia GeForce 5500 I think it was was going for about 170something

Now I'm poor...I should be asking a homeless person for money...so needless to say I wanna upgrade my PC with something to make Halo run nice but I actually want to be able to afford it...what can I do?

Pie · Post by **Pie** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 1:07 am

i have a vid card (i dunno shit bout these things but it's a:)

128mb Xtasy 9200SE
Xtasy cards use a radeon chip so basically it is considered a 9200SE radeon

got it for 40bucks...works nice in my opinion

(70 with 30 rebates)

wilso · Post by **wilso** » Mon Sep 06, 2004 11:55 am

NVM. I found out from a lot of reviewers on gamespy and gamespot, and they said that they could only enable specular and shadows on new video cards that support directx 9, because gearbox didn't make specular effects compatible with directx 7 and 8 video cards. If you're buying a new video card, just get a new ATI or Nvidia card. All the other companies make garbage cards that give you crap performance and graphics. I think i'm just going to get an Nvidia geforce FX 5600 or ATI Radeon 9800. Everything is cheap now because of the x800 lol.