Which Crappy PCI card to buy?

[baboon]

ok, so I have:
Intel Pentium M 1.6 GHz
504 MB RAM
Mobile Intel(R) 915GM/GMS,910GML Express Chipset Family
128 MB Video RAM

what's the cheapest way to compensate for having no hardware t&l?

That's a notebook I assume (because of the Pentium M) ?

I don't think you can add a video card to a notebook, so I don't see any solution at all. Besides the one you don't want to hear

 

[invoke41]

I wouldnt generalize it as much as: it runs bad on laptops. I've seen laptops with GeForce 6800 Go and Radeon Mobility x800. They are high end laptops and not exactly the standard things your boss would give you but oh well

 

[southafrica]

sorry but some PCI graphic cards are good enough for CIV IV. It is not first person shooter to require 30+ frames per second..15 will do the job, and radeon 9000/9200 can be bought in PCI version, as well as GeForce 5500.

Is this right? I just want to make sure before I drop 100 dollars on one of them.

-SA

Thanks for all the help, no matter how depressive it has been at times...

 

[baboon]

I wouldnt generalize it as much as: it runs bad on laptops. I've seen laptops with GeForce 6800 Go and Radeon Mobility x800. They are high end laptops and not exactly the standard things your boss would give you but oh well

Ofcourse, you can divide notebooks in two camps. Those with onboard chip video and those with Geforces and Radeons. The latter do fine ofcourse. But most people don't have those, and those who have usually know that they own a gaming notebook.

 

[mweather]

A PCI card may work, but it's hard to tell how well. I remember having troubles with a low end card with civ 3. The best solution would be to find a motherboard that will accept your current cpu, memory and power supply, and has an AGP slot. Nothing fancy is needed and while it will cost slightly more for the motherboard and video card, you'll get a much better value for your dollar than if you bought a video card that is being choked by a slow PCI slot.

 

[jened]

how about the geforce fx5200 ?

 

[jened]

A PCI card may work, but it's hard to tell how well. I remember having troubles with a low end card with civ 3.

cpu/memory is a lot bigger factor in civ3 than video card. tons of people run it with integrated graphics without any trouble at all.

 

[wotan321]

baboon, your response was concise and informative, thanks.

I too have seen discussions of this PCI vid card issue on other threads, and like you, its worrisome but I HOPE not insurmountable. I ordered a geForce 5500 from NewEgg.com.

I've read too that CPU speed and RAM qty is important, and the PCI card may not run the best graphics, but can be toned down a bit. I believe I read from one of the testers that older cards work, just not at full speed.

Again, thanks.

 

[mweather]

cpu/memory is a lot bigger factor in civ3 than video card. tons of people run it with integrated graphics without any trouble at all.

Integrated graphics vary in quality just as much as video cards do. Most top of the line integrated graphics are superior to what most people with video cards are using. My dell corporate optipleg gx110 with integrated intel graphics (old, old pc I bought from a recycler) plays civ 3 just fine. But my geforce 2 mx200 was having serious problems.