Question about gaming/video card
 

I let my son get Halo for the PC. It installed on my PC (albeit it does give some warning about my graphics not being good enough) and it works okay. But we can't get it to come up at all on his computer. I installed it and even made sure Direct X (9?) was also installed. Everything seemed to install okay but when you click to play, nothing happens. Any suggestions? This was a cheap Walmart PC for the kids. Maybe I need a video card upgrade? If so, I don't want to spend a lot of money. So, any recommendations for a decent, cheap video card would also be welcome.

What are the machine specs? Do they meet the 'minimum requirements' listed on the games box or documentation?

Never played Halo but from what I've seen it's a pretty graphic intense, resource hogging game. If the graphics card in there is a MOBO intergrated one or non-TL ( TL ) then fuggedabouit.

If you could post the machine specs I'm sure we'd be able to give ya a better idea.

Yeah, I'll have to do that later. At work now.

Windows XP
Compaq Presario
AMD Sempron 3000+
2.00 GHz 192MB RAM

VIA/S3G UniChrome IGP - I think that's the video.

http://pricewatch.com

Look for ATI Radeon 9700 or 9800. Should be 8x AGP (unless your mobo has a PCI Express port)

They run about $150. One of those will allow you to play pretty much any video game out there w/ graphics cranked :)

I'd also recommend you increase your system memory to 1GB... the performance difference is noticeable.

Thanks but I don't want to spend a lot of $$ on this PC. It's just for the kids. Mostly, they use it for surfing the web and IM. They have a few games but most aren't that graphic intensive. I'm looking for the cheapest card that will be able to handle Halo. Assuming that's the reason it won't play at all right now.

IGP = Integrated Graphics Platform = the computer doesn't have a graphics card.

Halo uses 3D graphics, IGP is useless for 3D rendering of any kind. The IGP probably has no idea what to do with the graphics trying to be pushed through it. I'd have to say this is indeed your problem.

Start here:

Good 3D Performance at a Middling Price:
GeForce 6600 Shootout

Thanks, I'll check those. BTW, I was noticing something on the Halo box about the required specs. It said something about requiring a 3D card (like you said) and T&L (not sure if I got that part right). What is this?

T&L stands for transform and lighting. Basically all 3D cards support hardware T&L.

Also, make sure you have an open AGP slot.

I'd recommend an FX5600 or a 9600 Pro, both are around $80-90 and would enable your kids to play Halo at low-mid range graphic settings.

I'm gonna open up their PC tonight and check it out. I've never messed with a video card so this is all new to me. But from what I understand, AGP slots are shorter than PCI can be light brown or green.

I found a 9600 (not pro but appears to be good enough for the kids PC) for $78 at newegg.com.

I'd spend the extra $10-15 for a 9600 Pro.

Video cards are a breeze to install. Pretty much plug and play. I've had trouble with one not wanting to fit, just a applied more pressure and it finally snapped in. Easy, don't worry.

Excellent advice all around. Like mentioned above, make sure you pop the cover to be certain the mother board has an available AGP slot.

Looks like the long black slot in this pic:

AGP Slot

You'll be a geek in no time. :D

No problem. I've done other stuff like RAM, sound card, audio card, and even replaced a processor/heat sink/fan on my old PC.

Looks to me like an AGP slot. Here's a pic of the PC in question.

yeah, the bronwnish looking one that's set further back than the other white slots...

If you get the card, you should meet all minimum requirements, but at minimum, I would recommend turning off many video options on the game such as shadow details and anti-aliasing and ground detail (if they are options on the game). That will greatly increase performance.

The minimum for Halo is 128 Mb of RAM, but I have found that anything under 256 really bogs it down.

Like I said, it's for the kids. They don't need a high end video card. Just something to get them by. ;)

Yeah, and you know the weird thing about that RAM. I pulled it out and it says on there DDR 256Mb. But when I first checked under properties, it listed it as 192Mb of RAM. WTH???

There could be some memory dedicated to the integrated video card. Usually its not that much though..but I haven't had an integrated video card in quite some time, so they might be dedicating 64mb now. Hopefully when you put in the new card and disabled the Integrated one, you'll get that memory back.

That's what it is. I have a spare system w/ integrated video - it steals 64MB RAM by default.

Again, upgrading your system memory to 1000 MB (1GB) will have the most significant impact on overall system performance. ;)

I don't think upgrading the memory will make their PC play Halo. That's really all I'm looking to do here. They don't need a hopped up system. It's just the PC for my 2 boys, ages 8 and 12. All they do is surf the web, IM, and play a few not very graphic intensive games.

I'm not saying go out an buy all the most expensive shit, but a $80 video card and $50 for a memory upgrade will help a lot. Halo will not be enjoyable on a slow system (especially if the older one plans to play online), so those 30 dollars (or however much you payed) will be a waste since the boys will stop playing Halo after a week.

I hear what you're saying. But they've been playing it on my PC and mine only has 256Mb or RAM. Halo works okay on mine and I've only played it online (man, that is fun :) ). I figure when I get the new graphics card for their PC, it should have 256Mb of RAM available. ;) Should be sufficient. If not, I'll buy some more RAM. ;)

Heh, I just noticed that this post had a link to explain TL. That looks like a pretty informative site. Thanks for the link. :thumb:

Heh, my friend just sent me this link. Of course, I already ordered a video card (ATI Radeon 9000 - $44.99 total at Newegg). But I thought this was kinda cool. It is a tool for transform and lightning hardware emulation. I haven't tried it so, I don't know how well it works.

http://www.3dfxzone.it/dir/tools/3d_analyze/index.htm