Graphics Card

[Iamnixx]

I'm trying to find a graphics card that can run WoW smoothly. I have around $200 to spend on one.Any help in finding a graphics card would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[Gormash]

Well, I've been nothing but happy with my Geforce 6600 GT. :grin:

[sissipher]

I 2nd that. GeForce PCI Express GT!

[labelmeoriginal]

Really depends on the type (PCI, AGP, or PCI-e) of slot you have on the motherboard.

but..if you do have AGP or PCI-e, shoot for the 6600GT (or 6800) as said.

I'm runnin' a GeForce 7800GT PCI-e card. :shocked:

Get the 6600GT and overclock it and you'll be flyin'.

Don't buy ATI; ever.

[Mincemaker]

Any 256mb Graphics Card will provide you the juice you need for the game. The RAM is more important. I heard that even 1 GB of RAM can still cause you to lag slightly in highly crowded areas and in flight. And I'm using 512 mb of ram, so the lag in Orgrimmar and during flight is unbearable.

[bwirum]

I'm switching out my 6600GT now for a 7900GT, since it didn't run 1600x1200 on every single setting at max as smoothly as I wanted it to. Also, me having 2 x 6600GT cards in SLI doesn't help WoW at all, since WoW doesn't support SLI. Good job, Blizzard.

Anyhow, I'd think that 7600GT cards are the best value-for-money at the moment. Should just be in your pricerange too.

[LordXeper]

I recently bought a 7600GT for my GF's pc and it runs WoW like a charm @ 1600*1200 at everything maxed out. Even in 40 man raids/bossfights.

[Gormash]

Wish I could do that. Problem is my screen doesn't support 1600*1200. I can only use 1280*1024 even though my GFX can handle more. :(

[LeTHaL_BaNaNa]

Don't buy ATI; ever.

Would you mind explaining why? I've been using ATI graphics cards for a long time now, and never had problems with it.

[One Swordsman]

I agree, a 6600GT 256mb will handle it well, if you want to go a bit better try the 7600GT, or if you want to be sorted with most games for a while, try the 7900GT, I use a 7900GT and it's so great I could cry lol.

Also as someone mentioned before, I'd recommend 1gb RAM +++, my old rig had 1gb RAM and still lagged a little, just got 2gb and it's a dream, anything below 1gb and you'll think about turning things down.

Hope this helps, and good luck with your upgrade, if you ever need anymore non-WoW tech help check out http://www.tech-forums.net, I usually hang around there, and the guys there are really good at helping :)

[LordXeper]

Would you mind explaining why? I've been using ATI graphics cards for a long time now, and never had problems with it.

3 words:

Crappy non-windows support

[ocellaris]

Crappy non-windows support

Please come up with a non-retarded answer that actually pertains to WoW. Thanks.

[bhroam]

I just reciently tried out a GeForce 6600AGP 256mb and got between 30-60+ FPS all the time at 1280x1024. I returned it because a friend of mine sold my his GeForce 5700AGP 128MB for $30. It gets around 20-30FPS. Not great, but
fine.

In any case, check out this link:
http://hardware.gamespot.com/Story-ST-x-1304-x-x-x
It's a little out of date, but goes into what hardware/settings make a big difference.

[Aerath]

Please come up with a non-retarded answer that actually pertains to WoW. Thanks.

Manners, manners... Be nice here guys.

[bwirum]

Please come up with a non-retarded answer that actually pertains to WoW. Thanks.
Given that many people play WoW under a different OS than Windows, I would hardly call this a retarded answer with no links to WoW. Furthermore, you usually do more than just play WoW on your computer. If not, and you have a separate rig just for WoW-gaming, then I envy you.

Also as someone mentioned before, I'd recommend 1gb RAM +++, my old rig had 1gb RAM and still lagged a little, just got 2gb and it's a dream, anything below 1gb and you'll think about turning things down.
Just wanted to say that the step from 1 to 2 gigs of ram is astounding, the step from 2 to 3 gigs is hardly noticable. I tried.

[HobJoe]

Check this site...

www.newegg.com

$200.00 will get you a better video card than you'll ever need
256MB - 128bit would be a good minimum to start with.

EDIT: by the way DONT OVERCLOCK YOUR VIDEO CARD. If you dont know what your doing you'll be buying a new one after a few short hours of playing WoW.

[Algamonn]

Really depends on the type (PCI, AGP, or PCI-e) of slot you have on the motherboard.

but..if you do have AGP or PCI-e, shoot for the 6600GT (or 6800) as said.

I'm runnin' a GeForce 7800GT PCI-e card. :shocked:

Get the 6600GT and overclock it and you'll be flyin'.

Don't buy ATI; ever.

I agree with the last comment...I have an ATI card with 256 meg, but the thing crashes out in certain rendering conditions. Like, there is something in Renders Cavern in Redridge that makes my computer lock up, and the card I use cant take the most up to date drivers, it just totally dies.
I dont have any problems in other areas, must be something in the rendering for that cavern.
I have also had problems with dark areas in FarCry.

I am going back to nVidia when I get the dough..

[HobJoe]

I've heard a lot of complaints about ATI as well. I would suggest you get a PCI express card if you have the port for it. I bought an AGP card when I built my cpu and Im wishing i would have spent the extra money on a PCI express card. I got mine for $65.00 and it plays WoW good(and by good I mean no lag) but the graphics could be so much better. I saw a friend of mine playing WoW on an older cheaper PCI express video card and it looked so much better than mine.