What video card for WoW?

[Slid]

I hooked my girlfriend on WoW right before it came out and we've been playing together since. However, the machine that she uses isn't really up to par (Dell 700m Laptop) and 10-18fps is the norm for her at 800x600, lowest settings.

I hit 45-60fps on average so I'm okay.

I had a few spare parts so I put together a new machine for her:

1.7GHz P4 (478 socket)
A gig of ram (PC3200 mixed with 2700, so its running at the latter)
160GB Seagate 7200RPM, 8MB Buffer HD
Via P4x266 VL33-S Mobo

The motherboard sucks, the processor sucks but they are well above minimum specs for the game. I had an old nVidia 440 and that ran the game at 20fps+ but then locked after a minute or two. I put my ATi 9800 Pro in there and it ran about the same, 20-30fps (but thats good enough) so obviously the video card is not the bottleneck. I want to get her a video card that will still perform at this rate but costs around $100-150.

I was thinking ATi 9600. My other options is to get a new video card for myself and pass the 9800 down I'd probably get an nVidia 6600GT.

Any ideas?

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Installed all the drivers?

- M4H

 

[Slid]

Yep, fresh install of Windows too -- but it was Windows 98.

 

[stnicralisk]

Why not just set the game to 640x400?

Is the p4 Northwood if so have you overclocked it yet?

 

[Johnbear007]

I've noticed that this game doesnt benefit from ANY upgrade. It seems to play the same on my wifes 1700+ 8500 as i does on my 3200+ 6800

the only difference is I get much smoother play in large cities due to the gb of ram whereas she has only 512. The only thing that really changes performance is lowering draw distance.

 

[CraigRT]

Isn't a 1.7P4 a Willamette? that CPU is seriously not powerful, but either way should work for this game. a 9600 would probably do the trick for this...

 

[magratton]

First of all, I am waiting for the post that states "my GF looked at how nice my screen was and now I have to choose, my computer or my GF" But seriously, for a cheap alternative, a Ti4200 128MB 8x (for ~50) would run this game quite well. If you really more then try a used 9600pro or xt...

 

[housecat]

Originally posted by: Johnbear007
I've noticed that this game doesnt benefit from ANY upgrade. It seems to play the same on my wifes 1700+ 8500 as i does on my 3200+ 6800

the only difference is I get much smoother play in large cities due to the gb of ram whereas she has only 512. The only thing that really changes performance is lowering draw distance.

Thats because its pretty well optimized graphically, and otherwise.
I believe it uses the UT2004 engine, which is very efficient and well coded IMO. You are probably goign to have to max out the resolution to 1600x1200 or higher to see a difference in those computers. It is a DX8 game so you wont see any added graphical effects using a DX9 card like your 6800 either.

It really is no different than most games, running 1024x768 (no graphical options like AA/AF) on your wifes computer and then your computer in UT04 would give you similar results as well.

 

[cubby1223]

I'd grab a regular 9800, they can be found for $140-$150 new now.

 

[RGebhart]

i have a 9800pro with a a a64 3200+. I can get 50-75 fps at 1280x1024. I think this game is more cpu dependent then it is gpu