Halo 1 & 2 for PC
This topic has moved here: Subject: A Call For HELP: Need a Video Card That Will Run Halo....
  • Subject: A Call For HELP: Need a Video Card That Will Run Halo....
Subject: A Call For HELP: Need a Video Card That Will Run Halo....
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Here's the scoop: I entered the Halo world with Xbox, but want to do mutiplayer on internet; so got Halo for PC. I have a nice system, about 2-3 years old that had a nice (for the time) video card; so I figured running Halo would be a snap. WRONG. Halo says my card sux so bad it won't even let me begin to play! (Actually it said, "There are known problems with your video driver," and gave me directions to a web site to fix the problem. But, after downloading the new drivers, it still wouldn't let me play.)

I have an HP Pavilion 750c that I got from Costco: 1.8GHz P4; 512MB DDR SDRAM; 80 GB UDMA drive (29 GB free); CD-writer and DVD-rom drives; and an nVidia TNT2 M64 graphics card with 32MB SDRAM.

My 2 questions:

1.) How good of a card do I need to run Halo smoothly (or even smoothly with the "use version 1.1" switch set)? Please be specific as to card make and model.

2.) Anyone have any experience souping up an HP Pavilion series computer? What did you use? (I'd like to get a card that does not have compatibility problems with my HP nor with Halo...)

Thank you for any help you can give.

  • 07.20.2004 7:48 AM PDT
  •  | 
  • Exalted Legendary Member
  • gamertag: DSTC
  • user homepage:

1. I belive the lowest one out there is a ATI Radeon 5200.
2. Built my own so can't help you.

  • 07.20.2004 7:59 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

First of all, you mean the Radeon 9200 or the NVIDIA 5200FX. Second, a TI4200 runs it fairly well (even a bit better than the 9200). How much money do you have? Money is always the question my friend. To run Halo at 800*600 with some eye candy on (ie medium detail) you will need at least a Radeon 9600 (or nvidia equivalent which is the 5700 I think). The first 3 cards I mentioned will give you 30-35 FPS if you overclock them running Halo at 640*480 with everything on minumum.

  • 07.20.2004 8:40 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

I ran Halo at 1024x768 for a year on a 128MB GeForce 4 4200. But my system has an Athlon 2800 XP and 1GB of RAM. I was getting consistent 30 frames per second.

I just upgraded to the ATI Radeon 9800 Pro and it is absolutely stunning. I would highly recommend a card that is DirectX 9 compliant. I would recommend an ATI Radeon 9600 or higher, or a GeForce FX series card.

As a note, my Halo cohort-in-carnage runs his with the Radeon 9600 and it looks just fine.

  • 07.20.2004 12:21 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Thanks for the help!

I ran out and got an MSI FX5700LE (nVidia) with 256MB, for $150. Haven't installed it, yet. (Why does real life have to be such an interference with my gaming?)

So, how should I fare with an FX5700LE (256MB) and a 1.8GHz P4 with 512MB DDR SDRAM? How does the FX5700LE (256MB) perform compared to a Radeon 9600 (128MB) and to a Radeon 9600XT (256MB)? The sales guy said the XT uses a better graphics engine. Another sales guy said that the difference in performance between identical grapics engines running with 128MB and 256MB is minimal. I don't know how much of that to believe.

Anyone out there using (or know someone who is using) the FX5700LE? Do you like it?

EDIT: Just saw an ad for an ATI Radeon 9200SE (128MB) on a super sale for $50 (at Frye's in Renton, WA, if you are wondering). Excellent price! Is My FX5700LE enough better to warrant the extra $100 spent?

[Edited on 7/21/2004 4:58:54 PM]

  • 07.21.2004 2:09 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

128mb vs 256mb video cards makes S**t all differance. but Joe Bloggs is more likely to buy the one with the bigger number all over the box.

  • 07.25.2004 2:18 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Read my sticky :D

[color=black]The one and [/color][color=olive]only[/color][color=black] Captain Obvious
Guru of PC hardware help
[/color]
* [color=000066]Halo CNN 24/24 7/7[/color]
* [color=000066]Little guide to the knowledge of the PC[/color]
* [color=000066]Ultimate Halo 2 guide[/color]
* [color=000066]The Forum Militia[/color]
* [color=000066]Click here only if you realy are an idiot[/color]

[color=olive]AOD-Coylter[/color]
[color=black]Army Of Darkness[/color]

  • 07.25.2004 11:11 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Posted by: NobleNick

I have an HP Pavilion 750c that I got from Costco: 1.8GHz P4; 512MB DDR SDRAM; 80 GB UDMA drive (29 GB free); CD-writer and DVD-rom drives; and an nVidia TNT2 M64 graphics


Get a whole new pc

  • 07.26.2004 2:08 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

No, he needs to OC the cpu to about 2-2.2ghz and then he will be fine. His gfx card will not be bottlenecked by that comp, so he doesnt have to worry. But, PIV 400mhz fsb models are VERY cheap now, so upgrading to a 2.5ghz model wouldn't break the bank, and would help lots in more CPU specific applications (IE physics calculations).

  • 07.26.2004 9:46 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

I would say 9600 xt its really good

  • 07.26.2004 2:59 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Thanks, guys!

I finally found and read Coylter's guide (sticky at top of this forum).

I got an FX5700LE-TD256, which Coylter confirms is between a 9600 and a 9600XT in performance. (Coylter also said that a -TD128 would have done me just as well.) I have it set to 1024x768 with everything on. I notice a glitch every now and then on campaign; but nothing even approaching frustrating.

  • 07.26.2004 3:49 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

dude u should have gotten a ATI radeon 9600 SE video card for 79 bucks

  • 07.31.2004 4:55 PM PDT

* Pr: ĭnʹtərnĕts: "I hear there's rumors on the uh (pause), Internets...

Posted by: KoREaNBOy
dude u should have gotten a ATI radeon 9600 SE video card for 79 bucks


um, yeah

  • 08.01.2004 2:30 PM PDT
  •  | 
  • Exalted Legendary Member
  • gamertag: DSTC
  • user homepage:

Posted by: KoREaNBOy
dude u should have gotten a ATI radeon 9600 SE video card for 79 bucks
That video card is horrid. I hate it.

  • 08.01.2004 2:44 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

the 9600 xt is AWSOME you should have gotten one.

  • 08.02.2004 8:56 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

y would any 1 want anything with se on it? i agree and u should have got a radeon 9600xt

  • 08.22.2004 8:21 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Why would anyone want an 9600xt when you can get a 9800pro for 10buck more....?

[color=black]The one and [/color][color=olive]only[/color][color=black] Captain Obvious
Guru of PC hardware help
[/color]
* [color=000066]Halo CNN 24/24 7/7[/color]
* [color=000066]Little guide to the knowledge of the PC[/color]
* [color=000066]Ultimate Halo 2 guide[/color]
* [color=000066]The Forum Militia[/color]
* [color=000066]Click here only if you realy are an idiot[/color]

[color=olive]AOD-Coylter[/color]
[color=black]Army Of Darkness[/color]

  • 08.22.2004 12:13 PM PDT