Running in slooooo moooo shuuuun....

[thewoodshed]

I had an error free install, right? So I was happy...but gameplay is just horrible. I run in slow mation. I thnk I need to upgrade my video card, but want to run this by the experts. Here is what I have:

AMD Phenom IIx4 820 processor@ 2.80 ghz
8 GB RAM
Nvidia GeForce 9100 video card.

I think it is the video card. I can't find it onb ANY of the lists, and IIRC it is an integrated card. I went into windowed mode, and my CPU never exceeded 30% and my RAM 3 GB usage.

Is is a safe bet I need a new video card? I am not up to date on the most recent tech developments.

Thanks,
shed

[Tilitoon]

You are correct. The video card is what is holding you back, even if you manage to enter a game you won't be able to get a decent, playable framerate. You need to first check what's your power supply (how many watts) and then you will be able to know your options (if you don't want to upgrade your PSU). Also, you may want to list your case or your computer model if it's pre-built, because some case won't accept big video cards.

[thewoodshed]

300 watter...

PC specs are here:

Product release information
Product number
BK168AA

Release date
09-Mar-2010

Country/region sold in

• United States
  
• Canada

Motherboard
M2N78-LA (Violet6)
Figure 1: Motherboard top view
Image of motherboard

• Manufacturer: Pegatron
  
• Form factor: microATX - 24.4 cm (9.6 inches) x 24.4 cm (9.6 inches)
  
• Chipset: NVIDIA GeForce 9100
  
• Memory sockets: 4 x DDR3
  
• Front side bus speeds: 5200MT/s (5.2 GT/s)
  
• Processor socket: AM3
  
• Expansion Slots:
  
  
  • 1 PCI Express x16 slot for graphics card
    
  • 2 PCI Express x1 slots
    
  • 1 PCI slot
    
  • 1 PCI Express x1 minicard slot
  
  
  
• For more details, see Violet6 motherboard specifications .

Processor
AMD Phenom II X4 820
Figure 2: AMD Phenom II X4 logo
Image of AMD logo

• Operating speed: Up to 2.8 GHz
  
• Number of cores: 4
  
• Socket: AM3/AM2+
  
• Bus speed: 4000 MHz HT3

Processor upgrade information

• This motherboard supports only AM3 processors
  
• Memory support is limited to DDR3 modules only.
  
• HyperTransport 3.0
  
• Split power planes allow separate power management for CPU and integrated memory controller for improved power savings.
  
• Supports the following processors:
  
  
  • AMD Phenom II X4 9xx/9xxe/8xx Quad-Core (Deneb)
    
  • AMD Phenom II X3 7xx/7xxe Triple-Core (Heka)
    
  • AMD Phenom II X2 5xx (Callisto)
    
  • AMD Athlon II X4 6xx/6xxe (Propus)
    
  • AMD Athlon II X3 4xx/4xxe (Rana)
    
  • AMD Athlon II X2 2xx/2xxe (Regor)
  
  

Memory
8 GB

• Amount: 8 GB
  
• Speed: PC3-10600 MB/sec (message as PC3-8500)

Memory upgrade information

• Dual channel memory architecture
  
• Four DDR3 DIMM (240-pin) sockets
  
• Supported DIMM types:
  
  
  • PC3-10600 (DDR3-1333)
    
  • PC3-8500 (DDR3-1066)
  
  
• Non-ECC memory only, unbuffered
  
• Supports 4GB DDR3 DIMMs
  
• Supports up to 16 GB on 64-bit PCs
  
• Supports up to 4 GB* on 32-bit PCs

NOTE:

* 32-bit operating PCs cannot address a full 4.0 GB of memory.Due to AMD limitation, DDR3-1333 modules will run at 1066 MHz if three or more modules are installed.

Video graphics
Integrated graphics using nVidia GeForce 9100
*Integrated graphics is not available if a graphics card is installed.

• Integrated graphics using nVidia GeForce 9100
  
• Also supports PCI Express x16 graphics cards

Sound/Audio
Integrated Realtek ALC888S Audio
*Integrated audio is not available if a sound card is installed

• Audio CODEC: Realtek ALC888S
  
• High Definition 8 channel audio
  
• Supports one S/PDIF digital connection

Networking
LAN: 10-Base-T

• Interface: Integrated into motherboard
  
• Technology: Realtek RTL8201N
  
• Data transfer speeds: up to 10/100 Mb/s
  
• Transmission standards: 10-Base-T Ethernet

802.11 Wireless a/b/g/n PCI-Express x1 card
Figure 3: Wireless card - side view (embedded antenna)

• Interface type: PCI
  
• Data transfer speeds: up to 54 Mbps
  
• Transmission standards: 802.11 a/b/g/n
  
• Supported antenna connections: 2 (2 internal posts to connect an internal or extenal antenna)
  
• Operating band: 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz dual band
  
• Supported security protocols:
  
  
  • WPA
    
  • WEP
  
  

Hard drive
1 TB

• Size: 1 TB
  
• Interface: SATA
  
• Transfer rating: 3.0 Gb/sec
  
• Rotational Speed: 5400 RPM

CD/DVD disc drive
SuperMulti DVD Burner with LightScribe Technology drive
Figure 5: Optical driv

• Interface: SATA
• Data buffer memory: 2 MB minimum
• LightScribe: yes
• Disc diameter: 120 mm
• Write and read speeds for supported formats and disc types are shown in this table:

Formats/Disc types	Write speeds	Read speeds	Storage capacity
DVD
DVD-ROM SL	NA	up to 16x	up to 4.7 GB
DVD-ROM DL	NA	up to 8X	up to 8.5 GB
DVD+R SL	up to 16x	up to 12X	up to 4.7 GB
DVD+R DL	up to 12x	up to 8x	up to 8.5 GB
DVD+RW SL	up to 8x	up to 8x	up to 4.7 GB
DVD+RW DL	not supported
DVD-R SL	up to 16x	up to 12x	up to 4.7 GB
DVD-R DL	up to 12x	up to 8x	up to 8.5 GB
DVD-RW SL	up to 6x	up to 8x	up to 4.7 GB
DVD-RW DL	not supported
DVD-RAM	up to 12x	up to 12x	4.7 GB
CD
CDROM	NA	up to 40X	up to 700 MB
CDR	up to 40X	up to 40X	up to 700 MB
CDRW	up to 32X	up to 32X	up to 700 MB
CD-DA	NA	up to 32X	up to 700 MB
Video CD	NA	up to 16X	up to 700 MB

Memory Card Reader
15-in-1 multimedia card reader
Figure 6: View of memory card reader


Supports the following cards:

• Compact Flash I
  
• Compact Flash II
  
• IBM Microdrive (MD)
  
• Memory Stick (MS)
  
• Memory Stick Duo (Duo)
  
• Memory Stick Pro (PRO)
  
• Memory Stick Pro Duo (Pro Duo)
  
• MultiMediaCard (MMC)
  
• MultiMediaCard Mobile (MMC mobile)
  
• MultiMediaCard Plus (MMC plus)
  
• Reduced size MultiMediaCard (RS-MMC)
  
• Secure Digital (SD)
  
• Secure Digital miniSD (Mini)
  
• Smart Media
  
• xD Picture Card (xD)

Computer Case
Mid-size ATX

• Height: 38.7 cm (15.23 inches)
  
• Width: 17.5 cm (6.89 inches)
  
• Length: 41.4 cm (16.29 inches)

Bay size	Total Bays*
13.33 cm (5.25 inch)	2
8.89 cm (3.5 inch)	3
* Bays may be occupied by existing hardware.

Power Supply
300W
300W power supply


I/O Ports
Front I/O ports

• USB: 2
  
• Headphone: 1
  
• Microphone: 1

Back I/O ports

1 - S/PDIF coaxial out
2 - Video Graphics Adapter
3 - IEEE 1394
4 - RJ-45 Network (LAN)
5 - Audio: Center/Subwoofer (yellow orange)
6 - Audio: Rear Speaker Out (black)
7 - Audio: Line In (gray)
8 - Audio: Line Out (light blue)
9 - Audio: Microphone (lime)
10 - Audio: Side Speaker Out (pink)
11 - USB 2.0: 4
12 - DVI

Case is plenty big I think, but not sue about the PSU. I can only afford a card right now. If possible, less than $100.00 would be good.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

'shed

[thewoodshed]

I thnk I may have found a card that fits the bill at Newegg:
EVGA 01G-P3-1556-KR GeForce GTX 550 Ti (Fermi) FPB 1GB 192-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

[Tarantella]

I think that card would need a 400 watt psu with a 6 pin power adapter.


Of the other latest cards the Ati 7750 runs at about 55 watts and doesn't need a special power connector with price just above $100.


When upgrading that type of computer it sometimes pays to ask the manufacturer specifically if that new card will work before buying.

[thewoodshed]

Well, the wife allotted me $200.00 for upgrade, so I went to Mcrocente and got the EGVA GeForce GTX 550 TI as they had a good sale that afforded me the opportunity to upgrade to a 550 watt PSU. So, system will be down after supper and hopefully I can nail the tutorial tonight

[thewoodshed]

I was able to get a 500 watt power supply and a GTX 550 ti video card, and after a bit got it installed. thanks all for the advice!

[Tarantella]

I was able to get a 500 watt power supply and a GTX 550 ti video card, and after a bit got it installed. thanks all for the advice!

Excellent!

Using a guest pass I tested the game yesterday out on my 2gb/790gx/HD3300 onboard graphics set up and it was slomo at first too but tinkering gave mainly 20-30 fps in 800x600 minimum settings mode with a small boost using software auto overclock. Leoric's casting dropped the fps to half that momentarily though.

Fun polished gameplay but looking like Diablo 2a rather than D3.

[thewoodshed]

Excellent!

Using a guest pass I tested the game yesterday out on my 2gb/790gx/HD3300 onboard graphics set up and it was slomo at first too but tinkering gave mainly 20-30 fps in 800x600 minimum settings mode with a small boost using software auto overclock. Leoric's casting dropped the fps to half that momentarily though.

Fun polished gameplay but looking like Diablo 2a rather than D3.

How are you getting your FPS?

[Tarantella]

How are you getting your FPS?

control+r toggles it.