Directx 10 - Kindly Guide Me

N

nagukush

New member
Hi Friends !

I have finally chosen and ordered the XFX 8800 GTS 640 Mb Video Card ( Kindly advice if it is a good / fair decision ? )

I have a Core 2 Quad q6600 2.4Ghz CPU

2 GB RAM

and I'm running Windows XP Pro.

I just wanted to request you to kindly help / guide me regarding the following -

1. Can I or SHOULD I install the Directx 10 for Windows XP (now that I have a Directx 10 compatable Video Card) ? Will it increase the performance of my PC ? If yes, then kindly guide me on how to do it... Will it harm my Video Card in any way ?

2. I have installed the latest drivers from the Nvidia Site and I just wanted to request you to kindly let me know if installing the BETA Drivers will help me increase the performance ?

3. Should I install Windows Vista, along with my current Windows XP Pro (obviously on the other drive ) to improve on Gaming performance ? If yes then which Version of Vista should I go for ?

Kindly guide me regarding this Directx10 issue as I have no idea on what to do...

Thanks and Regards

Kush
 
Hi there, I will advise you as best I can.

1. XP is DX9. It doesn't run DX10, only Vista is DX10. You can run your DX10 card in XP using DX9 with fantastic results.

2. Beta, sometimes you get improvements, othertimes you don't! Usually they have specific game fixes...

3. You can install Vista on another drive, 32bit one is the most compatible in terms of hardware/drivers. Vista gives you DX10, so any game that supports DX10 will have these enhanced features in Vista (better lighting, smoke, water etc). DX10 is more demanding on your hardware so you might see a drop in FPS.

What resolution are you gaming at?
 
Hi there !

Thank you so much for taking the time and for guiding me...

Actually I have no idea on what will be an ideal resolution for my Hardware -

i.e Intel Core 2 Quad q6600 2.4GHZ

XFX 8800 GTS 640 mb

2 GB DDR2 RAM

What should be an ideal resolution that I should be aiming at for the above resources that I have?
 
No problem friend.

I asked your resolution as the bigger the res, the harder your hardware has to work. If you want to use Vista and DX10 then I'd need to know what res you are going to run to estimate if it would be an enjoyable experience.

What size monitor are you using?

This wasn't the best time to buy a graphics card as the second generation DX10 cards are out with higher models to come. The 8800GT 512mb is the only 2nd gen dx10 card available at the moment but it retails for ~£160 and peforms almost as well as the 8800GTX which is ~£300...
 
Hi there !

Thanks again for the help....

Actually I have normal 17" CRT Monitor only - what will be a good resolution for this ?

I'm so sad about the graphics card, (if this was a bad decision) because I've spent all my savings and also borrowed some money to buy this card.

I enquired all around here, but as I'm from a small town here in India, they said that if the next gen cards are releasing soon in the U.S, then it will be atleast 6 months from now for them to be available here in India... I thought instead of waiting for so many months, I'd just go for this card...

Is it a REAL BAD Decision ? (I sincerely hope that its not...)

Anyways thank again for all the help and guidance...

Thanks again Friend !

Kush

p.s just wanted to ask if it would be wise to try and Overclock the new 8800 GTS card ? I have never done it before, but I'm willing to learn - PROVIDED it does'nt damage my Card... should this be done ?
 
You will be able to run dx9 and 10 smoothly with your hardware at that resolution.

Don't worry, it wasn't a bad decision, if i had to wait 6 months i would have done the same thing, only you should have gone for the 320mb 8800gts - slightly cheaper and performs on a par with the 640mb until you get to large resolutions.

Download RivaTuner to overclock your card. It is easy and safe. Have a look around the forum there is plenty of information!
 
Hi Friend !

Thanks again (from the heart) ! Actually I have no one to guide me like this and you've been really very kind to me in guiding me...

Sorry for asking thsi again -

I heard that Over Clocking may damage the card permanently and also the warranty becomes void... Also I dont have any fancy cooling system - I just use the fans that came with the hardware...

Will it be really safe to OC my new card now ? its just 2 days old now...

Should I really give it a try without worries ?

Please guide me...

Thanks again !

Kush
 
I appreciate your heartfelt thanks :) My answers are quite brief so don't worry about it.

I am at work and can not spend too long guiding you. See this guide on how to use RivaTuner.

I have never heard about anyone damaging their card with rivatuner, just go slowly, you should reach 650mhz on the gpu core and 1000mhz on the mem without any issues, on air with stock cooler.
 
Hi Bro !

Thanks again for being so patient with me helping me out... If I may speak personally here, I've been waiting to get some help like you for a long time... Thanks again for spending so much time on my questions - I'm truly grateful to you Friend (Honestly, no butterings intended) :)

Just wanted to request you to help me on a few more doubts that I have (I promise that I wont bother you again and again...)

1. Actually is Rivatuner the best for learning to Overclock ? Ive downloaded the nvidia Ntune utility (www.nvidia.com/object/sysutility.html) from nvidia's website - is this better or is Rivatuner better ?

2. Sorry for asking this again, (kindly forgive my ignorance and foolishness..) but you have said "reaching 650mhz on the gpu core and 1000mhz on the mem without any issues" is possible but it really sounds too good to me ! I mean if I can do this, It will be a dream come true for me !

Is it really possible, without extra cooling gadgets etc ? On a 8800 GTS 640 Mb ?

Also my PSU is only 500W with 19A on the 12V Rail - Will this affect the Over-Clocking etc...

Finally I really just want to ask for one last time, should I really overclock to te level you have suggested - Is it really safe and possible ?

Sorry if i sound excited or kiddish, but I'm very very afraid to do this (as I have spent 25,000 in my currency for this card)

Kindly guide / advice me...Sorry again for bothering Friend...

Thanks and Lots of regards from the heart...

Kush
 
Hi There again !

Sorry for bothering you again here...

Actually you had mentioned 650mhz on the gpu core and 1000mhz on the mem without any issues, on air with stock cooler.

I was just checking the XFX Website and found the below comparison -

XFX 8800 GTS 640Mb - Standard - Clock Rate - 500 MHz

Memory Clock - 1.6 Ghz

XFX 8800 GTS 640Mb - Xtreme - Clock Rate - 580 MHz

Memory Clock - 1.8 Ghz

XFX 8800 GTS 640Mb - XXX - Clock Rate - 600 MHz

Memory Clock - 1.9 Ghz

So does this mean that I can Overclock my Standard card to these levels without any danger of harming the card ? Just wanted to clear...

Thanks

Kush
 
Hi There again !

Sorry for bothering you again here...

Actually you had mentioned 650mhz on the gpu core and 1000mhz on the mem without any issues, on air with stock cooler.

I was just checking the XFX Website and found the below comparison -

XFX 8800 GTS 640Mb - Standard - Clock Rate - 500 MHz

Memory Clock - 1.6 Ghz

XFX 8800 GTS 640Mb - Xtreme - Clock Rate - 580 MHz

Memory Clock - 1.8 Ghz

XFX 8800 GTS 640Mb - XXX - Clock Rate - 600 MHz

Memory Clock - 1.9 Ghz

So does this mean that I can Overclock my Standard card to these levels without any danger of harming the card ? Just wanted to clear...

Thanks

Kush

p.s and by 1000Mhz on memory, did you mean the Memory Clock that has been mentioned as 1.6Ghz on the specification ? Kindly guide me....
 
That is exactly what I am saying. You can overclock your card past the speeds listed above. That is all XFX or any manufacturer does, only they charge you more for what you can do for free!

Use nTune of you prefer, I like rivatuner and it has hardware monitoring features to check temps etc. All this can be done on air. 650/1000 is just an aim, you will need to test for artifacts during your overclocking by running 3dm06 and watching for any anomalies - distorted textures, random white lines etc - if you see these back down, if you don't keep going!
 
Hi there !

Thanks again ! I guess I understand what you are saying...

If you say that rivatuner is better and safer, then I guess I will use rivatuner myself.

By 3dm06, do you mean 3dmark06 ? Will the free version do or should I buy the full version ?

The guide that you had showed me says "Bench marking" - does this mean checking with 3dmark ?

Thanks !

Kush
 
Correct, 3D Mark 06. The free version will suffice, you just need to watch your screen as you benchmark (as in running 3dm06) looking for artifacts (as mentioned in previous posts).

It's easy. Relax!
 
Thank you so much again Friend ! I really cant thank you enough for all this... you have guided me and given me the confidence to proceed...

I guess I'll just follow your guidelines and the GUIDE that you showed me and go slowly everyday (little by little) Thanks again so much... I'm really sorry if I've bothered you a lot...

1. Just wanted to ask you one last thing, what are these Artifacts ? Are they some symbols or shapes shown while benchmarking ?

2. For monitoring system stability and Temperatures, should i use Ntune or Rivatuner will do ?

Ok then I'm about to download Rivatuner, Free 3dmark06 and I'll get started.

Thanks again for everything ! (From the heart )

_kush
 
Hey there, I don't mind answering questions but please check what has already been answered! :)

Artifacts:

you will need to test for artifacts during your overclocking by running 3dm06 and watching for any anomalies - distorted textures, random white lines etc - if you see these back down, if you don't keep going!
Click to expand...

I use riva for everything. Most people go up in 10mhz increments, you can complete this process in an hour easily...

Good luck and make sure you report your results, also overclock your cpu ;)
 
Hi there !

Sorry for that - I guess I didnt understand that time... anyways thanks again for pointing it out...

I promise I will do that and then I'll request you for guidance for the CPU :)

Lots of Thanks and Regards

Kush
 
No worries, I appreciate English isn't your first language and you are 'new' to overclocking.

Everybody starts at the same place, not knowing much!

Have fun :)
 
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