Computer hardware and software
Would a new video card reduce lagging?
Question : Would a new video card reduce lagging?
I’m playing Battlefield Bad Company 2 on this computer: http://www.gadgetreview.com/2010/05/lenovo-ideacentre-k320-30191du-mini-tower-desktop-499-after-200-coupon.html
Right now it has integrated graphics which, from what I gather, is not good at all for gaming so I’m wondering how much a new video card might help?
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Best answer:
Answer by Matt Y
Yeah it would especially if you get more RAM as well
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#2 written by George H 1 year ago
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#3 written by C-Man 1 year ago
The video card determines 75% of your performance in games. It’s responsible for drawing all the polygons and updating the animated frames which appear on your screen in real time. No matter how powerful your CPU is, games don’t run any faster than your video card can process pixels.
I don’t think Battlefield: Bad Company 2 would even successfully start with integrated graphics… I’d expect it to just complain about your computer not having the required hardware.
http://gamesystemrequirements.com/games.php?id=883In games where integrated graphics are supported (like WoW), upgrading to even a $ 50 video card would at least triple your frames per second. Going to a $ 75 card would double performance over the $ 50 cards.
http://www.techspot.com/review/240-ati-radeon-hd-5670/page4.htmlHere’s your best low-cost upgrade, the GeForce GT240:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133306Any graphics cards more powerful would require you to upgrade your computer’s power supply as well, which costs around $ 50-$ 70.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182032In order to max out Bad Company 2, it’s recommended to have a GTX 260 or equivalent card (which costs approximately $ 200). You could get almost the same performance from a Radeon 5770 which costs $ 170. So you’d be looking at approximately $ 220-$ 260 to upgrade to the recommended level for BC2.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150462The cards a step below that are still excellent for gaming and cost about $ 110 – so upgrading to a GTS 250 or Radeon 4850 would cost about $ 160 between the card and power supply.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814134094
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161297So either $ 75, $ 160 or $ 220, depending upon how high up the video card ladder you wish to go. But even the $ 75 card would be like night & day improvement from integrated graphics.
By the way, your CPU is fine for gaming. The Core i3 530 is very capable, actually outperforming some quad-core processors.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/2921/2Best gaming video cards in every price bracket:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/graphics-card-geforce-radeon,2646.html -
#4 written by jeff r 1 year ago
yeah a video card is always better than onboard. the newer systems have decent onboard (yours). there’s always room for improvement. a video card should help. they holler ram on here but honestly, i think the video is the weak point 4 gig of ddr3 should get you by pretty well for now. when looking for v-card look at the chipset, not the memory. the memory on the card helps but the chipset/gpu is the key. i’ve read good stuff about the ati 5xxx series hint hint
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Yes, the GMA 4500 is roughly equal to the GF 8400, which was never a gaming card, even when it came out 3 years ago. A new video card will make a huge difference. For BC, and the minimum I’d look at a Radeon 5770 or a GeForce GTX 260(216) if you can live without DX11.