how do u overclock it ?

I'm running a GeForce2 MX400/64MB and it does a great job with all the settings maxed out. It does have a small slowdown when there are huge explosions, but otherwise it works well.

Good info on the ATI products. I was looking at another PC and trying to decide what card to put in it - thanks for the info!

My work computer (yes, I take breaks and fly) is a PIII 550 with a 32 MB GeForce 2, and the game runs just fine with most options turned on. Now my rig at home, with the ATI 9700 pro, FL is jaw dropping cool.
*Never owned a Jap or German car. Very happy with my Saturn.

Alliance Fire & Rescue

Whoa whoa whoa whoa!!!

You need a VIDEO CARD for this game?!?!?!

I thought space was supposed to look completely black, devoid of any stars or planets or visual effects of any kind...





Those are my thoughts, not yours, I'm WapCaplet[!

I know there is a war between nVidia and ATI lovers.....

Here are my comments.

Since 1986, I have gone thru several different video cards.

ATI was good...but every ATI card I bought...from low end to high end....never matched the frame rate ability of my GeForce 4 MX 440 64 Meg card. Even had borrowed an ATI Radeon card (right before my GeForce)...my frame rates were about 10-20% better with the GeForce 4...

I have also had more video lockup with the ATI cards (With current drivers installed at the time) then the nVidia (Basically 25 lockups with ATI and 0 with my nVidia...so far)

However. What you should do is not take our word for it, and examine BOTH stats from the manufacturers and decide for yourself.

I've been working with hardware since 1986...and so far am in love with AMD CPUS and nVidia Video cards.

The second favourite video card was my VooDoo3 16 meg card...Had darn good frame rates for a 16 meg card.

-Arg

-If you want to flame me...Don't post it in here...email me at [email protected]

Or call 1-800-RYP-OFF1

Believe it or not, I'm running this game on an AMD K6/3-450 using an ATI Radeon 8500... 600x800 in 32bit color and it looks great. Details are turned up about halfway on the sliders. I'm upgrading to something faster CPU and mobo-wise soon, but for now, even on my old warhorse, it runs great.

For now it's the Radeon that even makes it possible to run this game.

(I just wanna be able to crank up the details ALL THE WAY, heh)

-NL

Get the 9700 pro, throw away the reference cooling, buy a zalman heatpipe, install it, OC the card bigtime and you'll have a silent monster

I'm running at 410/715 clockspeeds rocksteady using the Catalyst 3.2 drivers. Haven't tried the 9800 pro driver hack yet but it should improve my FSAA/AF performance considerably.

Anyways I run the game smoothly (as in never below 80fps) in 1600x1200x32 (I only have 17" monitor) 16x AF and 6x FSAA

In the name of all that's holy, whatever you do, don't buy a GF4 MX. It's nothing more than a slightly tweaked GF2 MX, which wasn't as good as the GF2 GTS, and any GF3 Ti will easily outperform the GF4MX. Trust me, it's a real piece of junk.

There are only 10 kinds of people in the world:
those who understand binary, and those who don't.

I'm running on a 64 meg GF4/4200. Athlon 2000 w/1gig DDR Ram (333mhz).

I have it set at 800 x 600 32-bit, all detail settings maxed, w/4x Antialiasing and 32-tap Anisotropic filtering enabled. It runs liquid smooth all the time with no bogging, no matter how much stuff is on the screen.

"Anyways I run the game smoothly (as in never below 80fps) in 1600x1200x32 (I only have 17" monitor) 16x AF and 6x FSAA"

This is where ATI rules. AF and FSAA. Even the new Geforce FX barely outperforms the ATI Radeon 9700 pro at max resolution with full AF + FSAA. The ATI cards take a much lower performance hit then the nVidia. Theres a program you can download called Powerstrip. http://www.entechtaiwan.com/ps.htm

Makes overclocking really easy. And it has support for cards over the last 10 years. It will give you more FPS with any card you have.

*disclaimer* if you burn out your card its not my fault.

Uh... If this is the game that has you upgrading your video card, perhaps you need to upgrade more than your card (memory first, then processor). My GeForce 3 (Not Ti) works great with all details maxed and QAA turned on at 1024x768 on my 2Gig P4 (well, before I installed DX9, now I experience the occasional hiccup). Any card in this league and better will be fine. Freelancer is not the most graphically advanced game released to date.

Any 64 or 128mb card should do fine for at least a year for any of your PC gaming needs if your processor is up to specs. If you are on the market for a 128mb card, and you have two free slots, buy the FX. It is way set up for DX9. It is probably the best card on the market right now. If you have the space, money, and lack the patience to wait for the next generation, get the FX. Otherwise, stick to ATI. Each company makes very good cards. I'd buy the best 64mb card on the market and use the cash i would have spent on a 128mb card on several more games.

Check the current video card reviews. The people on this forum (myself included) probably only switch brands when we need to upgrade our cards and don't have the chance to compare hardware for a significant length of time.

I too have no problem with my system running the game MAXED out and at 1024x768.

I have Windows XP with AMD 1.1Ghz CPU and a Radeon All in Wonder 8500DV.
I have absolutely NO slow downs.

And for anyone that is wanting to get a new Vid card.
And you have decided to go with ATI.
The All in Wonder version of teh Radeon cards are kick butt!!!
I love them.
Great for playing your game son because they run the game just like the normal Radeons do.
PLUS you get all the EXTRA benefits of the AIW card.
Like Watch TV on your computer if you want to.
(Of course it will never replace a goo TV even tho the vid quality is great.)
You can record TV just like those with TiVo's do (Ex. Pause Live TV then resume)
It's awesome - too many benefits to list.
But like I said - if you have decided to go with an ATI card then check out the AIW version. You won't regret it.

MY HISTORY of owning Vid cards.

Trident card - hehe
Rendition Verite 1000 - Not bad Not great But oh did Quake look good!
Voodoo RUSH - OH MY GOD WHAT A MISTAKE!!! Quake looked even better! Just slow card
Voodoo 2 - Loved it Great card!
Voodoo 3 - Loved it Great card!
TNT - Didn't care for it.
Geforce 2 - Loved it Great card!
Geforce 3 - Loved it Great Card!
Ati Radeon All in Wonder 8500DV - Holy Heck! GREAT CARD! Not top performer but comparable to Geforce 3. But dang is the name ever long! hehe
And the drivers are just a hair behind the quality of nVidia - NO MATTER WHAT ANYONE SAYS!

Ok - enuff ramblings by me.


Nitescape

Go with the Radeon 9700 Pro. I am a convert from nVidia. The fact I can turn on AA without a drop in framerates is worth it.

I came. I saw. I conquered. And sometimes get conquered.
"I'm Natrunner, I don't really run TLR but I do have an understanding with those that do."

If you just want to decide between those two, thaen I guess the ATI is better.
I run it on a TBred 2100+ with a GF4 - Ti4200 at 4600er clocks. @1600x1200x32 on a 19" screen.
Feels like I'm really piloting a space ship. Only got significant drops in FR when fighting a Lv38-random mission.