Best FFXI videocard? Please post screenshots

[Ezrael]

Slightly off-topic yet related: When doing a reformat, would it be better to install the nvidia drivers before XP service packs/updates, or should the windows things be done first (when installing from an XP w/o any of the service packs included)?

XP/Vista > Drivers > SPs/Updates.

Depending on how old or new your windows CD is you may already have some Service Packs on it and will install themselves when you install windows.

[Izzy]

Slightly off-topic yet related: When doing a reformat, would it be better to install the nvidia drivers before XP service packs/updates, or should the windows things be done first (when installing from an XP w/o any of the service packs included)?

XP/Vista > Drivers > SPs/Updates.

Depending on how old or new your windows CD is you may already have some Service Packs on it and will install themselves when you install windows.

Wrong.

OS > SP/Updates > Drivers

Many drivers/programs/driver suites require .NET Framework and SP2 which is obtained through running windowsupdate. I dare you to try to install the ATI drivers and the Catalyst Control Center off a fresh install.

[Isiolia]

From what I've seen, the ATi stuff will install, it'll just give you a message stating that you will need to install .net 2.0 before being able to use the control center.

[Izzy]

From what I've seen, the ATi stuff will install, it'll just give you a message stating that you will need to install .net 2.0 before being able to use the control center.

Right, the drivers will install but that's it.

[Seid]

Athlon64 3.2g, 2g RAM, GeForce 8800 GTS OC 512, 1680x1050 res, 3360x3360 bg res.

- I can run 2x of the game at once with no issues, save whitegate during NA prime. Only other areas that show any issues at all are when you have 3-4 linkshells waiting to enter Einherjar and 3 companies of orcs + gobs + shadowhand's crew show up all within a few minutes of each other in Jugner. (this was last night). Even then, it still runs quite well considering.

[Izzy]

Athlon64 3.2g, 2g RAM, GeForce 8800 GTS OC 512, 1680x1050 res, 3360x3360 bg res.

- I can run 2x of the game at once with no issues, save whitegate during NA prime. Only other areas that show any issues at all are when you have 3-4 linkshells waiting to enter Einherjar and 3 companies of orcs + gobs + shadowhand's crew show up all within a few minutes of each other in Jugner. (this was last night). Even then, it still runs quite well considering.

FFXI won't register anything above 2048x2048. Any value set higher than that is ignored and scaled back to 2048x2048.

[Dragir]

System 1, brand new, built April 08.:
ASUS Rampage Formula.
Intel Q9450 @ 3.66GHz.
4GB Corsair Dominator DDR21066 RAM.
ASUS/ATI Radeon HD 3870 X2, PCIx 2.0

System 2, my main FFXI system, built 2001, upgraded 2004:
Abit IC7-G.
Intel Pentium 4 2.4C (Northwood) @ 3.2GHz.
2.5GB Mushkin Level II DDR433@2-5-2-2.
ATI/ATI Radeon X850 XT, AGP.

Both systems run the game at identical FPS in identical situations and are visually indiscernible, quality-wise.
Bottom line: Don't spend too much or go too high-end on your PC just for FFXI. You can probably eBay a decent PC for this game for about $200-$300USD.

[EvilSid]

Tell me if I'm wrong, I've noticed few interesting things from your screens:

• The first one is that nobody sets Shadows on High (which means every animated model has its shadow). And this is the proof that still there isn't a system which could run the game with high shadows without falling to 5 FPS in front of auction houses. I've tried with an Intel Core2 Quad Q9300.. it didn't work But I like too much how the game looks with them, so I just shut'em down in the crowded areas.
  
  The second one is that very few people use the anisotropic filter, and the game has really an horrible look without it. Just see the pictures I've made: [spoiler:vem456vd]http://www.webalice.it/otacon00/pic_01.jpg http://www.webalice.it/otacon00/pic_02.jpg[/spoiler:vem456vd] [spoiler:vem456vd]http://www.webalice.it/otacon00/ffxi/sarutabaruta.png[/spoiler:vem456vd] You should set it at 2x by Ati or nVidia Control Panel. It's not like trying to set anti-aliasing, it will work nicely.
  
  Third and last thing is that this game was converted by total idiots... but this is pretty obvious

[Viena]

FFXI won't register anything above 2048x2048. Any value set higher than that is ignored and scaled back to 2048x2048.

That's untrue. It was a limitation from older graphics cards.

[Izzy]

I set my anisotropic filtering at 16x. You really can tell a difference.

[Ezrael]

Slightly off-topic yet related: When doing a reformat, would it be better to install the nvidia drivers before XP service packs/updates, or should the windows things be done first (when installing from an XP w/o any of the service packs included)?

XP/Vista > Drivers > SPs/Updates.

Depending on how old or new your windows CD is you may already have some Service Packs on it and will install themselves when you install windows.

Wrong.

OS > SP/Updates > Drivers

Many drivers/programs/driver suites require .NET Framework and SP2 which is obtained through running windowsupdate. I dare you to try to install the ATI drivers and the Catalyst Control Center off a fresh install.

Considering I have a XP CD w/ SP2 on it. I'll take that dare. Which is why I said depending on your XP/Vista CD. Don't just call out people for being wrong. Read the whole post and not just what you want to read.

Edit: I'd like to see you download those updates and SPs w/ out your networking drivers installed. I dare you.

[Izzy]

Slightly off-topic yet related: When doing a reformat, would it be better to install the nvidia drivers before XP service packs/updates, or should the windows things be done first (when installing from an XP w/o any of the service packs included)?

XP/Vista > Drivers > SPs/Updates.

Depending on how old or new your windows CD is you may already have some Service Packs on it and will install themselves when you install windows.

Wrong.

OS > SP/Updates > Drivers

Many drivers/programs/driver suites require .NET Framework and SP2 which is obtained through running windowsupdate. I dare you to try to install the ATI drivers and the Catalyst Control Center off a fresh install.

Considering I have a XP CD w/ SP2 on it. I'll take that dare. Which is why I said depending on your XP/Vista CD. Don't just call out people for being wrong. Read the whole post and not just what you want to read.

The CD with SP2 does not contain .NET framework unless it's a custom slipstreamed CD you made yourself. I stand by my statement.

[levish]

ffxi ran the same for me when I had my x850xt as my x1900xt and my 8800gts and respective cpus other than really laggy areas got slightly less laggy drawing new characters.

just don't get a "business graphics card" and you'll be fine

3850
3870
4850
4870
8800GT
8800GTS 512
8800GTX
8800Ultra
9800GTX
9800GX2
260GTX
280GTX

All of them will run fine (barring some sort of non-performance related problem) even the bottom of the barrel 199$ (some of the listed ones are even cheaper now) ones, but personally I'd stick to a ATI card if its for FFXI in particular. Current bang for the buck cards are 4850 and 9800GTX both can be had for slightly under $199

[Isiolia]

From what I've seen, the ATi stuff will install, it'll just give you a message stating that you will need to install .net 2.0 before being able to use the control center.

Right, the drivers will install but that's it.

It installs all of it, the control center just won't function until .net 2.0 is installed. However, you can still do basic stuff via the windows control panels.

[Izzy]

From what I've seen, the ATi stuff will install, it'll just give you a message stating that you will need to install .net 2.0 before being able to use the control center.

Right, the drivers will install but that's it.

It installs all of it, the control center just won't function until .net 2.0 is installed. However, you can still do basic stuff via the windows control panels.

Yea, that's what I meant lol.