Video Card Problem

[GamingMom]

I just bought the Da Vinci Code PC game. The game (as stated on the box) requires a 64MB graphics card with hardware T&L compliant, compatible with Microsoft Direct X 9c. After I sent the company's tech support a Direct X report, I was told that my video card is not compatible to play the game. I have an HP Pavilion 752n running Windows XP. The video card is a 64MB Intel82845G/GL/GE/PE/GV Graphics Controller and the chip type is Intel 82845G Graphics Controller. I downloaded a more recent video driver (6.14.10.4342 dated 6/21/2005), but that didn't solve the problem. I believe my HP Pavilion 752n motherboard only comes with PCI slots (no AGP slot). Can I do anything to upgrade my existing system to play this game? If not, what do I need to purchase that isn't too expensive and that I could maybe install myself. I had this same problem not being able to play Myst Uru Complete Chronicles because it required some special video card. Thanks.

[oracle128]

The problem is definitely due to the graphics - you're using an onboard graphics chip, which are usually useless for games. You can get some surprisingly powerful PCI video cards which may just let you play that game, but you may be pushing your luck with that. Unfortunately, if you want anything more you're basically going to have to upgrade your whole PC.

[GamingMom]

Originally Posted by oracle128

The problem is definitely due to the graphics - you're using an onboard graphics chip, which are usually useless for games. You can get some surprisingly powerful PCI video cards which may just let you play that game, but you may be pushing your luck with that. Unfortunately, if you want anything more you're basically going to have to upgrade your whole PC.

Thanks for info. The game box states "does not support nVidia Geforce 3 and 4 series MX cards." From your Website link (surprisingly powerful PCI cards) the only other "chip manufacturer" is ATI which lists three video cards: Diamond X1300PCI256SB Radeon X1300 GDDR2 PCI Vista Ready Video Card, VisionTek VTKX1300256PCI GDDR2 PCI Low Profile Video Card, and HIS Hightech H925H128E1TOPN Radeon 9250 128MB DDR PCI Video Card. Are any of these cards going to allow me to play the game? You indicated that a "PCI card may just let you play that game but you may be pushing your luck." Would the company's tech support be able to tell me if any of these cards would allow the game to play? Thanks.

[smurfy]

Hi GamingMom and welcome.
The page Oracle linked to contained mostly nVidia GeForce FX5200 cards which are a considerable advance over the nVidia GeForce MX cards.
Any of the cards on that page should enable you to run the game, but the preformance may not be up to a playable level.
The best ones on offer (In my opinion) in terms of performance for the $ would be:
Budget card ($50) GF FX5200
Mid-Range ($80) GF FX 5500
High Performance ($95) GF 6200
Awesome ($112) RadeonX1300

BUT bear in mind that these cards are all utilising video chips that were designed for the faster AGP interface and are really not going to give you the full performance increase you would hope for when using PCI.
See my comments here:
http://www.cybertechhelp.com/forums/...d.php?t=131171
Depending on your budget, a $100-200 motherboard/videocard upgrade would probably be a better option than spending $50-100 on just a video card.

[GamingMom]

Thanks for your reply, Smurfy. I don't want to go down the "motherboard / video card upgrade" road and I'm okay that the game might not play to its absolute optimum. As the game box states "does not support nVidia Geforce 3 and 4 series MX cards," I assume that the game only plays with a higher grade video card and is that the GF FX 5200? The $80 price is reasonable and one review indicated that "if you're stuck with an older board with no PCIe or AGP slot(s), this card is your best bet." Will everything that came standard on my HP Pavilion 752n support this new card, i.e. is it going to fit and/or am I going to have to purchase something else to accommodate the upgrade? Do I need to be concerned about my system's sound card to play the game? Thanks for your informative help.

[oracle128]

As the game box states "does not support nVidia Geforce 3 and 4 series MX cards," I assume that the game only plays with a higher grade video card and is that the GF FX 5200?

The 5200 is actually a fairly low-end card, but it's about the best you're going to get in the outdated PCI interface.

Will everything that came standard on my HP Pavilion 752n support this new card, i.e. is it going to fit and/or am I going to have to purchase something else to accommodate the upgrade?

Everything should be fine. The only thing that could possibly not be ok is if your PC's power supply doesn't provide enough juice for the graphics card, but I don't think that's likely to be a concern for a PCI card.

Do I need to be concerned about my system's sound card to play the game?

Any sound card should be fine, though obviously quality is variable between cards. If you're ok with the sound quality of your other games, you should be ok with this game.

[GamingMom]

Oracle 128, thanks for the info. I'd appreciate some help with something else. I recently downloaded the latest Intel Extreme Graphics driver as a possible solution for my video problems with the DaVinci Code game. Then I thought this also might make a difference in playing Uru Complete Chronicles which I had given up on. I just reinstalled the game and all the video appears to be working fine. The music plays fine but I have no voice sound for the characters. I've tried a zillion different things but no luck. Any insight to this problem. Thanks.

[oracle128]

The most obvious, if you haven't done so already, make sure the sound volume in the game options are set right. Also try updating your audio drivers.

[GamingMom]

Originally Posted by oracle128

The most obvious, if you haven't done so already, make sure the sound volume in the game options are set right. Also try updating your audio drivers.

Just to give you an update. I gave up on trying to install an updated audio driver. I found "ADI SoundMax Integrated Digitial Audio 5.12.01.3620 D" audio driver on the HP/Compaq Web site which appears to be more recent than my 5.12.01.3501 version but I had trouble with the installation. After the download of <sp27103.exe>, I tried to "run" the file but I just got an error message "Driver not found. Reboot your system and run this set up again." I tried using Device Manager (Sounds & Audio Devices / Hardware / Properties / Driver / Update) to "search for the best driver" and specified that file directory but it just indicated there wasn't a better match. I emailed tech support at SoundMax but didn't hear from them. I researched other forums which indicated one must remove old sound drivers first but then I read so many "nightmare" stories about removing and reinstalling new drivers. After giving up on updating my audio driver, I did more research and downloaded an upgrade (I believe it was Intel's Application Accelerator for the 845GL chipset) and made some other corrections. I finally have voice sound and can play Uru Complete Chronicles. Although it's working and I don't have any sound problems, I was just wondering why the audio driver installation didn't work. As far as my problem with the Da Vinci Code PC game...it's obviously video-related so if I really want to play it, I'll have to install that upgrade you recommended. Thanks for your help with everything.

[oracle128]

It's possible HP provided the wrong driver, or that the one they had simply wasn't compatible with your system for one reason or another. Or it may be that HP was providing the driver for the audio device from the manufacturer, instead of the Intel version, which may be slightly different or implemented in a different way.