Video Card Upgrade Advice Needed !!

[Case_]

You really do have a bizarre setup, I have to say.

 

[bigfoothunter]

Sorry, that's what the TV monitor supports. So that's what I run it as. Bought this a long time ago. Don't have unlimited funds to spend on TV's & PC's to play games.

 

[Case_]

I don't see how running 1080p resolution on (supposed) 720p monitor (or is it TV, then?) is in any way related to not having unlimited funds, but OK.

 

[BP]

You really do have a bizarre setup, I have to say.

Maybe he's running DSR to get 1080p to run on a 720p monitor, which would improve aliasing but at the cost of performance. That's the only conceivable way I know how (and why) you would do this.

.

 

[Case_]

Yes. Though I wouldn't expect the aliasing difference to be worth it with these resolutions, especially since downsampling/DSR also introduces blur and loss of detail, and I would still describe such usage as fairly bizarre or at least quite unusual, and also somewhat confusing, given the previous discussions.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[RasmusP]

Bigfoot I have to say your setup is hugely bizarre!
I'm having two weeks off from work/university starting next Monday.
Do you have a microphone and a smartphone or Webcam?
We really should meet in teamspeak/Skype/discord and just have a look together.
From what I've read in this thread it seems you have a messed up windows, messed up nvidia driver, messed up game settings, a 1280x720 32" TV, which somehow runs at 1920x1080 which is either technically impossible or your TV is labeled incorrectly.
And if it's not a TV then you have the strangest monitor I've ever heard of.

I don't think forum posts will get you any further. What you need is a video chat with someone who is good at pc stuff and checks your system and gets all the facts and settings straight.
I would be up for that if you want

It also seems that installing a fresh windows would be a good idea. When doing this, getting a ssd would be a good idea too to massively increase your performance outside of games.

 

[David Turnbull]

the TV is most likely a HD Ready TV that supports 720p (progressive) but can do 1080i (interlaced) nothing so bizarre about this tbh plenty TVs support this, if this is the case its always better to use the 720p opposed to any interlaced resolutions.

 

[bigfoothunter]

Bigfoot I have to say your setup is hugely bizarre!
I'm having two weeks off from work/university starting next Monday.
Do you have a microphone and a smartphone or Webcam?
We really should meet in teamspeak/Skype/discord and just have a look together.
From what I've read in this thread it seems you have a messed up windows, messed up nvidia driver, messed up game settings, a 1280x720 32" TV, which somehow runs at 1920x1080 which is either technically impossible or your TV is labeled incorrectly.
And if it's not a TV then you have the strangest monitor I've ever heard of.

I don't think forum posts will get you any further. What you need is a video chat with someone who is good at pc stuff and checks your system and gets all the facts and settings straight.
I would be up for that if you want

It also seems that installing a fresh windows would be a good idea. When doing this, getting a ssd would be a good idea too to massively increase your performance outside of games.

While I appreciate the offer, I have No microphone, smartphone or webcam. Very soon. I'm going to take it to my PC shop, who is very good. Maybe reload W 7, let them run a virus scan and see what else they recommend. I have a maintenance contract with them. So it shouldn't cost anything. When I bought this TV, the 1080p was just becoming popular, so that tells you how old it is, got it very cheap on sale. I'm Not running DSR, it supports 1980x 1080. So that what I run it as. Like I said, I'm old, retired & don't have tons of money to spend on TV's & PC's to have the best of everything. I was merely trying to just make this " bizarre " setup better, cause I don't know all the technical stuff about TV's and PC's. Ever since I was a kid, I always loved any kind of racing, when I was young, they, here in the USA, would only air 2 races per year. One was the Indy 500, the other was the Daytona 500, both on a black and white TV. Although no one else in the family liked racing, my Dad would let me watch them both. We could only afford one TV. No cable then, just an outside antenna which sometimes was a snowy picture. My Grandson, built his own gaming PC while in high school, he now is in the US Army, finished his AIT training with Microsoft and IBM, he's a cyber hacker? Finished at the top of his class with a 97% grade. My son is a mechanic for Team Penske, also changes left rear tire on pit stops with Simon Paginauo? And has no interest in PC racing, LOL. So, I Thank Everyone for all the help and support, I'll let the PC shop check out my problems on this " bizarre " PC and see what they say. Since I turned down the settings on the games that do work, the FPS range from the low one hundreds to two hundreds. I consider this post closed. Thanks again & Happy Racing !!!!!! This is only a Hobby for me, Not my Life, LOL

 

[David Turnbull]

to be totally honest i dont think theres anything too much wrong with your system that a format and reinstal wouldnt cure.

weve all been a bit hung up on the 9gb ram and 720/1080 issue thats masking the fact that the system still works fine, its mainly software your having problems with.

if you need to take it to the shop then get them to back up all your software, stick a cheap ssd in and put windows 10 on it fresh, that will most likely solve 99.99% of issues your having.

the i7 920 and gtx960 and 9gb ram will be fine.

 

[bigfoothunter]

Bigfoot I have to say your setup is hugely bizarre!
I'm having two weeks off from work/university starting next Monday.
Do you have a microphone and a smartphone or Webcam?
We really should meet in teamspeak/Skype/discord and just have a look together.
From what I've read in this thread it seems you have a messed up windows, messed up nvidia driver, messed up game settings, a 1280x720 32" TV, which somehow runs at 1920x1080 which is either technically impossible or your TV is labeled incorrectly.
And if it's not a TV then you have the strangest monitor I've ever heard of.

I don't think forum posts will get you any further. What you need is a video chat with someone who is good at pc stuff and checks your system and gets all the facts and settings straight.
I would be up for that if you want

It also seems that installing a fresh windows would be a good idea. When doing this, getting a ssd would be a good idea too to massively increase your performance outside of games
As far was the TV goes, it's an old Hitachi, 32", flat screen. TV, 720 P can be used also on PC's. What ever the correct term is for that. It supports up to 1980x 1080 . I honestly never heard of DSR until reading some of these posts. I think it was Durge, who recommended a new ssd . Just in case , what's the brand name & techs of a new ssd, in case I decide to put one in while it's at the PC shop. My C drive is where W7 is on. Only 1 GB. No games on it. Might be a good idea to put a 2 GB in & reload W7 on it. Currently, all my Steam games are on another drive, 2gb. The C drive didn't have enough room on it for the w7 stuff & Steam games. I have another drive, 2 GB, where all my Non Steam games are on. Everything was working great till these errors started. I'm guessing with a New ssd 2gb, then move my Steam games on it might Be a good idea? See what happens, my health is bad, Cancer & heart problems, so that's why it's not a big priority to fix & update this old PC. If the PC shop can fix these errors & all the games work. I'll be a Happy Camper!!!!!! But it's not something that I sit and worry about. Really don't expect to be around much longer, just trying to have some fun when I'm bored. Thank You & Others for all the ideas & help on this " Bizarre " set up, LOL, LOL

 

[RasmusP]

Totally agree. I didn't mean to bash the system at all.
- if 1080 interlaced, go with 720p

- if locked at 50 fps just check if it really can't run 60 or even higher

- screw the virus scans etc. Just grab a fresh ssd, install a fresh windows on it and run dual boot. Not losing files, just having a fresh system to check things out

- put the inspector settings back to default. Only set the energy mode to "prefer maximum performance" and go from there. Sure, some games might like forced vsync or forced anisotropic filtering or forced ambient occlusion or sgssaa but there aren't many games that work with it or need that

- check if the i7 can't be overclocked. Maybe put a better cooler on it and gain lots of performance

- check the ram sticks. Maybe there's performance to gain with 8gb 2x sticks compared to 9gb. Or maybe it's 3x3gb and everything is totally fine

That's all that's needed. It just seems the hardware should be checked by someone who knows this stuff and also the software should be refreshed from the start.
I7 920 + 9gb + gtx 960 should be totally fine for any older sims and also be fine for modern Sims at lower settings.

Great that your local store might do this without taking a penny!

 

[bigfoothunter]

It is likely a DirectX fault!
Goto Steam\Steamapps\Common\Automobilista\CommonRedist folder.
Run DxSetup.exe
That will install DirectX 9.0C from June 2010 which is the best for GTR2 and all other of the older Gmotor2 games.
Or just click on this link.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8109

I like to answer all help, I did reinstall DX 9oc, it fixed AMS, now loads & works with great FPS rates, since I turned down the settings. The Sim bin games still can't load. As I said today in answering others, I'll let the PC shop look at it. Thanks for the help !!!!!

 

[bigfoothunter]

Totally agree. I didn't mean to bash the system at all.
- if 1080 interlaced, go with 720p

- if locked at 50 fps just check if it really can't run 60 or even higher

- screw the virus scans etc. Just grab a fresh ssd, install a fresh windows on it and run dual boot. Not losing files, just having a fresh system to check things out

- put the inspector settings back to default. Only set the energy mode to "prefer maximum performance" and go from there. Sure, some games might like forced vsync or forced anisotropic filtering or forced ambient occlusion or sgssaa but there aren't many games that work with it or need that

- check if the i7 can't be overclocked. Maybe put a better cooler on it and gain lots of performance

- check the ram sticks. Maybe there's performance to gain with 8gb 2x sticks compared to 9gb. Or maybe it's 3x3gb and everything is totally fine

That's all that's needed. It just seems the hardware should be checked by someone who knows this stuff and also the software should be refreshed from the start.
I7 920 + 9gb + gtx 960 should be totally fine for any older sims and also be fine for modern Sims at lower settings.

Great that your local store might do this without taking a penny!

I have a yearly maintenance contract with them, includes virus scans, cleaning and if need be, reload W 7, I only pay for any new parts it might need or that I want to add.

 

[David Turnbull]

the 50hz will be because its an interlaced resolution, if you change that to whatever the native resolution is... i.e 1366x768 or 1280x720 or something like that then it should be 60hz

 

[RasmusP]

As far was the TV goes, it's an old Hitachi, 32", flat screen. TV, 720 P can be used also on PC's. What ever the correct term is for that. It supports up to 1980x 1080 . I honestly never heard of DSR until reading some of these posts. I think it was Durge, who recommended a new ssd . Just in case , what's the brand name & techs of a new ssd, in case I decide to put one in while it's at the PC shop. My C drive is where W7 is on. Only 1 GB. No games on it. Might be a good idea to put a 2 GB in & reload W7 on it. Currently, all my Steam games are on another drive, 2gb. The C drive didn't have enough room on it for the w7 stuff & Steam games. I have another drive, 2 GB, where all my Non Steam games are on. Everything was working great till these errors started. I'm guessing with a New ssd 2gb, then move my Steam games on it might Be a good idea? See what happens, my health is bad, Cancer & heart problems, so that's why it's not a big priority to fix & update this old PC. If the PC shop can fix these errors & all the games work. I'll be a Happy Camper!!!!!! But it's not something that I sit and worry about. Really don't expect to be around much longer, just trying to have some fun when I'm bored. Thank You & Others for all the ideas & help on this " Bizarre " set up, LOL, LOL

I edited your little bit messed up quote-post to be normally quoted

You probably mean TB and not GB as Win7 already is multiple GBs big. Anyway, 1TB should be plenty enough to put some games on it but that's not where I'd like be heading:
I'd suggest you let the PC shop install a fresh Win7 onto a SSD. I would recommend 250GB and not 120GB for Windows only since some programs do like to be installed on the C drive and 120GB is quickly filled up.
250GB SSDs are around 50€ here in Germany. Samsung and Crucial are brands I can recommend. Model doesn't matter really but Crucial's MX500 and Samsung's 860 evo is what I would buy.
2 TB SSDs are extremely expensive. 250€ and more. I think you are fine with keeping the games where they are. On a normal HDD

I wish you all the best and a load of good and fun moments!

And while I called your system to be "bizarre" I didn't mean "bad" with it. Just really uncommon and causing some "????" in our brains hehe.

Anyway, summary:
- Fresh Windows on a round about 250GB SSD and re-configure the games should solve most problems!
- Maybe get the shop to overclock your i7 a little bit to gain performance
- your PC is totally fine!
- With a fresh Windows you'll lose all nvidia settings. It's probably a good idea to restart with them.

Hopefully you can get the PC shop to do this for you but keeping your current windows on the HDD too. So if something gets screwed with the new windows you can just select the old one to boot and stay with what you have. That's how I do it. Always having two windows installs on my PC if one starts to behave weirdly.

 

[BrunoBæ]

I honestly think it's a virus or Trojan. Soon as the weather is clear, getting lots of snow, I'm m going to take it to my PC shop I go to & get it looked at.

Before getting out in the snow you could try one of the more serious free online virus scanners like as example Housecall: https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/forHome/products/housecall.html

I have been running the same Win7 install!! since 2009(?) without any antivirus.
And the only thing I have done is to use some common sense visiting dirty sites AND every ½ year call Housecall to scan my lil puter.
But I have to say that House call have only found 2 easily removable dirties in these 10 years.

 

[BrunoBæ]

Thanks BrunoB, I'll check it out !!!!

Just to show what I ment with almost zero money for a direct replacement upgrade of your i7-920:

Intel Xeon X5670 SLBV7 2.93GHz 12MB 6.4 GT/s LGA1366 Six Core CPU Processor
Condition: Used
Quantity: 2 available / 3 sold
Price: US $29.00 More than 59% Sold
Shipping: FREE Standard SpeedPAK from China/Hong Kong/Taiwan
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Intel-Xeon...351124?hash=item1eefa166d4:g:HmUAAOSw8Vtb~OEu

 

[bigfoothunter]

Before getting out in the snow you could try one of the more serious free online virus scanners like as example Housecall: https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/forHome/products/housecall.html

I have been running the same Win7 install!! since 2009(?) without any antivirus.
And the only thing I have done is to use some common sense visiting dirty sites AND every ½ year call Housecall to scan my lil puter.
But I have to say that House call have only found 2 easily removable dirties in these 10 years.

Thanks. BrunoB, I'll download this & see what happens. I never go on any porno sites, sometimes I'll find a site for downloading mods, skins that look ok, from here on out, think I'll just stay here at RD and stay out of trouble, LOL. Thanks Again for the tip. !!!!!!

 

[BrunoBæ]

The reason I dont use any anti-virus program is among other things because I want to keep my Windows install SIMPLE.
Thats also the reason I dont listen to some goofy advice to reinstall and reinstall Windows almost every weekend to solve every little fart from my puter
Another obvious thing is that if you ever decide to spend the (almost zero) $29 for the great X5670 then its just a SIMPLE replacement (plug out(920) and plug in(5670) and run your puter with the old settings until you or somebody else want to really speed up the cool X5670 (literally).
And no I havent invested in some SSD thingie on my simple puter.

 

[RasmusP]

And no I havent invested in some SSD thingie on my simple puter.

This is btw the most simple thing you can do. Buy a ssd that's at least the size of the partition of your windows's one. Use whatever backup tool you can get your hands on, make the USB recovery thingy.
Put in the ssd and unplug your hdd, run the USB stick program and let it put the backup on the ssd.
Start the PC, everything is normal
Then you should run the ssd tool from the manufacturer to switch some settings of windows. Like disabling defragmentation.
You can do this in different ways. In the end you just need to copy your windows (+boot) partition from one disc to the new one and be done.
It boosts your windows experience like nothing else!

Might not be crucial if you don't use a smartphone, tablet, modern laptop or else but if you do you are used to clicks being registered instantly and apps starting within a second.
I'm on ssd, smartphone, tablet and laptop with an ssd since 2011 and when I happen to use a pc or laptop with a normal hdd for the windows drive I feel like going from a car back to a skateboard. Or from running on the street to walking through quicksand