World of Warcraft technical question

[Ron21647]

Hi,

there are three of us in the household actively involved in the game. My computer is an eMachines T5048, dual core 3 GHz processor, 1.5 Gb memory, otherwise stock out of the box. The second computer is a Dell of similar specs.

The third computer is a eMachines T2642 with 2.6 Ghz processor and 1.2 Gb memory.

All of us have the Burning Crusade upgrade installed. Any of the three of us can play on the first two computers with no problems. I, and my step-son's fiance can play on the third computer, we are both fairly low level players, just starting out, a level 8 and a level 11, respectively.

My step son cannot play on the third computer (which happens to be his). He is a level 30, and says it is because his character actually uses the Burning Crusade new items. He thinks it is the video card. The video is on the motherboard, Intel 845GV chipset, using 64Mb shared memory.

The symptoms are that his map is all messed up looking, and some of his icons in the backpack aren't right. For example, the flask of refreshing spring water might use the sword icon, and so on.

I slicked the hard drive and reloaded the OS just before he put WoW on that machine, I'm sure the drivers are up to date, including DirectX.

The Intel 845GV is not on the supported list, but the next couple of models up from that are. Does anyone think we need a new video card, or do you think the character files are messed up someplace? Isn't all the character info stored on the server? Otherwise how could you go between computers? For example during testing, one of us has logged on from one computer, played 5 minutes or so, then logged off, and logged back on on the next computer, and taken up where we left off.

The server we are using is Dalvengyr, if that matters.

any help will be appreciated

Ron

 

[Museveni]

Would bet that it's becuase of the graphics card. Still I got a(as far as i know) supported card, a ATI X1900XTX, and I too get some wierd symbols for items and buffs from time to time but then again I do have some issues in other games where it minimizes for no reason while trying to play movies(Bloodrayne 1 and 2) so I'd still say that it's something with the GFX card.

 

[Dannager]

Yes, get yourself an actual graphics card. They're relatively cheap nowadays (especially if you just want it for WoW), and they improve the experience by leaps and bounds.

 

[Ron21647]

I went to Circuit City last night and picked up an ATI Radeon 1300 X by VisionTek with 256Mb RAM. That seems to be the highest end card that will work in this computer, even though it was one of the lower ones they carry. I only have PCI slots, no AGP or PCI-E.

Anyhow, it installed with no problems, and it fixed our issues we were having.

thanks for your replies,
Ron

 

[Izdaari Eristikon]

The Intel 845GV is not on the supported list, but the next couple of models up from that are. Does anyone think we need a new video card, or do you think the character files are messed up someplace? Isn't all the character info stored on the server? Otherwise how could you go between computers? For example during testing, one of us has logged on from one computer, played 5 minutes or so, then logged off, and logged back on on the next computer, and taken up where we left off.

Yes, the character files are saved on the server. But the graphics displayed are drawn on your local computer, and the Intel onboard video didn't have the graphics processing power to draw them correctly. The new one you bought is adequate for WoW, as you've discovered. And you're correct, it'll be hard to do much better with only a PCI slot for it. Accordingly, that computer will have to replaced for the next generation of games.

I recommend that next time you stay away from manufactured computers and get one that's custom-built, whether that be from a local independent computer shop or an online builder. That way you'll be sure to get one that's industry standard and fully upgradeable.