Heh... well, you usually can't upgrade a laptop's video card without getting a whole new motherboard anyway. There are a few exceptions in the Dell line of laptops where the vid card isn't built into the mobo. Not sure outsid eof Dell... I spend most of my days tearing open Dell laptops and changing motherboards.
For those referring to lag, I've found that the majority of the major lags in fps are all disk IO related and not so much the actual video card. I'm currently using 2 WD Raptor 150s in raid which helps considerably, but still running toward the market near the fountains with numerous other players causes my disks to thrash for a few moments when I approach. Even using my old system(single disk, no raid), I rarely had a problem inside instances.
(I run @ Very high, 1600x1050 w/E6700, 2GB Ram and a 8800GTS 320, average FPS is around 75-100ish while running, fighting, casting etc.)
Kraki
Same, with the GTS8800 640 (w/ 4 GB's RAM) I've seen an awesome improvement with vhigh settings. Rates are from 50-75 in a crowded Tor with everything maxed. This card btw is much more affordable than the GTX or Ultra, at around $350-$400, and should be all you ever need for DDO.
Regarding the very high settings mentioned, that has always been an option in my server graphic settings without ever having to copy client_highres.dat from the Risia folder. Maybe I'm missing something, but haven't very high settings always been an option by default? Or does the Risia hi-res make a normal servers very-high settings that much better?
I'm very happy with the graphics of DDO. I have a fairly outdated computer, It's about 6 years old in real life time, which translates to a prehistoric relic in computer age.
DDO still runs perfectly smooth on medium detail and even medium detail is alot better than most other games on the same setting (most other newer games run sluggish even on the lowest settings on my system and they look horrible) I only have a RADEON 9200 series video card but it still runs DDO fine.
Actually, it has come to our attention that this method should be used at your own risk, and you may end up needing to reinstall from your disc, and patching up.
The reason being, that data on Risia is frequently changing.The art from Risia can be (and is!) very different from that on the live servers, so the game could be essentially become broken.
For example: Object A in live, is likely not the same or could be different then object A in Risia. Possible outcomes could be weird visuals, laggy performance and crashing, to breaking the client permanently.
If you have already used Risia's high res files, and have no issues, you're likely fine, but may need to reinstall in the future. Keep this in mind if you choose to use Risia's high res files.
so, why can't hi-res files be a part of the live servers?
Ok, I have to ask. How can you tell if you have the high res files? I THINK I downloaded them but not sure.
The locus of my identity is totally exterior to me.
"On my business card, I am a corporate president. In my mind, I am a game developer. But in my heart, I am a gamer." - Satoru Iwata
x1600 256meg on a 3.2 celeron *** 768 megs of ram
3 hard disks (1-40 gig devoted to swap file)
1024x768 very high with everything checked to the highest possible settings. I only get 1 major hit for lag (when the very first monster pokes it's head around the corner) in an instance, have a little bit of lag in the normal spots and major major first load into Gianthold (instances there behave same as every other instance though).
Other than that I'm fine.
Before you spend oodles and oodles of cash on a new card look into your setup and see what else could be changed. The 1900 should be doing just fine for you.
Although I guess what's acceptable and what isn't changes based on the person. I bought the 1600 to replace my 9200se and moved from lag on low settings with draw distance pushed out to what I'm doing now.
Tharashk
12 Rog/1 Ftr: Winnd Shadowdancer - True Neutral
14 Wiz: Salean Shadowdancer - True Neutral
8 Pal: (Sir) Ehmil Ragsiel (d'Deneith) - Lawful Good
5 Rgr: Reiana - Chaotic Good
I can't ever give you an answer about why everyone else does something but I can tell you why I do something. Hopefully that helps.
Yeah it is. Even though I run fine at very high on my 6600, I get like 4 minute load times...so I tried reducing to high to shorten the load times, and I couldn't do it. I had gotten used to the eye candy and didn't want to be with out it.
Course, now I've been away for the past year, stuck on my notebook, so I have to put up with low graphics...
What I don't understand is why the default settings are so low when you first log on. For the longest time I thought the graphics for the mirrors were stupid and lame. "A gray square is supposed to be a mirror?" It wasn't until I mentioned it in gulid chat that I was told you had to activate lots of the better quality graphics. (Only one I hate is the "hazy effect" I don't understand the purpose of that one.)
Most other game I've played I had to adjust downward to get better performance, here I kept adjusting upward untill I noticed a difference or the display got too intense. Hypno pattern on high graphics is way more annoying that on the defaults...
Greatly enjoying the graphics here.
So I get this straight - I downloaded DDO online, no hi-res file. I downloaded Risia about 6 months ago, again no hi-res file. There is no hi-res file anywhere on my computer (with both regular DDO and Risia on it).
So to see these awes grafix everyone is talking about I need to re-download Risia and extract the hi-res file. It wasn't there 6 months ago but it is there now. Correct?
I so agree if the file was made available as a download for subscribers it would be great.
I agree. We need a Hi-Res download to go with the online download seeing as this is the way Turbine want people to get DDO (my version is the online one).
I tried the Hi-Res client file from the current Risia install and it didn't work. Fortunantely my son has an older version of the Risia install so I 'stole' the file from there and Presto - Hi-Res textures. Everything works OK so far (WOW the difference !!!) but I would be happier if I was able to get a download geared for the live version of DDO just so I know it was going to be OK.
Just my 2 cents worth ...
Happy Adventuring to all !!!
I have a wonderful new system.. Core 2 QX6700, 2GB Ram, 500GB Raptor 3Gb/sec, 8800 GTS I suffer no lag at the highest settings and load amazingly fast.
I REALLY would like to have the high res files on my live server executable. Got it from the Risia download and it is sooooo much nicer than what I run on normal live servers.
Quarion - If you can either work to make it available to those that want it. I don't mind a long download.
I just upgraded my graphics file to the GeForce 7600GT and added a new power supply. I run an Intel(R) Pentium(R) D CPU 3.20GHz (2 CPUs) w/2 gigs of ram. I can run everything on very high w/ little to no Lag. Would like to see the game in HI RES. I don't want to attempt the file swap from the RISA files due to my limited knowledge of computers. I also don't want to have to buy a disk (I downloaded the game). If there is anyway Turbine could make a HI RES file available that would be great.
"People think that I must be a very strange person. This is not correct. I have the heart of a small boy. It's in a glass jar on my desk.” Stephen King
Doken - Human Evasion Paladin 11P/2R/3F