Radeon 32MB DDR help

[edrod13]

Friends,

I just have a couple of questions regarding an ATI Radeon DDR 32MB. I have just installed this is on ASUS mobo with a P4 1.6ghz. Under Windows 98 when I set the resolution to 800x600 the colors look all right but it really is not that crisp. When I set I to 1024x768 I really get a poor looking screen. When I first booted into windows the monitor was recognized and the wizard installed the proper driver. I checked the refresh rate and it is set to OPTIMAL. I just thought that a card like this would look better than that average card considering the monitor is new and it is a .25mm. Maybe I am just getting used to the way better and more colorful looking GUI in windows 2000 pro? Maybe someone could give me some help or someone might tell me that this is what I should expect. Oh, I also am not too happy with all the junk that the install CD comes with. Should I do a custom install and just install the drivers only if I am permitted? Finally the reason I am loading Win98 is because my friend is going to do some light gaming and I do not know how limited he will be when it comes to this under win2k. Maybe someone could shed some light on gaming with win2000 pro stating the pros and cons. Thanks

Edrod13

[glc]

Download the latest drivers from ATI - the drivers on the CD are probably the originals and they weren't very good.

[edrod13]

Glc,

I will give that a try and see what happens. I assume that the best way to remove the old drivers is to first set the display adapter to standard VGA then go into control panel and remove the ATI Display driver. Then I could reboot and install the latest driver. Finally ATI’s website stated that this included Directx 8.0 but that one also needed to install some Tv capture driver or software of some sort to play games. Can someone explain that to me and how important is it that I do install that. Thanks

Edrod13

[BeardedClem]

I believe if you install directX 8.1 you will not need the additional video capture update. If you don't want that and you want to do video capture with DX8, then go get the separate update at microsoft's site http://www.microsoft.com/directx/hom...ds/default.asp

Of course if you don't use the video capture then forget it.

[revelation]

This may sound like a foolish question, but did you set it to 24bit or 32bit colors. If not, the screen will look pretty ugly. Just an observation. I am using the Radeon 32MB DDR in this machine. GREAT video card. I am not a gamer, so even this card is "over-kill" for me. My other machine is has a 16MB ATI Xpert128. Can you tell I am partial to ATI?

[edrod13]

Guys,

Yes it is set to 32bit but I am not sold. I would expect a better quality image but who knows maybe I am asking for to much.

Edrod13