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About Bobbert
Expertise
I can answer technical questions about installation, use, and maintinence of most 3D Graphics hardware, and software. I can offer assistance with overclocking (while I do not suggest overclocking while under warranty) and I can give assistance with more complicated problems to the full extent of my abilities.

Experience
I have been into computer hardware, especially 3D graphics and the hardware that drives them, for a number of years. I have knowledge in installation, use, troubleshooting, purchase suggestions and over clocking.


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AllExperts.com - Graphic Accelerators

 
   

You are here:  Experts > Shopping > Computer Peripherals > Video Card Problems > 3D accelarator

Video Card Problems - 3D accelarator


Expert: Bobbert - 11/4/2009

Question
I just bought a new computer which is apparently a gaming computer, please look at the spec - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220500666091&ssPageName=ADM...
i have then gone and tried installing a few games, World of warcraft and star war empire at war, which then fail to work. When i try to play world of warcraft a message appears saying -"World of warcraft was unable to start up 3D accelaration. Please make sure Directx 9.0c is installed and your video drivers are up-to-date."

I have now installed directx 9 and the problems still seem to happen. I am unsure what to do? can you help me? Thanks


Answer
Looks like a fairly dated workstation computer from the mid 2000's. The Matrox graphics adapter installed won't support DirectX 9 (likely won't support DirectX 8 even), and the system only has an AGP slot which means upgrades are likely very limited (as AGP is quite outdated, modern systems use PCI Express (which is different from PCI)).

As far as decent modern gaming system, I wouldn't suggest a Pentium 4 era Xeon, or an SMP/DP box, instead I would suggest a Core 2 Duo/Quad or Core i5/i7 (or AMD equivalent, Phenom II) and modern PCIe based graphics adapter (from nVidia or ATi, as Matrox doesn't provide gaming/consumer geared 3D accelerators).

If you have any further, feel free to ask.

-bob


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