My video card doesn't support T&L, can I still play these games?

[paganinio]

Hi there, I have a fast computer (512 RAM, 1.7 GHz) except that my graphics card is Intel 82945G (64MB video memory). It doesn't support Hardware T&L. But Indigo Prophecy, a game that requires Hardware T&L, is still playable. It doesn't run too smoothly even on the lowest graphics settings, and I can tolerate that.

I only play old games (usually released before 2004). I'm interested in NOLF2, Max Payne 2 and UT2004, and I want to play them smoothly. My question is, if a game requires Hardware T&L, should I buy it? Indigo Prophecy was a 2005 game and it was playable on my computer, Max Payne 2 and NOLF2 are much older games, so I think my card may be able to run them smoothly?

I heard there's emulation software (3D Analyzer) that can fake Hardware T&L support. Will I need this to play my games? Maybe I'll use it to get past the system requirement check.

I think as long as the game doesn't crash because of the absence of T&L support, it will run smoothly.

[notuptome2004]

prices are so cheap ya should buy a new system cause that system is not that fast now days and at the same time ya can buy a cheap graphics card that is more up to date that can go in to the system but your better off buying new system

[bloodrain]

I wouldn't call that a faster computer, especially when most laptops have better specs, lol. If you do decide to upgrade, get more ram and a better video card. 512 doesn't cut it anymore

[Thrawn]

May God have mercy on your desktop.

[RedFlow]

I had to upgrade my P4 3.0Ghz, 512mb DDR PC3200 RAM to 1GB of RAM last year. Waste of money but keeps me from being angry until I save up for a REAL desktop. :D

1GB is enough for XP. If you want to play GAMES you need to get a whole new computer. With those specs, I'd be surprised if you had a 250W PSU (What I have). My PC is from '04.

I'd say get a NVIDIA 7600GT if anything. They are cheap, and let you play games (obviously not on high settings).

[paganinio]

I'm the OP.

my computer specs are perfectly fine for all my gaming needs! I wanted to play Far Cry, Battlefield 2 but my hardware makes it impossible, so I turn to older games. 90% of games I play are from the 90s. System Shock 2 and such. Lots of non-shooters too if you're wondering.

I'll figure something out.

[notuptome2004]

I'm the OP.

my computer specs are perfectly fine for all my gaming needs! I wanted to play Far Cry, Battlefield 2 but my hardware makes it impossible, so I turn to older games. 90% of games I play are from the 90s. System Shock 2 and such. Lots of non-shooters too if you're wondering.

I'll figure something out.

see that is your issue your computer does not meet your needs if you cant play older games like Farcry or BF2 just save money build a new rig i spent $510 last june and upgraded to a AMD athlon 3800+ X2 new MB 2GB DDR2 ram and 8600GTS and new PSU so upgrade man your computer is outdated i am talking like 5 years outdated

[Andre S. Veteran]

Hi there, I have a fast computer (512 RAM, 1.7 GHz) except that my graphics card is Intel 82945G (64MB video memory). It doesn't support Hardware T&L. But Indigo Prophecy, a game that requires Hardware T&L, is still playable. It doesn't run too smoothly even on the lowest graphics settings, and I can tolerate that.

I only play old games (usually released before 2004). I'm interested in NOLF2, Max Payne 2 and UT2004, and I want to play them smoothly. My question is, if a game requires Hardware T&L, should I buy it? Indigo Prophecy was a 2005 game and it was playable on my computer, Max Payne 2 and NOLF2 are much older games, so I think my card may be able to run them smoothly?

I heard there's emulation software (3D Analyzer) that can fake Hardware T&L support. Will I need this to play my games? Maybe I'll use it to get past the system requirement check.

I think as long as the game doesn't crash because of the absence of T&L support, it will run smoothly.

It's weird that a game that requires T&L would run on hardware that doesn't. Your graphics card is not really a graphics card, it's an adapter, and their technical specs are often obscure.

The best advice I can give you is to download demos of the games you wish to buy.

[The_Decryptor Veteran]

I'm the OP.

my computer specs are perfectly fine for all my gaming needs! I wanted to play Far Cry, Battlefield 2 but my hardware makes it impossible, so I turn to older games. 90% of games I play are from the 90s. System Shock 2 and such. Lots of non-shooters too if you're wondering.

I'll figure something out.

No it doesn't, T&L is fairly important, your "card" would probably be doing it in software (which makes it horrendously slow).

My old GeForce 2 had hardware T&L.

Just spend $50 or so on a new graphics card.

[Digitalx]

pick a up a new cheaper better dedicated graphics card like X1300XT or 8500GT

[TruckWEB]

Hi there, I have a fast computer (512 RAM, 1.7 GHz) except that my graphics card is Intel 82945G (64MB video memory).

That's not Fast, that's very old! I guess it's time for you to invest a little money on a new computer. Even a cheap low-level laptop/desktop PC will perform better than your current PC!!!

Even if their not fast, all integrated graphic cards can do T&L now....

Don't ever upgrade to Windows Vista! Not with 512Mb RAM !! Damn, I remember that even WinXP was not that fast with 512Mb....

[Peter Lyon]

sorry, but i agree with everyone else here, 1.7ghz and 512mb of ram is definitely not fast, i have a desktop with a 1.6ghz p4, an nvidia 3 200ti, and 768mb of ram, and i wouldnt touch that for anything other than storage :p

[qdave]

if quake 3 runs then nolf2 will work as well. definitely not ut2004. not sure about max payne 2. it might run on low settings.

[Steven]

I believe everyone in this thread is mistaken.... take a look at Intel 82945 - The chipset spoken by the OP.

http://www.intel.com/products/chipsets/945g/index.htm

The 945G Chipset is a Core 2 Duo Chipset. This system is not that old. The 945G should support T&L - T&L has been supported on every video card in last 8 years. Update your Drivers

Latest XP Drivers - http://downloadcenter.intel.com/scripts-df...?ProductID=2102

Latest Vista Drivers - http://downloadcenter.intel.com/scripts-df...?ProductID=2102

This document applies to the following Intel? graphics controllers/chipsets:

* Intel? G35 Express Chipset

* Intel? G33 Express Chipset

* Intel? G31 Express Chipset

* Mobile Intel? 965 Express Chipset Family

* Intel? G965 Express Chipset Family

* Intel? Q965 Express Chipset Family

* Intel? Q963 Express Chipset Family

* Intel? 946GZ Express Chipse * Intel? 82945G Express Chipsethipset

* Mobile Intel? 82945GM Express Chipset Family

* Intel? 82915G/82910GL Express Chipset Family

* Mobile Intel? 82915GM/GMS 82910GML Express Chipset Family

The Intel? graphics controllers/chipsets listed above are coMicrosoft DirectX* 9.0rectX* 9.0. Previous versions of DirectX (7.0a, 8.0, 8.1) are also supported.

Given all this info, it sounds unlikly - if not impossible that his system doesn't support T&L - the most basic reDirectX7b>DirectX7

[voidpharoh]

Your best bet would be to either update your drivers (as +Steven pointed out), or buy/install a much better performing dedicated graphics card. Integrated graphics card such as yours are somewhat decent for office usage & playing older games, but if you're interested in playing newer games at tolerable performance/speed you're probably going to have to look at a dedicated graphics card to suit your needs.

[ViperAFK]

Get a cheap dedicated graphics card, a cheap 7600Gt or something would be MUCH better than integrated.

[NienorGT]

Why not look at this?

http://www.intel.com/support/graphics/inte...b/CS-020666.htm