Video Card confusion

When I check CYRI for the game Cities Xl 2011, I get green ticks for everything except my card, but what I don't understand is the details. What it says is this:

Minimum: NVIDIA GeForce 8800 / ATI Radeon HD 3850 or higher, 512 MB RAM
You Have: ATI Radeon HD 5450

Features: Minimum attributes of your Video Card

Required: Video RAM 512 MB / You have: 4.0 GB
Hardware T&L: Yes / Do you have it: Yes
Required: Pixel Shader version 3.0 / You have: 5.0
Required: Vertex Shader version 3.0 / You have: 5.0

Am I missing something here, or is my Radeon HD 5450 not higher than the 'required' Radeon HD 3850?

I don't understand from this info, why it's saying my card isn't up to scratch.

 

The HD 3850 is a better card than the HD 5450 reading here.
I also read the HD 5450 is not really a gaming card.

http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1847358/5450-1gb-3850-512-older-gaming.html

 

Oh, right. I was just going from the number. I thought 5480 meant it was higher spec card than a 3850. Guess that's not how it works?

 

No it is a higher series but that really doesn't mean anything.

 

Ah, I see. Thank you.

 

With AMD GPU's it's the 2nd set of numbers that tell you whether or not it's designed for gaming...depending on the series (keep that in mind).

 

Second set of numbers as in the 5o of 5450?

 

Yep.....50 generally means a basic GPU, better than an onboard or CPU based graphics yet allowing game play at the lowest settings. 60-70 generally means above average game play on normal settings. 80 -90 generally means game play on the highest settings.

That's just a general rule of thumb when looking at GPU's

 

So the fact that I got a green light on both minimum and recommended requirements for Tropico 4 on CYRI, means that the game must a low-demand game?

If I check my spec for something like Cities XL 2011/2012, or even the later editions of Rollercoaster Tycoon, my card fails on even minimum requirements.

 

Yah....your GPU is somewhat outdated, still a good GPU but just not to modern game standards anymore. Just as mine is....my AMD 6790. I'd recommend a GTX 970, as it will play in new game on the market on the highest settings and depending on brand you can get one around $300 USD.

I'll be moving to an EVGA GTX 980 in the next few months.

 

Actually there were some pretty nice *50 series AMD cards, though not quite as powerful as the *70 cards The HD 5850, HD 6850, and specially the HD 7950 come to mind. People are still using the HD 7950 (R9 280) to and getting good framerates for gaming at 1080p. I had the HD 6850 some time ago was one heck of a card for it's era -- neck & neck with the NV GTX 460. Bassfisher I have a GTX 980 and it kills games you will enjoy it!

 

I was looking at cards on amazon and I will NOT be upgrading (unless an inheritance falls in my lap). Some of those damn things cost upwards of £580.00

Even $300 for the one bassfisher mentions in way out of the question.

 

Nvidia also has some basic/entry level gaming cards.....the GTX 950 and 960....with some decent game playing capability and at a decent price range.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814487158


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814487155

 

Thank you, but both still way out of my price range.

 

I have been told you can play most games with this card Albert:
http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce-...1454513780&sr=1-2&keywords=video+card+gtx+750
I am not a gamer but I am an ex pro photographer so I demand decent graphics from a video card and I just used one of these in a new build and I am liking it alot.

 

Getting closer, Rich, but still out of range.

Maybe I need to be looking at reconditioned / used cards.

I just want something that will run Cities Skyline - cos that game looks amazing.

 

Then your only option is finding a used one on ebay or amazon.

 

I am not a big one for spending big$ on a video card but $109, I don't see that as much and recently when I looked at that card on eBay (before I realized
I owned a similar one from Gigabyte) I would have paid more than that on eBay. As I said I know because I was looking.

 

Well, there is one option. I'm due an upgrade on my phone, and if I can get a decent one I will be selling it right on as I'm more than happy with my iPhone 4s.

Maybe I will have some wonga to spend on a card if that happens, so I'll be back for some advice then.

Can I ask in preparation, is installing a card easy? For instance:

Can I presume that any card I buy will be suitable?
Do I need to take my OS into account?
Can I presume that my PC will have all the slots and cables needed?
A video I just watched makes out it's as simple as slotting it in place and downloading the drives. Is this the case?

 

No...never presume or assume anything.

No....OS doesn't matter.

Again...No...this is where you need to do your research on your case layout/size (physical dimensions) and mobo PCIe slot configuration.

Yes....it's pretty much that easy. TIP: when adding/removing hardware....always use a antistatic wrist band for protection against an ESD.

Also...when adding a GPU....you need to know the minimum wattage requirements and that your current PSU (power supply) meets said minimum requirements.