New GFX card for Skyrim?

[MrPyronaut]

I have recently installed Windows in my Mac with the intention of playing Skyrim, but I found out that my gfx card sucks. In fact, when I try to play Hearts or Solitaire on Windows it gives me a warning about my hardware acceleration and the game runs poorly.

I currently have a NVIDIA GeForce GT 120. I feel I should upgrade this, but I don't have a whole ton of money (around $100 is about my spending ceiling) plus I have no idea what the hell I am doing. Any recommendations?

 

[Nightarchaon]

Unless your Mac is a MacPro (not a MacBOOK pro) your out of luck, either buy a PC or a new MAC as the MAC does not contain any user replaceable parts (memory and HDD excluded)

If it is a MAC pro, expect to pay a good amount for a MAC video card, certainly more that $100 i would imagine.

 

[lewdvig]

Unless your Mac is a MacPro (not a MacBOOK pro) your out of luck, either buy a PC or a new MAC as the MAC does not contain any user replaceable parts (memory and HDD excluded)

If it is a MAC pro, expect to pay a good amount for a MAC video card, certainly more that $100 i would imagine.

I'd like to see what macbook has a GT 120. Very helpful. LOL

OP: Last year I picked up a Sapphire RADEON 5770 Vapor X for $100 and flashed it to work on my Mac. I've had no troubles and it is about twice as fast as the 6750m in my Macbook Pro - which plays Skyrim fantastic 30-60 fps on High settings). There is a Mac version of the 5770 from Apple but is too expensive IMO. You can probably get a Sapphire 5770 off Craigslist for $80 now.

Here is a good place to start: http://forum.netkas.org/index.php/topic,692.0.html

 

[bluemonkeyguy]

512mb in GDDR3 Memory *cringes, especially when playing skyrim*

 

[Jethryn Freyman]

A 1GB Radeon 5770 should play it at 1080p on high. I have one

 

[Rodus]

Isn't the 120 a rebadged 85 or 9500? If so then yes, a new GPU would help.

 

[shardey]

If you have the iMac with the gt 120, you could possibly swap with the gt130 or ATI 4850 (All came from the early 2009 24" iMac. Keep in mind I said possibly.



If you have a Mac Pro with the gt 120, then you have a lot more options with the GPU.

 

[donuttakedonuts]

512mb in GDDR3 Memory *cringes, especially when playing skyrim*

Skyrim isn't even a demanding game.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

I have recently installed Windows in my Mac with the intention of playing Skyrim, but I found out that my gfx card sucks. In fact, when I try to play Hearts or Solitaire on Windows it gives me a warning about my hardware acceleration and the game runs poorly.

Do you have the correct drivers installed? Skyrim should be playable, as it's playable on my friends' new ThinkPad with Intel integrated graphics...

Although it will max out any card if you let it

 

[Rodus]

512mb in GDDR3 Memory *cringes, especially when playing skyrim*

If you are talking VRAM then that 512 is only going to be an issue with a ton of hi-res mods, otherwise thats way more then enough for Skyrim.