Or... not! I had it in my mind that the two computers had the same stats - Athlon 64 3000+ and Radeon X1650. But in fact that was correct for the parents' computer, but the kids had Athlon 64 X2 4200+ and, it turns out, Radeon X1550.

So one has the proc and one the vid card to run it... but one is an AGP vid card/mobo and the other PCI-E, so I can't bring the two higher-spec components together. Grr...

So, now, a real query for the thread, instead of the on-going saga of my bumbling confusion.

I need a *cheap* PCI-E video card that will play this game and maybe things like Far Cry 2, Crysis and so on. My rationalisation is that the game was $100. I wouldn't have paid that, but I probably would have paid 80. So, given that I got the game for 20, I still have 60 to spend on a video card. (Like it? )

For that money the options seem to be:

ATI Radeon 4550, and with a small stretch 4650 - 4670s are more like $100

NVIDIA 9400GT and 9500GT

Reading reviews and such, but any particular praise, or caveats, beyond just a preference for one brand or the other?

I believe the 4670 is essentially just a higher-clocked 4650, so if I buy a cheap card I won't have a lot of qualms about OCing it a bit...

Can't spend an extra $40 and get a 4850, Bravus...?

It's what I'm running FC2 on at the moment. Dunia's a pretty good engine, punches well above its weight (worth it, too, as FC2's one of the most atmospheric games I've played in a while.)

Yeah, might happen - it seems silly to quibble over the cost of a few days lunches versus making the system a bit more future-proof. Will consult with the Minister for War and Finance.

4850s seem to start at $135 or so. That'd be stretching the friendship a bit, I think, 4670s come in under 100, but around the traps the feeling seems to be that the 8800GT, for similar money, is a better card. I'm not *married* to ATI...

Um, it appears my avatar has dropped off the face of the earth. I'd like to install a rightly formatted new one but I have no clue how to do so. Any suggestions short of telling me to fuck off?

Anabel, just get your chosen picture, resize it down to 49 x 49 pixels in photoshop or some such app, then upload via your profile page (Go, Personal Zone, Edit...) - apologies in advance, if i'm being too simplist. You may be asking for info on animated gifs etc...

$600 for repairs to my Macbook Pro that got coffee spilled on it. Expensive cuppa.

Anabel, if you don't have a photo editing package Sumo Paint online is very nice.

Also, Microsoft Windows PAINT will do it (Image, Attribute menu), although i believe you're a Mac user - i won't hold it against you

http://www.pixlr.com/editor/

Online photo editor, works pretty good!

Hi. Thank you guys! I tried Sumo for resizing a newer photo but I gained enormous weight from distortion, so no go there.

Just one more question:
I've got the old avatar on the desktop but can't see how to drag it or import it into my personal edit site.

Anabel, pixlr has a "Open from computer" option right after you launch it.

After that, use the Image->Image Size command to scale it down to 49 pixels max width or height (whichever is the bigger number).

Then save it and it will ask you where on your computer to save.

(ED, that is one hell of a cool web app!)

If you have the previous avatar file, guess it's at the right size/format. Is the problem ulpoading your file to your Photobucket account? Seems it's been disabled for lack of use... still have the name/password for that? If not, it might be easier to create a new one.

Meh. Went to photobucket, changed my password as advised. Not successful. Same with pixlr. :

"The provided avatar URL does not appear to be accessible."

I am doing something wrong but can no longer bang my head tonight.

Muchas gracias all youz!

@anabel - Do you have the actual file on your desktop, or a link to the photobucket URL that used to host it?

quote:

Originally posted by Anabel:
Meh. Went to photobucket, changed my password as advised. Not successful. Same with pixlr. :

Uh, what I mean was, if your account is disabled and don't have login/password AND can't recover it (there is some option for that in the site, you click on 'Forgot username or password?' and it is sent to the email you signed in with originally), easier way was to create a NEW Photobucket account.

If you have problems resizing the pic, email it to me.

I have a bluetooth issue I can't figure out and was wondering if you guys could lend a hand.

I an running Vista and have an LG Venus with Verizon. The devices are linked and I can send and receive calender files but not Images. I get a error that the receiveing device, the PC, cannot receive these types of files. I am trying to figure out if this is a technical issue, a provider issue (verizon are douchbags about this stuff), or end user issues.

any help appreciated!

you're trying to do something useful using bluetooth with a Verizon phone? good luck!

I would tend to agree that the problem is likely Verizon. Especially if Verizon charges you to upload pictures.

If you have access to a Mac, you could try it from there using the Bluetooth File Browser just for kicks...