Should I do a complete reformat/XP install or just swap the cards?
I'm tempted to start from scratch but it'll take me 2 days to put all the programs/data back on. Will just swapping the cards have much an effect on performance?

 

Yes should have a very large effect on performance, not sure why you want to install everything again. One tip - use something like norton ghost - you can take an image of your PC when it is at its best and cleanest (who know what i mean) and then 6 months later when you have installed countless pieces of software on the machine and it is running 30% slower (which it will), you can revert back to the original image of the PC withough having to start again. just a thought
J

 

Honestly mate don't bother. I've gone from the same card to the X800 XT, scores are normal/above average on 3DMark without a reformat etc.

 

I'd just uninstall the old drivers (maybe use a driver cleaner) and then install new hardware and drivers, was of time re-installing the whole doodie

 

Am I missing something here? They're both ATI cards which use a unified driver. The whole point of unified drivers is that they drive all cards. Just swap the cards over.


M

 

I've not rebuilt this machine for 18 months, so it's probably got bit rot by now. So I guess I was looking for more of an excuse to do the re-install thing.

Re: just swapping the card over. I thought I would'nt need to because of the catalyst drivers but PC's are funny things are you never really know the impact of what your going to do until you do it.

thanks for the pointers.

 

if u changed form nvidia to ati id have said yeah, rebuild

but seeing as u stuck with ati, just remove drivers.. shutdown, shove new card in... install latest drivers.. n play


btw look out for the beta drivers.. they offer huge performance gains with 256mb x800's

 

Again: what the h*ll is point of uninstalling the drivers to install a card by the same manufacturer that uses the same drivers anyway? This obsession with removing drivers is getting silly.


M

 

M - I've been told you need to stand on one leg too while you do it!

 

its not silly.. it install the bits it requires from a unified set based upon wot card u have

by removing and reinstalling u ensure that the correct files are their for ur relevent card

 

its not something thats really needed, generally it doesnt cause problems.. but if u go to ne forum with proper die heard tekkies they will tell u thats what u should do... windows is a wonderfull OS, it never uninstalls most things cleanly..

 

... and apparently if the OS build has been in place for some time with lots of installs/uninstalls done, this can effect performance due to the registry being in a mess, right?

 

course it can, thats very true.

i used to be very much into the benchmarking scene, and u wouldnt believe the performance difference when measured between a clean system and a used one.. especially one thats had many a install/uninstall as you have said

thats why changing gfx card brands its worth a rebuild if ur pcs in need one one anyways.. cos windows has a habit of leaving c**p in places

 

Yeah, I found that when going from ATI to Nvidia.

Also, seen a system gradually get worse over time because of the registry stuff.