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| >> SUPPORT > MISC > VIDEO CARD ISSUES |
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Disclaimer: RacerMate does not provide video card technical support. If your system appears to meet our current minimum system requirements and you are encountering video problems, please check for updated video drivers (these are usually found on the card manufacturers web site) and/or contact the card manufacturer for technical support before contacting RacerMate Technical Support. Issues where graphics are not appearing correctly is always related to the capability of the video card, or video card driver, to do what it is being asked to do. If you are computer savvy, the following info will help you immensely. If your computer skills are limited, you can print out this page and supply this information to your computer technician in hopes your trainer will run right the first time – and every time thereafter. Video Card 101 The following is a summary of issues you may need to know before you spend any money. Video Cards in Proprietary Computers, On-Board Video (Dell, Compaq, Gateway, etc.) - These PC builders typically install their video cards as an integral part of the computer’s motherboard. In certain low cost models, these cards are often limited in both the amounts of Video RAM and potential video driver updates. On-board video can often be disabled allowing the installation of newer, faster, third party video cards. In general, if the drivers are as new as possible, but the software graphics look bad, it’s time for either a better video card or possibly, in some cases, attempting to run an older, more stable, video driver.Plug-in Cards PCI bus video card - These cards insert into PCI slots on the computer’s motherboard. These cards, by today's standards, are pretty old technology. Pay close attention when buying a new, yet older PCI card as to whether the card is still being supported by the manufacturer. A quick look on the makers web site may be all that is needed. These cards may no longer be in production and driver support has been, or may be scheduled for, cancellation. AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) video cards - AGP was introduced with the Pentium II computer and incorporates an AGP slot -- designed specifically for an AGP video card. AGP once provided the fastest video frame rates for the PC Gamer but is slowly being replaced with the even faster PCI Express cards. It should be noted that just because the PC states it has AGP video does NOT mean you have an AGP slot to plug in a newer, or different, AGP video card – because many don’t. With these, the AGP video is integrated with the main board (as was noted above in the Proprietary Computer section). You should check the PC motherboard documentation before you lay down your hard-earned cash for a new video card. These latter mentioned integrated AGP can only be upgraded to a newer and faster PCI card if the onboard video causes problems. PCI Express - We have nothing negative to report on these cards, as of yet. Suffice it to say if you’ve got a computer with a card of this type, you should not need to upgrade anytime in the foreseeable future. You may, if graphic issues exist while using this card, check to make sure the driver is currrent. Commonly Addressed issues & Video Card Recommendations RacerMate does not currently recommend any particular video card, although there are a couple makers we prefer and are at the top of the pile. It is recommended, if you are considering a new video card in your computer, to purchase a card from a reputable maker who has a history of good support for their product. So, then, who do we prefer? We currently consider ATI graphic cards (www.atitech.com) or nVidia graphic cards (www.nvidia.com) the best for anyone who wants to install a new video card (with the exception being really early nVidia cards; like the Riva TNT and TNT2 cards which have known issues we can’t solve). So, what if I want the big-screen experience I hear so much about? Newer cards also often offer dual-monitor output for the possible big-screen experiences. There are other ways to get a PC connected to a second monitor without installing a new video card, but if the card has to be replaced for any reason, this function can be supplied in the card. Many laptop computers already supply this option as well. RacerMate does not offer any technical support regarding the connection of your computer to a second monitor or Hi-def TV. Our highest recommendation would be to first make sure the card you own today supports this and consult a local computer whiz to help you out. So, can I use my current video card? – If your current video card meets our minimum system requirements, it will most likely run our software. If oddities in the graphics occur, you should ALWAYS look to the video card manufacturer for newer video drivers (or even an older driver in some cases) before calling for service or before replacing the video card. Newer drivers are not always better, so sometimes you’ll find “rolling back” to an earlier driver will solve graphic problems. With the advent of RacerMate Real Course Video, a video card replacement should also have at least 128 MB of memory, but 256MB of memory will give you cushion for any future possibilities. *Known Video Card Issues
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