A handy GPU Database to check your video card capabilities
I came across a nice database of ATI, Matrox, and nVidia GPU capabilities that you can use to quickly see if your video card will support the MSRS Simulation Environment.
Go to your computer's device manager to find out what GPU your video card is using. Then go to this website to find an entry for that GPU if it was manufactured by ATI, Matrox, or nVidia.
http://www.techpowerup.com/gpudb/
Look in the column labeled Features and verify that it supports DX9.0, PS2.0, VS2.0. If not, you will probably not have a good experience with the simulator on that machine.
-Kyle
Thanks for the help. I looked in the database but could not find any mention of compatibility
for the ATI Radeon Xpress 1150, which ships with the new Dell Inspiron 1501 (AMD Turion) laptops.
Does anyone have any experience using MS Simulation Engine on this card or whether compatibility exists? I have already checked the MSRS FAQ and the GPU database with no luck.
Thanks,
 KyleJ - MSFT wrote: |
| ... if your video card will support the MSRS Simulation Environment | |
I can't see anything on the download page for the System Requirements for video cards to run the Simulation Environment.
Are they specified anywhere?
Is anybody out there?
My current computer has a NVIDIA GeForce2 Integrated GPU Video card and all I get when I try to run a simulation is a blank window. Is it because the video card is not supported?
If I buy a new computer how can I tell whether it will work?
Regards
Ivy.
The first post in this thread indicates the requirements for video cards. They must support at least DirectX 9 with shader model 2.0 or greater. The nVidia website states that the nVidia GeForce2 mobile only supports DirectX 7 and so it is too old to run MSRS simulation.
When buying a new system, stay away from integrated graphics solutions or very basic graphics hardware because they tend to be optimized for web browsing and word processing rather than graphics rendering. Buy a system that contains a recent graphics chipset and verify that the chipset supports DX9 with Shader Model 2.0 using the database linked in the first post in this thread. If you can't find an entry for the chipset you are considering in the database, consult the manufacturer's website.
-Kyle
I was looking to buy a Ltop with
nVidia? GeForce? Go 8600M GT with 256MB DDR2 dedicated graphic memory
which supports DX.10 and VS4.0 according to the database you identified. It doesn't mention support for VS - is this a show stopper for the MRS sim ? Thanks, Mark.
I'm not sure I understand your question because you state that it has VS4.0 but doesn't mention support for VS. In any case, if it supports DX 10, it should run the simulator just fine.
-Kyle
