My Video Card and installing new games

Hi,

I had 2 questions on installing new games into Win 7 and my video card.

1) I know when you install older games, it helps to run the installation process manually as administrator, make it compatible to XP or Vista, and install to a Games folder rather than Program Files folder. However, is it safe for the new games and games going forward to let the games autoinstall to the standard Program Files folder or is it better to keep on manually running the install to a Games folder, even for 2010-2011 and future games?

2) My video card is ATI Radeon HD 5700. I'm not up on video card tech. generally speaking, is that a half way decent video card that should allow me to play most current and immediate future games, rpgs, action/FPS games, etc?

Thanks for any input!

1 Most folks might not help ya unless you post your full system specs- mobo cpu mem etc etc.

2 You should install as admin but should only use compat modes if you have problems.

3 That vid card should be fine for most games- has no physx support but not really needed either.

4 Some games or patches may not care to install right- you may have to open and go into and double click the setup exe and install or move patches etc off of your c: drive to say a e: drive or burn them to disc and install from your opti drive.

Some folks say it is best to install games to another folder or make another on c: what ever- I let my games install to default folders and they all run fine..

You should try normal installs first- only do other things if you have problems- common sense stuff..

If using a lap top that in its self will be the most of your gaming problems..

See ya..

I have found that if I don't install my games to the default folder, I get a shortcut to the desktop (which I love), if I let it install to the default folder I don't (which I hate)... but I always try to install with elevated admin rights, no matter what. It helps me avoid future issues with it.

Some games do that even in xp- you just go to main game folder find the game start exe and make a short cut to your desk top.

I read long ago folks complain about same things in xp. Install games to other folders or even drives. I was just saying I do not and have no probs or none I notice anyway.. Others can do as they like. Steam might not put a start or your dtop unless you tell it to either.. I would guess it is a w7 glitch it will not put your start icons on your dtop unless install to another folder. If it works and you are happy its all good.. I have read games run better or maybe faster what ever if another folder or something too. I am not sure any of it is really true tho. People can make them selves see thngs that are not there. but might be true. I have no need to test it tho.. If I could not get a game to work from defaults would be another story..

I do think many folks start trying to fix things before they have probs like auto try and install games in compat mode etc. I have lots of the same games other do and do not have probs with compat or installing to default folders. I think folks might be causing them selves probs from the start- they think they are ahead of the game trying to fix stuff when is no need unless they have problems.. Like updating drivers what ever just because new ones are out and might give ya fits and the system was running fine before..

W7 can be glitchy I think- Things that should work do not- But I find work arounds. Like w7 will read some discs and not others. Some games will install other's you have to go in and find the set up exe and install the game or some patches will not work from c: I say all of it is w7. It is great at somethings and my system is powerful- but I have way more probs with w7 than I did in 6 years of xp.. I still like w7 tho..

What I do is I don't mess with anything at first and if the application does not work, then I start messing with admin and compatibility.