View Full Version : Best Graphics Card I can Afford
Slavic
29 Apr 2008, 06:33pm
I've finally decided to set aside some money to buy a decent graphics card, my current one is an ATI Radeon Express 200 : (. It is essentially bottlenecking my system's performance.
I have a 2.2 GHz AMD Athlon 64 3500+ 896MB RAM, I don't know why my ram is some weird fucking number like that.
I don't know what kind of motherboard or the kind of graphics card slots it has. I do not know much about graphics cards.
I am willing to spend bout $100 to at most $150 for a card.
Any advice????
LegalSmash
29 Apr 2008, 06:36pm
Some medium 8 series nvidias are ok for a 256/512 range, 8600 is a nice bet for the money you are talking. Red and Zero would know best, I defer to the former's advice most often on this issue.
Slavic
29 Apr 2008, 07:12pm
Is this an AGI port that I have above the PCI ones or a PCI-X
http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/487/agi1de4.jpg
http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/1417/agi2nc6.jpg
Slavic
29 Apr 2008, 07:49pm
I found out its PCI-E, my friend found this deal for me, it looks pretty damn sweet.
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10007955&prodlist=celebros
Misanthrope
29 Apr 2008, 08:11pm
If you're positive it's a PCI Express slot then I'd recommend either of these
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150277
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130333
If you don't want to go with Nvidia you're best bet is probably one of these
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161216
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161206
Just as importantly, you need to make sure you have a good power supply, if you've got some 400 watt pile that came with the PC you'll have to upgrade your PSU when you get a new card. At least 550 watts would be recommended (don't bother with the card requirements since PSUs only have a certain efficiency)
Something like this would be a good PSU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817339006
Slavic
29 Apr 2008, 08:17pm
If you're positive it's a PCI Express slot then I'd recommend either of these
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150277
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130333
If you don't want to go with Nvidia you're best bet is probably one of these
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161216
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161206
Just as importantly, you need to make sure you have a good power supply, if you've got some 400 watt pile that came with the PC you'll have to upgrade your PSU when you get a new card. At least 550 watts would be recommended (don't bother with the card requirements since PSUs only have a certain efficiency)
Something like this would be a good PSU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817339006
How important is upgrading the power supply?
Misanthrope
29 Apr 2008, 08:19pm
How important is upgrading the power supply?
Like I said, it's JUST as important, if you've already got a good PSU (500+ watts) then you won't need to worry about it. Otherwise, take it into consideration.
Actually, you could get the card and try it, if it works just fine, no worries. However, if you get a lot of crashing/errors/really bad fps, then you should upgrade.
Slavic
29 Apr 2008, 08:27pm
Like I said, it's JUST as important, if you've already got a good PSU (500+ watts) then you won't need to worry about it. Otherwise, take it into consideration.
Actually, you could get the card and try it, if it works just fine, no worries. However, if you get a lot of crashing/errors/really bad fps, then you should upgrade.
aight thanks for the help man
Zero001
29 Apr 2008, 09:50pm
What's the exact model of the motherboard? The black slot in the picture is definitely PCI-E, but the reason I ask is because you could benefit more from a multi-part upgrade over just a video card upgrade.
- 8600GT $80 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130085)
- 2GB RAM $47 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231098)
- 2.3Ghz X2 $59 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103776)
Total = $186 shipped - $30mir puts you back in the $150 range.
Those three pieces will give you a better improvement over just a $150 video card. You should at least do RAM and video card, which I would then swap the video card to an 8800GS.
Someone mentioned it, but if you have a generic power supply don't buy a power hungry video card unless you're willing to upgrade. You're going to ended up losing your power supply and it can potentially take out your other hardware in the process.
This is what i have right now any suggestions what should i upgrade
CPU #0 Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E4500 @ 2.20GHz, 2202 MHz
CPU #1 Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E4500 @ 2.20GHz, 2202 MHz
Motherboard Name Intel Corporation DG965LV
Physical Memory
Total 3325 mb
Video Adapter Properties
Device Description NVIDIA GeForce 9600 GT
Memory Size 512 MB
Sound
Creative SB X-Fi [NoDB] PCI
2 HD 250 +350gb
PS 450w
Misanthrope
30 Apr 2008, 01:20pm
This is what i have right now any suggestions what should i upgrade
CPU #0 Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E4500 @ 2.20GHz, 2202 MHz
CPU #1 Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E4500 @ 2.20GHz, 2202 MHz
Motherboard Name Intel Corporation DG965LV
Physical Memory
Total 3325 mb
Video Adapter Properties
Device Description NVIDIA GeForce 9600 GT
Memory Size 512 MB
Sound
Creative SB X-Fi [NoDB] PCI
2 HD 250 +350gb
PS 450w
It would be a tad more helpful to know how much ram you have.
But anyway, your best bets would probably be the processor to either the E6750 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115029) or even an E6850 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115028)
However, since it's 2.2GHZ, I'm assuming it's an Allendale, which means the FSB is only 800MHZ, the motherboard you have there (correct me if I'm wrong) is the shitty thing from Gateway. Meaning, if you want to upgrade to either of those processors (or anything with a 1333mhz FSB) you might want to upgrade the motherboard as well, just so you aren't being bottlenecked.
Also, considering the video card you've got there you could probably benefit from upgrading the PSU.
Modgers1
30 Apr 2008, 03:01pm
Once I get my next paycheck, I'm throwing it down on the Nvidia 9600 GT. It's great for the money.
-Modgers
Misanthrope
30 Apr 2008, 03:26pm
Once I get my next paycheck, I'm throwing it down on the Nvidia 9600 GT. It's great for the money.
-Modgers
No doubt it's a good card, but if you're willing to spend an extra 10-20 dollars you can get an 8800gt instead.
Zero001
30 Apr 2008, 05:26pm
Edo's computer is pretty solid, and he did post the amount of RAM. There really isn't anything that will produce a major impact in its current use. I would hold out a bit longer, but If you wanted to you could upgrade the motherboard and I'm assuming the generic power supply.
tnx guys:) i have 4gb ram im ok with most of the games out there css over 100 fps ,im planing to get new case so i thought i might change something with that case 2
Slavic
2 May 2008, 10:34pm
I just got installed my new graphics card and just creamed my pants when I played MT:TW
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