New Vid Card

[BaldEagl]

You dont need anything more then an 8800GT and can get by with less. You need to upgrade the power supply to handle the video card. You dont need alot of power. any 450W PS of decent quality is fine....

This PW is fine for $45 after rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341010

Looking at Toms hardware they recommend the 9600GSO as best video card under $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121255
$50 after rebate

so you can upgrade both PS and VC for roughly $100

Yep, that's a decent PSU for the price.

[drdeathx]

THE WRONG AGAIN COMMENT  really  needs to be eliminated!  You constantly look for wrong answers and make aurgumentative comments. I thought these forums were to help and if you make a suggestion. If one would catch an error it is nice to be polite. I am trying to help Serenity and I do not think this is the right comment. I will help you:


Drdeath,

Seems the ram needs to be in either slot 1,3 or 2,4 for dual channel. Check the specifications.

[drdeathx]

It seems he may have a problem installing a new PSU/ The visiontek add on may be easier for him guys!

[drdeathx]

Humble and Baldeagle, he has $350 to spend.... For xmas!!!!! Suggest the best bang for $350!   

[BaldEagl]

THE WRONG AGAIN COMMENT  really  needs to be eliminated!  You constantly look for wrong answers and make aurgumentative comments. I thought these forums were to help and if you make a suggestion. If one would catch an error it is nice to be polite. I am trying to help Serenity and I do not think this is the right comment. I will help you:


Drdeath,

Seems the ram needs to be in either slot 1,3 or 2,4 for dual channel. Check the specifications.

drdeath,  I know that you are enthusiasically trying to help people but the fact remains that you consistently offer bad or blatently wrong advice.  You've been called out for it in this forum on numerous occasions by several posters.

I will not retract my statement.  It's simple truth.

I strongly suggest you research topics in which you have no or limited knowledge or refrain from posting.  If you continue on your current path, expect to be called out again (and again).

[Fulmar]

Humble and Baldeagle, he has $350 to spend.... For xmas!!!!! Suggest the best bang for $350!   

If he were to spend $350 on a video card, his computer would 1) shut down during game play due to lack of power from too small of a power supply, if it booted up  2) still suffer performance issues because he has only 1 gb of RAM. and 3) wasted $350

[Serenity]

Wow... so much different advice! Thanks all! So, Snap, can that $40 PSU handle an additional gig of ram AND the 9600GSO?

[Fulmar]

Wow... so much different advice! Thanks all! So, Snap, can that $40 PSU handle an additional gig of ram AND the 9600GSO?

The one humble listed, the OCZ one, would easily handle that video card.

[drdeathx]

Fulmar read post. we are adding 1g ram, psu and video card for $350. Sorry about the confusion. He already has 1 g ram.

[Serenity]

The one humble listed, the OCZ one, would easily handle that video card.

You seem to know the most of whats going on here, especially when it comes to my particular computer, so Ill ask you specifically on this one.

Im looking at the PSU humble listed, as well as the graphics card. You've said the PSU is sufficient, do you think the card is as well for what im looking for? And would you suggest I go with this package?

Again, thank you all very much for all this help. I really am clueless when it comes to these matters

[TilDeath]

I would look at the specs.  How many 12v rails and how many amps per rail.  OCZ makes great stuff.  The Asus card I would stay away from.  If you have a problem their RMA is easy once you get them to admit the problem is their product.  Spend the few bucs and get a Tagan, Antec, ThermalTake, Mushkin, CoolerMaster or OCZ higher end PSU since this is the most critical component and under rated part of any system.  This is most important if you are going to a PCI-e video card/

Here is my list
Thermaltake PurePower RX 550W ATX12V & EPS12V Power Supply
OCZ MODXSTREAM PRO 700W POWER SUPPLY
Thermaltake Toughpower QFan W0151RU ATX12V & EPS12V Power Supply
Tagan TG700-U88 700W BZ Series (Highly recommend)
OCZ Technology GameXStream ATX12V v2.2 & EPS12V Power Supply
Thermaltake Toughpower W0128RU 650W ATX12V v2.2 & EPS 12V Power Supply


MSI GeForce 9600GT Graphics Card: Part #N9600GT T2D512 OC
EVGA e-GeForce 9600 GT Graphics Card: Part #512-P3-N861-TR
XFX GeForce 9600 GSO Graphics Card: Part#PVT96OSDFH (recommend)
GeForce 9800GT OC+ 512MB Part#BFGE98512GTOCPE (Highly Recomend)

I am also a dealer of all the above and pretty uch everything out there.  I can almost always beat Newegg on pricing.  Let me know.  Good luck

[drdeathx]

Nice TilDeath... 1 Question . It seems Serenity ever has n ever installed a PSU. Do yo think it may be easier for him to purchase the Visiontek add on  PSU I linked in this thread??? He made a comment to that nature. It may be a easier install for him. He said Ram and card should be no problem.

[TilDeath]

Nice TilDeath... 1 Question . It seems Serenity ever has n ever installed a PSU. Do yo think it may be easier for him to purchase the Visiontek add on  PSU I linked in this thread??? He made a comment to that nature. It may be a easier install for him. He said Ram and card should be no problem.

No matter what  he gets he will still have to plug in the connections.  And I guess you didnt read what I stated that the PSU is the most important but also overlooked component of any system.  Since he has a "Grey Box" (factory built) machine and since the Video card does plug into the mother board although its getting most of its power from the "add in" as you suggest it still will draw current from the mother board hence maybe having problems and havinmg to replace the PSU.  Buy a good PSU from the start, it fits in the case not sitting outside or in a 5" bay there is nothing to connecting a PSU and like he stated he said "if there are instructions he can do it".  The connections only fit to what they are supposed to fit to.  Dont try to put a square peg into a round hole

[humble]

The limiting factor here is your CPU, any VC above a certain point is a waste. so yes the 9600GSO is more then enough card. Most systems (even single VC gaming rigs) draw well under 350W's at peak. The key is a quality PS that can handle this peak output without strain and provide "clean" power...the unit listed will meet any and all needs you'll have with your current box....if you can fit it in the case it will handle it.

I do not get into "brand wars" based on anyone's particular issues. One persons issue is not anothers. Now certain brands have a well deserved reputation worth paying a bit extra for but as a rule VC's are only manufactured by a handful of companies and most are just private label from the same sources (not all). For example Sapphire makes (or did make) all "ATI" branded cards as well as a bunch of others. nothing at all wrong with that ASUS card.

[humble]

Humble and Baldeagle, he has $350 to spend.... For xmas!!!!! Suggest the best bang for $350!   

The problem is you dont appear to understand how a computer works specific to AH and gaming in general. His computer is CPU limited and that limits his ability to upgrade. given the quick development and his circumstances minimal consideration to an upward path is given. If he didnt have a nvidia chipset I'd consider an ATI card as better bang for the buck however minimal gain isnt worth the possible conflicts.