Best Cost Efficient Upgrade???

[SmokinLoon]

My current PC is a dual core Pentium 2.2G, with 2GB RAM, and a Radeon HD 3400 Series video card with 256 memory (but do not use more than 60 or so).  I play on a 17in Gateway LCD that was bought waaaay back in the spring of 2004, and use 1024 for the video settings.  I get at minimum 60 fps (more like 75) with all the sliders to the maxed to the left, but do not use any of the advanced video graphics settings.  Being able to use those advanced graphics with at least a 60fps is my goal.  Seems to me an upgraded video card is in order.   

With that in mind, which video card would you hardware techs suggest I buy next.  I'm not looking to spend $100, but $75 isn't out of the question. 

Thanks!!!

[cattb]

You'll need about a hundred, following choices are, nvdia 9800 series, nvidia 250 series, or a ATI 4850. I did not put these in a specific order, just suggestions.
You can goto to Tomshardware, google it, and there will be reviews and articles for you to read. Also at Tomshardware review there is charts and you can compare cards.
I prefer EVGA or XFX, this is for the lifetime warranty. I think BGP is lifetime. Just my personal preferences.

[gyrene81]

You're going to need a new power supply. You're probably running something in the range of 350 to 500 watts with a single 12v leg pushing no more than 15amps. Something else, if you have a PCIE x16 slot check to see if it's a 1.0 or 2.0. If it's a 1.0 no matter what video card you buy, the performance is going to be choked down a bit to work with the old standard.

Add at least $60 for a new power supply.

To the get most bang for the buck, get an ATI Radeon 4 series for that system, Nvidia is going to give you problems unless you jump into the top tier video cards. I have a 250GTS with 512MB RAM and it's not that great in my Intel dual core 2.4GHz with 4GB RAM and WinXP.

[Spikes]

http://www.newegg.com/Special/ShellShocker.aspx?cm_sp=ShellShocker-_-17-341-010-_-05302010

$30 after MIR if you can buy it today.

[SmokinLoon]

Thanks for the advice so far!

My current power supply says 350W (115/230 volts) max output, and the switch is on 115v.  Still need a new one?

My device manager says "PCI Slot 32 (PCI Bus 2, device 0, function 0)".  Does that help for which video card I can use?

Thanks!

[gyrene81]

Thanks for the advice so far!

My current power supply says 350W (115/230 volts) max output, and the switch is on 115v.  Still need a new one?

My device manager says "PCI Slot 32 (PCI Bus 2, device 0, function 0)".  Does that help for which video card I can use?

Thanks!

Yeah, that power supply is not big enough for much of anything. Just guessing but, probably around 8 to 10 amps on the 12v leg.

You're going to have to look at your mobo manual or open the case up and look at the slot your current video card is in. Each slot type has a unique look.

[guncrasher]

make sure your case has enough space for the video card.  some of them like the 9800gtx+ are really big.  my old puter was a gateway 2.8 and the vc would not fit in the case. and even if it does your cpu might be a little slow for it to work efficiently.  and for sure you will need a new ps.  I had a 350 watt ps and it barely could support my 8400vc .

semp

[SmokinLoon]

Yeah, that power supply is not big enough for much of anything. Just guessing but, probably around 8 to 10 amps on the 12v leg.

You're going to have to look at your mobo manual or open the case up and look at the slot your current video card is in. Each slot type has a unique look.

Understood.  I'll line up a new power source, maybe even the one linked by Spikes.  

here is my mobo: http://www.biostar-usa.com/app/en-us/mb/content.php?S_ID=356#
Looks like I have the older 1.0 with the PCI-E 16 slot, eh? Hmm, my available choices just got smaller.

[Spikes]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121352

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341016

Around 150...it is over your budget but getting a decent PSU will help you much in the long run...if you get a 600W it also gives you some upgrade overhead.

[Tigger29]

I wouldn't worry too much about not having a PCIe V2 slot... IIRC Video cards are just now approaching the limits of AGP standards.  If you were to replace the MB, yes I'd make sure it has V2 (for future-proof reasons) but I wouldn't sweat getting a V1 video card.. still going to be worlds better than what you have now.

I have a 2.8GHZ C2D processor, 4GB of DDR3 ram, and a 9800GTX+ V2 Nvidia Video card (same as a GTX250 from what I've read)... 1024 (W/ hires downloaded), 1920X1200, All sliders maxed, all eye candy on except shadows and I stay 55+ FPS over 95% of the time... once in a rare while with a lot of action and flames and smoke, I MIGHT see 50FPS.  I'd say over 90% of the time I'm pegged at 60FPS.

You are definitely going to need to do something with that power supply though!

[BaldEagl]

I have a 2.8GHZ C2D processor, 4GB of DDR3 ram, and a 9800GTX+ V2 Nvidia Video card (same as a GTX250 from what I've read)... 1024 (W/ hires downloaded), 1920X1200, All sliders maxed, all eye candy on except shadows and I stay 55+ FPS over 95% of the time... once in a rare while with a lot of action and flames and smoke, I MIGHT see 50FPS.  I'd say over 90% of the time I'm pegged at 60FPS.

How many processes do you have running?  That's not very good performance.

I've got a 2.66 Ghz C2D CPU OC'd to 3.2 Ghz, 4 Gb DDR2 on 32 bit XP Pro (2.75 Gb available) and an 8800 GTS 512 and I'm pegged at 59 fps without fluxuation with everything turned up (including hi res pack) except shadows.

You should NEVER be falling below refresh rate.

[MrRiplEy[H]]

How many processes do you have running?  That's not very good performance.

I've got a 2.66 Ghz C2D CPU OC'd to 3.2 Ghz, 4 Gb DDR2 on 32 bit XP Pro (2.75 Gb available) and an 8800 GTS 512 and I'm pegged at 59 fps without fluxuation with everything turned up (including hi res pack) except shadows.

You should NEVER be falling below refresh rate.

At which resolution? 

[BaldEagl]

At which resolution? 

Oops.  Didn't think about that but I'm at 1680x1050.  Even so I'd think he should be able to run 1920x1280 without a drop in FR.

[Infidelz]

RAM 4 GBYTE.

Then I would start over and start designing a new system. Many ideas at tweak tuner for their 3 types of systems.

Infidelz.

[gyrene81]

Understood.  I'll line up a new power source, maybe even the one linked by Spikes.  

here is my mobo: http://www.biostar-usa.com/app/en-us/mb/content.php?S_ID=356#
Looks like I have the older 1.0 with the PCI-E 16 slot, eh? Hmm, my available choices just got smaller.

You shouldn't have much of an issue with putting a PCI-E x16 2.0 card in that slot, and not exactly because of what Tigger said. Anything built on a standard means that it is capable of performing at that standard. PCI-E x16 2.0 just increases the bandwidth and doubles the bit rate in the data path over the 1.0 standard.

For your price range, try something in this list.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010380048%201069633099%201305520549%20106793261%201068320729&name=1GB

As much as I like Nvidia myself, if my mobo gave me the option I would switch to an ATI, just because for the same money as I spent on my GTS250 I can get a better performing ATI.