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Help and Support Forums => Technical Support => Topic started by: Mitchell on May 15, 2005, 06:26:27 AM

Title: new video card
Post by: Mitchell on May 15, 2005, 06:26:27 AM: I am looking into getting a new video card, but am wondering,

How do I know what card is right for my computer?

Thanks.
Title: new video card
Post by: SNO on May 15, 2005, 08:02:28 AM: Post your current specs and more people will be able to help
Title: new video card
Post by: Mitchell on May 15, 2005, 09:53:56 AM: 3000+ AMD athlon prossesor
Windows XP Home Edithion
300 watt Power Supplie
2.17 GHZ
512 MB DDR SDRAM at 333 MHZ
160 GB Hard drive

Thanks.
Title: new video card
Post by: HavocTM on May 20, 2005, 10:07:18 AM: I highly recommend the BFG Technologies GeForce 5900XT. It is factory overclocked and they have excellent service.

The 5900 may not be available but BFG has great cards.

Also any ATI 9600, 9800, x600, x800 would work really well.
Title: new video card
Post by: Clifra Jones on May 20, 2005, 10:16:37 AM: I just bought a GeForce 6600GT and I like it very much.

Real question is, what can your budget stand?
Title: new video card
Post by: 99taylor on May 20, 2005, 10:33:33 AM: Got a ATI 9600XT from newegg.com for 125.00 anything better than that won't matter because of your computer
Title: new video card
Post by: StarOfAfrica2 on May 20, 2005, 12:32:10 PM: Quote
Originally posted by 99taylor
Got a ATI 9600XT from newegg.com for 125.00 anything better than that won't matter because of your computer

What our blunt friend here is trying to say is......

The "top of the line" last gen cards, and all the new ones require a more powerful Power Supply than you have, and your other hardware hasnt truly been optimized for performance. You wont see much of a gain with just a video card, beyond a certain level. Pop in a hotter PS and some faster RAM, you could take advantage of a much more powerful video card. It's all in what you want to spend, and how much performance you want to see.
Title: new video card
Post by: Mitchell on May 20, 2005, 04:36:05 PM: Thanks for the advice.

How much more RAM?

How many watt PS?

I have a 150 dollar budget.
Title: new video card
Post by: StarOfAfrica2 on May 20, 2005, 04:55:30 PM: Quote
Originally posted by Mitchell
Thanks for the advice.

How much more RAM?

How many watt PS?

I have a 150 dollar budget.

Then given your budget, I'd buy the 9600 video card above and optimize what you have the best you can. It should be liveable.

As far as your RAM goes, its not the amount so much as the speed. Your CPU is a 400FSB I believe, and the memory is 333. Replacing your PC2700 RAM with PC3200 to match up your FSB would help. I believe the ATI 9800 and Nvidia 5900 (lowest cards that have molex plugs built into the card) require a 400W minimum power supply I believe. Prices arent bad on the power supplies. You can find decent quality ones for around 50 bucks, cheap ones are around 20. But the 9600 mentioned previously wont require that upgrade.
Title: new video card
Post by: AKDogg on May 20, 2005, 08:06:15 PM: Good power supplies start at about 70. I need to replace my 400watt power supply for something bigger like 480watt. My power supply is not enough for my system. When shopping for a power supply, u need to look at stability of voltage when under load. A cheap power supply doesn't have that and could do more harm then good. If your power supply fluctuates in voltage to much it can either lockup, blow out MB, CPU or even the video card. Most of the time your computer will just lockup randomly.

The power supply's I recommend are the true power made by Antec. Again a $30 400watt power supply is nothing like a $70 400 watt power supply. U get what u pay for, remember that.
Title: new video card
Post by: StarOfAfrica2 on May 20, 2005, 08:17:15 PM: I agree 100%. But its the brand you want to look for, not the price. As long as you can find reputable manufacturers for cheap prices, there's not a problem.