Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: lasersailor184 on July 29, 2008, 03:40:08 PM
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Hi AHers!
I'm currently on a decent computer. I'm not looking to slam a 500 dollar card in here. I was looking at about 100 bucks.
I was going to buy from New Egg, and I'm pretty sure I have PCI Express.
First, what card would you recommend, and how do I check to make sure I have PCI Express?
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What is your current computer set up? As in, current video card/processor/ram. I take it this is a store bought brand as well?
You can use SiSoftware Sandra to get your computer specs.
http://www.download.com/SiSoftware-Sandra/3000-2086_4-10556571.html?tag=lst-1&cdlPid=10834499
Or another one is Everest
http://www.download.com/Everest-Ultimate-Edition/3000-2086_4-10499291.html?tag=lst-1&cdlPid=10832752
I'm sure there are other programs out there too...
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Best deal by far is a 256M 8800GT for $99. It's currently out of stock however....
There is a 3870 for $99 as well with a zalman fan....
For $100 the 3870 is your best bet unless the other card restocks (it was a closeout so no clue if it will).
I just bought a 512M 8800GT for $130 after rebate.
If your open to going to about $160 there are 3-4 4850 cards with free shipping...
The 4850 is the best value by far. Since I only play AH and was worried about the catalyst drivers etc I went with the 8800 since I think its a better card for AH "compatability"...I'm sure as the drivers catch up the 4850 will prove to be a better value long term.
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I have the 3870 and the 3850. Both good cards. but wow, if only I had waited.
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I'm beginning to rethink this. If I replace the video card, I'd have to replace the power supply. Then the motherboard is old and only has one PCI 16.
And on and on.
How much would it cost to home build a decent system?
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I'm beginning to rethink this. If I replace the video card, I'd have to replace the power supply. Then the motherboard is old and only has one PCI 16.
And on and on.
How much would it cost to home build a decent system?
Depends, here is just an idea:
Mainboard ABit IP35 140
CPU: e8400 175
Video Card: ATI 3850 100
Power Supply: Cooler Master 80
Sound card: SB or Xonar 90
Case: Antec 900 80
RAM:OCZ Reaper 4 gig 98
So that comes to: 733
This assumes you have an OS and will reuse your Monitor and console. Sound card is actually not really needed but lets your CPU work much more efficiently.
Now I'm no expert on some of these things especially power supplies, video card, and sound cards. I've used the ATI 3850 and it seems to do the job. I've heard that PC Power and Cooling is a great unit. More expensive. I don't think anyone will criticize the E8400 or the case. Many think well of those components.
Keep in mind that not all 3850s or probably any other version whether Nvidia or ATI are created equal. Skuzzy had a post on power supplies. Wish I knew where it was but it has excellent commentary about what to look for. Some PS manufacturers are misleading. The PS I listed may be one of those for all I know.
Just post what you decide and we will be all to happy to critique. :D
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I'm beginning to rethink this. If I replace the video card, I'd have to replace the power supply. Then the motherboard is old and only has one PCI 16.
And on and on.
How much would it cost to home build a decent system?
Heck if you have a small budget, it's not hard. I have one for under $300 or so and it runs AH maxed at 60-75FR.
Motherboard: $50 Biostar AM2 socket
CPU: $60 AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ 2.3GHz Dual
RAM: $40 2GB Kingston
PSU: $30 630 Watt 18Amp on 12V rail
GPU: $90 Nvidia GeForce 7900GS
$220 total
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Heck if you have a small budget, it's not hard. I have one for under $300 or so and it runs AH maxed at 60-75FR.
Motherboard: $50 Biostar AM2 socket
CPU: $60 AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ 2.3GHz Dual
RAM: $40 2GB Kingston
PSU: $30 630 Watt 18Amp on 12V rail
GPU: $90 Nvidia GeForce 7900GS
$220 total
Nice 1700E, I admire that (I'm being serious)
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Nice 1700E, I admire that (I'm being serious)
Not sure what there is to admire, but thanks :D it's a nice little PC :aok
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Heck if you have a small budget, it's not hard. I have one for under $300 or so and it runs AH maxed at 60-75FR.
Motherboard: $50 Biostar AM2 socket
CPU: $60 AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ 2.3GHz Dual
RAM: $40 2GB Kingston
PSU: $30 630 Watt 18Amp on 12V rail
GPU: $90 Nvidia GeForce 7900GS
$220 total
That's $270 though!
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well i'll be, i forgot to ad the Motherboard in that price! thanks Boiler! :aok :lol
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Not sure what there is to admire, but thanks :D it's a nice little PC :aok
The price my son!
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Now I'm wavering. Are all power supplies the same size? I have a HP Media Center PC m7350n if that helps in finding out.
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You have a Pentium D 920 2.8 GHz and 2gb of ram. It's an older CPU, but not too old. I would say spending over $150 on a video card is going to be a waste as your CPU wouldn't be able to keep up with it.
This is what you currently have as a video card. A 6200 is low end/entry level. A $100 card should give you a nice improvement without breaking the bank. You may have to open up the side of your computer to see how many Watts your power supply is before you move any further. As it stands, I wouldn't go the whole new computer route.
Graphics Controller
Type
PCI Express x16 - Plug-in card
Graphics Processor / Vendor
NVIDIA GeForce 6200SE TurboCache supporting 256MB TurboCache supporting 256MB
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I can't remember exactly, but I don't think the wattage cracks 300. I opened it up yesterday.
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I can't remember exactly, but I don't think the wattage cracks 300. I opened it up yesterday.
That's the kicker. Even low end/older cards like an 8400gs or Radeon 2400-2600 require 350-400 minimum. I would probably say the X1xxx series from ATI, but I'm having a hard time finding minimum power requirements for those.
You can get something like a 2600XT for $60 and you probably could find an okay power supply for $40. However, I do not know if your computer/motherboard has a proprietary connection that only HP makes. This would make getting a different power supply quite a bit harder.
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However, I do not know if your computer/motherboard has a proprietary connection that only HP makes. This would make getting a different power supply quite a bit harder.
After a quick search the HP Media Center PC m7350n PC requires only 24-pin, Aux 4 pin, and comes with IDE 4-pin x5, Floppy cord x1, SATA x2. So nothing odd about it :aok found it from http://www.supernotebook.com/power-supply.php?psupart=2592
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After a quick search the HP Media Center PC m7350n PC requires only 24-pin, Aux 4 pin, and comes with IDE 4-pin x5, Floppy cord x1, SATA x2. So nothing odd about it :aok found it from http://www.supernotebook.com/power-supply.php?psupart=2592
Good call!
Here's a good rated psu for $35 ($25 after rebate): Thermaltak 430W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153023
Asus 2600XT $75 ($39.99 after rebate):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121082
*Even though its the slower 256mb DDR3 (not DDR4 version), it's a nice job from your current 6200
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I've taken a step up to a 580 Watt ATX (glad I picked the right one) power supply, and the Nvidia 8800 512 mb card over the 500 watt / 8600 stuff I was eying. I've rationalized it so that when I finally do start building a new computer, I can re-swap out all the old parts to this computer.
Don't you dare try to convince me otherwise. :D
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Holy diddlying toejam. I was bordering on near panic. My plan was to put in the new power supply first, and then the video card, checking to see if the system would blow up in between.
I get the old one out, new one in and start plugging in the new plugs. This was a squeak and a half as it was because the mother board power was hidden half way back up in the case. I think my fingers on the right hand can now bend an extra 15 degrees back because of it.
Anyway, I start it up and get "Boot Disk Failure. Insert boot disk." toejam. I specifically knew that my father didn't receive the boot up disk for this computer. It was a shady purchase from a circuit city anyway.
I start panicking, looking for anything and everything that could be a boot disk.
Slowly it occurs to me that I didn't remember plugging in the hard drive. I didn't remember unplugging it either, though.
I plug it in, boot her up, and see the same thing. I check it again, and it's not seated.
Now on to the video card.
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Holy masking poop. I was bordering on near panic. My plan was to put in the new power supply first, and then the video card, checking to see if the system would blow up in between.
I get the old one out, new one in and start plugging in the new plugs. This was a wench and a half as it was because the mother board power was hidden half way back up in the case. I think my fingers on the right hand can now bend an extra 15 degrees back because of it.
Anyway, I start it up and get "Boot Disk Failure. Insert boot disk." poop. I specifically knew that my father didn't receive the boot up disk for this computer. It was a shady purchase from a circuit city anyway.
I start panicking, looking for anything and everything that could be a boot disk.
Slowly it occurs to me that I didn't remember plugging in the hard drive. I didn't remember unplugging it either, though.
I plug it in, boot her up, and see the same thing. I check it again, and it's not seated.
Now on to the video card.
Go into your bios laser and verify your "boot disk priority". Make sure your HD is listed.
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Go into your bios laser and verify your "boot disk priority". Make sure your HD is listed.
Ditto, I've had this happen. Make sure all the connections are solidly in place.
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Yup, I got all of them in place. It was working when I posted that previous rant.
Now I got the new video card in. Maybe I'm just not used to power, but I have the side of the case open, and it seems to be running hot.
What should I do to check it / fix it?
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You could get a video card cooler. Best yet download true temp and check it out. I think True temp checks vc's. I'm sure there is some program that will tell you. Video cards do run hotter than about any other computer component. Read the manual. Oh wait, the program Ntune will tell you. You get that at nvidia's website or perhaps the manufacturers website. Also, I hope some one backs me up here. But your system will run cooler I believe with the case closed. That way air is pulled through it.
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What makes you think it's running hot? Are you getting temperature readings from your computer or are you sticking your had inside the case when it's running, or perhaps sticking your had behind the computer exhaust fans?
You can try using Speedfan to read your computer temperatures.
http://www.almico.com/speedfan434.exe
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Those cards will run at ~70C (158 F), maybe higher under load.
Download a program called RivaTuner. The card defaults the fan speed to 32% IIRC. Riva will let you manually turn it up. I run my 512 8800 GTS at 70% continuous and run at 50C or less under load.
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Ok. Perhaps it was just me feeling the heat from the card itself. I'll check the temperature later, and keep the case closed.
By the way, I've yet to even run Aces High at 1/5 the card's total capacity, but I'm up to approx 1/2 the useable RAM.
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I've got my computer tucked under my desk by my feet. The desk has a 3/4 length back and the heat being blown out the back of he computer hits that and circulates back out toward me. Even in a cool house I'll get warm sitting at the computer, especially if it's under load.
I bought a small fan that I use to blow that warm air down so that it clears the back of the desk then rises up the wall behind the desk instead of coming back toward me and it makes a big difference.
You've got the motherboard north bridge, the CPU, the video card and the power supply all generating heat and it adds up.