Video Cards

[Denholm]

The 9400 would give you a marginal increase in video processing power with the cost of a new power supply. If you're considering NVIDIA, use 1701E's list to determine what you should be looking at. NOTE: Fry's is typically on the higher side of prices. Shop around at Mwave, Newegg, TigerDirect, and (believe it or not) Amazon.

You'll find your lowest prices somewhere on those websites.

[1701E]

How much better would my performance be with a 9400GT with a 500W PSU than with a 6150 SE with a 250W PSU?

As mentioned the performance would be little.  However, the PSU doesn't affect performance, it just allows you to use parts that do.  A 6150Se on a 500W is the same as a 250W, bad.
A 9400 is about 2 steps below what would be minimum recommended for any games any more if you want to get your money worth.  A 9500 can work, but I wouldn't suggest spending money on one.

For NVidia GeForce:                                       ATI:
7---Series: 7900-7950                                  3850-3870
8---Series: 8600-8800                                  4850
9---Series: 9600-9800                                  4870
GTX 2-- Series: Any

NVidia Extensions: Performance in a upwards-rising scale
GS
GT
GTX
GTX+

The 7 series is rather old, 8 series is getting phased out, so the 9 series is the way to go, but there are bottom lines.

Just to keep this on the new page.  Amazingly the list can help when looking, that way you know what is low, lower and high.  Also, cards will have extra parts to the name, I added this to the list.

[TilDeath]

You can also check here for power supplies... http://www.tdcomputersystems.com  Don't have Video cards up yet.  The site is active don't pay attention to the June 1st comment.  All OCZ and PC Power & Cooling PSU's are listed

[1701E]

You can also check here for power supplies... http://www.tdcomputersystems.com  Don't have Video cards up yet.  The site is active don't pay attention to the June 1st comment.  All OCZ and PC Power & Cooling PSU's are listed

You're missing my PSU, OCZ StealthX 700W.

[Pannono]

What is the difference between PCI and PCI 2.0?

[WMLute]

What is the difference between PCI and PCI 2.0?

I assume you mean PCI-E right?

PCIe 2.0 doubles the bus standard's bandwidth from 0.25 GByte/s to 0.5 GByte/s, meaning a x32 connector can transfer data at up to 16 GByte/s for both videocards (SLI 2x etc). PCIe 2.0 has two 32 bits channels for each GPU (2x16), while the first version only has 1x16 and is operating at 2 GHz.

PCIe 2.0 is backwards compatable.

[TilDeath]

You're missing my PSU, OCZ StealthX 700W.

That is an "EOL" end of life product so I was not going to add it to the site

[Pannono]

I cant even get a good video card i have DDR2 RAM and all the good ones need GDDR3 or DDR3 
Thanks anyway for the help guys, I guess I am stuck with my POS comp

[Speed55]

You might be confusing the cards specifications with what your computer has.

In other words, the card can have gddr3, and your computer can have ddr2 and it will not be a problem.

[Pannono]

Wow really? I thought i was SOL. I'll have to keep looking around then. 

[1701E]

That is an "EOL" end of life product so I was not going to add it to the site

Wow, really?  Well dang!


Pannono, A good GPU to look at would be a 9800GT/GTX.  They have good performance, and any PSU from TD will work to power it.

[Pannono]

Here is what i am leaning towards:
PSU
http://www.amazon.com/OCZ-OCZ600SXS-StealthXStream-Power-Supply/dp/B000QF1EK4/ref=pd_cp_pc_3?pf_rd_p=413863501&pf_rd_s=center-41&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B001AO1T1E&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=01PDH7RZA9R7PHDHHPH2
Vid Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130490

Will they be compatible with my PC/Eachother?

Info for my PC: http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01077676&lc=en&dlc=ru&cc=ru&lang=ru&product=3567334

[Scratchman]

My recommnedations:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2776974&sku=O261-2006

[Pannono]

Ok, I have determined that I will need a new video card, which will require a new PSU, in order to run the new version of AH. I think that a 8600GT will do the job fine. That will require a 350W+ PSU. I dont have any idea how to install a video card, nor do I know if it will fit inside my tower. The PSU is the same deal, I have no idea how to replace one, and I dont know if it will fit. Any suggestions on what to do here?

[Boozeman]

Ok, I have determined that I will need a new video card, which will require a new PSU, in order to run the new version of AH. I think that a 8600GT will do the job fine. That will require a 350W+ PSU. I dont have any idea how to install a video card, nor do I know if it will fit inside my tower. The PSU is the same deal, I have no idea how to replace one, and I dont know if it will fit. Any suggestions on what to do here?

If you want to enjoy the new AH graphics, I'm afraid that that the 8600GT will not make you happy at all. It's a rather weak card by nowadays standards.
Of course, if you can live with much lesser details, it might work. However, if you are aiming for a 350 W PSU, there are better alternatives. A 9600GT is about 2,5 times faster but consumes just 10% more power - a no brainer really.

Beside that, thats also what your CPU can actually handle. Any faster cards will be CPU limited in your system, even more so in AH.