Guide to video card upgrades/questions

[mytech101]

If the monitor/display of the computer turns to yellow, what could be the reason? please help...

thanks!

 

[Rage_3K_Moiz]

It usually means either the connecting cable from the monitor is not properly fitted into the slot in the computer or either the cable or the slot itself has gotten screwed. I'd be inclined to say it was the cable itself, since I've had this problem with a CRT display before and the only thing I could do was buy a new monitor.

 

[nickc]

most new monitors have replaceable cables.

 

[FoReWoRd]

hi people

Motherboard make/model: Ecs 570 SLIT-A 3.1
Motherboard graphic interface PCIex8
Power supply make:WinPower
Power supply watts:600w
Power supply amps on +12v1:18a
Power supply amps on +12v2:18a
CPUentiumD 925
Ram: 4Gb

will this be compatable with 9600gt or 8800gs

 

[Rage_3K_Moiz]

Yes, although I would recommend a better quality PSU. The Antec Earthwatts EA430 and EA500 are excellent choices, depending on how much you can spend.

 

[vinod2728]

there is any other software for this stuff or not if yes pls give the url thanks in advance

 

[LedDragon]

I read the first post of this topic so I'll explain it that way :
1. I like too play all kind of games, but my favourite games are shooters, RPG's and RTS.
2. I'm searching for a graphic card with a max. cost of 250 $.
3. Don't know this atm, but I'll edit my post tomorrow or later this evening.
4. My specs:
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6600
Mobo: Abit Fatal1ty F-190 HD
Mem: Patriot DDRII, 2 x 512 MB
Video: ATI Radeon Xpress 1200
HDD: Seagate SII, 320 GB
OS: Windows XP Home (SP2)
But I'm going to buy some new memory, so it will prolly be 3 GB.
5. I'm from Belgium (=Europe ).

 

[Rage_3K_Moiz]

The Radeon HD 4850 is the video card for you, priced at around $200 or so. For the PSU, if you have an inadequate one, look at the Antec Earthwatts 430W and the Corsair 450VX as excellent replacements.

 

[LedDragon]

Thanks, but a friend of mine has stopped with gaming and he has a really expensive ATi FireGL V7300 512MB PCI-E 16x. He offers me the video card for only $200, but the only problem is that he thinks my mobo doens't support that much memory. He's going to try and solve it with an adapter. But that is a really good card isn't it?

 

[Rage_3K_Moiz]

The FireGL will be next to useless for games, since it's a workstation graphics card meant for video editing. The HD 4850 is still your best choice IMO. Buying a newer, more powerful card makes more sense than buying an older card for the same price.

 

[EXCellR8]

Alright guys I have 2 8600GT XXX's and I want to know what I should look at for a power supply. The cards call for 350w so my 500w is probably not going to cut it especially with my new Quad-core cpu. So, I was thinking along the lines of 700-800w -but I need to find a modular unit. I like the ULTRA X3 and I'm using an X1 right now and it works great. The other thing I'm not sure is if I need an "SLi-certified" PSU with two nvidia GPUs. Any suggestions? I haven't built the system yet so I'm open for any input.

Here are the projected system specs:

Intel Q6600
ASUS P5N-E SLi (nForce 650i)
2GB OCZ DDR2 800mhz RAM
XFX 8600GT XXX (2)
SB Audigy 4 Pro
IDE Hard Drives (2)
IDE Optical Drives (2)
Windows XP Pro SP2

 

[Rage_3K_Moiz]

Two 8600GTs shouldn't need more than a good-quality 400-450W PSU. What PSU do you have?
Also, why run two 8600GTs in SLI when you can grab a more powerful card instead?

 

[EXCellR8]

Two 8600GTs shouldn't need more than a good-quality 400-450W PSU. What PSU do you have?
Also, why run two 8600GTs in SLI when you can grab a more powerful card instead?

I'm using an ULTRA X-Connect 500w modular PSU. I think I'll be forced to upgrade anyways because it's main board connector is 20 pins and not 24; there's no little additional plug). The reason I chose the two 8600GTs is because the mobo I'll be using doesn't support PCI-e 2.0; the cards were also $69.99 after MiR =). I would have opted for say an 8800GT if I were using the second gen of the bus but I figured I wouldn't be using it to it's full potential; or value. I think I will be fine with the 8600GTs since I am still running DX9 games. The cards are clocked to 680mhz too so it will definitely be an upgrade from the adapter that I am using now.

 

[Obi-Wan Jerkobi]

You don't really lose much power from not having PCI-E 2.0. Heck, my 9600GT is running Crysis on High (26fps) on PCI-E 1.1(or 1.0 I dunno). But I suppose since you have the cards then you might want to opt for a PSU with a single powerful +12v rail. This one has a 41A (Amps) +12v Rail and 2 PCI-E connectors if you need em.

 

[Rage_3K_Moiz]

No card is able to fully saturate the PCI-E 1.0 bus, let alone that of its successor. PCI-E 1.0 cards are fully compatible with PCI-E 2.0 slots and vice versa. There will be no performance penalty for doing so.
You'd be better off getting the 8800GT and the Corsair 450VX. It will be enough for any single-card setup, barring a dual-GPU card.

 

[EXCellR8]

I already have the two 8600s so I wont be moving to the 8800 anyways even though I'd probably be better off. The most GPU-demanding game I own is Crysis which I can run on my 7950GT (AGP) at reasonable frames. These "XXX" versions of the 8600GT are highly factory overclocked and offer additional headroom for driver overclocking. I've seen a single unit power through Crysis on custom high settings so I'm hoping to have a decent time playing with two. I just need to find a good power supply to run these cards along with my Q6600.

 

[Richardw9]

Also, might want to make a note (for people who are completely new to all this) that some PSUs have multiple +12v rails, and the amperage supplied is the total of all the +12v rails together.

Ahhh! my brain! i don't know what half the words in this thread mean are there not any simple terms that people ca use for things? perhaps there should be another section to the website where people can ask simple questions and get simple answers.

 

[Flowerpoddess]

I've asked my question in another thread but no one's answering. I have a MSI P4MAM-V motherboard with AGP 4X compatibility. I want to play some of the new games and was wondering if Sapphire AGP Radeon 9600 pro would work on my system? If, there are any other video cards I can look at, please let me know.

 

[dnme]

Hi guys
1. Right now im playing WoW. My FPS is kinda low (spikes between 15-30ish)
2. Hmm..maybe around $150 - $200 or less.
3. Its a Dell PSU. The sticker says 305w max, +12VA - 18.0A, +12VB - 18.0A. +12VA and +12VB output is 22A.
4. Specs:
CPU: Intel Pentium 4
Mobo: Not sure, but it says Dell Computer Corp. under the Mainboard tab.
Mem: 2x - 256MB, Micron Technology (came with the system). 1x - 1024MB, i think it was a kingston.
Video: ATI Radeon 9800 series (says in the device manager)
HDD: Some kind of 80GB (came with the system)
OS: Windows XP Home - SP3
5. Im from Hawaii

Just wondering what i should do to improve game play. I also bought Hellgate awhile ago, for the first few days, it was okay, but afterwards, it would crash everytime i went through a portal or something. But mainly, i want to improve game play for WoW. Thanks in advance.

 

[joejn27]

i have no video card just integrated graphics controller

1. Umm i play counter strike, day of defeat, and maplestory works all fine.
recently i bought assassin's creed pc, and was about to buy a new video card but dont know which 1 to buy. so i need your help. my parent are buying for me and dont want it too expensive.

2.maybe $60-$100ish in Canadian money

3.i dunno says +5V & +3.3V 225W MAX. +5V & +3.3V & +12V COMBINED 380W MAX. TOTAL OUTPUT 400W MAX.

4. Mobo- Foxconn 8657 MF-series
graphic interface- 3 standard PCI slots and 1 agp slot
memory- 1024 mb one slot is kingston other is crucial
CPU-intel pentium d 805 dual core
speed- 2659.5mhz
bios- phoenix technologies
chipset- intel i865/PE/G/i848P rev.A2
serivce pack 2

im from ontario,canada

 

[Rage_3K_Moiz]

Just wondering what i should do to improve game play. I also bought Hellgate awhile ago, for the first few days, it was okay, but afterwards, it would crash everytime i went through a portal or something. But mainly, i want to improve game play for WoW. Thanks in advance

You can buy a more powerful video card. An HD 3850 will be well within your budget and improve performance very substantially on any game.

Umm i play counter strike, day of defeat, and maplestory works all fine.
recently i bought assassin's creed pc, and was about to buy a new video card but dont know which 1 to buy. so i need your help. my parent are buying for me and dont want it too expensive.

You would need a new PSU and a new video card. I recommend this PSU and this video card. It'll be within your budget and provide a major upgrade from your current onboard graphics. The PSU is also good for any card upto an 8800GT, so you can also upgrade your system without worrying about the PSU being insufficient for it.

 

[joejn27]

my psu already says max 400W?

 

[Rage_3K_Moiz]

So? It doesn't provide sufficient power on the +12V rail for a decent video card. You need a new PSU, unless you want to run a card like an FX5500.

 

[sw123]

Very good. We should do one on CPU/other peripheral upgrades

 

[dnme]

Thanks Rage. I have another question. My mobo is old, i think its an agp 8x or something and there isnt much video card for that. Should i just upg the mobo, cpu and video card all at once? Or just get the video card?