Guide to video card upgrades/questions

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.

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.

my psu already says max 400W?

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.

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

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?

If you can afford it, upgrade everything, since it'd also give you a much wider range of options to choose from and give you an overall better performing PC as well. If your budget won't allow for it, then just get the video card.

Give me a PM and tell me your budget and exact location, and whether or not you'd be willing to buy online. I'll suggest a suitable build for you based on that. It would be offtopic in here and would just serve to confuse people as to the purpose of this thread.

Ah okay. I tried sending a PM but it said i have only 3 posts, i need atleast 15 post to send PMs..lol

then dnme, my suggestion would be to open a thread, in the title state just what u need or want, then u can explain more in u're first post.

Hi there,

1. Main use would be as a media center...find HD playback to be a bit jerky right now. Would play medieval total war 2 if it wasn't so slow.
2. About £50 ($100)
3. PSU - 180W 10A from FSP group But it's a micro ATX form factor and I've found it near impossible to find a replacement.
4. MB - 915P-M3
CPU - P4 3.2Ghz 640
Memory - 2gb DDR
Graphics - PCI-express, got a Radeon x550 in right now
5. From the UK

Whats the best graphics card I can get without upgrading my PSU?

Thanks,

~N

Hi, im from england. i only play the sims 2, with all expansion packs. im looking for a new graphics card, but i haven't got a clue what to buy. im looking to spend £50 to £120

AMD Athlon 64 3400+
Speed 2411.5 mhz
DDR Single
1024 mbytes
Nvidia Geforce 6200

the pc is a compaq presario running xp

@JaredN, you cannot get a new video card better than your current one without a new PSU, except maybe a low-profile 8500GT. And that's a maybe.

@Kerry234, it'd help more if you posted the model number of your PC.

sorry its a SR1000

hi, i'm looking to upgrade me video card and have some questions. to start, i built this computer maybe 1.5 - 2 years ago, so its not the greatest, but its not too bad, but i think my biggest problem right now is my graphics card.
i mainly play WoW, but i would like to be at 30-50 fps rather then 12-20
my budget is up to about $200


my hardware:
intel pentium D 2.8 OC to 3.0
1 gig ram (getting another gig when i get my new video card)
Video Card: google n82e16814102078 and look at the google cache on newegg

Power Supply: google: psu hiper hpu 4m480 and look at the newegg google cache of it

i have pci express on my mobo (not 2.0)

and i'm from the USA

thanks for the help

Get this video card and this PSU and you'll be good to go.

1. keen on playing crysis,assassins creed and world in conflict
2. $100-$200
3. PSU - cooler master 460w http://www.coolermaster.com/products/product.php?language=en&act=detail&tbcate=22&id=3728
4. Mobo - xfx nforce 630i/integrated geforce 7100
CPU - Intel core2duo e6550 @2.33ghz 4mb cache
Memory - 2x1 gb corsair xms2/dhx
Graphics - PCI-express 1.0 integrated geforce 7100
5. Pakistan

i originally wanted to get 9800gtx+ or hd4850 but after seeing the crysis recommended specs i suppose that 9800gt might be pretty adequate.is there any incentive to go above 9800gt?plus is it all good if i choose 4850 for my nforce mobo.

would love to hear your recommendations here

Thanks

You will be pushing your PSU to the breaking point with a 9800GT or an HD 4850. AcBel's lower-end PSUs aren't really designed for that kind of load, so I'd recommend either getting a new PSU or getting a 9600GT instead. Check out Galaxy.pk for some ideas on what to buy. I would recommend the Corsair 520HX they have for Rs.8k and the Inno3D 9800GT for Rs.14500 if you can spend that much.

hi
you got the store bang on target where i got my pc from.
did i say acbel ,i have a cooler master 460watts
http://www.coolermaster.com/products/product.php?language=en&act=detail&tbcate=22&id=3728

plus i saw newegg recommending 450w psu for a 9800gtx+.check the specs tab
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150314

that is for minimal power supply, and that being an excellent one the Corsair 520HX is an excellent power supply. and would do u're system well. here is another good one that is cheaper if u would to look at it CORSAIR CMPSU-450VX 450W

AcBel are the OEM maker for some Cooler Master's PSUs, including yours. Sorry if that wasn't clear before.

As for the Newegg link, it doesn't specify the amps needed from the +12V rail by a system running the card. It would probably be around 26A for yours, which is the minimum amount needed for the card. So you will be on the verge of overloading your PSU, which will have unpleasant results.

the thing is that it only been a few months since i bought the system,and the vendor recommended the 460w psu because i told him i'd be adding a graphic card for gaming later.isnt there a card that can give me good gaming performance under the current config?

ooh! i guess then i have no option than to substitue my psu.whats the recommended amperage for 12v railings.the cooler maser site says its 300w something

btw still what options do i have with my current psu?