Guide to video card upgrades/questions

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Hey guys,

My graphics card is a Cirrus Logic 5430/5440 Compatible Graphics Adapter, driver version 5.01.2535.0 . I tried running a game (Astro Avengers 2) and it didn't work, some sort of error message that related to some problem with 3D rendering popped up. The game started but the screen remained completely blank. So I installed DirectX 9.0c. Didn't make any difference.

I ran "dxdiag" and under the "Display" tab, The button marked "Test Direct3D" and the 3 options under the heading "DirectX Features" were all grayed out and in the notes below there was something about there being an error in Direct3D. I think this is why the game wouldn't work. Does anyone have any ideas about a possible fix for the problem?

I don't know much about the computer except that the total memory is 40 GB and the RAM is 128 MB.

From the way the question is framed, you've probably realised that I'm a total newbie. An answer which is a little simply worded would be really cool. Thanx a lot.
 
want to upgrade a 8600gt within limit of my current system

Hi,
You can find my system spec from my signature's system spec section.
Can you suggest me a new gfx card such that i dont need to upgrade anything else..
My psu is cooler master extreme power plus 460w.
 
I don't think that card would work, since his PSU has only 26A combined on the +12V rail. A 9600GT or 9800GT would be a better choice IMO.
 
Hi Moiz,
the reason I posted that as a recommendation is that Tom's Hardware has the hd 4850 @ 9.1A (i know that by heart cuz i have three of them) so i looked up the 9800 and 9600gt and they have the 9800 gt @ 9.3A and the 9600GT @ 7.1A, not right? I look at amp ratings a lot because just going on wattage ratings makes me nervous. :)
 
Shite, I confused it for a 4870. Sorry!

60474_tactical_facepalm1.jpg


So yeah, it should work fine.
 
@ Moiz
:haha::haha:, I like that, looks like me forgetting that I unplugged my surge protector after an upgrade.
 
Want to upgrade my video/graphics card but have no idea what i should buy....

Hopefully this is the place i need to be to post this question, if not, I'm sorry, I am very new to all this, so thanks for reading and trying to help me ;0)

So I have recently become an attic to the world of MMORPG's and have become an absolute World of Warcraft addict and want to play Aion when it comes out in a few weeks. I have playing for almost a year now on a very old Dell which could barely handle WoW, so I decided to invest in something mid price range for gaming knowing i might need to upgrade a few things for optimal game play. The system was actually working great for WoW when I first got it two weeks ago, no lag what so ever in major cities of WoW, with at least 60 fps in heavliy poplated areas on up in questing areas on totally maxed out settings in the game. I was so happy with the system that I purchased a large new 25" monitor a few days ago to upgrade from my old 15" one. Well, now my fps is way down and I'm bumed out and thinking that I need to upgrade my video card because i went with such a big monitor. Hopefully someone can reccomend one that I will be able to afford so my brother or boyfriend can install it. After buying a new system and a nice new big monitor to match I really only have $100 - $150 to spend on it, but I'm willing to go up to $200. If anyone could help me out I would really appricate it! Here are my system specs (i'm readding off the box so if I missed something please let me know ;0)

General Spec :
-Brand CyberpowerPC
-Model Gamer Ultra 7212
-Processor AMD Athlon II X2 245(2.9GHz)
-Processor Main Features 64 bit Dual Core Processor
-Cache Per Processor 2 x 1MB L2 Cache
-Memory 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 800
-Hard Drive 500GB SATA-II 3.0Gb/s 7200RPM HDD
-Optical Drive 1 22X DVD±R/±RW Dual Layer Drive
-Graphics NVIDIA GeForce 9500GT 1GB PCI Express Video Card
-Audio Sound card - Integrated
-Ethernet Gigabit LAN
-Power Supply 420W
-Operating System Windows Vista Home Premium 64-Bit

Motherboard : Asus M3A76-CM
-Chipset AMD 760G

CPU :
-CPU Type Athlon II X2
Installed Qty 1
-CPU Speed 245(2.9GHz)
-L2 Cache Per CPU 2 x 1MB
-CPU Socket Type AM3
-CPU Main Features 64 bit Dual Core Processor

Graphics :
-GPU/VPU Type NVIDIA GeForce 9500 GT
-Graphics Interface PCI Express 2.0 x16

Memory :
-Memory Capacity 4GB DDR2
-Memory Speed DDR2 800
-Form Factor DIMM 240-pin
-Memory Spec 2GB x 2
-Memory Slots (Available/Total) 2/4
-Hard Drive
-HDD Capacity 500GB
-HDD Interface SATA II
-HDD RPM 7200rpm
-Optical Drive
-Optical Drive Type DVD±RW
-Optical Drive Spec 22X DVD±R/±RW Dual Layer Drive
-Audio
-Audio Chipset Integrated
-Communications
-LAN Chipset Integrated
-LAN Speed 10/100/1000Mbps
-Front Panel Ports
-Front USB 2
-Front Audio Ports 2
-Back Panel Ports
-PS/2 1
-Video Ports 1 VGA, 1 DVI
-TV Out 1
-Rear USB 6
-RJ45 1 port
-Rear Audio Ports 6 ports
-Expansion
-PCI Slots (Available/Total) 1 x PCI Express x16
-1 x PCI Express x1
-2 x PCI

Hopefully this is the info that someone would need to help me out. THANKS AGAIN for your time ;0)
 
Hey SleepieFaerie,

There are a few recommendations and things I have for you to consider. First of all, you have a low budget Power Supply, which won't support a nice graphics card like you would need. Second, you have a low end graphics card. Third, you have a low end processor.

I could recommend a graphics card upgrade, but it wouldn't be that much nicer than the one you have, so I would also have to recommend a new power supply. Good news, if you're willing to spend $200, then we may could help you out.

First off, power supply: http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?Item=N82E16817189005 That should be a decent power supply. At least better than the one you currently have. It's not high-end or anything, but it should work for your system. You're welcome to try the graphics card alone, but I wouldn't recommend it.

Secondly, this graphics card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102824 will be alot better than what you have.

That puts you at spending $145 so far. If you can stretch a little further, I would also recommend a Processor upgrade like this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103680. That would put your total at about $250, but would give you a much better system.
 
nice choice freythman but i find Xclio is not a brilliant PSU maker, Rosewill is better, same price, higher Wattage and better quality
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182032

nice video card however same card just $5 less and has 1GB V ram
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102824

all for $150 including shipping :)

if you can afford $200 then buy the Rosewill psu above and This card http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161269

Good Luck
FoReWoRd
 
Thank You so much for taking the time to try and help me, I really do appriciate it! I'll definatley can't wait to make the upgrades and be gaming in full force ;0) Thanks Again! FoReWoRd!!
 
Wow, both you guys have great info, guess I have a few things to consider, wish I had known all this before I purchased teh system two weeks ago! Thanks for all your help and your time ferythman!!!!
 
well thats why we are all on this forum to help and be helped by others enjoy your system and if you have any other problems then you can make a new thread or PM one of us.

if you wish to Overclock your CPU at a later date to gain extra performance please post in the Overclocking thread

Good Luck
FoReWoRd
 
Rosewill is NOT better; their quality is generally inferior to XClio, whose PSUs have relatively better build quality, but not that good either. Neither PSU has good efficiency numbers (~70% for both) and the GoodPower is actually based on the old Antec SmartPower line, which were notorious for having caps that failed if they were not kept cool (below 40C). They actually gave Antec a pretty bad rep and caused them to stop using CWT altogether as an OEM. I wouldn't be surprised if the Rosewill also used similar caps; it is usually so cheap with free shipping because Rosewill is Newegg's in-house brand.

Also, a 1GB card is more or less pointless since performance gains from the extra VRAM are only evident at high resolutions like 1920x1080.
 
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