New graphics card for gaming

[himanshu007]

i am having p4 2.8 ghz system with, 1 gb ram,160gb hard disk,win xp and via p4m800 motheroard.. i want to buy a graphic card for gaming . my motherboard is having a agp 8x slot. i want to buy a 512 mb card but my power supply is of 270 watt is it necessary to buy a 300-350 watt power supply for normal gaming..???? does it work with 270 watt one???

 

[Ritwik7]

The best AGP cards out there are the Radeon HD 3850 and HD 4670. I think that the HD 3850 performs slightly better in newer games due to higher bus width. Get whichever is cheaper.

You will require a better PSU. Atleast something like the Corsair 400CX. If you buy a cheaper brand, I suggest you get a minimum 450 - 500W.

 

[himanshu007]

a 270 watt psu will work or not for normal gaming.......???

 

[Archean]

No you will need to change your PSU as well; Ritwik offered the right choices for your new graphics card; and I believe you'll be well off if you go for atleast a 400+ W PSU from a reputable manufacturer.

 

[CMH]

Gotta know what kinda games you wanna play. If all you wanna do is play Starcraft.....

However, if you're thinking of running Battlefield: Bad Company 2..... you would need a new PC.

 

[Relic]

Gotta know what kinda games you wanna play. If all you wanna do is play Starcraft.....

However, if you're thinking of running Battlefield: Bad Company 2..... you would need a new PC.

CMH is right, tell us more please . While what was suggested above is correct and will get ya on the right foot, if you end up playing a modern game that won't really help you much as you're running an older processor with a gig of RAM.

 

[himanshu007]

problem is that without graphic card my pc is not running call of duty ,fifa 2009 and many more.....!!!! and i know that i am using an older processor ,previously i had a 350 watt psu bt as it get damaged so i am using a older one.. i also want to buy a new pc bt right now i cant afford it now as i am an 1st yr engineering student.

 

[Archean]

You will struggle to get much out from the graphic card options available for your pc; from most newer games frankly. Probably Fifa may turns out to work ok, older COD too.

 

[Ritwik7]

The AGP cards I linked to are pretty expensive considering the fact that you could get a Radeon HD 4850 or 4770 (PCI-E) at that price which would give you more than double the performance.

I suggest that you start saving for a new PC if you want to play high end games such as Crysis, S.T.A.L.K.E.R - Clear Sky, etc. However, for the games you mentioned, the HD 3850 would do fine.

Where exactly are you located?

 

[himanshu007]

i lives in new delhi

 

[CMH]

Personally I wouldn't bother to upgrade an AGP system.... For one, they're pretty old, and its just a matter of time before the caps on the m/b blow out, or some other problem crops up due to age.

As you already mentioned, your newer PSU already died, and you're replacing it with an older PSU. Straining such a PSU with the biggest graphics card is just going to shorten whatever lifespan it has left.

 

[Archean]

Coupled all the issues Ritwik and CMH elaborated very logically with my earlier assertion that with such an old rig you won't be going much further anyway; I'd say save money mate, and you'll be much happier once you get yourself a new computer