So you only have PCI slots and want to game?

[Tha General]

I was going to upgrade to the current generation GPUs when the next ones come out so I don't have to shell out $300+ dollars for something that will be outdated in a year. I'll upgrade to a nice Phenom II X4 while I wait.

Outdated stuff is still powerful.
I have a Phenom IIX4 810, its really good, even tho i plan to do a major upgrade with the CPU to a six core, and some ddr3 memory and a new mb, but i plan to keep my gateway case.

If i was you and you didn't feel the need to go six core, just buy the most powerful x4 you can find over at newegg. Those motherboard/cpu combo deals are always nice.

 

[teklord]

Actually, the current generation ATI cards will probably be outdated in 6 months, not a year.

I wanted a i7 930 setup initially but finances dictated that I went AMD. Now I am waiting for the Phenom II X4 955 95W to come out because I accidentally got a mobo that had a max CPU power draw of 95W. Wasn't able to unlock any cores on this CPU, so now I need to buy a quad that is intended to be a quad. Let that be a lesson to those buying AMD CPU's hoping to unlock cores, there is a strong chance you won't be successful.

Six core isn't necessary for a gamer. Perhaps for people that do a lot of graphics editing or use WinRAR type programs frequently, but that's about it. May pick up an octocore which will be out soon. Six cores will still be useless most likely when that comes out.

 

[teklord]

Can't wait for the Phenom II X4 955 95W to come out so I can use it with my GTX 285 I got cheap. Dying to play Just Cause 2 with that which is optimized for quads on PC. I've come a long way from my 2.8GHz Celeron+Intel Integrated Graphics days.

 

[Breech]

Actually, the current generation ATI cards will probably be outdated in 6 months, not a year.

I wouldn't say outdated but the lineup will certainly shift when the 6000 series cards debut. I picked up a Powercolor pcs+ 5850 on Newegg as an open box item for $245 shipped about a month ago. The thing is ridiculously fast. I expect it to be able to handle most new and upcoming games for quite some time yet. Just personal speculation but I don't believe that the 6000 series is going to provide a huge performance jump over the 5000 series. More than likely the biggest gains will be in efficiency as they are moving to the 28nm fab process, which should make for some very cool running and power efficient cards. Good to see Nvidia providing some competition with the GTX 460 as well.

I'm glad my PCI days are over. This 5850 paired with my 955 cpu is a dream compared to using my old Dells, though I still have 2 of them running using PCI cards. They do well with web video and older games but to play anything released within the last few years will absolutely require an upgrade.

 

[teklord]

When I say outdated, I mean they aren't going to be the latest cutting edge tech anymore. I buy stuff that isn't bleeding edge to save money but is still relevant like the GTX 285 I just bought. Great price on something that is slightly less powerful than this years GPUs but still highly useful.

PCI GPU cards help old systems run faster over onboard, but don't do a great deal more.

 

[Breech]

When I say outdated, I mean they aren't going to be the latest cutting edge tech anymore. I buy stuff that isn't bleeding edge to save money but is still relevant like the GTX 285 I just bought. Great price on something that is slightly less powerful than this years GPUs but still highly useful.

PCI GPU cards help old systems run faster over onboard, but don't do a great deal more.

I hear ya. I tend to wait as well. It's hard to justify spending tons of money on the latest and greatest when prices are certain to fall within a few months. That 285 is still a very good card.

 

[Tha General]

Another new pci card

http://www.albatron.com.tw/English/product/vga/pro_detail.asp?rlink=Specification&no=321

Another one, PCI 3450 Visiontek

http://www.visiontek.com/dms59-cards/radeon-hd-3450/radeon-hd-3450-pci-sff.html

 

[teklord]

Probably wont see much difference from the 9500GT.

 

[electromagnetic]

I posted something here and it got deleted.
Low profile cards cause blue screens.

:suspiciou

 

[Technochicken]

Low profile cards cause blue screens? That's quite a generalization. The low profile cards are almost exactly the same as the regular sized one, but with a little less space between components on the PCB.

 

[Tha General]

Probably wont see much difference from the 9500GT.

I sent albatron a email asking them where to get a 8600gt, but no word. I am going to have to go back to the market show and request it, special order, because i really want that rare 8600gt pci card.

I posted something here and it got deleted.
Low profile cards cause blue screens.

No, blue screen can be cause by alot of stuff, bad drivers, wrong setups, etc.
Hey Electromagnetic any word on any new hardware or cards you're buying?

Btw what is your youtube page again, i lost it.

 

[electromagnetic]

A Zotac card can't say it will get deleted.

My youtube page is energybot.

Ok type parity error dell 3100, that's all.

I will like to get a pci express x1 card or barebones but not yet.

Duke nukem forever. . Coming out next year 100% correct.

Tha general why you keep changing your youtube pages dude, you an actor.

 

[Technochicken]

I recently modified my old 8500 gt to fit x1 slots by cutting off the extra pins. It was really easy, and works perfectly well. Instead of buying a more expensive x1, you might want to just get a cheap x16 card and do what I did.

 

[electromagnetic]

Technochicken what card did you use and for what computer a Dell ?

I don't know how to cut the pins off. Do I use a scissors or waht else.

 

[teklord]

I suggested to cut off some of the pins on a cheap x16 card or cut the back end off the x1 slot on the mobo a long time ago, but it didn't resonate. That is what I would do as well. If I couldn't save somehow for better computers parts or a better prebuilt.

The PCI bus is more than 100% saturated, PCI is for sound cards but not video cards.

I'm looking to SLI two GTX 470's on a i7 950 system. I've come a long way from the P4 + 5500FX I first posted with in this thread.

 

[red1776]

Technochicken what card did you use and for what computer a Dell ?

I don't know how to cut the pins off. Do I use a scissors or waht else.

a dremel tool with a thin cutoff wheel works very well if you have a steady hand or set up a fence to butt up against.

 

[Technochicken]

I actually scored the pins deeply on both sides with an exacto knife, and then just snapped them off with pliers. I was a little worried about using a dremel, as it sprays bits everywhere and I did not want anything to short out.

 

[red1776]

I actually scored the pins deeply on both sides with an exacto knife, and then just snapped them off with pliers. I was a little worried about using a dremel, as it sprays bits everywhere and I did not want anything to short out.

I have not shorted anything out using the dremel, but you're the MacGuyver of TS so i will suggest he goes with the xacto:wave:

 

[Technochicken]

Thanks red

Whatever method you choose to use, just make sure to do a practice run on an old PCI modem card or something similar first. I'll post a picture of mine in the TS gallery in a couple minutes as an example.


*edit*

 

[electromagnetic]

Do you mean this to cut off the connectors.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utility_knife

Also pick a card for me to get here.
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/

I am using a old dell 230 psu remember.

On the side to cut off how do i know it will be exact fit in the x1 slot. I am no wizard.

 

[Technochicken]

Yep, one of those knives.

As to which card, what is your budget? An HD 4550 would give similar performance to my 8500, and costs 35$, and only draws about 25 watts.

 

[mailpup]

Wow. This thread has really gone off topic. Wouldn't this latest topic be better in a thread of its own, possibly in the Overclocking, Cooling, Modding forum?

 

[Tha General]

energybot, oh nevermind i am already on your page. lol.

Anyways, you said to help you pick?

IMO, i would buy one of those Intel Mb the intel e3300 and pick up a cheap PCIEX16 card?

I don't even see any pcix1 cards on that site

 

[electromagnetic]

I am forgetting the cut down card, don't want the dell going KO.


Barebones is the best or it seems expensive to build your own there.

I want to know fully how to add and remove a power cable from mobo.

Also the system fan cable to the mobo.


In the link I posted they build barebones and you add other parts.

 

[Tha General]

Well just tell them what you want and watch them build it/add it by showing you how and what to do. Also, i would grab a Intel e3300 and a decent PCIEX16 card. Better to save up for that, and let pci cards go, trust me i know.