New Graphics Card for Old Computer

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Cleod9

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Jul 23, 2013
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I was given this computer back in 2010 and just started to play WoW. It's the only game that I currently play. Have the setting at fair and normal play is fine. When I raid I have to put the setting to low and only get 20 fps. Wondering if a new graphics card will help out. My max budget is $100.

System Information:
CPU: AMD 64 x2 Dual Core 4.6k
Ram: 3GB SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
Motherboard: Foxconn C51XEM2AA- 8EKRS2H
Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813186098
Powersupply: Silverstone 650w SST-ST65ZF
Current Videocard: XFX PVT88PYDF4 GeForce 8800 GT 512MB

Thanks for your help
 
Solution
coozie7
@Cleod9: Just to clear things up a little:
WOW is CPU heavy, the performance you're seeing in larger areas/raids is about normal for the installed component.
Do n't know what you've done to tune the game but shadows (and other lighting effects), particle effects and AA will all have a strong, negative impact on graphical performance.
Adding more memory may help, but if it's running a 32 bit OS then you're already at the practical limit of what the system can use.
Bad news is that the Foxconn site shows no viable upgrade path for the existing CPU-big surprise, right?
With other CPUs' I might have suggested you try to overclock to improve performance but I know all too well those Athlons do n't overclock well, certainly not well enough to...
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DarkSable

DarkSable

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Sep 27, 2012
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The problem is not your graphics card - my old 9800gt that I gave to a friend is pretty much just a rebadge of that card and still plays perfectly well on medium / high settings.

The problem is that the processor isn't able to keep up with the calculations required for a CPU-hog like WoW. It's old, dual core-and not very fast. If you're going to upgrade anything, that's what to upgrade, but $100 isn't going to cut it - you'd have to upgrade your motherboard too, which would require DDR3 RAM.
 
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Cleod9

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Jul 23, 2013
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Basically what you are saying is that a new videocard would just be a bandaid and not a very good one. What I really need to look into is rebuilding with new CPU, motherboard and ram? Yes a $100 isn't going to cover that.
 
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DarkSable

DarkSable

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Sep 27, 2012
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Yeah, pretty much. The other guys are correct that when upgrading the graphics for $100, that card is the way to go, but they missed that in this case, the graphics card, though old, is fine.

Consider saving up and upgrading to an i5-3350p, 8gb of ddr3 1333/1600 MHz ram, and a decent h77 motherboard. It should cost about $300, and will give you a VERY powerful system to base a graphics upgrade on in the future.
 
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memadmax

memadmax

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Mar 25, 2011
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WoW is not very CPU intensive. It is actually network sensitive.
Anyways, after MoP, WoW has been actually kinda hard on the older graphics card stuff. I'm running a Intel Q8300 with 8 gigs of ram and a 7750 and I get great framerates. But then again, my motherboard is a intel top of the line(for this processor generation) DX48BT2, so all my ram is DDR3 instead of DDR2. But when I was running an older motherboard with DDR2, the switch from 4 gigs to 6 gigs was great lol I can't imagine nothing but slow as molasses speed at 3gigs. My wife's computer has 3gigs on a old amd machine and it's slow as hell lol
 
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DarkSable

DarkSable

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Sep 27, 2012
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So you're running a (then) top of the line quad core and saying his low-end dual core should do just as well?

Even the developers of the game will tell you that WoW is CPU-intensive.

I agree that more ram would help, but going to DDR3 would help even more - getting a better graphics card when he's already bottlenecked by his CPU isn't going to do much; he'll still get 20fps, but will be able to do it on high/ultra instead.
 
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17seconds

17seconds

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Jul 27, 2010
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The first thing to do is to check for a bottleneck. Install and run Afterburner, then have the hardware monitor running while you are playing WoW (with VSync turned OFF). Afterwards, check your GPU usage. Anything below 99% GPU usage is an indication of how much your video card is being held back by the rest of your system. 50% usage, for example, is a clear indication that a new GPU is not going to help.

Just in case, here's a killer deal on the Powercolor 7770 GHz Edition for $80 after rebate ($109 before rebate):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131477

wow_1920_1200.gif
 
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coozie7

coozie7

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Jun 2, 2007
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@Cleod9: Just to clear things up a little:
WOW is CPU heavy, the performance you're seeing in larger areas/raids is about normal for the installed component.
Do n't know what you've done to tune the game but shadows (and other lighting effects), particle effects and AA will all have a strong, negative impact on graphical performance.
Adding more memory may help, but if it's running a 32 bit OS then you're already at the practical limit of what the system can use.
Bad news is that the Foxconn site shows no viable upgrade path for the existing CPU-big surprise, right?
With other CPUs' I might have suggested you try to overclock to improve performance but I know all too well those Athlons do n't overclock well, certainly not well enough to justify the time involved.
As you say, another graphics card is just a band-aid, and not a very good one, I advise you to save your money, adjust the game settings to try and improve matters and start to think about a larger, more useful upgrade or even a whole, totally new box.
 
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Cleod9

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Jul 23, 2013
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Just wanted to say thanks for the feedback. Decided to just build a new system with some existing componets from my current computer. Keeping the power supply, case and hard drive. Already purchased 8GB of DD3 1600 Ram. Decided to get the Intel i5-3550p CPU and just need to figure out which motherboard to buy. This is where I ask for your help. Don't really know anything regarding motherboards. I am considering these 4 models (link below) and leaning towards the MSI ZH77A-G43. Does anyone have a recommendation for a H77 motherboard?

 
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