A Graphic Card for an Intel Core 2 Duo 2.93 GHz

Little_Gamer · Oct 4, 2014

Recently i bought a new PSU and i want to buy a new graphic card, because my Intel GMA 3100 is very-very old. Whatt graphic card should i choose?

My System:
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo 2.93 GHz @ 2.92 GHz (Stock Clock)
RAM: 2 GB of DDR2 800 MHz (i will buy another 2 gb)
Motherboard: Biostar G31-M7 TE (2 RAM slots, 1 PCI-E 2.0 x16)
PSU: 450 WATT

And i can spend 100-130 bucks on the GPU.

What's the minimum GPU i can buy and the maximum GPU ? Maybe i can spend another 50 bucks. Will also a Sapphire R7 240 fit my needs? I want to use it to play BF3, AC 1-3, GTA 4, 5 (if it's possible) and COD MW2-Ghosts on Medium (BF3, AC 3 , GTA 4, COD BO2), on High (AC 1 - Revelations, COD MW2 - MW3) and on Low (AC 4(if it's possible), GTA 5 , COD Ghosts, NFS The Run). HELP please.

PS: Sorry for my mistakes, i'm not and American or English Citizen.

guy 123 · Oct 4, 2014

TheDualshock :

Little_Gamer :

This should be a good fit for you : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121898&cm_re=r7_260x-_-14-121-898-_-Product
The R7 260X is a pretty decent card, you could probably crank up the settings to Medium and still get good frames. Though what is the model and make of your PSU?

dont get a r7 260x ur core 2 duo will bottleneck it heavely
for now just upgrade ur motherboard processor and ram
and buy a gpu later
best thing for the ur buget u can get a
g3258 + h81 mobo+4gb ddr3 ram
if u buy the g3258 be sure to overclock it to get the maximum performance

cst1992 · Oct 4, 2014

guy 123 :

How can he overclock if the motherboard is a H81? Please don't give template replies.

TheDualshock · Oct 4, 2014

Like others have suggested, you should think about a system upgrade since that setup is pretty outdated.

cst1992 · Oct 4, 2014

I'd recommend you to upgrade your system first and then buy a graphics card.
You could run a GTX650 with your build, but no point for the games you posted.
This system would be atleast 6 years old; GTAIV will run TERRIBLY on this system. Saying this from personal experience.
I'd also ask: what's the PSU? PSU matters.

guy 123 · Oct 4, 2014

cst1992 :

i think u are forgetting that many mobo manufacturers like msi asus have already released a bois update from which u can easily overclock a g3258 on a cheap h81 board

Little_Gamer · Oct 4, 2014

I can't update my system, since i am only a teenager. I will tell you later my PSU model, because i'm not at home. I saught on other forums that some guys can install an HD7750 or GT640 with 4 GB RAM DDR2 with a 500 WATT PSU on their MBs.
I guy that i know plays Assassin's Creed 3 on almost high settings in HD resolution with 4 GB RAM, an AMD Athlon X2 64 3.4 GHz and a GT640. I can spend up to 180 buck (150 - GPU and 30 - RAM). So no new motherboard, CPU etc. I don't need the highest settings. Low-medium with 1280x1024 resolution will fit my needs. That's R7 240 in my country (http://www.neuron.md/plac%C4%83-video-asus-r7240-2gd3-l-[136,72184].aspx) (1 $ = 14 lei). Or a GT740 (http://www.neuron.md/plac%C4%83-video-palit-gt740-[136,76299].aspx), R7 250 (http://www.neuron.md/plac%C4%83-video-gigabyte-gv-r725oc-2gi-[136,73864].aspx) If any of these cards will bottleneck my CPU, then i'll have to wait another 6 months. You can copy the links if they are not working.

guy 123 · Oct 4, 2014

Little_Gamer :

then get urself a 750ti (159.99 $and149.99 $ after rebate)
http://www.amazon.com/MSI-Computer-Corp-N750TI-2GD5/dp/B00I6DLIB8
and a 4gb ddr2 ram and make a 6gb setup and be sure to choose the best answer i helps alot

cst1992 · Oct 4, 2014

I doubt the motherboard supports more than 4GB of RAM.
A 750Ti will be bottlenecked by a Core 2 duo. I've used one, and even a GTX650 gets bottlenecked.

Little_Gamer · Oct 4, 2014

I arrived home, looked in my case and i found out my PSU model: ATX-450W. A GTX460 won't get bottlenecked? I'll try a 640. Isn't there any ATI card that can handle my CPU, my ATX-450W, the 4GB RAM i have (i bought today 2GB) and cost a litlle bit less than that GTX750TI? Thanks for advice.

Little_Gamer · Oct 4, 2014

Hm. It's hard to find a good replace for that crap (Intel GMA 3100) these days for Intel Core 2 Duo that can handle GTA 4 on low - medium with 1280x1024 resolution. here's a link for benchmarking for NFS: The Run: http://www.game-debate.com/gaming-pc/index.php?r_id=230232&cpu=Core%202%20Duo%20E7500%202.93GHz&gpu=GeForce%20GTX%20750%20Ti&ram=4GB#gamingPCReport

Little_Gamer · Oct 4, 2014

Another link with GTX750TI : http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/answers/id-2169613/gtx-750-core-duo-e8400.html. The last question: should i buy a GTX750 TI, a GTX460, a GT640, an ATI HD 7750, a SAPPHIRE R7 250?

cst1992 · Oct 4, 2014

Get the 640 or the R7 250.
Also, ATX-450 doesn't prove anything. Can you upload a screenshot of your PSU sticker here? Helps us guage whether that PSU will handle the cards.

Little_Gamer · Oct 4, 2014

PSU: LogicPower 8806 450W
http://apacelli.com/computer-cases-logicpower/logicpower-8806-450w-black-silver/

Thanks for your answers. I'll try both cards (GTX 750 TI and R7 250 ). Both have 2GB VRAM. Do you know how to overclock my CPU, what are the risks and what's the most stable versiom (3.3, 3.5 GHz)?

guy 123 · Oct 4, 2014

better to go with the gtx 750 ti way better than r7 250, r7 250 is worst than hd7750 while gtx 750ti is even better than r7 260x ,750 ti has better shader performance, it uses less electricity so no need to worry about psu , its true dat 750 ti will be
bottlenecked by ur core 2 duo but u can still play games at decent framerates at medium high settings at 720-1080p
the games u can play with gt 750 ti are:
BF3 :medium high settings (singleplayer)
Ac 1-3: high ultra settings
gta 4 : lag like shit
cod mw2-blackops2:high settings (dont know about ghosts but u might be able to run it at mediumhigh setings)
dont worry (MW3 will run at ultra 1080p )
Nfs the run (high settings )

So if u are not upgrading ur cpu /mb then i suggest to go with gtx750 ti
and upgarde ur cpu/mb in the future and if i were u i would not buy gpu like r7 240,250 ,gtx 460, gt 640 or hd7750

Little_Gamer · Oct 5, 2014

guy 123 :

Thanks. I'll keep that in mind. I'll try the gtx 750 ti. Also, about gta 4, i can speed it up using commandline and i'll install patch 1.04.0. But, aniway, all this GPUs are way-way-way better than my GMA 3100. Give me please a tutorial about how to overclock my CPU.

guy 123 · Oct 5, 2014

Little_Gamer :

guy 123 :

Thanks. I'll keep that in mind. I'll try the gtx 750 ti. Also, about gta 4, i can speed it up using commandline and i'll install patch 1.04.0. But, aniway, all this GPUs are way-way-way better than my GMA 3100. Give me please a tutorial about how to overclock my CPU.

need more information to gice u a tutorial to overclock
do u have stock cooler or aftermarket cooler
what are the current temperatures of cpu without overclocking (idle & full load)

Little_Gamer · Oct 5, 2014

guy 123 :

Little_Gamer :

need more information to gice u a tutorial to overclock
do u have stock cooler or aftermarket cooler
what are the current temperatures of cpu without overclocking (idle & full load)

I have a stock cooler, my current CPU temp with 30% usage is 42 degrees.

guy 123 · Oct 5, 2014

Little_Gamer :

guy 123 :

I have a stock cooler, my current CPU temp with 30% usage is 42 degrees.

u can probably overclock it to 3.4 - 3.6ghz with the stockcooler
overclock it bu increasing multiplier and cpu voltage in bois
slowly increase multiplier and cpu voltage to where it is the most stable
and be sure to check the temperature of cpu ,do some stability test with prime 95
play with the settings to to get the best performance
and if u buy a aftermarket cooler like cooler master hyper 212 evo u can overclock it to 4.0+ghz

Little_Gamer · Oct 5, 2014

guy 123 :

Little_Gamer :

u can probably overclock it to 3.4 - 3.6ghz with the stockcooler
overclock it bu increasing multiplier and cpu voltage in bois
slowly increase multiplier and cpu voltage to where it is the most stable
and be sure to check the temperature of cpu ,do some stability test with prime 95
play with the settings to to get the best performance
and if u buy a aftermarket cooler like cooler master hyper 212 evo u can overclock it to 4.0+ghz

i've got the last question(i don't know much about computers) are'nt there any dangers when overclocking cpu?

guy 123 · Oct 5, 2014

Little_Gamer :

guy 123 :

i've got the last question(i don't know much about computers) are'nt there any dangers when overclocking cpu?

yup there there is a danger of frying ur cpu or mb if u overclock the crap out of ur cpu with stock cooler but unless u dont overclock too much nothing will happen try overclocking the cpu only up to 3.2-3.3 ghz and do prime95/furmark stability test and also check temp & try to keep temp around 60-70degree underfull load
but i dont recommend u o overclock with stockcooler try gertting a hyper 212 evo for best performance

Little_Gamer · Oct 5, 2014

But a Hyper T4? I tried to overclock my CPU, increassing multiplayer to 300 from 266 ( 3.3 GHz) with 5+V. I restarted my pc, and the network wosn't working. i'll try 3.4 GHz and default/+5 V. Also, i have aa problem with the CMOS (every time i shut down the PC completely, the settings are reset(that's the batterie;s fault) so i must put the multiplier again and again at 300.

A Graphic Card for an Intel Core 2 Duo 2.93 GHz

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