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Upgrade to new video graphic card

Forum Graphic & Displays : Nvidia - Upgrade to new video graphic card

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Pelhamcats   01-21-2006 at 01:58:56 AM

I have a:

8200 Dell Dimension
Nvidia Geforce4 TI 4600 video card
Windows XP Home Edition SP2
Flat Screen 2001 FP
THX Altec 5 Speaker & Subwoofer sound system
Turtle Santa Cruz Sound Board
Intel Pentium 4 CPU 2.53 GHz

I want to ugrade my video board, but the more I read, the more people tell me what to buy the more confused I get.

How do I know if I have a AGP and not a PCI slot?

The PCI-Express cards offer more of everything including HD-TV.

What is the difference between the AGP 6800GS and the PCI-Express 6800GS? Will I notice it?

If it must be an AGP card, then can someone please give me the exact model number and name of it.

So far I have be given 4 different names for the 6800GS and really have no idea which one to order. I do not want to order the wrong one and then find out it does not do any thing more that my present card.

I also do not want to order a card that will not work in my computer.

Can I get the XFX 6800GS or must I get the one that is not XFX?

Very very confused!!!!!

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the_guru   01-21-2006 at 03:06:11 AM
- 0 +

How do I know if I have a AGP and not a PCI slot?

The Geforce4 TI 4600 was only made for AGP. You have a too old computer to have PCI Express.


What is the difference between the AGP 6800GS and the PCI-Express 6800GS? Will I notice it?
The PCI Express version is slightly faster and a bit cheaper. You will probably not notice the difference except when running som kind of benchmark.


If it must be an AGP card, then can someone please give me the exact model number and name of it.
Any 6800GS AGP will work. PCI Express will NOT work.

All these will work:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814150127

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814130002

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814143045

Reply to the_guru
Pelhamcats   01-21-2006 at 02:47:17 PM
- 0 +

Okay
Thank you very much for sending me the website which includes the exact name of the card. You have helped me the best so far.

But here I go again, another question. I think we are getting closer to getting the right one.

I looked at the XFX by Nvidia and want to get that one, but I saw something that worried me.

Under System Requirements: It says; One available PCI Express compliant slot.

If it is an AGP slot card, why does it say I need a PCI slot which we all know by now, that I don't have.

Hopefully this will be it.

Reply to Pelhamcats
the_guru   01-21-2006 at 03:31:54 PM
- 0 +

Quote :


I looked at the XFX by Nvidia and want to get that one, but I saw something that worried me.

Under System Requirements: It says; One available PCI Express compliant slot.

If it is an AGP slot card, why does it say I need a PCI slot which we all know by now, that I don't have.


It's most likely a miss by XFX or by Newegg.com. The card is an AGP-card. But if you want to be completely sure you could contact newegg.

Reply to the_guru
Pelhamcats   01-24-2006 at 12:10:55 PM
- 0 +

Okay her we go.
I had a chat with Dell and they told me that my 8200 has only a 250w power.
They said that the card that I should get is the:

BFG GeForce FX 5500 256 MB AGP (3DFR55256)

If you look at the tech specs, you will see that it supports a 250w system.

I know this card is not the tops of the line, but I am hoping that it is better than what I have which is a Nvidia GeForce 4 TI 4600.

Is it better? Will I notice a difference when I play games?
I do have a good monitor (Dell Flat Screen 2001 FP).

Reply to Pelhamcats
the_guru   01-24-2006 at 12:32:52 PM
- 0 +

Quote :

Okay her we go.
I had a chat with Dell and they told me that my 8200 has only a 250w power.
They said that the card that I should get is the:

BFG GeForce FX 5500 256 MB AGP (3DFR55256)

If you look at the tech specs, you will see that it supports a 250w system.

I know this card is not the tops of the line, but I am hoping that it is better than what I have which is a Nvidia GeForce 4 TI 4600.

Is it better? Will I notice a difference when I play games?
I do have a good monitor (Dell Flat Screen 2001 FP).




The BFG GeForce FX 5500 256 MB AGP performs equally to your current card. So it's not worth the money.

You could buy a new better PSU for $30-40.

Reply to the_guru
Heyyou27   01-24-2006 at 12:34:23 PM
- 0 +

Once again Dell telling you to do the wrong thing. The Geforce FX5500 is one of the worst cards you could buy. Yes it requires less power, but the card is so weak it isn't worth upgrading in your case.
Instead buy a new powersupply and videocard and you'll be fine.

Reply to Heyyou27
Pelhamcats   01-24-2006 at 11:37:09 PM
- 0 +

What do you mean by "Buy another power supply? How do I do that and how do I add it to my computer. I have never done this.
Which one do I buy? Do I buy a 300w one and then what happens to my existing one.

I am sorry for all these questions, but this is one area I am not familiar with at all.

I can take computer boards out and replace them, replace a CD/DVD driver, but this new to me.

I would not know where to begin.

Reply to Pelhamcats
the_guru   01-25-2006 at 12:34:57 AM
- 0 +

Quote :

What do you mean by "Buy another power supply? How do I do that and how do I add it to my computer. I have never done this.
Which one do I buy? Do I buy a 300w one and then what happens to my existing one.

I am sorry for all these questions, but this is one area I am not familiar with at all.

I can take computer boards out and replace them, replace a CD/DVD driver, but this new to me.

I would not know where to begin.




Yes, you buy a new power supply and replace your old one. You can most likely replace every part in your computer.

Reply to the_guru
cisco   01-28-2006 at 07:21:27 PM
- 0 +

Take the old one out and put a new one in. Just make sure you remember where all the power connections go, its not very difficult. If you feel uncomfortable doing it, take it to a computer store and have them do it. Don't look at the wattage as much as look at the +12v line. Most cheap PSUs claim all kinds of wattage and have a very low amperage on the +12v line. Get something with at least a 18a +12v rail, the higher the better. I know this sounds confusing but its not they put all this information on the side of the box and when you look online they always show the side of the psu with the specs. Thermaltake makes some pretty solid power supply for an inexpensive price. Check places like newegg and zipzoomfly they carry a good variety at cheap prices. thermaltake 430w newegg has for 39.99 with 10.00 mir for 29.99.

Reply to cisco
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