Need help picking new graphix card

[Byran14]

Hi! First Post!

Ok, I would like to get a new graphics card so I can play Battlefield 2. I am tight on cash so nothin over 250$ please. That will probably have to be less considering Ill most likely have to buy a new Power Supply cause I have a Dell Dimension 4500 with a 250 watt psu

My Specs:
P4 2.8ghz processor
768 mb of RAM(i know i probably need more, but i dont got cash)
I got plenty of HDD space

THe reason I need a new graphics card is because I have a ATI Rage 128 Pro right now :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: lol

Thanks for your help!

edit: oh and Id like to run it on Medium, maybe medium-low

 

[Byran14]

I forgot to mention this is AGP, sorry about that

 

[TSIllusion]

250$...

im prettys sure you can get a 7800gs or sumthing close from newegg.com. if not, theres always the 7600 or x850

 

[Byran14]

would I have to buy a new power supply?

 

[angry_ducky]

would I have to buy a new power supply?

Yes; 250 watts isn't good enough for a 7800GS. But you'll then run into compatibility issues because Dell has a proprietary case design in which a standard ATX PSU won't fit.

A 9600Pro would probably run on a 250W PSU. It's not exactly cutting edge, but it will be light years ahead of your Rage 128 Pro. It should run BF2 at 1024x768, medium detail. Plus, they're cheap, so you can save your money for a new computer. CLICK HERE! 9600Pro for $33 from newegg!

 

[Byran14]

even with only 768 mb of ram? that would be great!! Oh, and Dell upgrade PSUs run about $119 for 410 watts.

 

[angry_ducky]

even with only 768 mb of ram? that would be great!! Oh, and Dell upgrade PSUs run about $119 for 410 watts.

My guess is that it should run it pretty well, as long as you don't turn up the textures too high. I'm just guessing; I have no first-hand experience with that hardware and that game. Just buy the card, and tell us how it goes. If BF2 doesn't run so good, pull out the 256 stick of RAM, and put in another 512 for a total of 1GB (I'm assuming that you get 768 with one stick of 256 and one 512).

 

[Primitivus]

I wouldn't invest in any more Dell components. Sooner than later you'll need a completely new rig and if you ask around in this forum (or almost anywhere else, for that matter) no one will recommend a Dell. One of the reasons being their stupid proprietary designs that limit your upgrade options

 

[Byran14]

alright, im goin to get it today or tommorow, thanks for your help

 

[Oracle]

For about that much money, you can get a 6600GT, a new decent PSU and a memory upgrade to 1Gb. That will do you good in Battlefield 2.

 

[Anoobis]

It's probably too late, but I think you would've been fine with this card and your stock PSU.

 

[Byran14]

luckily i havent ordered yet, so the x800GTO will run on my power supply? I was looking at that card but I wasn't sure it would run on my PSU. THaNKS for all your comments guys!

EDIT:Oh, and is the memory clock suppose to be that low campared to the OEM version?

Retail=490Mhz
OEM=980Mhz

 

[Anoobis]

Oh but they are the same. 490x2 = 980

If you want further confirmation on whether or not your PSU can handle, check out this handy PSU Calculator.

IIRC, Dell lists their PSU's ACTUAL power output, not the MAX like most other PSU manufacturers. Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[cleeve]

Yes, most manufacturers like Dell, Acer, gateway, etc. will list their PSU's SUSTAINED output, while pretty much all aftermarket PSUs are listed at their PEAK output.

 

[Byran14]

Alright, thanks Anoobis, using the PSU Calculater it said my recommended PSU Wattage is 253 watts, so I plan on getting the x800GTO considering it is more powerful than the 9600Pro.

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

For about that much money, you can get a 6600GT,

Post a link. We've already looked into this in another thread and you're not about to get a GT for anywhere near that money of the other card for performance values, for price you;'re into the territory of better cards.

And for under $250 the GT is far from a best choice of such a high amoutn of coin. There is not point at which the GT makes sense anymore.

Either go cheap with the R9600P, or get something solid like the X800GTO, GF6800GS or the X1600Pro. The GT just can't compare onprice/performance.

 

[cleeve]

Zing! Just found this on newegg:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814125135

Brand new X800 PRO AGP for $139...

That's a great deal. Better than the 6800 GS AGP, X800 GTO, X1600's, and 6600 GT.

Get them while they're cheap!

 

[angry_ducky]

Alright, thanks Anoobis, using the PSU Calculater it said my recommended PSU Wattage is 253 watts, so I plan on getting the x800GTO considering it is more powerful than the 9600Pro.

I think you should get the 9600Pro and save your money for a new rig. It's not worth spending any more than $50 on your PC. Sure, the X800GTO is a better card, but it will be bottlenecked by the rest of your system. Just save your money for a new rig, preferably one that you build yourself.

 

[cleeve]

I don't think a p4 2.8 is going to be a noticable bottleneck for any of the cards we've mentioned in this class...

 

[Anoobis]

Alright, thanks Anoobis, using the PSU Calculater it said my recommended PSU Wattage is 253 watts, so I plan on getting the x800GTO considering it is more powerful than the 9600Pro.

I think you should get the 9600Pro and save your money for a new rig. It's not worth spending any more than $50 on your PC. Sure, the X800GTO is a better card, but it will be bottlenecked by the rest of your system. Just save your money for a new rig, preferably one that you build yourself.
Perhaps, but if all the OP does is play BF2 then they will not need to build a new system if it works just fine now. With a more powerful card the OP will be pleasantly surprised how BF2 looks and may not wish to upgrade any further for quite some time.

That X800PRO Cleeve found is a nice find over the X800GTO.

 

[Byran14]

I will be getting the x800PRO as soon as i talk to my cousin, which will most likely be Monday(hope they arent sold out by then). THis graphics card also worked in that PSU calculater. Will keep you posted on how well it runs.

EDIT:Oh my gosh! I need better glasses, apparently I have only a meager 1.8 Ghz processer, this will most likely bottle neck a x800Pro dont you think? I also heard that the processer doesnt really matter that much in online games, is this true? If so you think Ill still be able to run at medium, medium-low settings? Thanks for your help on this.