Starving for a new video card now!!!!!

[maguszxz]

I have an HP Media Center PC for about 2 years now equipped with a Radeon X300 128mb card. I am in need for something 256 but my PSU is only about 300W. I can't upgrade the PSU right because I am still paying this one off and my new gamer rig would be possible for another year or so. My game choices are slim because of the card and PSU. Anybody suggest a card I can get until I can do better that would work with my PSU. Please I am in dire need. I can't stand looking at Age of Empires III this way.

 

[rodney_ws]

I don't think you'll be able to go crazy with the video cards (no 8800s for you!) but I'm pretty sure you'd be fine with something like a 1650 (if you're an ATI fan) or perhaps a 7600 GT (if you're an Nvidia fan)

Why not consult the power calculator? Here's one I found...

http://www.extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp

I believe there may be a better one out there, but hopefully this will get you going in the right direction.

*edit*

EITHER of those cards would be a dramatic improvement over your current card and neither would break the bank. I'm not sure if your particular model has a PCI-E slot so make sure you know what type you've got before you run out and buy a card.

 

[maguszxz]

Ok, I did the power calculator and I got 286W with the new 7600 GT. Which is pretty good right for my PSU right?

 

[fender22]

Ok, I did the power calculator and I got 286W with the new 7600 GT. Which is pretty good right for my PSU right?

You can probably handle a x1650 or a 7600GT, And that should give you a great boost in empires.. as long as the rest of your system isn't completely horrible. What are the rest of your system specs?

 

[rodney_ws]

Ok, I did the power calculator and I got 286W with the new 7600 GT. Which is pretty good right for my PSU right?

You SHOULD be ok. Don't plan on doing any crazy overclocking or adding a ton of drives. I'm surprised AOE3 even runs on that card you have now.

 

[mactronix]

Go for the 7600gt 100%. It is a better card than a 1650, the 1650xt is about equal to the 7600gt but uses more power.
Mactronix

 

[Onus]

The PCI-E version of the 7600GT does not require an auxilliary power connector (don't know about AGP). I think you'd like that one. I played a lot of Guild Wars and some UT2004 on mine.

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

This information should help;

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/display/radeon-x1650xt_16.html#sect1

Looking at the performance in this game the GF7600GT usually outperforms the X1650XT (although look at the rest of the review and you see there's a slight lead by the XT overall).

And then look at the power section and you see the power difference.

In your case, seems like the GF7600GT gives you the best of everything like Mactronix said.

Also just FYI the GF7600GT sips power, not as little as an X300, but close, it actually uses less than a GF6600GT.

 

[maguszxz]

These are my specs:

Pentium D 2.8 GHz
1GB of Ram (might be 2 sticks of 512Mb)
250 GB HDD Sata
TV Tuner
56k Modem card (really want to take out)
Two Opitical Drives (DVD burner and rom)

 

[uberman]

Yeah 7600gt all the way and by all means if you aren't using the modem it won't hurt to pull that puppy out.It might even help air circulation around the PCI slots