Best Video Card for My System?

[bsecksmonster]

Computer Specs

CPU: AMD Athlon x64 x2 Dual-Core 4100+
MoBo: ASUS A8M2N-LA (NodusM3)
RAM: 1024 MB DDR2 533 Dual-Channel (512x2)
Video: Integrated Nvidia GeForce 6150 LE (128mb shared)
PSU: 300W Hipro HP-D3057F3R Standard ATX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817174026
Hard Drive: Seagate 320GB SATA
OS: Windows Vista Premium 32-bit
3 PCI Slots (2 open)
1 PCI-Express x16 (open)

What is the best video card I can run in my system, as is.

 

[raven_87]

nothing great until you get a new/better PSU. Maybe a 76xxx or 86xx if your lucky.

 

[cleeve]

Yep, that's a terrible PSU. Wouldn't put more than an 2400 XT or 8500 GT on that, and it still might crap out.

Get a nice quality PSU though, and the sky's the limit. Geforce 8800's or radeon 38870's will even play nice on that CPU, at high resolutions.

Assuming you want to play games, that is...if you don't want to game, the 2400 or 8500 will be fine.

 

[Dahak]

Raven is correct.Purchase a new power supply as well as a video card.The best way to determine what power supply to buy is to look up the PSU requirments for your new video card.As for a video card,well being that you have a PCI-E X16 slot,I would say pretty much any video card up to an 8600GTS,or 2600XT.I don't recommend anything faster simply because your CPU will become a bottleneck,and hamper the performance of anything faster.For some reason,you have a mobile turion chip in a desktop PC.You should be able to oc the cpu a fair bit.But I still wouldn't get anything extreme until you can upgrade your cpu.Was your system bought as a whole,or did you build it yourself???Let me know.Goodluck.

Dahak

M2N32-SLI DELUXE WE
X2 5600+ STOCK (2.8GHZ)
2X1GIG DDR2 800 IN DC MODE
TOUGHPOWER 850WATT PSU
EVGA 7950 GX2 550/1350
SMILIDON RAIDMAX GAMING CASE
ACER 22IN WS LCD 1680X1050
250GIG HD/320GIG HD
G5 GAMING MOUSE
LOGITECH Z-5500 5.1 SURROUND SYSTEM
500WATS CONTINUOUS,1000 PEAK
WIN XP MCE SP2
3DMARK 05 13,685

 

[lunyone]

Computer Specs

CPU: AMD Athlon x64 x2 Dual-Core 4100+
MoBo: ASUS A8M2N-LA (NodusM3)
RAM: 1024 MB DDR2 533 Dual-Channel (512x2)
Video: Integrated Nvidia GeForce 6150 LE (128mb shared)
PSU: 300W Hipro HP-D3057F3R Standard ATX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817174026
Hard Drive: Seagate 320GB SATA
OS: Windows Vista Premium 32-bit
3 PCI Slots (2 open)
1 PCI-Express x16 (open)

What is the best video card I can run in my system, as is.

How much do you have to spend? You'll need to upgrade your PSU if your going to get a better GPU solution.

 

[bsecksmonster]

I'm looking to spend between $100-$150.
I am not going to install a new PSU though, due to my Dad said I can't... He bought the computer for me and is even hesitant about letting me buy a video card.
Reason why is because my last computer crapped out on me, well actually the RAM fried in the slot and may have fried the slot too, several days after I had put new Ethernet modem in and assumed it was all my fault.

 

[Flex_Relax]

Man the PSU is not very expensive, you should try and talk to your father.

 

[bsecksmonster]

I have found several NVidia 8600GT that only require a minimum of a 300W PSU.

XFX PVT84JUDF3 GeForce 8600GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150230

XFX PVT84JUDD3 GeForce 8600GT XXX 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150229

eVGA GeForce 8600 GT Video Card
(256MB, PCI Express x16, Dual DVI - MPN: 256P2N751TR)
http://computers.pricegrabber.com/video-cards/m/35945306/details/

PNY GeForce 8600 GT Video Card
(256MB, PCI Express x16, Dual DVI - MPN: VCG8600GXPB)
http://computers.pricegrabber.com/video-cards/m/36310583/details/

PNY VCG86512GXPB-OC GeForce 8600GT 512MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133204

Leadtek PX8600GT 256MB Standard GeForce 8600GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814122024

 

[lunyone]

okay first, tell you dad that you weren't the problem for the memory frying. Second I'd put in a 2600xt or 8600gt. You can get this for $120 shipped and has 512mb of DDR3!
SAPPHIRE 100218L Radeon HD 2600XT 512MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102703

That should be more than enough for your $.

 

[bsecksmonster]

I've heard a lot better things about the Nvidia's GeForce 8600GT than the ATi Radeon's Directx10 2400's & 2600's

Also...
I've already told him that. There is no budging him on the matter, trying to do so more will only result in him absolutely denying me to put anything into it.

 

[bsecksmonster]

So, which of those 8600GT's is the best for my computer?

 

[cleeve]

I've heard a lot better things about the Nvidia's GeForce 8600GT than the ATi Radeon's Directx10 2400's & 2600's

I disagree. I reviewed them both and from firsthand experience with both I can say the 2600 XT did notably better with AA off, and with AA on neither card really offered playable performance:

http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/09/13/the_radeon_2600xt_remixed/

 

[aznstriker92]

Yes get the 2600XT 512mb.
I understand your situation with your father. I had many similiar things happen to me too.

 

[FSXFan]

Just look for one with DDR3. Some of them are sold with DDR2 mem and are generally just as expensive as the DDR3 versions but run much slower. Otherwise, more memory is better but not as important as the memory speed. The brand you choose will have more influence on the warranty and support for the card than performance. I personally like EVGA, though I have used a few MSI cards in budget rigs with good results.

I know what it's like to have a Dad like that. Mine always acted like he had a giant stick up his a$$ whenever I wanted to take a screwdriver to anything. Well, actually the stick was always there, and still is. I wish I had some advice for that issue, but I feel your pain.

 

[the yeti]

I can tell you bought an HP =] tell me if im wrong?

I did the same three years ago, now i build it myself, much better/cheaper =]

 

[bsecksmonster]

Doesn't the 2600 require a 400W PSU?

 

[bsecksmonster]

Visiontek Radeon HD 2600 Pro 512MB PCI-Express
http://shop3.outpost.com/product/5355148?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

ATI Radeon (TM) HD 2600PRO PCIE 256MB GDDR2
http://shop3.outpost.com/product/5352008?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

Diamond Viper ATI Radeon HD 2600PRO PCIE 512MB GDDR2 Video Card
http://shop3.outpost.com/product/5340828?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

(My #1 choice)
Visiontek Radeon HD 2600 Pro 512MB PCI-Express
http://shop3.outpost.com/product/5355148?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

My Dad will probably make me buy it at Fry's or something in case something goes wrong.

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

No, the HD2600 is as power mizerly as the GF8600 series.

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

Those options are all the same features wise (same core/memory speeds and all DDRII), so the Diamond viper would be best since it's cheaper.

As mentioned though, finding a GDDR3 or XT option would be best though, like this;

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161179

or better yet a GDDR4 Xt like this;
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127305

Both of which are cheaper than those FRY's options.

 

[bsecksmonster]

My Dad will most likely make me buy from Fry's because he'll have to use his Credit Card if I buy online + returns are easier.

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

The only problem with FRY's is their terrible selection.

The main thing you need to decie is whether the performance is worth another couple of bucks after rebate;

HD2600 Pro vs 2600XT (note I picked the DX10 game page due to your statements above);
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/display/powercolor-hd2600pro_7.html

So if you look through that review it should give you and idea of the difference between the two.

And GDDR3 vs GDDR4;
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/display/gv-rx26t256h_3.html

 

[bsecksmonster]

Those require at least 350W or 400W...

 

[lunyone]

Like I said before, go with the 2600xt models. The DDR4 model TGGA linked looks good, especially with the $30 MIR, which you Dad might like! I know that when I'm shopping for my son's computer parts (or mine) I have to look at all possiblilities available. I look for the best GPU that I can afford and then shop at several different places. Newegg has some of the best customer service around on the web for computer parts. If you inform and educate your Dad on this, you might be able to buy from them. This would be the cheapest way to get a quality and better video card than if you went to Fry's, BTW. Sometimes it takes perserverance to get what you want. If you Dad doesn't believe you, than send him this way. Many, many, many people here on this site will back me up on the good customer service that Newegg offers. Yeah your going to have a few, but that is always the case with any establishment.

 

[lunyone]

Those require at least 350W or 400W...

Not quite sure about that. I have a 420w Aspire (20A on the 12v rail, which Aspire isn't the best) running a x1800xt 256mb video card on it for the last 2 years, so his 2600 xt shouldn't have any problems with a 19a on the 12v rail PSU. The x1800xt by itself consummed about 103 watts at full load, conversely the 2600xt consummed 49w under full load. So that 300w PSU shouldn't have ANY issues running the 2600xt, IMHO!
Here's the link for the power consumptions:
http://www.atomicmpc.com.au/forums.asp?s=2&c=7&t=9354

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

Those require at least 350W or 400W...

As was mentioned, those figures are over-inflated.

The HD2600Pro DDRII sips 30W under load, the HD2600XT and GF8600GTS both consume 48W under load, so the difference is about the same as 2 Harddrives or a few case fans. And whatever you're going to save on a GF8600GT (which consumes closer to the GTS/XT) isn't going to be much.

So along with price you can consider that.

And to back upt Lunyone, yeah NewEgg's got a good rep, and everyone I know who uses them returns, I just wish I could buy from them more often (as they don't ship to Canada I restrict my buying to when I'm going to the states or when friends are coming up here).

I think you've got most of the info you need to have a discussion with your dad, from here on out it's going to be up to you to weigh your options.

And I'd say regardless of which brand or model you buy, saving $50+ at NewEgg is worth it (essentially a free game, memory or harddrive, or simply more beer for dad ).