HELP! With graphics card..please

[sam_son83]

Hi Everyone.

Ive been getting a little bit stressed out with getting a new graphics card. I only have a Dell Dimension E520 with a spec of:
-Intel Core 2 CPU 6300 @ 1.86
-2046MB Ram

I am running windows Vista and only have one PCI graphics slot free. Im not sure about hardware for computers but i want a budget card for £100 less...i was going to spend more but my friends have said there is no point unless i have a decent processor (quad core) is this true?

I dont know how much power the computer has for the graphics card but any advice on this would be a great help as im a little blind in the dark at the moment.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Many thanks

Sam

 

[sam_son83]

p.s my current card is a NVidia Geforece 7300 LE and it lags on games like Command and C and STALKER. I would love some smooth game play

Thanks again

 

[basketcase]

I am not sure where the best stuff in Europe is, but if you can find a 8800GS or a 9600GT you would be rocking it. Just verify that your PSU can handle the power requirements of either of these cards. Both should be around your budget.

 

[lameness]

Your cpu is a little slow, but not too bad..obviously you could always try to OC it.

As for your graphics card, the 9600gt seems like it would be perfect for you.

 

[SEALBoy]

You need to make sure that your free slot is PCI-E and not plain PCI. It's a Dell, so I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't have a PCI-E slot.

 

[rodney_ws]

Your cpu is a little slow, but not too bad..obviously you could always try to OC it.

I'm pretty sure Dell disables those options in their non-XPS systems.

 

[boonality]

Yup, first make sure that you have a PCI Express slot, then start shopping for either a 9600GT or an 8800GS, both are great for the budget minded, they both have excellent performance/price ratio

 

[Mousemonkey]

my friends have said there is no point unless i have a decent processor (quad core) is this true?

No, they know nothing.

 

[sam_son83]

Thanks for the quick replies. Have been a big help. I will check if i have a PCI Express slot but im 99% sure i have. I web site of choice for me is scan...they have about 15 different 9600GT cards. Could anyone point one out that looks good please. The link is here
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Products.ASP?CatID=15&Category=Graphics+Cards&Thumbnails=yes

 

[boonality]

LOL, your right mousemonkey as far as his processor goes...it's a little slower but not that bad. But they would have a point if he were on a P4 1.8GHz

 

[aevm]

Thanks for the quick replies. Have been a big help. I will check if i have a PCI Express slot but im 99% sure i have. I web site of choice for me is scan...they have about 15 different 9600GT cards. Could anyone point one out that looks good please. The link is here
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Products.ASP?CatID=15&Category=Graphics+Cards&Thumbnails=yes

The cheapest 9600GT there is a BFG. You can trust them, it's one of the best brands.
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=771459


Before you buy, check that you have a PCI-E x16 slot. I have this feeling that you don't. I'll try to find out.

Edit: I checked. You do have a PCI-E x16 slot. Unfortunately, it looks like the case is too small for more recent cards such as the 8800 series (does anyone know if the 9600GT would fit ?) and the PSU is only 305W.

http://forums.techguy.org/reviews/538282-dell-warning-home-gaming.html

 

[sam_son83]

Thanks....the graphics card i have in the case at the moment still has a fair way back it can go. Although i do not know the exact meas of the cards. What would you recc with the 305w power supply ?

 

[aevm]

That's a bit tough. Cards that can play recent games well tend to consume a lot. I'd try the 9600GT or even an 8800GT, if they fit in the case, plus a new PSU. I managed to fit an OCZ StealthXStream 600W once in an HP. Measure your PSU and then we'll see what else can fit in there.

Maybe somebody who knows Dells better can tell us, does Dell still use proprietary PSUs in the E520? If it does you've got another problem. These boxes are a big pain to upgrade

For example, the 9600GT should have at least a 400W PSU, according to this:
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/PID-MX20073(ME).aspx

 

[4745454b]

No, dell doesn't use special PSUs anymore. The 305 is pretty good to, has 22A on the 12V rail. Should be enough to run a 9600GT, maybe even an 8800GT. (I think that card calls for 26A however.)

 

[invisik]

ur cpu is fine can handle any graphic card.
i have an amd x2 5200 o/c @ 3.0ghz with an 9800gtx. lol

 

[aevm]

Right, the card needs 26A, and if you only have 22A it will cause trouble

Here's a possible solution, especially if you need a bigger case too:

Antec Sonata Plus 550 Quiet Midi-Tower Case - NeoPower 550W Modular PSU
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-097-AN