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please recommend a video card for my upgrade

Forum Graphic & Displays : Graphics Cards - please recommend a video card for my upgrade

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gta_bmx   08-29-2008 at 03:38:27 AM

I have an Asus M2N-MX Se Plus mobo, Asus 7300GT 128 bit pci-e 256mb card, 2 gigs of RAM, with stock 350w PS and using Vista 32 bit. I am also going to upgrade to 4 gigs of RAM. Should I upgrade the PS?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814261022

Here's an 8600GTS for $41. There's also an Asus 8600GTS for $49 after rebate.

Or is there another even better card for the money with even more bang for the buck? I am a moderate gamer -- HL2, Peggle, Nintendo Emulation, etc., but would like to maybe get play some of the newer games at a decent frame rate.

Thanks.

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dagger   08-29-2008 at 03:44:17 AM
- 0 +

gta_bmx wrote :

I have an Asus M2N-MX Se Plus mobo, Asus 7300GT 128 bit pci-e 256mb card, 2 gigs of RAM, with stock 350w PS and using Vista 32 bit. I am also going to upgrade to 4 gigs of RAM. Should I upgrade the PS?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814261022

Here's an 8600GTS for $41. There's also an Asus 8600GTS for $49 after rebate.

Or is there another even better card for the money with even more bang for the buck? I am a moderate gamer -- HL2, Peggle, Nintendo Emulation, etc., but would like to maybe get play some of the newer games at a decent frame rate.

Thanks.



8600gts is certainly much faster than 7300, although still bad by today's standards. It's definately fine for nintendo emulation, but might struggle with hl2, and not nearly enough for more modern games (basically anything from the last 2 years). See frame rate charts for an idea on performance:
http://www.guru3d.com/category/vga_2/

------------------------------ Q6600@3.6ghz, GA-EX38-DS4 motherboard, 8gb 800mhz ddr2 4-3-3-12, 8800GTS(g92)@780mhz, 1TB + 1.5TB hdds, 850watt psu
 Reply to dagger
tim_tank   08-29-2008 at 04:27:51 AM
- 0 +

I'd go with atleast 8800 or higher for a vid card, and with that card or most higher end cards you'll need a better PS obviously.

Reply to tim_tank
jt350z   08-29-2008 at 04:51:01 AM
- 0 +

go for ATI 4850 or wait for ATI 4650 and 4670

Reply to jt350z
dirtmountain   08-29-2008 at 04:53:52 AM
- 0 +

A decent PSU for a good price right now on newegg is this 500w SteathStream at $30 after rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817341012
Decent graphic cards that will get you playability even with modern games
this 9600GSO (8800GS) at $75 after rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814121251
this 9600GT at $90 after rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814143134
this 8800GT at $100 after rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814121263
or this 3870 at $100 after rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814131095


Message edited by dirtmountain on 08-29-2008 at 04:56:42 AM
Reply to dirtmountain
unatommer   08-29-2008 at 04:55:27 AM
- 0 +

If you can swing it, another $25 will go a long way...in fact I would say skip the extra two gigs of ram if you can't afford to spend more than $50 on a video card with the ram purchase.

As a starting point look for an Nvidia 8800gs/9600gso (they are the same card more or less) this is a MUCH stronger card than the 8600 - you should be able to find one for atleast $75 after rebate on newegg - keep your eye open sometimes they have deals on those cards for less than that with free shipping. You may be able to find a good deal on one of these on ebay as well.

If you can jump up even higher go for a good deal on an HD3870
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814131095
or
an 8800gt/9800gt
Here's one with COD4 included... use coupon code VGA82520 to drop it down to $109 after rebate:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814150316


Message edited by unatommer on 08-29-2008 at 05:08:00 AM
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