New card?

Hello everyone, I was wondering if you would all be kinda enough to help with a video card upgrade? I am looking to buy a new video card for my birthday (coming in march but might buy it a little early). I am currently looking at the XFX 9800 gt xxx. This is basically the max I am really willing to pay (160). I am willing to go to and ATI, but I do not know how they stand to be honest (always bought xfx and always had great success with them). Also I am going to be playing a bunch of games on my computer (including games like Fallout 3) and I would like to run them at high or highest settings (atleast better then normal like ive been stuck with all my live...).

My current computer specs=

Motherboard- ASUS M3A78 PRO
CPU- AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+ 2.61GHz
RAM- 2 gigs
Video- ATI Radeon HD 3200 Graphics (Onboard)
OS- Vista Home Premium


Also I like to buy from both newegg and tigerdirect. Thanks for any help.

Edit - Btw My psu is 580 watt, but does not have any pci-e connectors, and only has 2 free hdd plugs (so the adapter will atleast work), but I could (if push comes to shove) I could get a new psu for 20 bucks.

Well I was looking at the 9800 gtx+, but then after reading the reviews i was kind of turned away....a bunch of ppl reported that the card crashes alot and that evga has poor support (Ive nvr owned one so I personally wouldnt knw). And thanks for your recommendations

Find a Cheap 1GB HD4870 and you'll be laughing! trust me!

well, can anyone with the 4850 tell me how well it runs some games (like fallout3, crysis warhead [2 newest games i have])

Also indicate which one it is (512 or 1 gb)

Thanks I rlly appreciate the help so far (im leaning towards the 4850 )

Being that you already have an 'amd' motherboard I would recommend an AMD videocard. Updating drivers or reinstalling windows is SOOO much easier with just one driver for everything.
Just browse around www.newegg.com for a good deal. Either company is good, just make sure you get the best 'bang for your buck' Newegg makes it easy to compare prices. i have a 5400x2 and 4850 and am very happy at 1440x900 resolution. Mine's an ASUS and the temps hardly ever go over 60. With a 4870 or similar Nvidia I think you would be VERY happy.. for maybe a year or so

well, my score was 14600 with a SINGLE GTX+SC from evga ... not bad ! (CPU oced to 3.6ghz)

well, go take a look at TOMS chart. your not looking at the new series so these CHART are ok for you. ( they arnt up to date for new cards )

SUM of in game FPS With AA @1650x1080
ATI Radeon HD 4870 512 MB 512.70
NVIDIA Geforce 9800 GTX+ 512 MB 512.10
ATI Radeon HD 4850 512 MB 441.70


SUM of in game FPS without AA @1650x1080
ATI Radeon HD 4870 512 MB 595.80
NVIDIA Geforce 9800 GTX+ 512 MB 570.40
ATI Radeon HD 4850 512 MB 536.50



Just look.

2 years !!!! youll need more then 160$

The 4850 will play Fallout Maxed but not with Full AA.
If you plan to keep it 2yrs, Go for the 4870 or GTX260

If you can put some extra cash, the new GTX285 is awesome. But now we speak about 300-400$

Thank you boulard and nitrogen

Ill just get the 4850 and upgrade a little sooner (ill have more money then anyways)....But thank you for all the help everyone [excited to go to ati....been wanting too actually lol]

well as for the vista i can get ultimate 64/32 (full install) for 15 bucks since I am a college student (school book store) so that isnt a problem, it is the ram....I can get 4 gigs for like 30 bucks AFTER rebates but its the fact that I have to pay like 80 first that kinda makes it hard to get WITH the card :-\ but ill see wat happens (finally got a job lest week)

any of the cards you are considering above will likely max out your games at 1440x900. If you plan to get a new monitor soon with higher res then the choice is a little tougher.

RIGHT, a good PSU is tha BASE of a system. don go for a 30-40$ psu....
Look for WATTS-AMPS@hightemp and Efficiency over 80-85%

sorry to say but there isnt much of a difference....The 20 dollar psu has 2 pci-e just so you knw.....but how psu's work there will not be a difference....It is all just electricty...The only way that the 80 or so psu's can be any better is if it has things like built in surg protectors....which almost all do for just safety reasons....

The proof is that I have always gotten cheaper psus and there has been LESS problems with them then my friends which go out and buy 100+ dollar psu's (ultra's corsairs etc)

your completely WRONG surfer ... some PSU deliver like 50-60% efficacity @ xx%load ...

In some reviews (REAL ONE), that REALLY test % efficacity, youll see that in some case the psu is some good at 30-80% load. but under 30% or Over 80-85% it drop, sometime a HUGE drop. lots of CHEAP psu are "good" only in a stated range.

I agree that a 20$ PSU can do it ..... but youll never see one in any of my build. i just buyed a computer for a friend, from scratch. and i took a 50$ PSU. it was for a 400$ TOTAL build ....

Cheap 950W
Exemple : Coolmax CUG-950B 950W From Jonnyguru

COOLMAX CUG-950B 950W 219$ on newegg

Just wanna show How a "cheap" psu can perform ...

and now a real cheap one, look at Ebay ... can be buyed for ... under 10$ !!!
Allied AL-D500EXP 500W (under 20$ PSU)


Now something GOOD, IN SALE right now
PC Power and Cooling Silencer 750W Crossfire Edition

Newegg PC Power & Cooling S75CF 750W 79$ after MIR !


I just ordered thsi 750 silencer .. ill leave a feedback soon