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Best GPU for Pentium D 920

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touchdowntexas13   05-19-2009 at 02:13:15 AM

Hey guys. So my dad is trying to extend the life of my brother's computer instead of building a new one. The computer is an older Hp Pavillion m7360y.

The specs it came with were:
Pentium D 920 @ 2.8 GHz
ATI x1600 w/ 256 mb of VRAM
2 gb of ddr2 RAM
250 gb 7200 rpm HDD
Windows XP Media Center Edition
350 Watt PSU? I'm not exactly sure
Asus Emery (i think it's an OEM version) only one PCIE x16 slot, so no SLI or Crossfire

We have already ordered 4 gb of RAM to completely replace what was already in the computer. We are also going to install another internal HDD as long as there is a place for it.

My question is:

What is the best GPU we can put into this machine without the CPU bottlenecking? I realize that an awesome card wouldn't be worth it just because the processor is kind of old. I like Nvidia, but I really could care less who the maker is in this situation. I would like to keep the price below $100 (with MIR or whatever deals there might be.) I like buying from Newegg, but if there is a good deal at Fry's then that is also a possibility.

Another question:

I would like to try and overclock the processor, but since it's from Hp there isn't an option in the BIOS. Is there a workaround for this? This would allow me to maybe up the GPU power as well.

Thanks guys.

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touchdowntexas13   05-19-2009 at 02:28:04 AM
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http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814150340

That comes with both COD4 and COD WAW with a mail in rebate for a final price of $75. It's a 9600 GSO with 1 gb of memory.

Another one for right at $100 is the new HD4770 which i have heard is pretty darn good. But I need to know if these cards are too powerful for the pentium d 920.

Thanks.

Reply to touchdowntexas13
touchdowntexas13   05-19-2009 at 02:46:32 AM
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So i have a new concern now. A lot of the cards I have looked at (even the hd4670) require a psu with a minimum of 400 watts. However i am pretty sure my brother's computer only has a PSU rated at 350 watts...

What do y'all think?

Reply to touchdowntexas13
edeawillrule   05-19-2009 at 02:46:37 AM
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A graphics card that would be a major upgrade from the X1600 currently installed is the Radeon HD 4670. Anything stronger would be bottlenecked by the cpu.

 

512mb HIS IceQ Radeon HD 4670 Turbo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814161252


Message edited by edeawillrule on 05-19-2009 at 02:47:04 AM
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edeawillrule   05-19-2009 at 02:48:09 AM
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The 4670 can run on a 350 watt psu no problem.

Reply to edeawillrule
touchdowntexas13   05-19-2009 at 02:52:55 AM
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ok because newegg showed the hd470 needing a min. of 400 watts. Is this card better than the 9600 gso? i only ask because the 9600 gso comes with two free games.

One thing that i like about the hd4670 is that it doesn't require a 6-pin connector. i haven't checked to see if the power supply in the pavillion even has a 6-pin connector yet.

Reply to touchdowntexas13
edeawillrule   05-19-2009 at 02:54:45 AM
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Here's a chart comparing fps of the x1600 Pro & XT and the HD 4670: [url]http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/gaming-graphics-charts-q3-2008/compare,738.html?prod[2254]=on&prod[2153]=on&prod[2155]=on[/url]


Message edited by edeawillrule on 05-19-2009 at 02:59:57 AM
Reply to edeawillrule
touchdowntexas13   05-19-2009 at 03:00:43 AM
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Thanks for that. If i do get the hd4670, should i get a 512 mb version or 1 gb version of the hd4670?

Reply to touchdowntexas13
mcnuggetofdeath   05-19-2009 at 03:02:33 AM
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that would depend on the resolution of your monitor. above 1680x1050 id recommend the 1Gb version.

------------------------------ http://valid.canardpc.com/cache/banner/480253.png
 Reply to mcnuggetofdeath
touchdowntexas13   05-19-2009 at 03:18:13 AM
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Well right now the monitor is only 1280x1024, but i might be able to try and get my dad to upgrade that to a 1680x1050.

So i would plan on getting whatever would be best for 1680x1050. There isn't that much price difference between the 1 gb and 512 mb, though so what do you guys think?

Reply to touchdowntexas13
edeawillrule   05-19-2009 at 03:27:38 AM
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If you're going to be gaming at 1680x1050 or higher then you would need a new cpu also and then you might as well get a new pc.

And more than 512mb of memory on a graphics card is useless unless you're using a very high end card such as a 4870 at resolutions such as 1920x1080 not 1680x1050.

Reply to edeawillrule
touchdowntexas13   05-19-2009 at 03:51:31 AM
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well a new pc is out of the picture (or so i have been told). In that case i will stick with the 512 mb version.

i just opened up the case and i couldn't find a 6-pin connector. I haven't really had a good look though. If there isn't one, then the 4670 really is my only option.

So which 512 mb version should i get?

Reply to touchdowntexas13
touchdowntexas13   05-19-2009 at 04:33:24 AM
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alright i am looking at both of those. after taking a peek inside the machine, i believe that there are a few cards installed that i could get rid of in order to make room for the dual slot card.

I would like to keep the sound card, so that it takes some load off of the cpu. but i think there is a tv tuner card and a fm radio receiver card that i could get rid of(i'm not exactly sure what it is because it looks like it has some audio/video inputs)

Reply to touchdowntexas13
touchdowntexas13   05-19-2009 at 04:36:16 AM
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ct1615 wrote :

get one of these adapters and you can step up to a 4770

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6812201004



At this point i think the 4770 would be a little overkill for the cpu. I also don't know about the psu handling that card. i think newegg shows it needs a minimum of 450 watts.

The hd4770 would have been the card i would have picked had my dad decided to build a new pc for my brother.

Thanks for all of the help guys! any other tips/hints would be appreciated.

Reply to touchdowntexas13
AKM880   05-19-2009 at 04:51:06 AM
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That 4670 is a good idea for your PD 920.

Reply to AKM880
cal8949   05-19-2009 at 05:16:33 AM
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lol i have my system running right now with a pd 940 and a 4890 no joke. i got the card early because my mvidia 7600 died and and im planning to build a i7 system in 2 weeks.

talk about bottleneck right now i can prolly under clock way down way with out seeing a performance decrease. 2 more paychecks till i7 baby!


running a pd 940 at 4.2ghz right now so a little more performance over a stock 920. but a huge change in gaming performance for over the 7600 even tho its bottle necked. all games are playable at high setting on a 1920 res.

but get a 4670 or a 4770 witch should work good for all games

Reply to cal8949
touchdowntexas13   05-19-2009 at 05:23:04 AM
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Yeah i hope to build my own i7 this summer. I am right now planning on getting a gtx 285(i'm hoping for another price drop), but i am really surprised at the performance you can get with a $65 card!

Reply to touchdowntexas13
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