A noob's graphics upgrade question

[parkej2]

Hey guys, I'm currently running this set up: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883229090 It has a 9500gt card, and I'm unsure what I can and can't add in terms of a better video card. The goal is to at least make crysis playable on decent settings. My comp has a 450W power supply, and I was looking for some advice as to what cards would work with it. I've looked at both the 9600 and the 9800, and just don't know what I need. Any feedback would be appreciated!

 

[ehanger]

Depends on the brand of the PSU. If its a cheap no name brand (which it most likely is judging on what I've heard about cyberpower) then you will want to upgrade it to a good 500-600w PSU from a reliable company like PC power & cooling, antec, corsair, etc. I don't recommend getting the 9600gt if you already have a 9500 because it will only give you a marginal increase in performance. At a minimum, I would upgrade to the radeon 4850/GTS 250 cards and an Antec 500w psu. You will also want to overclock that CPU because at 2.33GHz it will hold back the potential of a higher end graphics card (unfortunately the Q8200 is not a very good overclocker due to its low multiplier so you will probably have a hard time getting past 2.7-3GHz on stock voltages).

 

[blackhawk1928]

8800GTS 512MB, Handles crysis on all highs on 1680x1050 (IF NOT BOTTLENECKED).
-this card will run on your PSU
-However your processor might be bottlenecking
-I dont think you PSU is repitable
-the card 110 dollars.

 

[parkej2]

Really wish I knew what all that actually means... haha so I take it I can't just pop in a new card for a decent improvement in gaming? too bad...

 

[blackhawk1928]

ofcourse you cant, there are so many different variables in a computer that affect gaming, the GPU is just a part of what it takes to play a game.

 

[The_Blood_Raven]

I looked closely at the Power supply and this is the one that is in it:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817148033

Crap, upgrade it before you upgrade anything else. As a matter of fact, you need to upgrade it even if you don't upgrade anything else because this thing is total crap and might die and take everything with it.

Edit: this PSU by a decent brand gives more amps and therefor more actual watts than yours:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151055