Upgrading older hardware

[xheer0]

Looking for some advice. I have limited funds, but am looking to upgrade a slightly older system.

Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.090206-1234)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Velocity Micro, Inc
System Model: DP965LT_
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU 6600 @ 2.40GHz (2 CPUs)
Memory: 2030MB RAM
Page File: 585MB used, 3320MB available

Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GT/GTO
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce 7900 GT/GTO
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Display Memory: 256.0 MB
Current Mode: 1680 x 1050 (32 bit) (60Hz)

I was looking to get a gtx260. I know that it will definitely provide a decent bump up in graphics ability of the machine, but not sure if it will be at its potential or even worth it over say.. a 4850. Im eventually going to go and upgrade piece by piece, but certainly am going to start with the card.

Any advice?

 

[Bluescreendeath]

1. Make sure your PSU can handle it
2. OC your CPU by just a lil (maybe .2 GHz)
3. GTX260 is about a 15%-20% improvement over the 9800GTX/GTX+/GTS250 or 4850

 

[AKM880]

+1. What is your PSU specifications?

 

[xheer0]

I... honestly do not know

Ill have to pop open my case and check it out, but what size PSU would be recommended for that configuration? Im currently assuming the one that came with the system is good enough, but could be wrong.

 

[ahslan]

I believe for the 4850, you are going to need at least a 450w psu...for the 260, I think you're going to need at least a 500w...

 

[4745454b]

And your probably going to need ~30A on the 12V rail in either case. (the 4850 might need a bit less.) The three things I see as "wrong" with your system is the old 965 chipset motherboard, the 2GBs of ram, and the 7900GT video card. Assuming you want more FPS, upgrade the video card.

 

[megamanx00]

Well, 450W is usually recommended for a single 4850, while 500W is recommended for the 260. Of course this is also assuming that there are enough amps on the 12v rail. I'd say at least 17A for dual rails or 24A for a single rail. That's just in general though as the amount of power your other components will use varies from system to system. A semi-decent no name PSU with at least those rails should be sufficient. If your PSU has too few AMPs on it's 12v rail(s) or you are considering a multi-GPU configuration latter then I would say you need a better PSU.

Anyway you may as well get the faster GTX260 if you can afford it. I would recommend overclocking your CPU a little though to get the most out of it.