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I need advice on a video card for my computer

Last response: in Components
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Hi,
I have an HP a6700y computer which has integrated graphics. I want to upgrade it with a new video card. I know that I will have to also upgrade the PSU. I was thinking about getting an Nvidia 9800GTX+, but I keep reading reviews about how hot this card runs.
I was wondering if anybody has any sugestions on a good video card for me to purchase, ( I want to stick with Nvidia).
Also, I know that I will need to upgrade my PSU. I figure I will probably get 500w, but I’m not sure what else I should look for in a PSU as far as specs. Any suggestions will greatly be appreciated.
Thanks.

My PC Specs: HP a6700y

ProcessorAMD Phenom™ X4
Processor Speed 1.8GHz
Cache Memory2MB L2 + 2MB shared L3
System Memory (RAM) 4GB
System Memory (RAM) Expandable To 8GB

GraphicsNVIDIA GeForce 6150 SE
Video Memory128MB (dedicated); up to 1343MB (allocated by Windows Vista)

Total Expansion Slots1 PCI, 2 PCI-E x1, 1 PCI-E x16
Available Expansion Slots1 PCI, 1 PCI-E x1, 1 PCI-E x16

300 Watt Power Supply
One 24-pin ATX power connector
One 4-pin ATX power connector
One PATA connector
Four SATA connectors
One floppy drive connector
Two 12v fan connectors for CPU fan and PC fan
One 9-pin header for power button, reset button, power LED, and HDD LED
One SPDIF digital audio output header
One front line input connector (interrupts line input on back panel, Vista capable, requires matching front audio jack module)
One 9-pin audio header for headphone-out and microphone-in (yellow, Vista capable, requires matching front audio jack module)
Four USB headers supporting 6 additional USB 2.0 ports or devices
One 1394a header
One Intel high-definition Audio/Modem Link (not used by HP)
One jumper for resetting BIOS settings
One jumper to disable BIOS password checking

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I've been using a GeForce 8600GT in my system for about a year now with a 500 watt power supply and I've been very happy with it. Mine is only 256 MB (but I believe they come in 512 MB versions) but it works very well for what I do. It might not play the latest games at the highest graphic settings, but it will definitely give what you have in your system now a very good kick in the pants. But yeah you will want to upgrade your PSU to at least 500 watt.
Graphics card Master

If you can, hold off for a DX11 card. Your CPU can't handle a top-end card but maybe something with similar performance to a 260/275 NVidia (check out benchmarks when they become available whenever that is). You may be CPU limited even still, but future games will use your 4 cores better so you'll get more value out of the CPU.

A 260 896MB NVidia is probably your best bet for now though I STRONGLY suggest waiting for the DX11 cards.

PSU?
Get a Corsair. Definitely. You can get away with a 450W Corsair as it's a quality PSU with high efficiency, especially if you get a new DX11 with 40nm, better efficiency with, again, 260/275 performance.

Most of the video cards that I've been looking at are large, between 9 inches and 11 inches. My case will have the room for these lengths, but I am wondering about the double slot size of these cards. There are 4 SATA connectors on my mother board with 2 SATA cables pluged in to 2 of the sockets nearest where the video card wiil sit. With these 2 cables in the position they are in right now, it looks like there won't be enough room for a double slot sized card to fit there.
Although, if I were to move the 2 SATA cables to the 2 free/empty slots, there should be enough room. I was just wondering if I can simply move these 2 Sata cables to the 2 free/empty sata connector spots, without doing damage to my computer. Would I have to do any kind of configuring or anything, such as in the BIOS etc...?

you can definately get away with a gtx 260 but might hit a wall with power... an eco9800gt can be used with any PSU and will keep a smile on ur face for a while, but to really future proof on a budget get a gtx260 and appropriate power. then maybe u can upgrade the locked mobo and get a new cooler to really future proof.

hope i helped.
ps.. the sata connections can be shuffled around and are not a big deal...
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