GFX Card Upgrade

[JaredBlu]

I have a system w/ an Asus P5AD2 Premium MoBo w/ 1 x PCI Express x16 slot for discrete graphics card and am looking to play some of the latest games which my current card can't handle. Other system specs include:

3.40 gigahertz Intel Pentium 4
Two 512 MB DIMMS
Antec 650 Watt PSU
Windows XP Professional Service Pack 3

Looking at what's available in this article:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-graphics-card,2464-4.html

I was thinking a GTX 260, but the $155 given in the article seems to be fairyland pricing.

I found this for $169

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121337

but it's not gonna fit in may LanBoy case (10.25" space between slots and HD rack).

But I am thinking that since this computer will only last me another two years tops, and I'm only playing at 1280 x 1024 at the moment (monitor upgrade hopefully for XMas ..... you reading this Dad ?) ...... I might go a bit cheaper with this GTS 250 for $139.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/NewProduct.aspx?Item=N82E16814130469

Any other suggestions ?


While I am at it, a RAM upgrade would be nice. Need suggestions for matching:

1GB (2 x 512) Corsair XMS Pro PC2 5300 4-4-4-12 667 MHz.
hhttp://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145535

All I can find is :

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=N82E16820231051

 

[rolli59]

The gtx260 is to much a card for your system. The gts250 would be the top card recommended and will do very well at your resolution. Even 9800GT would be good for your configuration. From ATI you might want to look at HD4830/50 or HD4770 even HD4670 would be alright at your resolution. The only thing is what is the brand and size of your psu? It will be decisive in how powerful a card you can run.

 

[megamanx00]

Rather than a GTS250, I say go for a Radeon 4850 1GB instead like this one for $129.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161296

There really isn't a point in spending more money on a more powerful GPU like a Radeon 4870 or GTX 260 with that old CPU as they would generally give you no improvement over that 4850. If you're stuck at 1280 x 1024 though, then really there is no point in buying anything over a 9800GT or Radeon 4770 (whichever you can get cheaper) for you.

 

[JaredBlu]

The gtx260 is to much a card for your system..

Not really.....depends what you wanna do with it, now and in the next system.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/batman-arkham-asylum,2465-11.html

"With PhysX set to High, even the GeForce GTX 260 can't handle a minimum frame rate of 30 FPS at 1280x1024,"

The idea behind the 260 is that, with this system being sunsetted in the not to distant future, it would have been a nice carryover to a new system as a dedicated PhysX card. Unfortunately, as I indicated in original post, the 260 just won't fit.
in the Lanboy case.

From ATI you might want to look at HD4830/50 or HD4770 even HD4670 would be alright at your resolution. The only thing is what is the brand and size of your psu? It will decisive in how powerful a card you can run

ATI not in the running as no PhysX capability. Resolution is a limiter only for 3 weeks as I'm expecting a new monitor for Xmas. The Antec 650 is more than capable I think of handling any single GPU card.

 

[rolli59]

Not really.....depends what you wanna do with it.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/batman-arkham-asylum,2465-11.html

"With PhysX set to High, even the GeForce GTX 260 can't handle a minimum frame rate of 30 FPS at 1280x1024,"

Unfortunately, as I indicated, the 160 just won't fit.

From ATI you might want to look at HD4830/50 or HD4770 even HD4670 would be alright at your resolution. The only thing is what is the brand and size of your psu? It will decisive in how powerful a card you can run

ATI not in the running as no PhysX capability.

When I said 260GTX is to big for your system I was doing it of the fact that you have a P4 processor and 1gb of ram. You are looking at benchmarks with Intels NEW I7 CPU and AMDs NEW Phenom II x4. That is like black and white, not comparable.
If ATI is not an option I still recommend 9600GT 9800GT/GTX+ GTS250 with the 250 as absolute maximum GPU your CPU can handle.
Another GB of ram would be helpful for that system and it looks like your PSU is fine.

 

[JaredBlu]

Rather than a GTS250, I say go for a Radeon 4850 1GB instead like this one for $129.99

4850 can't give me PhysX.

There really isn't a point in spending more money on a more powerful GPU like a Radeon 4870 or GTX 260 with that old CPU as they would generally give you no improvement over that 4850.

There is to the extent that it would have made a better dedicated PhysX card in my next build than the 250 would.

If you're stuck at 1280 x 1024 though, then really there is no point in buying anything over a 9800GT or Radeon 4770 (whichever you can get cheaper) for you.

Again, monitor only be around another 3 weeks, except as possibly a second monitor.

 

[rolli59]

If the card you are buying is for a near future whole system upgrade buy the gtx260 and a bigger case, you will need it any way for your new system. (I have not come across a small form factor GTX)

 

[JaredBlu]

When I said 260GTX is to big for your system I was doing it of the fact that you have a P4 processor and 1gb of ram.

I'm sorry, I wasn't very clear. What I am trying to get across is that, since it won't physically fit in the case, it's really a moot point. The only reason I mentioned it was wishful thinking on my part for potential carry over to a future build. Just like you would invest in a bigger PSU than you might need if you thought you might get a second GFX card, I am thinking towards the next build.

This new build wouldn't have the P4, the 3 GB of DDR2 RAM or the size limited LanBoy case, but that 260 would have had a future in a new build as a dedicated PhysX card say December 2010 with a pair of 5xxx's, fermis or whatever comes around next season.

I was pretty much resigned to a 250 unless someone came up with a "short" 260 that could fit in the 10" space. I would have saved the current card if I could have found a 260 that fit and then swap em back before giving the whole box away in a year or so. With the smaller investment in the 250, I'm more likely to just give whole box away when next build is done.

 

[JaredBlu]

If the card you are buying is for a near future whole system upgrade buy the gtx260 and a bigger case, you will need it any way for your new system. (I have not come across a small form factor GTX)

Yeah I am already drooling over my big bro's 1200

 

[rolli59]

The GTS250 is still a good PhysX card!