Need new graphics adapter

[themcnabs]

I am getting ready to upgrade to Windows 7 64 bit and am going to upgrade my graphics card at the same time. I am looking for some help determining what to get. I do not play games; I would just like to get rid of the graphics bottleneck on my system to speed it up. So I am looking for something fairly inexpensive but enough of an improvement to remove the bottleneck. I have the following system.

Vista home premium
945GCT-M V1.0 motherboard
E4500 2.20GHz Core 2 Duo
Built in Intel GMA950 graphics
2 PCI express x16 (orange and blue x4)

Windows performance is
CPU = 5.1
Memory = 4.8
Graphics = 2.0
Gaming Graphics = 2.6
Hard Disk = 5.7

 

[EXT64]

Well, you'll want a low power card as you really don't need much if not gaming. Your integrated might do ok, but if you want to upgrade I'd suggest going in the 4650/4670 or 5570 range (or NVidia equivalent such as 9600GT).

Here are some links that may help:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-graphics-card,2569-2.html

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-graphics-card,2569-6.html

 

[themcnabs]

The manual for my motherboard showes two PCI express slots. Which one do I want to use.

1 x PCI Express x16 slot (Orange)
1 x PCI Express x16 slot (Blue @ x4 bandwidth)

 

[EXT64]

The first (orange) one. It operates at x16. The second slot is limited as it is electrically only 4x. For one of the mid-low range cards I listed above, either would probably work, but there is no reason not to use the full speed slot, so use it (the orange slot).

 

[jryan388]

You want to use the orange slot. The second one will fit any pcix16 card but only run at a quarter speed. And if you don't want to game, I would suggest even less than the 4650. It's about $40-50, but if you don't need the power, don't pay for it. The 4350 will do fine for non-gaming needs.

 

[jryan388]

If you do want to spend 15 or 20 dollars more, though, the 4650 would be way better, but unless you game you probably wouldn't notice the difference.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121310&cm_re=radeon_4350-_-14-121-310-_-Product

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131143&cm_re=radeon_4350-_-14-131-143-_-Product

 

[EXT64]

Yep, just for reference a 4650 DDR3 scores 6.6 in Graphics and Gaming Graphics in Windows 7.

 

[themcnabs]

Will I see a difference between the built in (existing gma950) vs the 4650 or the 4350?

 

[themcnabs]

OK why not this? $30 after rebate.


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131180&cm_re=4650-_-14-131-180-_-Product

 

[jryan388]

Undoubtedly! Both of those cards are miles ahead of intel's junk. And the 4650 is a ways beyond the 4350, so it just depends on how much power you want. They will both be fine for non-gaming purposes, but the 4650 is way, way better playing games than the 4350.

 

[jryan388]

That looks like a great idea! I wonder why I didn't see that...
If I were you, I'd definitely get that.

 

[jryan388]

I just noticed it only has a 64-bit memory interface, which is probably a bottleneck and it will run slower.
I would still get it cause its cheap.

 

[themcnabs]

Would this be a better card. No rebate but still cheap.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161303&cm_re=4650_radeon-_-14-161-303-_-Product

 

[themcnabs]

Would this be a better card. No rebate but still cheap.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161303&cm_re=4650_radeon-_-14-161-303-_-Product

Anyone, Is this worth the extra couple bucks and will it work in my system?