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Good upgrade/Compatible graphics card?

Last response: in Graphics & Displays
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APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: 18 months ago
BUDGET RANGE: no limit
USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Games, then internet (lol)

CURRENT GPU AND POWER SUPPLY: ATI Radeon HD 4850 and Corsair 650TX 650W PSU

OTHER RELEVANT SYSTEM SPECS: Dell XPS 435 MT~ Vista 64x, Core i7 920(2.67ghz with with HT), 4gb DDR3 , MOBO is factory dell....here are the specs

Board: Dell Inc. 0R849J A00
Serial Number: ..CN736048BF00U0.
Bus Clock: 133 megahertz
BIOS: Dell Inc. 1.0.2 11/14/2008

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: no pref.

PARTS PREFERENCES: i think i'd like to stick to ATI, but i think it doesn't matter right?

OVERCLOCKING: No : SLI OR CROSSFIRE: No(what is sli?)

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1024x768
DELL S2009W [Monitor] (19.9"vis, s/n X318J8B318CS

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Only game i play is Star craft 2. must be able to run everything MAXED.



currently, my computer, will only run sc2 @ 32FPS with V SYNC turned on. if i turn it off, it goes to 44fps...in WOW it runs @ 60-70fps....

1. i dont know why my computer wont run Starcraft 2 @ more than 30 fps....EVEN WHEN I TURN EVERYTHING TO THE LOWEST SETTINGS. it's like its capped or something, when my friends, on worse computers are jumping up to 50-60fps.

2. i can't open CCC, never have been able to....even when i uninst. and driver sweeper in safe mode. and if framework matters (i dont know what it is) i think i have 3.5 sp1....anything else lemme know!

3. i don't know what a bios is...so hopefully i won't have to change that. and any help would be great.


link to pics of inside of computer:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10907965@N08/


these pics were before i put in the TX650 PSU, also, i will be using curcial.com to get 6gb's ddr3, as a memory upgrade, my current sticks are 4, 1gb sticks, of samsung ddr3



and finally, i want a card that my computer can handle easily, but i want a decent upgrade...not just a step to the side, if that makes sense.



edit: also, i realize i have a pretty small case.

can anyone recommend a motherboard that will let me keep my current components? im thinking i will have a good tech person, take all the stuff out of this computer and put it into a new case, and was told my current MOBO really only fits into a crappy small dell case.

More about : good upgrade compatible graphics card

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Your monitor's refresh rate must be locked at 30Hz. Changing your monitor to something with 60Hz or 120Hz, etc will give you higher frame rates, granted that your computer can handle it.

Based on the relative size of the HD4850 to your case, you probably wont be able to fit an HD5870/5850 or GTX480/470 in there. Go with an HD5830 or GTX460 if you wont change your case.
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Graphics card Master

Your ATI 4850 is more than capable of playing Starcraft 2. And your CPU is also more than capable.

Your monitor however, needs to be updated. Buy a new monitor first, as the ATI 4850 is perfectly fine if you only play SC2. In that case, you don't need a better GPU.

So far as a new monitor, get something at 1680x1050 resolution or better (I prefer 1080p which is 1920x1080). Starcraft 2 performs very well even on some older/lesser video cards, because it's DX9 based. So even at a higher resolution, the ATI 4850 should still be suitable.
Graphics card Master

By the way: A Google search shows that your DELL S2009W monitor should max at 1600x900 resolution. If you're only able to set it as high as 1024x768, there may be an inherent problem.

Is your monitor connected with a VGA cable?


Or is it connected with the DVI cable?


Dell Says:

Quote:
Maximum Resolution:
HD Plus 1600 x 900 at 60 Hz

http://www.dell.com/us/en/dfh/monitor/monitor-dell-s200...

So this monitor should be capable of 1600x900 and a max refresh rate of 60hz. So VSYNC "should" cap at 60FPS.

hi again, thx for the responses. I was mistaken, it is 1600x900, @ 60hZ...

BUT maybe i found a problem, check my other thread on the graphics cards page....its odd and interesting....or maybe its nothing....

also~ it says highest 32bit colors. and "Generic PnP on ATI Radeon 4800 series" if that means anything.

also its just 1 plug from the monitor to the back of the computer....its the wider one DVI i believe.
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