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[Solved] Upgrading Graphics Card

Forum Graphics & Displays : Graphics Cards [Solved] Upgrading Graphics Card

Hello, I'm planning to replace my old GeForce 7600GT with something new. Now... my PC specs are:
AMD Athlon 64 2000+ 4*1GB DDR-400 WD 500GB Caviar Blue on ASUS A8n32SLI-Deluxe (PCI-E *16). I'm not a kind of a hardcore gamer, so (1280*1024 is more than enough), neither an overcloaker (no dual GPUs), neither I'm a TV freak (gotta 17" BENQ FP737s). ATI GPUs are not welcome though. All I want is an upgrade to a next-gen GPU, that can provide an acceptable (mid-end) playability with modern games such as COD4, Crysis, Farcry2, Fallout 3, etc. Currently I have 3 choices : GF 9800GX2, GF GTS 250, GF GTX 460.
I can afford $200-$300, but I don't want to overpay for minor advantages I won't even mention. This is gonna be a core major upgrade, not a bugfixing sh*t. Regards.

Reply to rgnr

Either of those will be a bottleneck due to your CPU.Just wait for a couple of months, save more and get a new PC.

Message edited by Tamz_msc on 09-23-2010 at 06:58:40 PM

Reply to Tamz_msc

Well, so I need to upgrade CPU to dual/quad core?

Reply to rgnr

better BUILD a whole new gaming system, buddy...

------------------------------ Core 2 Duo E6300 1.8 GHz (OC at 3.0 GHz) / Zigmatek HDT S1283 CPU Cooler / Gigabyte GA 965P-DS3 Motherboard / 2x1 GB DDR2 800 RAM / 2x160 GB Seagate HDDs / SilverStone ST50F 500W PSU / HIS IceQ 4 HD 4850 512 MB DDR3 / 17" LG Monitor
(Little Dinosaur)
Reply to wa1

Or stick a GT240 DDR5 card in to tide you over for now.

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Reply to Mousemonkey

I just recently got 500GB WDC and 4GB Ram DDR-400, not going to upgrade the whole machine. BTW, I'm not much of a gamer, thus highest ends is not my preference So advise me some Asus mobo that support AMD Quadcore CPU (Athlon 2 or Phenom 2, I guess), so GTX 460 won't kill the system

Reply to rgnr

Any of the recent socket AM3 motherboards will work Phenom IIs and Athlon IIs, but they are not going to work with DDR RAM.

Reply to Tamz_msc

Ok, then which GFX won't demand upgrade and still be significant gaming upgrade for my current specs? Currently I can play Fallout 3 on high details without AA and anisotroping and 1024*768 and it runs just fine.

Reply to rgnr

First, try overclocking .Just get a custom cooler for 30-50$ if you don't have one.Then get a 9600 GT or GT 240 for your games at that resolution.

Reply to Tamz_msc

and what about 8600 GT/GTX? How much VRAM? Which brand is recommended?

Reply to rgnr

There are only the 8600 GT and GTS, no GTX.You can try what I said.I also found out some low profile 9800 GTs on Newegg.They are going to be great for you.

Reply to Tamz_msc

I'm thinking of none of those, but of GTS 250. How hard is it a bottleneck for my system?

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to rgnr

rgnr wrote :

I'm thinking of none of those, but of GTS 250. How hard is it a bottleneck for my system?

It will be a bottleneck for your system as others have said before.

Reply to Tamz_msc

How's that? The GPU ' system requirements are met.

Reply to rgnr

A bottleneck does not mean that the GPU will not work.It means that due to a slow component(in this case your CPU) it will not work to its maximum potential.When this happens, you will not see any change in frame rates when you go from low graphics settings to high settings.In your case yours frame rates will increase only slightly.You can resolve this problem if you remove the bottleneck by overclocking the CPU.

Reply to Tamz_msc

how far should I overclock my CPU? BTW, It is AMD ATHLON 64 4000+ and not the 2000

Reply to rgnr

I don't think it'll overclock that high.

Reply to Tamz_msc

If your not a avid hardcore gamer, then if you could find a cheap X2 CPU then a 5000+ (or as far as your motherboard allows) and a GTS240 or GTX460.

This will tide you over for a little while whilst if you want, save up for a whole new system upgrade. (Mobo/CPU and/or RAM if you decide DDR3)

Ive just done this for my grand dad, he had the X2 4200+, upgraded to a X2 5600+ and a GTX465 and is perfectly happy with the results.

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http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y30/reccyuk/Signature-1.png

Reply to Reccy

Ok, so I've chose to go with XFX GTS 250 512MB. Or should I go for 1GB?

Reply to rgnr

512 MB is enough for 1280x1024.

Reply to Tamz_msc

Reccy wrote :

Well, I've checked the list of compatible CPUs for my mobo and found Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core 4800+ is supported. However the price for s939 is insane (over $200 used), thus AMD Athlon 64 X2 Socket 939 4200+ Dual Core comes in play. It's much cheaper. BTW, I've checked with forums and testing graphs show that there's not much of a performance difference between my current CPU and these to dualcores (not much but dualcore). Or did I miss something?

Reply to rgnr

You're right, there is not much difference.

Reply to Tamz_msc

There wasnt a huge difference between the 4200+ and 5600+ CPu, but it did push the FPS over the edge and just made it alot more bearable to play games (from 20 to 30FPS to 30-40FPS) which is a huge difference, but not massive.. If that makes sense lol

It all depends on price, i got the 5600+ Cheap from an old friend who upgraded to an Phenom II system. So i got lucky. Old Technology/CPU's are ridiculus in price nowadays. Check ebay if you can use it/get shipping. Or Just OC the Nuts off your current CPU to see if it can get better. Failing that its saving for a whole new system mate.

Message edited by Reccy on 10-04-2010 at 12:35:28 PM

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Reply to Reccy

Well, my mobo supports maximum AMD x2 4800+ but there's no way I spit out $200 for dualcore with almost no perf difference. Not even gaming performance. Thus I'm leaving mobo and CPU as they are. Will try OCing though.
Thus, your final thoughts guys - GTS 250 or GTX 460? Which brand and how much VRAM?

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Reply to rgnr

Best answer

rgnr wrote :

Those are vastly different cards.The GTS 250 is the one you should be getting.You do not need more than 512 MB for 1280x1024.
All brands are more or less equal.

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to Tamz_msc

Tamz_msc wrote :

Those are vastly different cards.The GTS 250 is the one you should be getting.You do not need more than 512 MB for 1280x1024.
All brands are more or less equal.

Thanks to all participants!

Reply to rgnr

Best answer selected by rgnr.

Reply to rgnr

This topic has been closed by Mousemonkey

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Reply to Mousemonkey

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