Another guy, another graphics card

[SpudzRotunda]

It is time to upgrade. I was fortunate enough to come across a beautiful new monitor, but unfortunately i want to run my games at 1920x1080. And my graphics card says otherwise. I am looking to upgrade it, but am just afraid of--

1. Not enough power supply
2. The thing won't fit (some cards are monstrosities)
3. If my system just sucks now and I need to quit while I'm ahead.

Here are my specs.

CPU-AMD Athlon II x2 250
2x2G RAM ddr2
480W PSU
GIGABYTE GA-MA785G-UD3H 785G HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard

--Zotac GeForce 9500GT

This system is a couple of years old. I built it a bit under two years ago. Obviously not the best equipment (but what do you expect from a part time job?)

If I am missing any info let me know. Ill update whatever I can. Thanks in advance.

 

[SpudzRotunda]

Didn't even finish my question. I need help choosing a compatable graphics card for what I want. I enjoy gaming. especially with smooth, clean graphics at 1080p.

Found some that tickled my fancy but I would like to hear input on them.
AMD HD 6950
Nvidia GTX 480


But I am stuck on brand names... I only want to run a single card and I am pretty sure my comp is cool enough to handle a little more temp.

 

[purple stain]

What is the make/model of your PSU?

I would reccomend going with a 6850/GTX460 or less.If you get any card above those you will be severly bottlenecking them by your lack of CPU power.

 

[purple stain]

What games are you trying to play?

 

[SpudzRotunda]

well I play tons, from SC2, Rift, Darkspore now and I am going to afraid when Diablo 3 comes out... and I won't have enough to play it

 

[SpudzRotunda]

but yeah i started looking at the GTX460 models, because my power supply only gives 12v x 18a, and saw a few recommendations for 12v x 24a

 

[purple stain]

Your PSU only has 18amps on the 12/v rails?Is it single or is their more than one rail?
18amps is only around 200 watts or so.You might have to upgrade your Power Supply.

Yah i'm sorry to say but the GTX460/6850 is the best your gonna get without having to get a compelte overhaul because your CPU will bottleneck anything higher.

Luckily tho i did check out your mobo and it is able to support all the way up to the Phenom ii x6 1100T.

So you could get a new CPU and upgrade the power supply and you can get a better graphics card.

Do you have a budget and maybe we can make this all fit?

 

[SpudzRotunda]

I have about a $400 budget as of now. couple more weeks I can put more money away.

and yeah, right on the side of the psu box in the grid... DC output +12V/18A only one. Its been working for two years extremely well. So I'm surprised.
I kinda figure the psu needed to be updated before I jumped into a graphics card.

So I figure with the power supply and a GTX460 I am around $250 with tax. Leaves $150 wiggle room.

But speaking of room, I didn't realize that most of the GTX460 are pretty big. about an inch bigger length and by at least 2 in width compared to my 9500gt. How can I check the available space on my mobo?

 

[purple stain]

Yah you definitly need a new PSU then for these bigger cards.

What type of case do you have?
Measure from the back 7" to the front and see if you have enough room.The biggest issue will be length not width or height.

Are you into overclocking?

 

[purple stain]

So here's what i've got so far...

CPU
Phenom ii x4 955BE $140 + Free Shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103808&cm_re=phenom_ii_x4-_-19-103-808-_-Product

Power Supply
Antec 520watt $60 + $4 Shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371030

Graphics Card
HIS 6870 $200=$180 after MIR + Free Shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161349&cm_re=6870-_-14-161-349-_-Product

So it comes to around $405 not including tax and rebates and shoudl be around $385 after rebates.And you said you could manage a little more money then I would suggest going for the GTX560ti for about $30 more than the 6870.Or you could get one of those cards you wanted in your first post.

 

[SpudzRotunda]

my lower slot has up to 8 inches room. But my front USB ports are connected right above the port. the top BARELY has 7 inches.

And no, I never tried it or even know much about it. Just ran things stock.

And I don't know what to say about the case. I'll have to find it on the web, don't even know the name of it.

 

[purple stain]

The bottom slot is no good because it runs a x4 speed not x16.Only the top slot will run at x16 and thats what your gonna want.

Did you buy the PC as a complete or did you build it yourself?

Look for the model no. and maker somewhere on the case,should be a sticker somewhere if you bought it as a complete.

 

[SpudzRotunda]

Found it NZXT Gamma Case

 

[SpudzRotunda]

but hell if i need a different case then I have no problem turning this into a project. And I had a friend help me build this. So a lot of the parts I do not know everything about.

 

[Supermuncher85]

As many before have suggested, the 5850 is right now quite a steal: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102932&cm_re=5850-_-14-102-932-_-Product

 

[purple stain]

Is this it?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146061&Tpk=NZXT%20Gamma

 

[SpudzRotunda]

yeah that's the one. And thanks Super, I'll look more into that one. cheaper is.... nice haha

 

[purple stain]

Says this in the Features Section

"High end graphics card support, the Gamma features space that is especially designed to fit longer 10." cards "

Doesn't look like you will have any problem fitting the card you probably just need to do some better cable management.

 

[purple stain]

Also a couple more case fans wouldn't hurt either I would imagine you still only have the 1 case fan that came with it?

 

[SpudzRotunda]

Allright, it just seems very tight in some spots. I think its the way the mobo is set up, but i could be just making an issue out of nothing due to my ignorance -_-

 

[purple stain]

Well I think what they might be saying in "fine print" with that statement is that you will have to remove the middle cage to fit longer cards.

 

[SpudzRotunda]

Yeah just one fan. But Its on the desk near A/C so I never stressed about it.

 

[purple stain]

How many Hard Drives do you have and where are they located in the case?
Are they in the middle or lower rack?

It's really not a question of will it fit it's just a matter of how.

 

[SpudzRotunda]

Yeah, then wiring will be a HUGE issue. Theres a space adjacent to the slots.. but all the power cords run right in front of it.

 

[SpudzRotunda]

One harddrive. Very top