Which video card should I buy

[xen_05]

Hey, everybody! Just wanted to ask you all a question. I want to get a video card for my PC, but I'm not sure which one I should buy. I don't know anything about that, so could you give me some recommendations? That would be very helpful!
EDIT: I have a budget of $300+, which I will be spending on a graphics card and a CPU. If you have any recommendations, tell me!
HP Pavillion a6317c
Intel Pentium E2200
Intel G33-31 Chipset Family
Intel X86- PCI E x16
3 GB DDR3
250 V power supply

 

[Daave12]

Go for Nvidia GTX 550, it is good, reliable and you would be enjoying its good quality graphics as well.

 

[Tamz_msc]

What is your monitor resolution?

 

[ethel]

How much do you want to spend?

 

[xen_05]

I could spend up to $240, for the power supply and the card. As to my monitor resolution, it is 1650 x 1050

 

[xen_05]

Go for Nvidia GTX 550, it is good, reliable and you would be enjoying its good quality graphics as well.

Honestly, I really like that recommendation, and I thank you for that, but are you sure that I need such a powerful card? It's really nice, but considering the fact that my PC is a Pentium, with only 3 gigs, I'm just not sure if it's such a good idea.

 

[xen_05]

Thank you for that recommendation, but could I please have some more? And would a card like the GTX 550 be OK in my computer? If I needed to, I could upgrade my Pavillion a6317c's processor. Thanks!

 

[Tamz_msc]

Based on your PC's specifications, here's what I recommend:

CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037 - 179$

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371034 - 60$

Graphics card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125309 - 130$

Total: 370$ excluding shipping and MIRs.

 

[xen_05]

Based on your PC's specifications, here's what I recommend:

CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037 - 179$

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371034 - 60$

Graphics card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125309 - 130$

Total: 370$ excluding shipping and MIRs.

Why do you recommend the Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 when I can buy the Core 2 Quad q8400 for the same price? Is there a specific reason, or could I be wrong? Can you please answer that?

 

[Tamz_msc]

The Core 2 Quad Q8xxx series is not supported by your motherboard(at least that's what HP states)

 

[xen_05]

Maybe I should just simply buy an AMD with a motherboard, and get it over with. If you have any good AMD motherboard/processor combo, I would like to know. And even now, I'm not even sure if I should upgrade my PC, honestly, I am not sure...
EDIT: I now have $450 for my upgrades. Should I go for a $170 CPU, and a $200-$240 card, or should I buy a $270 CPU, and go with a your recommendation for the GPU?

Come on, guys! I still haven't decided yet! Could I please have some more recommendations? Thanks!

 

[xen_05]

Guys, I still need more recommendations! Could you help me out? Thanks!

 

[majesticlizard]

Hey, everybody! Just wanted to ask you all a question. I want to get a video card for my PC, but I'm not sure which one I should buy. I don't know anything about that, so could you give me some recommendations? That would be very helpful!
EDIT: I have a budget of $300+, which I will be spending on a graphics card and a CPU. If you have any recommendations, tell me!
HP Pavillion a6317c
Intel Pentium E2200
Intel G33-31 Chipset Family
Intel X86- PCI E x16
3 GB DDR3
250 V power supply

Upgrade the CPU to an Intel Q8200 and put an HD 6850 or GTX 460 in there and you will be happy.

Gonna have to get rid of that power supply though. 250 watts is not enough.

However, if you really want to go cheap you can get a low form factor 9800 GT EE that will actually run on that power supply.

 

[xen_05]

Upgrade the CPU to an Intel Q8200 and put an HD 6850 or GTX 460 in there and you will be happy.

Gonna have to get rid of that power supply though. 250 watts is not enough.

However, if you really want to go cheap you can get a low form factor 9800 GT EE that will actually run on that power supply.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01312592&tmp_track_link=ot_faqs/top_issues/en_us/c01312592/loc:2&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&product=3660283#N229

According to that link, my motherboard can only support a intel core 2 quad q9000 series processor, or a core 2 quad 6600 series. Should I just upgrade to a quad 9000 series processor, and get an only average card, or should I get a only decent processor and a really good card? Once again, my budget is$450.

 

[mdd1963]

for those shpping for GPUs, the 460(1gb) is on sale for $119!

http://www.logicbuy.com/deals/evga-geforce-gtx-460-fermi-superclocked-graphics-card/31969.aspx

 

[Tamz_msc]

If your main intention is gaming, get a CPU that is powerful enough(Core 2 Duos are still quite capable in gaming) and spend the rest on the graphics card.

 

[xen_05]

If your main intention is gaming, get a CPU that is powerful enough(Core 2 Duos are still quite capable in gaming) and spend the rest on the graphics card.

OK, now I'm seriously considering just simply buying a new AMD motherboard, and a powerful AMD processor. That way, I could get some serious performance, and still afford a good card. What do you guys think?

Feel free to post any replies in my forum!

 

[Mousemonkey]

Feel free to post any replies in my forum!

Since when was this "Your forum"?

 

[xen_05]

Since when was this "Your forum"?

Well, wasn't I the one who started it? OK, maybe I shouldn't have said that. I just wanted to ask a few questions, that's all. I didn't have any intent of starting an argument! All I want to know is what is best for me and my budget!

 

[Mousemonkey]

Well, wasn't I the one who started it? OK, maybe I shouldn't have said that. I just wanted to ask a few questions, that's all. I didn't have any intent of starting an argument! All I want to know is what is best for me and my budget!

No, you started a thread the forum was around long before that! :lol:

 

[xen_05]

No, you started a thread the forum was around long before that! :lol:

Oh! I'm sorry about that! I literally had no idea that that was the way it worked! Anyway, I can't help you out, but if you have any recommendations for an intel motherboard/cpu combo, or a good amd cpu/motherboard combo, please tell me!

 

[Mousemonkey]

Oh! I'm sorry about that! I literally had no idea that that was the way it worked! Anyway, I can't help you out, but if you have any recommendations for an intel motherboard/cpu combo, or a good amd cpu/motherboard combo, please tell me!

This is the graphic forum, you should start a thread in the system forum if you want advice for building a compete rig and try to limit your discussion here to just graphics.

 

[xen_05]

This is the graphic forum, you should start a thread in the system forum if you want advice for building a compete rig and try to limit your discussion here to just graphics.

Oh... I actually never thought about that. You are right! Thank you!