Graphic card for these computer specs?

[brainlezz]

What recommendations would be good for my computer specs, Specifically for gaming? Here are my specs:
Motherboard: Pegatron M2N78-La (Violet)
Processor: AMD Phenom 8450 Triple-Core - 2.10 GHz
Graphics Card:Integrated Nvidia GeForce 9100. Approx. 2923 MB, AMD K10
RAM: 6GB
OS: Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit
PSU: Liteon 300W (Wondering if I should upgrade it, or if I can depending on graphic card)
This computer is specifically an HP Pavilion p6122f.
Some game's I'll be playing are BattelField Bad Company2, MW2, and FEAR 3. Low settings are fine; maxed out settings aren't really needed =P
I really don't have any intelligence in graphic cards
I hope I didn't miss out any necessary information needed. Any other questions or info I'll be happy to provide.
Edit: Yes, budget. How could I forget lol. Range of $0 to $350. I've found some decent graphic cards on Newegg.ca. Willing to try them out.

 

[szbxa]

Your budget please.

 

[mute20]

A Gtx 550 ti card should be good as 2.1 cards might not work in your board. You would also need a new psu ,but your budget should fit it in. Get either a antec/corsair this should be good http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371033.

Also cause your from canada you can buy from either tigerdirect/ncix to compare prices.

 

[brainlezz]

A Gtx 550 ti card should be good as 2.1 cards might not work in your board. You would also need a new psu ,but your budget should fit it in. Get either a antec/corsair this should be good http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371033.

Also cause your from canada you can buy from either tigerdirect/ncix to compare prices.

Thank you for the suggested sites. I have been taking a look at them. Some prices differ here and there... I've heard my motherboard has only one PCI-E express 1.0 slot. So I'm guessing I can't get 2.1 slots.. Although I've heard 2.0 slots would work fine on my 1.0? Would that bottleneck my performance?

 

[shrkbay]

mute20, GTX550Ti is going to be bottlenecked by his CPU.
OP: Upgrade your CPU, MB and PSU without them you won't be able to get any fine card, for gaming you can get a Phenom II 955 with a new MB or an i3 2100 for ~180$, some 500W PSU and a GTS450/HD5770 *under 100$*. What's your resolution?

 

[Wisecracker]

Your motherboard most likely supports 95w AMD AM3 processors like the Phenom II X4 840 3.2GHz, Phenom II X4 945 Deneb 3.0GHz and the Athlon II X4 640 Propus 3.0GHz.

Best Bang for your CAN-Buck --> AMD Athlon II X3 450 Rana 3.2GHz: $80

Corsair Builder Series CX500 V2 500W Power Supply: $73 before $20US rebate

XFX HD-485X-ZNFC Radeon HD 4850 1GB: $100 before $30US rebate

$253 - $50 rebates = $203

 

[shrkbay]

Yup i checked, it supports socket AM3 so no need to change MB, but i think you can find some 5770s on newegg for ~100 bucks and they are a lot faster than 4850s

 

[megamanx00]

Despite the fact that it does list AM3 as the socket (which is not the case since it has DDR2 RAM) the page about the motherboard lists nothing on using AM3 CPUs under Processor Upgrade Information

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01635734&tmp_task=prodinfoCategory&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=ca&lang=en&product=3986853#N94

Contact HP support to see if that page is just out of date and if they have added any AM3 support to that motherboard. Also try to get out of them which CPUs exactly are supported. A board might support C2 CPUs but may not have an update to run properly with C3 CPus

If the best you can put in that board is indeed a 9850 then I would say pair it with a 5770. Getting a more powerful GPU doesn't make sense with a 9850 you can't even overclock and getting a better CPU might mean getting a new board.

 

[brainlezz]

shrkbay, wisecracker, megamanx00: Thanks for the suggestions. They fit my budget perfectly, but I won't be getting a new MB. My resolution for my main monitor is 1600 x 900, second monitor is 1280 x 1024. I will be upgrading my PSU and CPU, most likely your suggested items. What card would be best for my resolution? I've got my mind on the 5770...

 

[megamanx00]

I assume you'll be gaming on that 1600x900 mostly. Yeah the 5770 should be good for the most part though you can also consider a more powerful 6850 or GTX 460 1GB depending on how much you will spend on the CPU and PSU. Like I said though, as far as the CPU a 9850 might be your limit but contact HP support to be sure. You don't want to buy a newer AM3 CPU and drop it in only to find it doesn't work.

 

[brainlezz]

I assume you'll be gaming on that 1600x900 mostly. Yeah the 5770 should be good for the most part though you can also consider a more powerful 6850 or GTX 460 1GB depending on how much you will spend on the CPU and PSU. Like I said though, as far as the CPU a 9850 might be your limit but contact HP support to be sure. You don't want to buy a newer AM3 CPU and drop it in only to find it doesn't work.

Yep. I'll think about those graphic cards, Thank you. I have searched around the forums and researched the Pavilion a6720y desktop with the same motherboard. It has a 9550 in it, so I'm guessing a 9850 would work since they're of the same series? I'm not sure, but either way, would getting a 9550 work?

 

[megamanx00]

Yeah, but a 9550 has a very low clock speed (2.2GHz) and will preform alot like your current CPU. The 9850 is clocked at a more usable 2.5Ghz, but honestly it should be overclocked to 3.0, which you can't do with your board. Anyway, expect the 9850 to preform like a 2.4Ghz stock clocked Q6600. It is just barley enough for modern gaming and should hold you till you're ready to upgrade the rest of your system. This place has it for $65 and hey for not having to upgrade the rest of your system that's not too bad

http://www.compuvest.com/Search.jsp?Search=HD9850XAJ4BGH&advsite=froogle&sku=322005013-04&dp=1:CVS:6300:0:71:

 

[Wisecracker]

I didn't save the link, but somewhere in the HP forums there are discussions supporting 95w AM3 CPUs on that motherboard.

I would also suggest not upgrading your BIOS (if one is available) before installing the new CPU.

Some OEMs have a nasty habit of 'locking-down' a motherboard with a BIOS update that would limit the installation of new CPUs. Original BIOSs tend to be more open to such upgrades.

This would not preclude a BIOS update if there are 'issues' though you may have to re-install your old CPU.

I picked out that HD4850 because is was roughly half the price of the HD5770s in the 'Great White North'

An Athlon II X3 Rana will pound an old Phenom quad with 25% less watts -- I'd suggest staying away from that option if possible.

 

[brainlezz]

Alright.. =/
In conclusion I'll just save up for a new motherboard. Perhaps research on what to get.
Thanks guys for your support. I appreciate it.

 

[brainlezz]

Best answer selected by brainlezz.

 

[Mousemonkey]

This topic has been closed by Mousemonkey