Graphics card upgrade for gaming PC?

[smohrchi]

Hi guys,

I'm looking to upgrade my pc so that I can play MMO's like Aion, Guild Wars 2, Tera etc...on the highest settings. I'm hoping all it's gonna take is a graphics card upgrade but I'm not sure. My pc info is below:

Approximate Purchase Date: 1 month

Budget Range: (e.g.: 600-800) $200

System Usage from Most to Least Important: gaming, surfing the net

Parts Not Required: (e.g.: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS) existing pc

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com and amazon.com

Country: (e.g.: India) US

Parts Preferences: by brand or type no pref

Processor: Pentium Dual Core CPU; E5300 2.6 ghz

Overclocking: not sure

SLI or Crossfire: not sure

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1200

Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce 8600 GT

Additional Comments: If it is just a graphics card upgrade can someone please recommend one?

 

[azeem40]

For $200, you can get the 6870.

 

[a0c]

I recommend an HD 6870 or the GTX 560 Ti, depending on whether you're willing to spend an extra $50 on the GTX 560 Ti.

 

[Lmeow]

What is your power supply? This could restrict your available choices.

 

[smohrchi]

What is your power supply? This could restrict your available choices.

My power supply says 115v/6a and 230v/3a.

 

[smohrchi]

bump.......

 

[WR2]

Have a make and model on your PSU?
What's the +12V amperage on the PSU's data plate?

 

[smohrchi]

Have a make and model on your PSU?
What's the +12V amperage on the PSU's data plate?

It's a delta electonics GPS-300AB C

+12V1 10A(Max)
+12V2 14A(Max)

 

[WR2]

It's a 250W (300W peak) PSU with just 19A total combinee current on +12V1 & +12V2.
Far short of what's required for any of the $200 graphics cards.

 

[smohrchi]

It's a 250W (300W peak) PSU with just 19A total combinee current on +12V1 & +12V2.
Far short of what's required for any of the $200 graphics cards.

So what would I need? 600W?

 

[WR2]

A very high quality 400W PSU might be enough.
Fitting a full size graphics card into a slimline case? That might be another problem.

 

[WR2]

What make and model of PC are you trying to upgrade?

 

[smohrchi]

What make and model of PC are you trying to upgrade?

Asus CM5570

 

[Mousemonkey]

bump.......

Don't...
Bump posts

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/283384-33-read-first

 

[WR2]

I haven't been able to find enough details to figure out what video cards would fit in your case.
My advice is to find a forum with lots of other Asus Essentio owners and see what other Asus CM5570 owners are doing to upgrade their systems.
It's a lot easier to follow someone who's already upgraded and had success.

 

[smohrchi]

ok thx

 

[smohrchi]

I haven't been able to find enough details to figure out what video cards would fit in your case.
My advice is to find a forum with lots of other Asus Essentio owners and see what other Asus CM5570 owners are doing to upgrade their systems.
It's a lot easier to follow someone who's already upgraded and had success.

Well let me ask you this: Initially I thought the poor performance was due to my graphics card but after looking up the nvidia geforce 8600 GT the minimum power is 400w. So if I upgrade my power supply to at least 400W do you think that graphics card is sufficient to play the games I mentioned?

 

[WR2]

I don't think a PSU upgrade will improve performance.
The 400W recommendation was to cover a whole multitude of possible parts combinations to go with the 8600GT.

Your 250W PSU was matched to your specific parts and is probably 'just enough'.
And I wouldn't be surprised if your version of 8600GT was one of the lower power models (lower performance too).

 

[smohrchi]

I don't think a PSU upgrade will improve performance.
The 400W recommendation was to cover a whole multitude of possible parts combinations to go with the 8600GT.

Your 250W PSU was matched to your specific parts and is probably 'just enough'.
And I wouldn't be surprised if your version of 8600GT was one of the lower power models (lower performance too).

Sorry for all the questions but isn't the 8600GT a full size card?

 

[WR2]

A lot of different versions of 8600GT
Some of them low profile and some low power.