Upgrade for fast 1080p streaming

[toddstew]

I have a gigabyte motherboard GA-MA78G-DS3H with 2GB ram and 2.7GHz AMD. The video card is onboard. My internet speed is 3 Mb/s which is probably my real bottleneck. My desktop is direct connected to the internet. hence wireless is not bottleneck.

What upgrade do I need for smoothest downloads of youtube 1080p HD vids? Also for playing PC games such as MW3 or need for speed or Crysis and Deus Ex.

Is my system going to be ok for those games? What is a worthy yet inexpensive video card to drop in this older mb? Inexpensive to me means $50-$100.

 

[COLGeek]

Do you have the option of buying a "bigger pipe" for your internet service? I would recommend you look at the ATI/AMD HD5570 or HD6570 as a better, stronger GPU for your rig. One such as this one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150580

These are good, solid overall performers and a great value.

 

[sosofm]

If you can make an effort for this 6770 : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131434
Then 6750 is the best option : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161395

 

[toddstew]

thanks for the great suggestions....will a cpu with more cores help much?

 

[COLGeek]

thanks for the great suggestions....will a cpu with more cores help much?

Not really. You really have 2 problems. Your data pipe is fairly slow (as you mentioned) and your integrated video uses system resources that a discrete video card would free up.

 

[Sunius]

3 Mb/s is really really really too little for 1080p streaming. That's what you should upgrade first!

 

[toddstew]

Will current PCI Express 2.1 x16 GPU's work with the expansions slots on my Gigabyte mb which has the following expansion slots available.

1 x PCI Express x16 slot (Note3), confirming to PCI Express 2.0 standard
1 x PCI Express x4 slot, confirming to PCI Express 2.0 standard
3 x PCI Express x1 slot (PCIEX1_2, PCIEX1_3 share with the PCIEX4_1 slot) (Note4)
2 x PCI slots

 

[COLGeek]

Will current PCI Express 2.1 x16 GPU's work with the expansions slots on my Gigabyte mb which has the following expansion slots available.

1 x PCI Express x16 slot (Note3), confirming to PCI Express 2.0 standard
1 x PCI Express x4 slot, confirming to PCI Express 2.0 standard
3 x PCI Express x1 slot (PCIEX1_2, PCIEX1_3 share with the PCIEX4_1 slot) (Note4)
2 x PCI slots

Yes, just install in your x16 slot and have fun. Not an issue at all.

 

[toddstew]

Yes, just install in your x16 slot and have fun. Not an issue at all.

Great...thanks for the help.

 

[toddstew]

I'm still shopping and comparing graphics card. I want to get the best bang I can for less than $100. I probably can't go wrong with any of the suggestions that I've received, I just want to make an informed decision. For some reason I'm gravitating towards XFX. But I'm not sure why.

I'm trying to figure out what is enough for my needs...

 

[toddstew]

I almost pulled the trigger on this over the weekend. It seems to be a really great deal. Help me understand the pros and cons of this....http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150567.

 

[COLGeek]

I almost pulled the trigger on this over the weekend. It seems to be a really great deal. Help me understand the pros and cons of this....http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150567.

That is a low-end GPU by today's standards. Inexpensive, but not a huge step up from your integrated video now. Try one of these:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102934

 

[toddstew]

are any of the <$100 gpu cards such as you have suggested upgradeable. can memory be added to them?

Previously you had suggested http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150580&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=35gv99uunaok

between this one and the saffire. which would you recommend based on overall quality?

 

[COLGeek]

You can't add memory to a GPU. Both of them would work. Was just offering another lower cost solution. Get what you can afford and you'll be fine with either choice.

 

[toddstew]

thanks for your help.

 

[toddstew]

Best answer selected by toddstew.