(Solved) Upgrading my Video Card

[Progresso]

Okay, so I want to get a new video card, the EVGA 01G-P3-1556-KR GeForce GTX 550 Ti (Fermi), instead of the Intel G33/G31 Express Chipset Family. I'm using a HP Windows Vista model p6112p, the specs are here on the first link. My screen resolution is 1920x1080. http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&objectID=c01756863
And here's the Newegg link to the card. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130625

Would I be able to use this card? My price range is anything less than $150 if I would have to get something else.

 

[diec4st]

Your 300W PSU won't be able to handle a 550Ti. I would suggest getting the new 7750 which draws a maximum of 55W and doesn't need an extra power connector. Anything better than that would require a new PSU and would be bottlenecked by your weak CPU anyways.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161403

 

[Progresso]

Your 300W PSU won't be able to handle a 550Ti. I would suggest getting the new 7750 which draws a maximum of 55W and doesn't need an extra power connector. Anything better than that would require a new PSU and would be bottlenecked by your weak CPU anyways.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161403

Thank you for telling me this I'll check into getting the one you linked. Also, If I wanted to get the card I linked or one similar, I would need a new CPU and PSU?

 

[diec4st]

Actually the 7750 is almost as good as the 550TI. See for yourself there : http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-hd-7770-7750-benchmark,3135-6.html

It just uses way less power as it's new 28 nm technology. You'll be able to play most games with that simple upgrade. If you want something more powerful to play games like BF3 on high settings on a big monitor, then I suggest you build a brand new computer as yours probably has very limited upgrade path.

Hope that helps

 

[regularguy290]

you will have a hard time finding a better CPU to fit that old socket. you could upgrade your PSU to power the 550Ti. you won't take full advantage of either graphics card with that CPU however.

if you don't mind saving up for a while, or have some extra cash now, you might benefit from some new guts in that machine.

 

[diec4st]

you will have a hard time finding a better CPU to fit that old socket. you could upgrade your PSU to power the 550Ti. you won't take full advantage of either graphics card with that CPU however.

if you don't mind saving up for a while, or have some extra cash now, you might benefit from some new guts in that machine.

What would be the point in upgrading the PSU to then get a 30$ more expensive card which would raise the total investment to around 190$ to get a <5% gain in performance over the 7750 which won't require a PSU upgrade? Either get the 7750 (or something less expensive that doesn't require a PSU upgrade (aka doesn't need any power connector)) or build a new system.

 

[Progresso]

Actually the 7750 is almost as good as the 550TI. See for yourself there : http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-hd-7770-7750-benchmark,3135-6.html

It just uses way less power as it's new 28 nm technology. You'll be able to play most games with that simple upgrade. If you want something more powerful to play games like BF3 on high settings on a big monitor, then I suggest you build a brand new computer as yours probably has very limited upgrade path.

Hope that helps

Thanks again for your help, I'll go with the 7750 then until I get around to building my own computer since I already have any games that are graphics intense that I would want(BF3, Skyrim) on my Xbox. I don't know a lot about these kinds of things so this helped a ton!

 

[Progresso]

Best answer selected by Progresso.

 

[Mousemonkey]

This topic has been closed by Mousemonkey