What Graphics Card is compatible with my Essentio?

[kincaid88]

First thing to know is my budget for the new video card is around 200 dollars and need one good for gaming. I have a Asus Essentio CM1630-05. Here are the specs. If someone, ANYONE, can tell me what video card would be compatible for this I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you!


Features/Specifications:



•ASUS Essentio CM1630-05 Athlon II X2 2.8 GHz Desktop PC


•General Features:
•Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium pre-installed w/CoA
•AMD Athlon II X2 220 2.8 GHz dual-core processor
•2 x 128 KB L1 cache, 2 x 512 KB L2 cache, 45 nm SOI CMOS
•AMD 760G/SB710 chipset
•4 GB DDR3 RAM (supports up to 16 GB)
•750 GB SATA hard drive
•DVD±RW DL drive
•Integrated ATI Radeon 3000 graphics
•Integrated ALC887 8-channel audio
•Integrated 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN
•No modem
•Memory card reader


•Supported Media:
•CompactFlash (CF)
•Microdrive (MD)
•Secure Digital (SD)
•MultiMediaCard (MMC)
•MultiMediaCard 4.0
•Reduced-Size MultiMediaCard 4.0 (RS-MMC)
•Memory Stick (MS)
•Memory Stick PRO
•Memory Stick Duo
•Memory Stick PRO Duo


•Motherboard Features:
•One (1) PCI Express x16 slot
•One (1) PCI Express x1 slot
•Two (2) PCI slots
•Four (4) 240-pin DIMM sockets (two occupied)
•Six (6) SATA connectors (two occupied)


•Front I/O Ports:
•Memory card slots
•Four (4) USB 2.0
•One (1) Headphone out
•One (1) Microphone in


•Rear I/O Ports:
•One (1) PS/2
•One (1) HDMI
•One (1) DVI-D
•One (1) 15-pin VGA
•One (1) SPDIF out
•Six (6) USB 2.0
•Six (6) Audio
•One (1) RJ-45 Ethernet


•Case Features:
•Two (2) 5.25-inch external drive bays (one occupied)
•Two (2) 3.5-inch internal drive bays (one occupied)
•300-watt power supply (115V ~ 6A, 230V ~ 3A, 50/60Hz)


•Unit Dimensions:
•15.75 x 6.6 x 16-inches (H x W x D, approximate)


•Regulatory Approvals:
•FCC
•CE
•cULus Listed
•WEEE



Package Includes:



•ASUS Essentio CM1630-05 Athlon II X2 2.8 GHz Desktop PC
•Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium pre-installed w/CoA
•USB keyboard
•USB mouse
•Power cord



Additional Information:




•Notes:
•Model: Essentio CM1630-05
•P/N: 90PD7ODA754211A1LKZ
•UPC: 6 10839 33481 0
•EAN: 4 719543 334812


•Product Requirements:
•Monitor
•DVI or VGA cables
•Available power outlet
•Speakers, etc.

 

[Helltech]

What is the purpose of the video card? Gaming? Light gaming? Watching movies? Watching streams (youtube, general web access).

 

[kincaid88]

Mostly gaming.

 

[Helltech]

What resolution do you game at? What games do you play? Do you care about having high settings on your games, or do you not mind having low setting and just having a playable experience.

 

[kincaid88]

I would like to be able to have high settings.

 

[Helltech]

In that case your CPU is going to hold you back greatly. Depending on your resolution you play at, I could suggest you some graphics cards that would be an ok compliment for your CPU, even then you are looking for a PSU upgrade most likely as well, and even then you probably won't be able to have high settings on some games, mostly looking at medium.

 

[kincaid88]

Medium, high either or would be great as long as i can play most the newest games out there with decent graphics and performance. I got great memory and cpu, to be honest dont know what psu is though.

 

[Helltech]

Your CPU is very old, and is very outdated, its what is going to hold you back.

PSU is the power supply unit, if you want to get a decent video card you will probably have to upgrade it as well.

 

[kincaid88]

So pretty much ill need a knew Video Card, CPU, and PSU correct if i want good grapics with performance?

 

[Helltech]

It's not that easy, if you replace the CPU you're looking at a whole new system, so you can't really replace that.

You're going to just have to deal with a lower-end graphics cards and get mediocre performance I'm afraid.

 

[kincaid88]

Ok well if its so then its so, i guess ill have to not make the mistake next time and buy a computer specificly for gaming or build one. But until then, what video cards would you say I should get then?

 

[Helltech]

Well, whatever I suggest will more than likely be bottlenecked by your CPU. I've never been good with matching up really old CPUs to newer GPUs.

This a very good power supply for lower-end systems that with rebate is very cheap.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026&Tpk=corsair%20430

And this is a graphics card...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102952

Depending on your resolution that card can play games... you might be able to get something better, like a 7750 for roughly 110 dollars, but I know your CPU is going to hold it back a lot.

Also not knowing your resolution on your monitor makes it difficult for me to suggest you a card.

 

[kincaid88]

It says my computer is running at a 1366 by 768 resolution

 

[kincaid88]

now that you know the resolution what do you suggest then? ( by the way thank you for all your time and help)

 

[Helltech]

With that said I think I would still suggest the video card I did. You will be able to play most games with medium settings. Its thats not great, but you would just be wasting money on anything to powerful since the CPU would hold it back..

Just start saving for a new system

 

[kincaid88]

Well I like the idea of a new system and you said if i replace the cpu i would have to replace the whole system pretty much. So if I get a new CPU, along with a video card and PSU what else will I need, that is if you dont mind going through telling?

 

[Helltech]

You would have to get a new motherboard, as well as new RAM.

Then of course the CPU, PSU, and GPU.

 

[kincaid88]

Ok so if I upgrade those 5 things I should be pretty well set to go then?

 

[Helltech]

Yes you will

 

[kincaid88]

ok thanks alot again

 

[Helltech]

No problem. As I said you could just get that PSU and GPU, if you dont mind playing games at medium settings it wont be bad at all.

 

[kincaid88]

So if I get a new PSU and GPU, id still be able to play games like Call of Duty: Black Ops or even the Stars Wars: The Old Republic with out it being all sketchy and slow moving?

 

[Helltech]

If you turn the settings wayy down.

 

[kincaid88]

But pretty much wont be sacrificing graphics by too much then?

 

[Helltech]

Not sure what you mean. YOu are going to have to sacrifice graphics in order to get smooth gameplay, yes. But you're going to have to do that with anything due to your CPU.