GPU Advice for PCIe x16 slot (P5B-VM DO)

[dreamerl007]

Hello,
Long story short, I want to play Diablo 3 on my desktop since i'm having issues with playing it on my Macbook. Anyhow I'm looking to add a discrete GPU, Build specs are below:

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: ASAP

BUDGET RANGE: $100

USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Diablo 3, don't really game much, this computer is mostly used to house my media, internet, etc.

CURRENT GPU AND POWER SUPPLY: Onboard GMA 3000, PSU 430W Seasonic

OTHER RELEVANT SYSTEM SPECS:
Windows Vista 32bit
ASUS P5B-VM DO
Intel Core 2 Duo E4500 2.2GHz LGA 775
2 GB G.SKILL 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)


PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS:newegg.com

PARTS PREFERENCES: none

OVERCLOCKING: No

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Do I need to?

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1280x1024

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

Basically I really don't know where to start evaluating cards that won't be too limited from my other components, especially since the port is now nearly 2 generations behind current graphics cards

Figured this was the best site to get some good feedback. Thanks in advance

 

[rolli59]

For your budget and will work with your PSU GTS450 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127606

 

[Guest]

if you can afford just a few more bucks upfront and do a rebate . .
GIGABYTE GV-R677D5-1GD Radeon HD 6770 $114.99
$84.99 after mail-in rebate card
that will give you some insane frame rates @ your resolution

however take into account that your cpu may not achieve that high. . .

 

[rolli59]

if you can afford just a few more bucks upfront and do a rebate . .
GIGABYTE GV-R677D5-1GD Radeon HD 6770 $114.99
$84.99 after mail-in rebate card
that will give you some insane frame rates @ your resolution
http://media.bestofmicro.com/F/Q/336230/original/high 1280.png
however take into account that your cpu may not achieve that high. . .
http://media.bestofmicro.com/F/O/336228/original/CPU clock.png

Last BIOS update for that board in 2008 so it might have issues with ver 2.1 PCIe card!

 

[Guest]

good catch!

 

[dreamerl007]

Yeah, that's what I'm most concerned about, is the backwards compatibility of the newer card on the older port. As long as I stick with the 2.0 and not the 2.1 cards I should be ok right? Thanks for the suggestions, this is exactly what I needed to start filtering out my options!

 

[rwpritchett]

FWIW, I ran my HD6950 just fine on my P5B before I sold it. It's a 2.1 card and had no problems at all.

 

[rolli59]

FWIW, I ran my HD6950 just fine on my P5B before I sold it. It's a 2.1 card and had no problems at all.

Same board or a different version of P5B? Some have BIOS updates after the release of the first ver2.1 cards.

 

[rwpritchett]

It wasn't the same board, but it didn't had a BIOS update since 2008 also. Asus is pretty good about compatibility from my experience.