Upgrade wanted for GE7300 LE Graphics card :)

[alyndavies]

Hi everyone, I want to try and upgrade my graphics card, sadly I don't really know too much about computers, enough to reinstall windows, change memory sticks and clean the cpu etc, but not enough to understand how all the computer components work together. If any of you in this community have the time I'd appreciate some help on what Graphics card would be a decent upgrade for my system.

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE:
The Graphics card says March 2006. Though I'm not sure if the card is that old because my computer had a new Motherboard a year and a half ago and I have upgraded bits to it over time.
If the question refers to when I will but the card then I will buy it as soon as I can identify something suitable.

BUDGET RANGE:
The cheaper the better but I want one that's suitable for the computer I have.
£100 ($130) or less would be good, though I'd also like something that will make the most out of my computer.

USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT:
A good one for World Of Warcraft, would be ideal. My computer is specifically for gaming.

CURRENT GPU AND POWER SUPPLY:
Current GPU = GeForce 7300 LE
Power Supply = Win Power, ATX 650W, EPNC12 - 650 watt

OTHER RELEVANT SYSTEM SPECS:
Motherboard = Nvidia, nForce 720a, GF8100VM -M5,
RAM = 4GB, (2 x sticks sticks, 2GB each)
OS = Windows XP, 32 bit
CPU = AMD Athlon(tm) 64 x X2 Duel Core Processor 3800+

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS:
Amazon or Ebay.

PARTS PREFERENCES:
When I looked at the speces for my current graphics card it said it is "PCI Express" and "DDR2"
There does seem to be plenty of space behind the card if I get a longer one, though if it is much longer it will be over the mother board battery.

OVERCLOCKING: No, don't know how to do it, and would prefer not to fiddle with the computer.
SLI OR CROSSFIRE: No idea what it is.

MONITOR RESOLUTION:
Current = 1280 x 1024
Work resolution = 1280 x 994

Thank you for any help or advice anyone can give me

 

[whooleo]

Sweet, I love these old PCs. You could go on eBay and look for an 8800 GT/9800 GT or 9600 GSO (make sure it's the one with 96 shaders): http://www.ebay.com/itm/EVGA-Corporation-NVIDIA-GeForce-9600-GSO-384-P3-N965-RX-/170863042795?pt=PCC_Video_TV_Cards&hash=item27c83b20eb

If you want something new check out a GeForce 430/440 or Radeon 6570 but if you go used on eBay you'll get a better deal.

I wouldn't go higher than a 8800 GT/9800 GT due to your CPU.

If you don't mind old cards with DirectX 9.0c but cheap check out a GeForce 7900 GS on eBay.

 

[alyndavies]

Thanks very much for the reply.
I'm assuming from your post that higher numbers mean the video card is better, if it's from the same make.

Looking at your post it would seem I don't necessarily have to have a Nvidia video card for my nvidia mother board.

Would this graphics card be suitable for me?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/nVidia-Geforce-GF-9600GS-PCI-E-768MB-DDR2-HDMI-DVI-TV-/150830764377?pt=UK_Computing_Computer_Components_Graphics_Video_TV_Cards_TW&hash=item231e36d159

 

[whooleo]

Thanks very much for the reply.
I'm assuming from your post that higher numbers mean the video card is better, if it's from the same make.

Looking at your post it would seem I don't necessarily have to have a Nvidia video card for my nvidia mother board.

Would this graphics card be suitable for me?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/nVidia-Geforce-GF-9600GS-PCI-E-768MB-DDR2-HDMI-DVI-TV-/150830764377?pt=UK_Computing_Computer_Components_Graphics_Video_TV_Cards_TW&hash=item231e36d159

That card is a bit too weak and it's actually an OEM card so I can't find much info on it but it's definitely weaker than a 9600 GSO or 9800 GT/8800 GT. With in the same model # yes higher is faster i.e. 9600 GSO is weaker than 9800 GT. as long as the card is a PCI-E card it will work.

This here is good: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GEFORCE-MSI-N9800-GT-512-MB-/190691500601?pt=UK_Computing_Computer_Components_Graphics_Video_TV_Cards_TW&hash=item2c66196239

 

[alyndavies]

thanks again but someone beat me to it lol

this one maybe?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nvida-Geforce-9800gt-512mb-ddr3-pci-e-Graphics-video-/280711877748?pt=PCC_Video_TV_Cards&hash=item415bbb5474#ht_2043wt_1344

 

[whooleo]

The 8800 GT is the same as the 9800 GT.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/XFX-GeForce-8800GT-512MB-ALPHA-DOG-EDITION-/251079174980?pt=UK_Computing_Computer_Components_Graphics_Video_TV_Cards_TW&hash=item3a757c2b44

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Used-Palit-GeForce-GT-8800-512-MB-Graphics-Card-/110894178509?pt=UK_Computing_Computer_Components_Graphics_Video_TV_Cards_TW&hash=item19d1cee0cd

 

[ashesofempires04]

There's no point in buying anything more powerful than a 9800GT, which you can get for pretty cheap, if you can get them at all anymore. Stepping up to a 5xxx AMD or 200 series Nvidia card would be a waste, as they are DX10+ cards, and your OS limits you to 9.0c.

That having been said, Amazon lists a bunch of 9800 GT's for around 50 USD used, or new at around 150 USD, which is far overpriced. If you're willing to spend the equivalent of 150 USD, then buy a 550 TI or equivalent AMD, and you won't have to buy a new card when you decide to upgrade to a DX11 capable OS.

 

[whooleo]

There's no point in buying anything more powerful than a 9800GT, which you can get for pretty cheap, if you can get them at all anymore. Stepping up to a 5xxx AMD or 200 series Nvidia card would be a waste, as they are DX10+ cards, and your OS limits you to 9.0c.

That having been said, Amazon lists a bunch of 9800 GT's for around 50 USD used, or new at around 150 USD, which is far overpriced. If you're willing to spend the equivalent of 150 USD, then buy a 550 TI or equivalent AMD, and you won't have to buy a new card when you decide to upgrade to a DX11 capable OS.

I've already explained this and we are hunting down cheap (around 35 pounds) 8800 GTs/9800 GTs on eBay.

 

[alyndavies]

Thanks again lads.

@ ashesofempries04, I don't really want to upgrade my Os from XP because a lot of the games I love to play, Star Trek Birth of The Federation, Armada, Theme Hospital and a lot of others only operate on XP. Sadly I can't run a lot of my older games on Vista or Windows 7.

Iv'e had a look at some of the graphics cards and some of them might be a bit wide for my computer because the card slot is against the box itself, so i'm not sure if that top one will fit in. I'll have to measure it and double check it.

 

[whooleo]

The XFX card I linked is a single slot card so it should be good.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/XFX-GeForce-8800GT-512MB-ALPHA-DOG-EDITION-/251079174980?pt=UK_Computing_Computer_Components_Graphics_Video_TV_Cards_TW&hash=item3a757c2b44

 

[alyndavies]

Thanks very much for all your help Whooleo, I have bought that card.
I managed to find aplace on the Nvidia website where they will scan your computer for it's graphics card and offer to upgrade your driver so with any luck things will run smoothly.

 

[whooleo]

Thanks very much for all your help Whooleo, I have bought that card.
I managed to find aplace on the Nvidia website where they will scan your computer for it's graphics card and offer to upgrade your driver so with any luck things will run smoothly.

No problem, and don't forget to choose best answer!