chaosclown17 said:
1. If I upgrade my graphics card extensively, do I need to upgrade my processor which is an Intel i3 Core 3.30 GHz?
2. I see mixed responses on how to go about upgrading an x51 due to it's small size. What's the best graphics card I can purchase for the x51, without having to make physical modifications or modifications to my power supply?
3. This is in part with question #2, would that graphics card last me a good few years? I don't want to upgrade if I'll have to upgrade again a year later.
4. How much cash should I be willing to dish out for the graphics card referred to in question #2 and #3? I don't want to burn a hole through my wallet but I do know these cards aren't cheap.
I am an X51 owner myself. Also looking to upgrade. I don't know all the answers, but I will try my best to give you what I think is correct.
1. I am not sure on this one.
2. Many people swear by the GTX 670. If you go that route you will need the reference model 2gb version. Anything higher will require modification. Though the 670 is not supported by Alienware. The highest performance card that is supported by Alienware is 660. Maybe a 660 ti but I am not sure. Remember, has to be reference model or you will need to modify. Your 330 should be o.k. But, some users have reported having to drop down to about 76% with the 670 to prevent overheating. Others have said they haven't had this problem.
3. This is an issue I am grappling with also. It seems that some people suspect 2gb vram will not be enough to handle most games on max when new consoles drop. As for playing the game on medium or so you should be good for at least two years. Probably more.
4. Reference model of a 670 is about 400$. The refrence model of a 660 is around 300$. With the 660ti being about 340$.
* I would upgrade to about a AMD 7850 (not sure if you have a PCI-e power connector in that system, the 7850 requires 1 PCI-e power connector).
* With your limited PSU power options, I wouldn't go much over a 7850 at this point, since it shouldn't require any modifications (assuming your GPU slot allows the GPU dimensions).
* The 7850 coupled with your i3 should be a good fit, so neither one is limiting your gaming experience too much. If you feel in a year or two that you don't have enough gaming power, you might consider building a new system around your current parts or just start from scratch.
* Than main issues/limitations are your GPU dimensions that the case can hold and whether or not you have a PCI-e power connector. If you don't have a PCI-e power connector than you will be limited to a 7770 or the like.
If you can measure the dimensions of your GPU space that you currently have, we could probably help you decide which GPU might fit in your case without any modifications. The other issue is whether or not you have a PCI-e power connector.