Curse

awesome sauce · Jun 14, 2006, 08:01 PM // 20:01

Up until now I have been running off of onboard graphics, but now i've realized that theyre not cutting it anymore. Finally i've decided to go ahead and buy my very first ever video card. But.... I have a few questions. I've narrowed my search down to these four cards.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102483
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814161165
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814142052
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102496

Which one is best? My computer is factory built and doesn't have very good cooling. I would also like the card to last at least a year or two. The second one is the one that I'm looking most seriously at.

I know that these are all ATI but my computer's manual highly discourages anything other than ATI. I realize that this is likely a marketing strategy but i'd rather be safe than sorry.

Also, will it add any extra stress on my psu and will I need to check if my psu can handle it?

Finally, will there be any extra cords/fans I should buy with it?

Any help will be appreciated, thanks.

Lurid · Jun 14, 2006, 08:24 PM // 20:24

I know you don't want to hear this, but in a pre-built I would not upgrade to a very power hungry GPU. In fact I wouldn't even upgrade the GPU until I had upgraded the PSU. As most OEM PSU's barely run the system, putting stress on an already horrid PSU is just asking for trouble.

The manual is full of it, no system will run ATI any better than nVidia. Just as certain games say that "ATI to the Fullest" or whatever, its all marketing. Just get whichever has the most bang for your buck. You do know the difference between AGP, PCI-E, and PCI, correct? As your decisions are limited by these slots.

What are your full system specifics? As merely upgrading the GPU doesn't always boost performance to the levels you payed for. A powerful GPU can be severly bottle knecked by a slow CPU or lack of memory....

awesome sauce · Jun 14, 2006, 08:29 PM // 20:29

1 gb ram
200 gb HD
2.4 ghz athlon 64 3400+
Pci-e x16
128 mb integrated ati radeon xpress
I'm not sure exactly how to check my psu specs.

I have a friend with a similar computer who upgraded his to radeon 9800pro without changing the psu. He hasnt had any problems, but if you really think it's necessary i could change the psu. However, my computer manual seems like it condones a video upgrade.

sumasage · Jun 14, 2006, 08:38 PM // 20:38

If you are looking at going with the X800XL line, check out this article http://www.techpowerup.com/articles/.../vidcard/127/2

get more for your money.

Lurid · Jun 14, 2006, 08:39 PM // 20:39

It depends on your PSU specifics. Upgrading the video would probably help the most here, so thats your best bet. Everything else looks ok. Open the case, and look at the side sticker of the PSU, on it there should be a chart with amperages. You'll see something along the lines of 3.3v @ so many amps, 5.5v @ so many amps, and 12v @ so many amps. Copy that down and post it here.

Nickelocene · Jun 14, 2006, 08:43 PM // 20:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by awesome sauce

1 gb ram
200 gb HD
2.4 ghz athlon 64 3400+
Pci-e x16
128 mb integrated ati radeon xpress
I'm not sure exactly how to check my psu specs.

I have a friend with a similar computer who upgraded his to radeon 9800pro without changing the psu. He hasnt had any problems, but if you really think it's necessary i could change the psu. However, my computer manual seems like it condones a video upgrade.

Open up your case to check your PSU to see what kind of wattage it provides. Most OEM PSUs are kinda low end, meaning low wattage output. I believe this is what Lurid tried to say. Many good video card now requires 300w or higher. My Nvidia 7600 asks for 450w to run smoothly. for the second one you choose, it requires 350w at least. With other parts in your system, I'd say you need a PSU at least 450w. Also, many video cards require a separate power supply connector from your PSU. You need to check if it's available. Of course, I believe you can use extension cable if you have to.
From your system specification, yours is not too bad. You shouldn't have any problem playing most of nowaday games. You shouldn't have problem with GW for sure.

Lurid · Jun 14, 2006, 08:47 PM // 20:47

Its not only the wattage though, the amperage matters as much if not more, depending on what you mean. If the rail that the most current is drawn from is weaker, then the system can become unstable. The forumala for figuring wattage is such that the main rail can be underpowered, but still produce a large wattage.

Nickelocene · Jun 14, 2006, 08:49 PM // 20:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lurid

Its not only the wattage though, the amperage matters as much if not more, depending on what you mean. If the rail that the most current is drawn from is weaker, then the system can become unstable. The forumala for figuring wattage is such that the main rail can be underpowered, but still produce a large wattage.

Agreed.
But for a system performance point, you don't want to underpower any parts unless you have to.

awesome sauce · Jun 14, 2006, 08:58 PM // 20:58

Input: 100-127v/6A
200-240v/3A
60/50 hz

Output:
+12v/15A
+5v/30A
+3.3v/28A
-12v/.8A
+5vsb/2A
+ 5v & 3.3v 180 w. max
+5v & +12v & +3.3v 228w. max
300 w. max

Lurid · Jun 14, 2006, 09:07 PM // 21:07

I wouldn't go anywhere until I upgraded that PSU. The main rail is just too underpowered IMO.

awesome sauce · Jun 14, 2006, 09:10 PM // 21:10

What psu would you reccomend?

Lurid · Jun 14, 2006, 10:53 PM // 22:53

Hm...probably the...XCLIO 450BL or...FSP 400w 2.0

awesome sauce · Jun 15, 2006, 01:48 AM // 01:48

Thanks. I'm glad I asked here first instead of going right ahead and buying it.