Video/Graphics Cards?

[bradc1988]

I have a 3 year old GeForce4 graphics card and I want to upgrade because these holidays I'm going to be playing a lot of new games. So I was wondering how do you upgrade cards? What card should I get?

My computer is a mixture that a store put together. I think the specs are 2.4ghz, 80gb HD, 512 ram and that's all I know. If that helps.

Thanks in advanced :thumb:

[JohnXDoe]

You're in Australia so I'm not going to provide any links for purchase, but a good card that is under $150 here in the states is an Nvidia 6600GT. A good card in the $200 price range ia an Nvidia 6800. Not to be confused with a 6800 Ultra, which will cost you more. And don't confuse the 6600GT with a regular 6600. It has to say GT. The 6600GT does a great job with old and new games alike.

Upgrading is easy. I'm assuming you have an AGP slot because of your GeForce4. You simply uninstall your old video driver, disconnect all from your computer, open the case and unfasten the retaining screw on the card, pull it out, push the new card in, and refasten the screw. That's pretty much it. Then hook everything back up and install the new driver that comes on the disk supplied with the new card. That should be enough to get you started. You can download the latest driver to get you started if you want. Or wait until later. I waited until I had everything up and running for a few days.

For these cards you'll also want to make sure you have a proper power supply.You'll need at least a 300 watt PS minmum to run any of these cards. And 350 watt is even better. In the case of the 6600GT it connects directly to the PS for it's juice, so it's kind of important. I don't know about the others. I myself have a PS that pumps out 250 watts constant and 350 watts max, and that has been plenty.

If you can you may also want to grab another 512mb of RAM. It makes a difference so far as running some games smoothly no matter what card you have. When I upgraded I got a 6600GT and another 512mb of RAM for just under $200 total. Great upgrade. I couldn't be happier. Except maybe with another 512mb of RAM or so.

Anyway, there are other less expensive cards out there in the budget catagory, but the ones above are your best bet for playing all games without a hitch. And I figure since you already have Nvidia you may want to stick with them. Oh, I have a p4 2.8, btw. So although your p4 2.4 might be a bit underpowered by todays standards, it should be enough to push the entire thing along.

[bradc1988]

Wow thanks man. Just one question though, how do I check the strength of my power supply?

[The Digital Pimp]

It will say on the power supply, you'll have to open up your PC.

[bradc1988]

Ok I'm looking up some at the moment on ebay and there are 128mb ones and 256mb ones. Which one do I want?

[JohnXDoe]

Well, which are you looking at? Since you already have 512mb of system RAM I wouldn't pay much more for 256mb on a 6600GT. 128mb on that card is fine. I think the 6800 and 6800 Ultra are standard 256mb cards. Atlhough I could be mistaken. I would say 128mb on a 6600GT is plenty. And I believe the 6600GT comes only with that amount. But again, I could be mistaken.

[Yppolitia]

Well, which are you looking at? Since you already have 512mb of system RAM I wouldn't pay much more for 256mb on a 6600GT. 128mb on that card is fine. I think the 6800 and 6800 Ultra are standard 256mb cards. Atlhough I could be mistaken. I would say 128mb on a 6600GT is plenty. And I believe the 6600GT comes only with that amount. But again, I could be mistaken.

Im getting the 6600GT on 128MB. Very nice card - my friend has one and its suppose to be great for the money.

[bradc1988]

Yeah I was look the 6600GT 128mb ones. They are going for $215 Australian which I think sounds good?!? I'll ask a few friends of mine to help me out though, they might be able to get me a really good deal.

Thanks for your help everybody :thumb:

[Yppolitia]

Yeah I was look the 6600GT 128mb ones. They are going for $215 Australian which I think sounds good?!? I'll ask a few friends of mine to help me out though, they might be able to get me a really good deal.

Thanks for your help everybody :thumb:

Good luck. Just make sure you install its properly or you could do some serious damage.

[JohnXDoe]

Good luck. Just make sure you install its properly or you could do some serious damage.

That's right. When you get around to it just remember the little stuff like not changing the cards while standing on a carpet. The static electricity can zap your motherboard. And upon opening your case, before you touch anything, ground yourself by touching the inner wall of the case for a few seconds. And don't touch any of the components/circuitry on the new card. Hold it only by the edges. Again, static electricity could zap it. These things are very sensitive to it.

$215 Australian sounds reasonable, I suppose. I don't know the exchange rate. But being that not more then a year ago these cards were going for upwards of $250 American and still considered a bargain, is a good indication of just how solid the 6600GT is.

[Imrik]

Im getting the 6600GT on 128MB. Very nice card - my friend has one and its suppose to be great for the money.

It certainly is. Very nice card, I've got the PNY model and the fan is a little noisy, but it's not much of a problem and I hear it can be replaced easily. If you want to fork out a little more cash go for the XFX model, I think thats a bit better, but I’m not sure.

[Glass Onion]

I'm thinking of upgrading my video card and after reading this topic I'm guessing a 6600GT is a decent card. I'm just using the one thats built into my motherboard at the moment.

After looking around I found this one (http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=81344) and other similer ones with the 6600GT in like this one (http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=12454606868&action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=94362).

My system specs are 1.79ghz (sometimes 2.x depending on its mood) AMD Athon 64 processor and 1GB of RAM, though my system thing is only listing it as 960MBs.

[Imrik]

After looking around I found this one (http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=81344)

Thats the exact one that I have, very good AGP card.

[Der Meister]

buy a static wrist band, you simply stick it into the earth in a plug and put it on your wrist, it makes working with components alot easier.

[JohnXDoe]

Thats the exact one that I have, very good AGP card.

I have the PNY make myself. It's been nothing but great. Doom3 is amazing with it. With a lower end card when I played that game I couldn't see what the big deal could be about so far as the graphics are concerned. It's dark and dreary. But with the 6600GT, and other similar cards of course, the difference becomes clear. Huge difference. You get to see everything. And as it was meant to be seen.

Anyway, like I was saying I've had the PNY model for about a month and a half now, and it's great. And the fan on mine isn't noisy. Although I've heard that is a problem on some as another poster pointed out. Mine is very quiet. I can barely here it, if at all.

[Imrik]

Mine is very quiet. I can barely here it, if at all.

Hmm..I'll have to check mine out and make sure nothing is wrong with it.

[bradc1988]

Yeah I know a little about ESD and stuff like that. I'll get my Dad, who is an electrician, to help me do it, he always knows something about everything.

Thanks again everyone :thumb:

[JohnXDoe]

I'm thinking of upgrading my video card and after reading this topic I'm guessing a 6600GT is a decent card. I'm just using the one thats built into my motherboard at the moment.

After looking around I found this one (http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=81344) and other similer ones with the 6600GT in like this one (http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=12454606868&action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=94362).

My system specs are 1.79ghz (sometimes 2.x depending on its mood) AMD Athon 64 processor and 1GB of RAM, though my system thing is only listing it as 960MBs.

Either of those would do nicely. As I said before I have the PNY model and it's great. Sounds like you may have a newer computer. Make sure when you get the card it's the right card for the bus. Your motherboard will either support PCI-e or AGP. Rarely do they support both. So just make sure you get the right card type (AGP or PCI-e) for the mobo.

I know this is obvious to many, but you would be surprised to how many it's not. Or maybe you wouldn't be surprised? But whatever the case, check it out before you buy if you are not certain already.

[bradc1988]

Wait a second, AGP? PCI-e?

EDIT: Well I just looked up the details about my card and it mentions being connected to the PCI bus so what does that mean?

[JohnXDoe]

Wait a second, AGP? PCI-e?

EDIT: Well I just looked up the details about my card and it mentions being connected to the PCI bus so what does that mean?

Well, it can mean one of two things. It can mean you don't have an AGP slot, or it can mean you have an AGP slot but whoever put your computer together went ahead and put a PCI card in for whatever reason.

You will need to find out if you motherboard supports AGP. How to do this I'm not exactly sure unless you have some sort of system checking software. I'm not sure if you can do it through device manager. I think you can open the case and look for it. It's a stand alone slot and I believe it is color coded brown. Should be toward the rear of the box.

Whatever the case, if you find you have an AGP slot you are good to go with the 6600GT. If you do not have an AGP slot you will be left with very limited choices for a PCI card. PCI is not the same as PCI-e, and a PCI-e card will not work in a PCI slot. PCI-e is the newest technology. It is even taking the place of AGP. If you don't have an AGP your choices will be limited to budget cards like the Nvidia FX5200. In which case it will still be an improvement over what you have. Chaintech makes a decent FX5200 with 256mb on it. $63 American. You can find other makers with prices as low as $50. Don't expect spectacular performance, especially with a p4 2.4. But it will get the job done for most games on mixed settings.

[surfordie12]

Wait a second, AGP? PCI-e?
try checking the spec stickers on the front of your computer

[bradc1988]

try checking the spec stickers on the front of your computer

Mine didn't come with stickers. I have a book somewhere though that has all my specs in I think. I just have to find that.

[surfordie12]

Mine didn't come with stickers. I have a book somewhere though that has all my specs in I think. I just have to find that.
oh what a bummer

[Crapdragoon]

Most computers over a few months old dont have pci-e so forget it.

most computers have 8x agp slots now a days.

[Brooxy]

Well go for a GeForce 6xxx series if you can in AGP.

(unless you have pci-e, then get it in that)

I've had a 6200fx for the last few months now, seems to handle everything i've got, including the stuff my old 5800 had a struggle with. Doesn't cost much either. :thumb:

[bradc1988]

Just an update;

I have a AGP port thing, found out from startup menus, and I have a power supply that is 250 watts max. I'm most likely going to get the 6600GT so I'll probably need a new power supply right?

[JohnXDoe]

Just an update;

I have a AGP port thing, found out from startup menus, and I have a power supply that is 250 watts max. I'm most likely going to get the 6600GT so I'll probably need a new power supply right?

I've heard of them running on 250 watt power supplies, but it's not advisable, IMO. Even most makers recommend minimum 300-350 watt PS's for this card. If you don't have anything else on your computer that sucks juice like a sound card or extra fans and lights and what not, that would be a plus. But better safe then sorry, I think. The worst that could happen is you would kill your PS and need to get a new one, anyway. Most likely the system would just crash on you, though. Either way I would say a good but inexpensive PS would do you some good.

[bradc1988]

I've heard of them running on 250 watt power supplies, but it's not advisable, IMO. Even most makers recommend minimum 300-350 watt PS's for this card. If you don't have anything else on your computer that sucks juice like a sound card or extra fans and lights and what not, that would be a plus. But better safe then sorry, I think. The worst that could happen is you would kill your PS and need to get a new one, anyway. Most likely the system would just crash on you, though. Either way I would say a good but inexpensive PS would do you some good.

Yeah I think I definately need a new power supply. I think a lot of the problems with my computer stem from my current one. The search begins.

Thanks for all your help man :thumb:

[Phalanx]

don't get a Powersupply for the graphics card, get a powersupply because 250watt is really low

[bobby__johnny]

PSU's arent that much anyway really. you can find 350/400 watt supplies for around 100 bucks or so

[Phalanx]

PSU's arent that much anyway really. you can find 350/400 watt supplies for around 100 bucks or so

and the ones that price are good quality, you can be cheap and get the really cheap crappy ones which will blow up after a year or so. Don't skimp out, get a decent powersupply