Thread: Graphics Card

Hey, I'm in the market for a new graphics card, I've got a pretty decent PC besides my current card which is a NVIDIA GeForce 7300LE+, it sucks with anything dealing with shading, and whatnot.... Anyway, so I'm wondering what's good on the market right now for cards, something that will last a few years at least. I'm willing to spend anywheres between like 250-500ish.

I have a 8800GTS 320mb and I'm running games like Portal and Half-Life 2 Episode 2 at MAX SETTINGS at like 1280x960 resolution.

It's freaking amazing...

Oh, by the way, here's the rest of my system information, just in case it helps with anything....

OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3 Build 2600
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name FAMILYROOM
System Manufacturer HP Pavilion 061
System Model EX332AA-ABA m7580n
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 15 Model 75 Stepping 2 AuthenticAMD ~2405 Mhz
BIOS Version/Date Phoenix Technologies, LTD 3.04, 14/06/2006
SMBIOS Version 2.4
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1
Locale United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "5.1.2600.5512 (xpsp.080413-2111)"
User Name FAMILYROOM\HP_Administrator
Time Zone Atlantic Daylight Time
Total Physical Memory 2,048.00 MB
Available Physical Memory 1.15 GB
Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.93 GB
Page File Space 3.85 GB

I'd like to be able to run games like Crysis, as well as any other new games that come out in there relative future.

How much power does your power supply give?

I had to upgrade mine to 500W to use my new graphics card.

And crysis? How much money are you willing to spend? You can get great custom built computers for like $1000 or less or something.

Originally Posted by slayer

How much power does your power supply give?

I had to upgrade mine to 500W to use my new graphics card.

And crysis? How much money are you willing to spend? You can get great custom built computers for like $1000 or less or something.

I'm not sure, how do I check how much power supply it gives? How much does it cost to upgrade that?

And like I said in my OP, I'm willing to spend about 250-500 for the card. I just bought this computer a year or two ago, so I'm not planning on getting a new PC for awhile now.

Oh you have more than enough. I only had $100 and I got everything I needed...but then again I got mine off of ebay...

To check how much power you have, shut down your computer COMPLETELY! Unplug your the black cord in the back of your computer for safety reasons. Take off the side of your computer and look at your Power Supply. There might be something that says like 400W or 550W or something.

And while your looking, make sure you have a PCI-E slot. You should have one if you got your computer 2-3 years ago.

Hm. I can help you, but I'll need your I.P. address, your Admin's password, and your Social Security number real quick.

Originally Posted by Bayside

Oh, by the way, here's the rest of my system information, just in case it helps with anything....

OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3 Build 2600
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name FAMILYROOM
System Manufacturer HP Pavilion 061
System Model EX332AA-ABA m7580n
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 15 Model 75 Stepping 2 AuthenticAMD ~2405 Mhz
BIOS Version/Date Phoenix Technologies, LTD 3.04, 14/06/2006
SMBIOS Version 2.4
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1
Locale United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "5.1.2600.5512 (xpsp.080413-2111)"
User Name FAMILYROOM\HP_Administrator
Time Zone Atlantic Daylight Time
Total Physical Memory 2,048.00 MB
Available Physical Memory 1.15 GB
Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.93 GB
Page File Space 3.85 GB

I'd like to be able to run games like Crysis, as well as any other new games that come out in there relative future.

edit: Oh and yea, I've got a 260GTX. It's probably the best you can get right now from nVidia. Of course, if you go ATi, you can get some okay cards, though you might consider moving your computer into the fridge.
Disregarding that, if you're getting a 260GTX, make sure you have enough room first. The card is ginormous.

edit 2: Regarding powersupplies, I upgraded to a 750 watt instead of my 520 watt PSU. The 260GTX requires 2xPCI-E 6xStick cables, or it won't have enough juice to run properly. Secondly, the VRAIL (graphicscard power rail) has to be of atleast 20 ampere or something along those lines. 520 watt PSUs usually only deliever 18 amperes. The 750 watt gave about 60, which is plenty enough. Got it for about $140.

Also, I suggest that you don't give up on getting the card, just because it isn't in stock in your local store. Order it and get it with the mail instead. I did that, and that spared me atleast $50.

Are there any specific stores that you can get video cards from? The only place around here I've seen that sells video cards, is Best Buy and Future Shop. Best Buy only had like four random cards I've never heard of, I don't think they were even nVidia or ATI, just random shit, and Future Shop doesn't have the 260GTX anywheres in my province even, so I'm not sure how I'd get it, and ordering online isn't really an option for me because I don't own a credit card.

Edit: Also, what do you think about this card? It's a good price, and it has good reviews, but as I say, I don't know much when it comes to video cards.

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/pro...0108453&catid=

Don't ask me, I live in Denmark. Try Amazon or something like that.