Need some help on new Video Card

[Falco]

Hey all. I want to buy a new graphics card and need some advice. I have read some articles here on the Tech Support but still need some help in general. Today I went to a local computer store and ask for the kind of video card they had. After many trash they told me that they could find/buy me a new card but that I needed to upgrade my power supply to around 770W. My question to you is if you could give me some advise as to what/where should I buy both the memory card and the power supply

Can spend around $150-$200 on video card
Power Supply- the cheaper the better (not so much money ATM)
Current Video Card- Integrated (Last one burned to dead)
Current Power Supple W- Max 350 W
RAM- 4G
Windows Professional S2 (idk if this is necessary... but just in case)
Computer- Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU
6600 @ 2.40GHz

Anything else you need to help just ask (and if possible tell where in the PC can I find it if it is PC related)THX!

 

[hybrid3030]

Will your motherboard take an after market videocard? You need to find out if its AGP, pci, or pci-e.

 

[M3dley]

GPU:
$179 / ($30 MIR = $149)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130317

PSU:

$109 ($20 MIR = $89)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005
$109($30 MIR = $79)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341002

Hope that helps. You should have a beastly machine with those.

 

[Falco]

Will your motherboard take an after market videocard? You need to find out if its AGP, pci, or pci-e.

It's PCe

 

[HardHat]

NewEgg's a very reputable name, i'd recommend buying from them.

As for the replacement Video Card: ASUS EN9800GT ULTIMATE 512 ($150) - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121266

Custom 9800GT with the full 128 Stream Processors. Clocked higher than just about every other 9800GT too. It's cheaper than the 9800GTX+, only requires a single 6-pin PCI-E connector, and performs on-par with it as well.

For the PSU: Antec Earthwatts EA500 500W ATX12V ($90) - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371007

Stable, should power the 9800GT without a problem, and is pretty cheap considering the quality.

Really, you dont want to skimp on the PSU. Much better off forking extra money out for a better quality PSU, than hundreds of dollars to replace parts that have been fried by a crappy power supply.

 

[Havegooda {A|R}]

Bah, stop recommending the 9800GT guys. It's the exact same thing as the 8800GT.

Medley is spot on really, those PSUs will do fine, and that GTS will serve you well for a long time (provided that you aren't playing Crysis).

~Gooda~

 

[FiRESAUCE]

Nvida: 8800GT or G92 GTS.. Or if you got more GTX 260+ or the GTX 280

ATi: 4850 or 4870.. If you got more cash then the 4870x2 or the 4850x2 (If that came out as well).

 

[HardHat]

No...the Asus 9800GT is not any ordinary 9800GT or 8800GT. For all intents and purposes, the Asus 9800GT is more like a 8800GTS 512, but with higher clocks, and performance pretty much identical to that of a 9800GTX.

That 8800GTS 640 is approaching 2 years old now...why buy old tech when the 9800GT im recommending is a better overall card, and is at the same price?

 

[Havegooda {A|R}]

There's a GTS 512 that performs very well (G92 core, instead of G80 like the 640 or whatever the heck the other one is).

Read: Every 9800GT is the exact same physical core/specs as the 8800GT. Only difference is a pretty new sticker on the cooler and perhaps a slightly higher clock speed.

Nvidia has been passing around (or was at least) the 9800GT BIOS so that manufacturers could flash their old stock to 9800GTs. Regular consumers can find a leaked copy and do the exact same thing.

EDIT: Unless something major happened in the last week or so...

http://www.edgegamers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=42355&highlight=9800GT
^ One of the comparison cards was removed (no idea why), but you can still see the reaction.

~Gooda~

 

[DirtDog]

i agree with havegooda, g92 will do you fine for a couple of years and thats including if your RIG isnt factory and know how to use RT . i suggest you go to TigerDirect and get 2nd day shipping, its comes within the first week you order it (give or take 10days) and Newegg has problems with sending items that arrive DOA(deadonarrival).

 

[Falco]

Thanks you all guys for the great help that you have given me. I'm actually about to buy the items in a couple of minutes from now. Hope that they are compatible with the rest of my PC. Thx again.