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PC hardware: New GFX card or more RAM
New GFX card or more RAM
by cellularcoffee - 5/28/06 7:41 PMI have some extra cash right now, and I'm thinking about upgrading my system. I'm currently debating between adding a new graphics card, probably the ATI All-In-Wonder Radeon X800 XL, or another 1 GB of RAM. Which one would boost performance more? I use the computer mostly for gaming, currently playing America's Army, Oblivion, Splinter Cell Chaos Theory, and a little Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter, but it lags so much I have a hard time playing it.
System Specs:
Windows XP Media Center
AMD Athlon X2 3800+
1 GB RAM
NVIDIA GeForce 6600
I'm not sure exactly what you need to know, but those are the basics
upgrade graphics....
by HKPK_2005 - 5/28/06 8:28 PM In reply to: New GFX card or more RAM by cellularcoffeeDefinetly upgrade your grasphics card before upgrading anything else. You already have a hefty CPU and a sufficient amount of RAM, but your 6600 isn't gonna get you anywhere when it comes to playing the high-graphical games. What you need is something like the ATI Radeon X1900XTX or the Nvidia 7900GTX, but those are way too expensive, so you could go for something like this...
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2151793&CatId=0
or...
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1927948&CatId=0
These cards will get you where you need to go...
Definitely GPU
by mcallij - 5/28/06 9:32 PM In reply to: New GFX card or more RAM by cellularcoffeeRight now, 1 GB RAM will get you through most of the games that are on the market. However, the GeForce 6600 is a little dated. I'm assuming that you're looking strictly at AGP cards. basically, you're left with three choices. If you want an Nvidia card, you have the GeForce 7800 GS. It's (probably) the last AGP card Nvidia will ever make, and it's able to take pretty much anything you throw at it. It's also about $280 or so. Then you have the ATI X800 that you're looking at. All-In-Wonder cards tend to have (at least from what I've read) poor TV tuners in them, so if that's why you're wanting it, and I'm assuming it is, since you have XP Media Center, you might want to go a different route. I'm going to recommend the Radeon x850xt. It takes up two expansion slots because of the fan, but it's cheaper than an All-in-Wonder (about $240), and it's a good card. Plus, since it is a little cheaper, it might allow you to start saving up for a PCI Express board for your next computer. AGP won't be around much longer.
PCIx
by cellularcoffee - 5/29/06 7:48 AM In reply to: Definitely GPU by mcallijI was definately thinking about going with PCI Express, and not AGP. I think that PCI Express is like twice as fast as AGP 8x. That was my fault, for got to mention I have a Gateway GT5028. Anyway, I know I have 1 PCIx slot and 1 regular PCI slot, but I'm not even sure if I have an AGP slot. I also forgot to mention my price cap is gonna be about $300.
How big are the advantages of getting a card with 512 MB of memory as opposed to 256? Here's one for $200 that seems decent but why isn't it way mroe expensive for the extra memory?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814125002
PCI express cards (PCIe)
by ramarc - 5/29/06 10:54 AM In reply to: PCIx by cellularcoffeedon't get an radeon x800 or geforce 6000 series gpu. you've got the budget, so get the latest and greatest... the radeon x1800/x1900 and radeon 7000 series.
$175: geforce 7600gt w/256MB
$190: radeon x1800gto w/256MB
$245: radeon x1800xt w/256MB
$275: radeon x1800xt w/512MB
$280: geforce 7900gt w/256MB
as for 256MB vs. 512MB, more memory won't make up for a lack of speed. let 512MB decide which GPU in the same class to get. from the list above, I'd get the radeon x1800xt w/256MB. if you want to spend you whole budget, get the x1800xt w/512MB since the x1800xt is as fast as a 7900gt.
P.S.: PCI-X is not PCI Express. Its an enhanced 64-bit version of PCI usually used in server products.
Thanks
by cellularcoffee - 5/31/06 1:29 PM In reply to: PCI express cards (PCIe) by ramarcThanks for the input ramarc, I think I'm gonna go with the 512 MB Radeon x1800xt, it sounds like a good card.
P.S. Haha I'm a dummy, I've never realized that PCIx wasn't PCI express
My opinion
by mcallij - 5/29/06 4:00 PM In reply to: PCIx by cellularcoffeeI'd agree with ramarc's post. ATI's cards tend to be better than Nvidia's in single-card configurations, which is what you'll have to run on your computer. And the x1800 line matches up pretty well with Nvidia's 7900GT. The only reason I'd say to think about the Nvidia is if you're going to be building/buying a new computer any time soon, and you're looking at a multicard configuration for that. Nvidia's SLI simply dominates ATI's Crossfire. But make sure that you have an extra expansion slot available if you get the x1800xt, since the fan takes up an extra slot. The 7900GT only takes up one slot if you don't have the extra expansion slot.
Also, memory isn't everything on cards. You have to look at things like memory speeds, core clock speed, and the drivers/software built into the cards. They make a huge difference. And in case you were wondering, you should have a PCIe x16 slot. I just searched for your Gateway and found that out.
video
by djujecmaoseoionnn - 7/30/06 1:12 PM In reply to: New GFX card or more RAM by cellularcoffeeIf your Mboard has PCI express slot already Upgrade to the Nvidia 7800 gt 256 or better if you can afford. I no PCI express. Buy new Mboard first then save for PCI express Card. Much wider bandwith and future potential
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