Upgrading graphics card! (HELP)

**Nemowork** · 09-15-2008, 02:08 PM

Had an Advent T9409 PC for the last year and its time i got round to upgrading the Graphics card from the standard NVidia GeForce 7100GS.

Im fairly familiar with changing hardware, fitting new hardrives, ports and so on but i havent done a Graphics card before.

So question 1, any suggestions on how far i can improve the graphics card without breaking the bank. Something like the nVidia GeForce 8800 GT seems like a decent upgrade for about £140, anything over that gets into silly money and i presume cooling issues?

Question 2. any absolutely essential tips on what not to do

dyslexia · 09-15-2008, 02:29 PM

I'd say go with the 8800GT if you have any idea whatsoever what your doing, its a solid and popular card.
Sticking to mainstream Nvidia/ATi release (as oppose to "mode cards" or "low range") is a good bet, as they are given much better support.
I've not had any problems in the system I installed an 8800GT in, so again I think its a good choice, however I feel obliged to warn you to stay away from Asus made cards, as I've had the only two I've ever owned die on me, other than that, smooth sailing

.

Dragon_Hunter · 09-15-2008, 03:14 PM

An answer to question 2. Make sure you get a card that will fit in to the slot on your MB. Does your MB have a standard PCI slot, an AGP slot, a PCIx-16 slot? Make sure you computer has a slot for the card you are trying to buy.

I don't really care for ATI cards, I like NVidia cards, with that in mind get the the fastest card with the most dedicated RAM you can for how much you are willing to spend. Just make sure it fits the slot on your MB.

bensonboo · 09-15-2008, 03:26 PM

The new 9600 cards are apparently within 5% of the performance of the 8800s for about half the price.
If your pc is a year old, it is almost certain to be pci-e.

**Nemowork** · 09-15-2008, 03:49 PM

See, thats the sort of technical (and confusing) detail i wouldnt have thought about

Dragon_Hunter · 09-15-2008, 03:55 PM

so what kind of a slot does you PC have Nemo?

**Nemowork** · 09-15-2008, 04:00 PM

1 x PCI Express x16 slot

Havent settled on any card yet just fishing around for possibilities.

tnharris33 · 09-16-2008, 02:08 AM

8800gt is one of the best video cards ever made

lost in melb. · 09-16-2008, 02:58 AM

I would go with an ATI 4850 for superb value for money. It'll whip the current high-end games and outperform the 8800GT for peanuts.

I've switched to ATI the last 2 vid. card generations just cause you get so much more bang for your buck than Nvidia.
Highly recommended

And the performance--->

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3338&p=6
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3338&p=10

Hal-9000 · 09-16-2008, 03:30 AM

Check slot type (which you've done)

Consider ATI or Nvidia (gaming, go Nvidia

)

Check bank account (I've done that, you're ok)

I run a Geforce 7900 GS KO, manufactured by Evga and has yet to break a sweat on games like Crysis or any graphic app you can throw at it.
With the 8800's, 9600's etc you may spend some cash.It's all about what you're going to put it though graphic wise

*unspoken tip...pc's can build pretty good static charges, turn the damn thing off before changing cards, get nekkid and cover yourself completely in vaseline before affecting the switch

tnharris33 · 09-16-2008, 06:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hal-9000

Check slot type (which you've done)

Consider ATI or Nvidia (gaming, go Nvidia

)

Check bank account (I've done that, you're ok)

I run a Geforce 7900 GS KO, manufactured by Evga and has yet to break a sweat on games like Crysis or any graphic app you can throw at it.
With the 8800's, 9600's etc you may spend some cash.It's all about what you're going to put it though graphic wise

*unspoken tip...pc's can build pretty good static charges, turn the damn thing off before changing cards, get nekkid and cover yourself completely in vaseline before affecting the switch

dont listen to him, just touch the psu's metal bits every now and again to dischage any static build up

ywn · 09-16-2008, 07:03 AM

also one thing to look at is the size of the card as some of the newer card are very long and might not fit in the case so take some mesuments and see what room you have

bensonboo · 09-16-2008, 09:58 AM

Just remembered, a lot of cards now need a dedicated power supply from the psu, check your psu has the correct connection and capacity for whatever card you choose.

lost in melb. · 09-16-2008, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hal-9000

Check slot type (which you've done)

Consider ATI or Nvidia (gaming, go Nvidia

)

Check bank account (I've done that, you're ok)

I run a Geforce 7900 GS KO, manufactured by Evga and has yet to break a sweat on games like Crysis or any graphic app you can throw at it.
With the 8800's, 9600's etc you may spend some cash.It's all about what you're going to put it though graphic wise

*unspoken tip...pc's can build pretty good static charges, turn the damn thing off before changing cards, get nekkid and cover yourself completely in vaseline before affecting the switch

Trust me, Atis a better buy nowadays (don't ask me how) - and this is coming from an Nvidia fanboy

**Nemowork** · 09-16-2008, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tnharris33

dont listen to him, just touch the psu's metal bits every now and again to dischage any static build up

Shhh!, you dont know how long it took us to convince him that was true

09-15-2008, 02:08 PM	#1
Nemowork Klompendance? Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Mobilis in Mobilii Posts: 25,359 Thanks: 6 Thanked 16 Times in 7 Posts	Upgrading graphics card! (HELP) Had an Advent T9409 PC for the last year and its time i got round to upgrading the Graphics card from the standard NVidia GeForce 7100GS. Im fairly familiar with changing hardware, fitting new hardrives, ports and so on but i havent done a Graphics card before. So question 1, any suggestions on how far i can improve the graphics card without breaking the bank. Something like the nVidia GeForce 8800 GT seems like a decent upgrade for about £140, anything over that gets into silly money and i presume cooling issues? Question 2. any absolutely essential tips on what not to do __________________ “A wise man is superior to any insults which can be put upon him, and the best reply to unseemly behavior is patience and moderation.” Moliere "You do the unseemly behavior, I'll handle the moderation" - Nemo

09-15-2008, 02:29 PM	#2
dyslexia Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: melbourne, Australia Posts: 411 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I'd say go with the 8800GT if you have any idea whatsoever what your doing, its a solid and popular card. Sticking to mainstream Nvidia/ATi release (as oppose to "mode cards" or "low range") is a good bet, as they are given much better support. I've not had any problems in the system I installed an 8800GT in, so again I think its a good choice, however I feel obliged to warn you to stay away from Asus made cards, as I've had the only two I've ever owned die on me, other than that, smooth sailing . __________________

09-15-2008, 03:14 PM	#3
Dragon_Hunter Crossed Fingers Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Soon to be homeless Posts: 15,326 Thanks: 27 Thanked 21 Times in 15 Posts	An answer to question 2. Make sure you get a card that will fit in to the slot on your MB. Does your MB have a standard PCI slot, an AGP slot, a PCIx-16 slot? Make sure you computer has a slot for the card you are trying to buy. I don't really care for ATI cards, I like NVidia cards, with that in mind get the the fastest card with the most dedicated RAM you can for how much you are willing to spend. Just make sure it fits the slot on your MB. __________________

09-15-2008, 03:49 PM	#5
Nemowork Klompendance? Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Mobilis in Mobilii Posts: 25,359 Thanks: 6 Thanked 16 Times in 7 Posts	See, thats the sort of technical (and confusing) detail i wouldnt have thought about __________________ “A wise man is superior to any insults which can be put upon him, and the best reply to unseemly behavior is patience and moderation.” Moliere "You do the unseemly behavior, I'll handle the moderation" - Nemo

09-15-2008, 03:55 PM	#6
Dragon_Hunter Crossed Fingers Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Soon to be homeless Posts: 15,326 Thanks: 27 Thanked 21 Times in 15 Posts	so what kind of a slot does you PC have Nemo? __________________

09-15-2008, 03:26 PM	#4
bensonboo Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,324 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	The new 9600 cards are apparently within 5% of the performance of the 8800s for about half the price. If your pc is a year old, it is almost certain to be pci-e.

09-15-2008, 04:00 PM	#7
Nemowork Klompendance? Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Mobilis in Mobilii Posts: 25,359 Thanks: 6 Thanked 16 Times in 7 Posts	1 x PCI Express x16 slot Havent settled on any card yet just fishing around for possibilities. __________________ “A wise man is superior to any insults which can be put upon him, and the best reply to unseemly behavior is patience and moderation.” Moliere "You do the unseemly behavior, I'll handle the moderation" - Nemo

09-16-2008, 02:08 AM	#8
tnharris33 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 744 Thanks: 3 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	8800gt is one of the best video cards ever made __________________ Free will is an illusion - An omnipotent Being knows EVERYTHING, including the future, so he knows what we are going to do next.

09-16-2008, 02:58 AM	#9
lost in melb. Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Way Down Under Posts: 2,779 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	I would go with an ATI 4850 for superb value for money. It'll whip the current high-end games and outperform the 8800GT for peanuts. I've switched to ATI the last 2 vid. card generations just cause you get so much more bang for your buck than Nvidia. Highly recommended And the performance---> http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3338&p=6 http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3338&p=10 __________________

09-16-2008, 07:03 AM	#12
ywn Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: aus Posts: 140 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	also one thing to look at is the size of the card as some of the newer card are very long and might not fit in the case so take some mesuments and see what room you have __________________ thx goofy for the sig

09-16-2008, 09:58 AM	#13
bensonboo Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,324 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Just remembered, a lot of cards now need a dedicated power supply from the psu, check your psu has the correct connection and capacity for whatever card you choose.

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