Video Card Upgrade

[Giordano]

I traded my computer with my parents to get a better CPU and RAM for video editing. Problem is, theirs had quite a low graphics card. I can't play hardly any games and (my first question) I think this reduces my FPS?

 

So anyway,these are my specs and this one part I have some concern over.

 

Video graphics

 

* Integrated graphics using nVidia GeForce 6150SE

* Also supports PCI Express x16 graphics cards*

 

 

 

NOTE: *Either integrated graphics or the PCI Express x16 slot are usable at one time; they are not usable concurrently.

So I won't have the extra 128mb (GeForce 6150SE)if I insert a new graphics card. Okay, so the new card has to be pretty damn good. My second question what would be a good "PCI Express x16" graphic card would be good to play games such as WoW, TF2, high-ended RTS, and (if) maintain 30 FPS when using Fraps?

 

Your help is very appreciated!

[Quorra]

I suggest anything higher than a 512mb 9600GT

[Giordano]

Yeah that's what i figured. Is there anything I need to know to make sure it will be compatible other than the 9600GT?

[Sbrideau]

Make sure your power supply is strong enough for the card. Also Anything is better than an integrated card, so yeah, the PCI-e x16 is the standard used for the cards nowadays, so don't buy an agp or pci card.

[Vidi]

Open up your case and check out what the PSU is rated. Some PCI-E graphics cards also require power from the PSU as well, although I don't know if a 9600GT requires that. When you find out what your PSU wattage is, and also if it has a 6 pin PCI-E power connector, you can start looking at cards to buy, usually on prebuilt PC's the PSU's supplied with it is just powerful enough to get you buy and not intended for upgrades.

[Quorra]

Open up your case and check out what the PSU is rated. Some PCI-E graphics cards also require power from the PSU as well, although I don't know if a 9600GT requires that. When you find out what your PSU wattage is, and also if it has a 6 pin PCI-E power connector, you can start looking at cards to buy, usually on prebuilt PC's the PSU's supplied with it is just powerful enough to get you buy and not intended for upgrades.

I have a 9600gt and yes it does need the 6 pin connector. I have a 500 watt PSU.

[Dracion1]

What are the rest of the specs of your computer? No point getting a nice graphics card if your processor is really slow, it will just act as a bottleneck on the rest of your system.

 

Anyway, a 9600GT will be fine for running TF2 and WoW. I had an 8600GT in my old PC which ran TF2 fine on highest settings at 30fps (1280 x 1024), so the 9600 will be better. If you want an ATI card instead, the 5670 is the one to get. It doesn't need a connector from the PSU and runs slightly cooler, though it's probably a bit more expensive.

[OldJoe]

Well, your PSU is only 300w, so you'll need to replace that aswell.

This is his computer: http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01800256&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=uk&lang=en&product=3984261

[PeaceBoy]

Hello Nick, You basically have the default integrated graphics that came with the computer. You can easily buy a card that's better than a 6150SE. Just make sure you have the adequate power supply to support a graphics card that needs a 6pin power connector.

 

Couple suggestions:

EVGA Video cards:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130529&cm_re=evga-_-14-130-529-_-Product

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130522&cm_re=evga-_-14-130-522-_-Product

 

Power Supplies:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171031&cm_re=cooler_master-_-17-171-031-_-Product

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171046&cm_re=cooler_master-_-17-171-046-_-Product

 

If you need advice on how to install the hardware give me a call.

[Jernlov]

Think he would want more power than a 220/240; for gaming you should probably be looking at something closer to a 250 minimum. I dunno, maybe a 240 would pass if you wanted to play at something like 1024x768 or possibly 1280x1024 at a mix of medium/high settings, but hardly anyone uses either of those resolutions any more. Definitely don't get a 220 though, it's aimed at HTPCs.

 

I'm using an older 8800GTS and it's still going strong performance-wise - I could max TF2 with a consistent framerate if my CPU wasn't a slight bottleneck. It gets hot though and I'm not talking about 50-60C, it's closer to 85 under load.

 

I'd say look into a 9000-series nVidia such as a 9600GSO/GT; those would probably go perfectly with a 7550 seeing as it's only two levels under my CPU. If you want to spend more, look into a GTS250.

[PeaceBoy]

I see what you're trying to say, but he only has the default cooling from the manufacturer and has no sort of aftermarket cooling. Geforce 250s+ can heat up pretty easily without the adequate cooling. Nick isn't in high end gaming so a 220/240 will last him for a while, not to mention it will cost him much less.

[Vidi]

I see what you're trying to say, but he only has the default cooling from the manufacturer and has no sort of aftermarket cooling. Geforce 250s+ can heat up pretty easily without the adequate cooling. Nick isn't in high end gaming so a 220/240 will last him for a while, not to mention it will cost him much less.

 

There's a difference between hot and too hot. It'd run hot, but it shouldn't be a problem. A PC manufacture wouldn't release a PC in a case with so poor airflow that it causes any graphics card to over heat. Many, many people run high end video cards, or cards way way faster than a 220/240 with only a CPU fan, maybe 1 case fan and the GPU fan and they do fine. The cards onboard cooling will do fine, if you're that paranoid just buy a graphics card that has an aftermarket cooler, but it's certainly not required. An nVidia 9600GT/9800GT or an ATI 4850/4870/4890 are relatively cheap, and offer great peformance for the price. But obviously, as said many times, make sure you have a decent power supply.

[Sbrideau]

Agreed on an older card. I have one of the older lines of cards too, I have a Nvidia 9800GT 512MB, and it still performs very well, I get as high as 95FPS when playing CoD4 on maxed settings at 1920x1080, so I believe it to be a good card for its price:

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121352&cm_re=9800gt-_-14-121-352-_-Product

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130534&cm_re=9800gt-_-14-130-534-_-Product

 

peaceboy, those power supplies have quite a low output on the 12 rail. Plus first of those is actually a 450W, they seem to be inducing customers in error to sell more, says a review.

[PeaceBoy]

I was suggesting budget psu's and video cards. If Nick wanted I could give a list of good and stable hardware which is a little bit more costly though.

 

I also wasn't saying that the video card might overheat. But constant idling at high temps can damage the video card and ultimately cause the video card to die.

 

By the way, those are some decent video cards sbrideau, I always buy from ASUS or EVGA.

[Jernlov]

I also wasn't saying that the video card might overheat. But constant idling at high temps can damage the video card and ultimately cause the video card to die.

 

I think most cards, especially nVidia models, are built to withstand heat. For example, mine idles at 75C and has idled at that since just after I owned it. Never had a single problem with it.

 

Would still recommend a 9600GSO/GT fully though, nothing like the 8600 that came before it. Very good price/performance.

[Vidi]

I was suggesting budget psu's and video cards. If Nick wanted I could give a list of good and stable hardware which is a little bit more costly though.

 

I also wasn't saying that the video card might overheat. But constant idling at high temps can damage the video card and ultimately cause the video card to die.

 

By the way, those are some decent video cards sbrideau, I always buy from ASUS or EVGA.

 

 

Again, how are the temps gonna get so high? And by high I mean 90c+. Graphic cards can withstand high temps. The only way a graphics card could get hot enough to damage it is if the GPU fan/heatsink broke. Pretty much all modern graphics cards have a fail safe now so that shouldn't cause any problems.

 

As for PSU's, I'd recommend an OCZ, Cosair or Antec PSU, Cosiar being the best for PSU's and RAM. 500W-600W should do the trick.

[PeaceBoy]

I agree with you, Most modern models are built to withstand heat. "If" he chose to buy an older model then it's a different story, but he's most likely going to buy a newer model.

 

And Corsair is the way to go for PSUs. G Skill ram is also very good I have to say, I replaced my old Kingston DDR2 2gbs with two 4gb sticks of GSkill ram and overclocked the frequencies to 1200 (default 800Mhz). The heatsinks on the ram is pretty efficient and the cost was only 110 when I bought it.