Graphics Card Help, Please?

[Dupin]

I'm buying a graphics card so I can play Modern Warfare 2, even though I bought it almost a year ago and Black Ops will be out soon.

 

I don't want the one listed as a requirement, as it would probably be outdated by now. So, the first question:

 

1. What is a good graphics card to buy, without going into the hardcore stuff? I don't have a specific price range, but I don't need anything extreme.

 

I have a custom-built desktop ordered off the internets, and I think I could probably change the graphics card myself. It seems simple based on what I've read, but

 

2. Is it a good idea to install a graphics card myself, having very little experience putting together computers?

 

 

Details:

The desktop was ordered custom from HP online.

[spoiler=specs]

Model: HP Pavilion p6210t

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?lc=en&dlc=en&cc=uk&lang=en&docname=c01911667&product=4065764#N1249

According to the link it has a PCIE slot.

 

[spoiler=From CanYouRunIt]

CPU

You Have: Pentium® Dual-Core CPU E5400 @ 2.70GHz

PASS

 

CPU Speed

You Have: 2.70 GHz Performance Rated at: 4.05 GHz

PASS

 

RAM

[You Have: 3.0 GB

PASS

 

OS

 

You Have: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Edition (build 7600), 64-bit

PASS

 

Video Card Minimum: 256 MB NVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT or better or ATI Radeon 1600 XT or better

You Have: Intel® GMA 3100

Upgrade Suggested: Unfortunately, your Video Card does not meet this requirement.

Features: Minimum attributes of your Video Card

Required -- You Have

Video RAM 256 MB -- 256.0 MB

Hardware T&L Yes -- No

Pixel Shader version 3.0 -- 2.0

Vertex Shader version 3.0 -- 0.0

 

 

Sound Card

PASS

 

Free Disk Space

You Have: 499.6 GB

PASS

 

 

 

 

 

[Jernlov]

Screen resolution would be nice to know + I feel it might be tight with 250w. A low-profile card might be possible though. Graphics card is probably the simplest component of the computer to change as you can't really go wrong - plug it in, attach a power connector if you need to and there you have it.

[Dupin]

Alright, thanks.

 

Screen resolution is 1600 by 900. Monitor is HP 2009m.

 

Is the power output something I could change cheaply? Or am I stuck with the 250 Watts until I get a new computer?

[Dracion1]

How big is your case? If it's a small form/compact case you might have some trouble. I'm not sure what HP's cases are like, but when my Dad bought a Dell desktop with the release Windows 7 last year (and to haters, yes it's running fine without problems), you can't get into easily at all. You'd have to unscrew the metal panelling, and even then there's not a great deal of room inside. If it's got a bigger, easy to open case it shouldn't be too much hassle, it doesn't hurt to get someone to help if you're not sure what exactly to do though (find a friend who knows a bit about computers, buy him a pizza/beer and ask him to do it for you :P). If you do get a new PSU, do NOT get a cheap one. They can break and cause you a lot of unnecessary hassle. You won't need a really powerful one, 300 or 350W should do just fine.

 

In terms of what graphics cards you can get, I'd suggest either ATI's 5570 or 5670. I know that the 5570 has a very low power consumption (38W or something). There isn't much point getting anything more powerful than either of these cards, as your Processor/RAM will bottleneck performance. The 5670 will give better performance, but consumes a bit more power, and will cost extra. When I last checked, price wise the 5570 is $80, and the 5670 $95. Neither of these should need a power connector. I'm not a big fan of MW, but I have a Mobility 5650 in my laptop (somewhere between the two), and that runs it fine at 1600 x 900, with stuff on high and 2x AA.

[Dupin]

I have a DIY uncle who has built computers, and he came over to take a look yesterday. We measured the case and stuff, found that it was standard, and ordered a 550w PSU from Amazon for $65. I'm waiting to decide on a graphics card until I know the PSU will work.

 

Thanks for the response. I think the 550w psu opens up the possibility of some higher-end graphics cards. Would something better than the 5670 really be a waste of money? I was interested in the 5700s because I read the DirectX11 support means they'll work well with games in the future.

[OldJoe]

Link to psu thanks.

[Sbrideau]

Well, I'd also look at Nvidia models, some are very good as well. If you want I could go and check for you.

 

And to Dracion, I'm not really a hater, but when I see too many computers of the same brand having problems, I tend to tell people to stay away from that brand.

[Dupin]

I have an HP and it's been fine so far. It was wierd that I had a 250w psu when the card it was shipped with needed more than that, though.

 

Joe, the links are on my other computer. I'll post them in a bit when I get on that one.

 

Sbrideau, if you wouldn't mind looking, it would be great. I normally would do it myself, but I really have no idea what to look for in graphics cards. It's all a bunch of letters to me.

 

Oh, and some other important information (I think). I may be remembering this wrong, but I currently use a VGA cable (which apparently is from like the 70s), and the computer doesn't have an HDMI (or whichever one is the normal one used these days) connection thing. The monitor doesn't either, but it has DVI (if I remembered that right), so we would connect the monitor directly to the graphics card through a slot in the back of the CPU.

 

PSU links:

http://www.ocztechnology.com/products/power_management/ocz_550w_fatal1ty_series_power_supply

 

http://www.amazon.com/OCZ-OCZ550FTY-Fatal1ty-Power-Supply/dp/B001MTYS06

[jasignhagj]

DVI - VGA converters come with almost all boxed GPUs.

 

Before you decide on a card, you need to know how many 6+2 pin connectors your PSU has.

[AlexTeHowneR]

Chances are since you have a HP computer, the motherboard inside only has a PCIe 1.0 or 1.1 slot. Most if not all graphics cards today are on the PCIe 2.0 specification in order to prevent bottlenecks. Fortunately, MW2 isn't that demanding of a game at all, so you'll be able to get away with a mid-end card.

 

Edit:

HD 5670. $80

GTS 250. $100

GTS 450. $130

HD 5770. $140

 

Pick which one fits your price range best.

[Sbrideau]

My 4 year old HP computer has PCIe 2.0 in it.

 

I'll look into cards when I have time.

[AlexTeHowneR]

My 4 year old HP computer has PCIe 2.0 in it.

 

I'll look into cards when I have time.

 

Nonetheless, the cards I posted above should suit OP pretty well.

[Dupin]

Thank you all for your posts. The 5770 series was actually what I was looking at, although that specific one I rejected because it's got a quite a few negative reviews. Unfortunately, my graphics card has had to be put on hold indefinitely, and the PSU sent back :wall: :wall: You may continue posting advice if you wish, but it is no longer a matter that will see any actual progress, at least for the time being.

 

On the bright side, I did score some great speakers :D

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000RQSGYO/ref=cm_cr_asin_lnk

They should arrive today.

[OldJoe]

You rejected the HIS 5770? Why? Every card has negative reviews, HIS is a well known and respected brand. So don't let that put you off.

PSU sent back, why?

[Dupin]

You rejected the HIS 5770? Why? Every card has negative reviews, HIS is a well known and respected brand. So don't let that put you off.

PSU sent back, why?

Nothing to do with the PSU, just that I might not get a graphics card and the PSU was sent back before I could say I'd like to keep it anyways.