video card suggestions

[Wimbo]

I am getting a "new" pc Wednesday. New in that it is new to me, but not really new... it's a "hand-me-down". It is an upgrade over my current PC, however. I think it has a Core2Duo 8400 processor, 4GB RAM, 250GB hard drive, and Win7 Pro 64bit. However, it only comes with whatever the onboard video is. I use my PC for mostly just surfing the Internet, an occasional Madden game, and once in a while a new game will grab me. So, I like to be ready to play, from a hardware standpoint. I don't need the latest/greatest/fastest/etc graphics card, but I do want something that will allow me to play current games without crashing.

Every time I have bought a card in the past 10-12 years, I have bought something which I later find out is a gimpy card.

Any suggestions on what I should be looking at? Again, I am not a power gamer, so I don't want to break the bank on hardware.

Thanks.

 

[tupperware]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127565&cm_re=GTX_560-_-14-127-565-_-Product

About as high end as you can get for that CPU with a good OC. I'm not sure if you want to spend that or not?

 

[Meat-O-Rama]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127565&cm_re=GTX_560-_-14-127-565-_-Product

About as high end as you can get for that CPU with a good OC. I'm not sure if you want to spend that or not?

If that card is out of your range, keep surfing around that site. Newegg has great prices. I would stick with Radeon or nVidia graphics from any of the major makers. Find something in your price range and check out the reviews. If you're unsure post it back here so one of us can thumbs up or down it.

 

[bbgun]

Bought this one last October and it's been great.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150467

 

[5Stars]

Bought this one last October and it's been great.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150467

My boy just got one just like that a while back...it's a great board. Most cards by Radeon are great for their prices and are really dependable.

 

[Wimbo]

Thanks for the help!

 

[arglebargle]

What size monitor are you using? Is it 1650x 1050? 1920x 1200? OR?

Without that info, I'd suggest considering an Nvidia 460 - 768mb. Given your set up, it should probably do just fine. I have seen them on sale around $100 with rebate. Looks like $129 presently.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...ption=&Ntk=&CFG=&SpeTabStoreType=&srchInDesc=

 

[Wimbo]

What size monitor are you using? Is it 1650x 1050? 1920x 1200? OR?

Without that info, I'd suggest considering an Nvidia 460 - 768mb. Given your set up, it should probably do just fine. I have seen them on sale around $100 with rebate. Looks like $129 presently.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...ption=&Ntk=&CFG=&SpeTabStoreType=&srchInDesc=

My monitor is a few years old, but it is a 23" LCD. Native resolution is 1920x1200 @ 60Hz, 16:10 ratio.

 

[Wimbo]

Another question... my new systemboard has 2 full length PCI Express x16 slots. A lot of the new cards say "PCIe 2.0 x16". Will the 2.0 cards work in the slot on my board, or does the board have to say "PCIe 2.0"?

 

[bbgun]

Another question... my new systemboard has 2 full length PCI Express x16 slots. A lot of the new cards say "PCIe 2.0 x16". Will the 2.0 cards work in the slot on my board, or does the board have to say "PCIe 2.0"?

Yes, 2.0 and 2.1 cards will work in that slot. You may have to upgrade your system's power supply depending on which card you purchase. I installed a 600W unit to handle my card's needs and everything's coming along nicely.

 

[Wimbo]

Yes, 2.0 and 2.1 cards will work in that slot. You may have to upgrade your system's power supply depending on which card you purchase. I installed a 600W unit to handle my card's needs and everything's coming along nicely.

Yeah, I noticed that - My system only has a 320W power supply. I will need at least 450 for the GTX460 card. However, I would be OK with a GT430 card.