Looking to upgrade something in my computer!

[rawfuls]

Too all those computer buffs...

Well, just got the go ahead to pick up one thing for my computer.

My specs:

Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 @ 3.16GHz
Elitegroup G31T-M (Shut up.. It was part of the combo deal at Frys)
Corsair XMS2 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 PC6400
Nvidia GeForce 7200GS/7300SE
Random Case from Fry's w/ 450W PSU

As you can see, my dad kinda cheaped out on the Case+PSU, as well as my Motherboard (kind of), and Graphics card...

Here are the links

CPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-036-_-Product

Motherboard: (This is made by MSI, but mine is made by Elitegroup [ECS])
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...0234&Tpk=g31tm

Memory:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-184-_-Product

VGA Card:
http://www.nvidia.com/page/geforce_7300.html

--------------------------------

I got about $65 in Best Buy gift cards, and was looking into upping something.

I'm mostly a gamer, so I was looking into upping my VGA.

MAYBE to a EVGA GTS 250 512mb (DDR3) PCIE....

What do you guys think, I should upgrade, and if the VGA, which VGA?

Thanks!

I`m no expert but why not get a better video card?For $30 to $40 dollars more you could get a NVIDIA 9800 or a ATI equivalent.Is this going to be for internet surfing or gaming?

[rawfuls]

Mostly gaming.

Which one is better, the 9800 GT(x, EE) is best, and compared to the GTS 250? They're both about the same price range...
Seems the 9800 GT is more "out there" while the 250 I've never really heard of...

[simplechamp]

I would go with ATI, at least their HD3000 series, more preferably their newer HD4000 series. Problem is it they are gonna be above your cost range, but at least get something in the HD2000 series or higher. Even the HD2600 or HD2900 would be a decent choice, I have the 2600 in my iMac (because that's the best they had at the time) and I can run most games with med settings in native resolution. The newest games are getting to where I have to turn down the resolution, but go for a 3000 or 4000 and you should be fine, or the HD5000 if you have the money!

http://www.amd.com/us/products/Pages/graphics.aspx

[rawfuls]

eww, ATI.
Never really been an ATI fan, NVIDIA all the way
Will looking into those series, but seriously doubting I'll pick one up.

[What's_nitro?]

OC that CPU to 4.0GHz (minimum). I have the E8400 3.0GHz that I'm running at 3.99GHz (pretty tame OC'ing). That probably means you need a new MB too to get all the BIOS options. I have a Gigabyte MB from NewEgg and it has every BIOS option you could ask for.

+1000 for the nVidia GTS250! I have the 1GB version. That card is a beast... I used to play EVE Online at full resolution/settings for hours without a hiccup.

The PSU might need to be upgraded if you get the GTS250. I have a 550W in my case. No problems- that's good! You should put out the extra cash for a modular supply. It makes life easier.

Of course if you do all this you'll probably need a new case too. Can you see where this is headed? If you can afford it, take your CPU and RAM and put them into a new system. Definitely look at NewEgg. I got my whole system from them with free shipping incl. the 25" monitor.

[rawfuls]

LOL
I knew this was a bad idea.
I think I'm gonna do a quick PSU calculator, and pick up a new modular later.

I will need some major help OCing though..

[wallot]

for gaming upgrade your video card E8500 is more than enough.

these days until nvidia fermi comes only new 5850/5870 radeos are really the choice for the future

for cheaper cards nvidia GTX275 is a good buy.

GTS250 is a low end than wont allow you to play at higher resolutions with high details.

450W PS is ok if it not a junk.
My PC takes 310W at full utilization when gaming and I got
E8400, 6GB RAM, 8800 Ultra and bunch of hard drives and lots of fans

[rawfuls]

My E8500 is my CPU, not my video card.
My video card is a 7200......

The PSU calc just told me with my current setup, I'm only pulling about 212watts out of a 450W PSU.

If I put myself up to a GTS250, I'll swing myself up into the 300's watts, and if I OC w/ a 9800 GX2, I'd put myself around the 435W area.. Looks like my PSU is fine for now.

I think I'll be settling around the GTS250 or the 9800, mostly because I don't have $300 to drop on a VGA card with a shatty motherboard...

[wallot]

i know E8500 is your CPU :)

With gts250 you wont be nowhere near 300W. PSU calcs use lot of reserve. I have a Watt meter in my PC :)

[rawfuls]

Wait, as in, nowhere near, as in over 450? :(

A good vid card will net you big improvements in gaming. I run the same processor at 3.8ghz in my "Black Ice" machine. I won't get into OC here, but its something not to take lightly as you can easily ruin your equipment if you don't know what your doing.

How much are willing to spend max for a video card? It will also depend on your PSU as 450watts is "average" for gaming PC usage, and I highly doubt that PSU is going to reliable put out 450watts under a high load considering it came with a budget Fry's case.

Here's my gaming setup, let me know if you need help. I've been building my own gaming PC rigs for years now


*Black Ice* Gaming PC
|| Core 2 E8500@3.8ghz || || ASUS P5E-VM HDMI || EVGA GTX 260 192 || 4gig G.Skill DDR2 800
|| Audigy 2 5.1 || WD 640gig AALS || ASUS DRW-2014LT1T Lightscribe
|| Antec TruePower New 550w || Antec mini P180 || Xigmatek "Black Knight"
||Viewsonic 20" VX2025VM || Logitech Z5300e 5.1 || Logitech MX518 || Saitek Eclipse 2 || Win7 Home Premium 64bit

[wallot]

Originally Posted by rawfuls

Wait, as in, nowhere near, as in over 450? :(

GTS250 is newr smalle nm GPU with much less consumption than my old highend 8800 Ultra. you will be around 250W :)

however it also depends how efficiend your PS is. I have pretty good one with 80%+ certification

Originally Posted by wallot

GTS250 is newr smalle nm GPU with much less consumption than my old highend 8800 Ultra. you will be around 250W :)

however it also depends how efficiend your PS is. I have pretty good one with 80%+ certification

Yeah, I really worry about the "quality" of that PSU with a Fry's budget case. Low quality PSU's can wreak havoc with PC's

[rawfuls]

I hate you Freezebyte sometimes.. (I'm kidding, I know budget PSU's blow. Haha, no pun intended) Linc...

Here I am all giddy with my NEW GTS 250, working flawlessly, and now I have thoughts of buying a new modular PSU...

So yes, my dad had to go run to Fry's real quick to exchange a cable, it was on sale so we rebought it

Told him I had the gift cards, and a GTS 250 was magically on hold for me.

Anyways, I had to run by Staples as well, see if they had a clearance item (for all those slickdeals people, you know what I'm talking about), if not, 320GB, and some 250GB external hard drives were selling for $15 bucks..

Some stores had em, some didn't, you couldn't call because then the people would say oh we ran out, and just buy em for themselves.

I come home, I have to rearrange everything in my case... my hard drive, cd drive, it was a weird layout, now it's a beautiful thing. I need longer wires, more power, and some sleeving!

I'm not rocking CSS (Counter Strike Source) at a little over 250FPS, everything max'd out, with antialiasing on medium, I'm rocking over 400FPS!

Before I was only getting 125 haha.

I guess this expands my games that I can now play! If only I didn't run Windows 7...