Wanting to graphics card - Advice needed

Simon1402 · 12-28-2008, 10:11 PM

Hi my current setup plays most games to a suitable standard but I would like to make some improvements, starting with a new graphics card.

The main usage is running multiple clients of the same game using 1 box and dual monitor setup.

Current System

Intel Core 2 - 1.86 GHz

ATI Radeon X1650 Series 256MB

2GB RAM

Running in XP Media Edition SP3

I would like to buy any new components in the UK if possible but can buy from anywhere if needs be. If I need to give more details then please let me know, im still quite new to upgrading as this post will tell

BoT · 12-28-2008, 10:17 PM

which games are you playing and which games in multiple instances?
whats the budget like?
any brand preference?
desktop/ laptop?
monitor size?

Simon1402 · 12-28-2008, 10:24 PM

I will be playing this game http://www.eve-online.com/download/windows.asp with "Classic" settings but I would like to use premium with multiple clients.

Buget would be as cheap as possible but how does 50-100 British £ sound?

No brand preference in particular but my current ATI card has served me quite well so i'd be happy to stick with this brand.

Playing on desktop with 2x 19 inch monitors running 1440x900 resolution

Hope that helps

BoT · 12-29-2008, 12:25 AM

ok, i think this is a real bargain and should do the trick. it will be able to display on two desktops and play your games.
Force3D HD 3850 512MB - £65.76
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/148212

not sure about the brand
another bargain
Force3D HD 3870 512MB - £83.98
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/148211

a step up
ASUS HD 4850 512MB - £118.26
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/146705

a step down
Gecube HD 2600Pro 256MB - £46.97
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/130566

**wrench97** · 12-29-2008, 03:35 AM

The most important question when it comes to video card upgrades is what power supply do you have? There is a label on the side of the power supply inside the case which will list the Brand, Model, the number of 12v rails and the rating for each.

Simon1402 · 12-29-2008, 11:21 AM

Thanks for the suggestions BoT I'll check them out.

I took a look at my power supply and got the following info:

FSP Group Inc
Fortron / Source

Model: FSP350-60MDN Rev.A

AC Input: 230-240V 5A, 50-60Hz

DC Output: 350W

After that there was a lot of information about voltages, amps and colour... im guessing those are the lanes you mentioned?

+ 12V 19.5A (Yellow)
- 12V 0.5A (Blue)

There were a few more of these if you need to know them too.

Hope this helps

**wrench97** · 12-29-2008, 11:37 AM

For a HD2600,HD3950 you will need at least a quality 550w and for a HD3870,HD4850 or 9800GT you will need to go to a Quality PSU of at least a 650w from one of these Manufacturers and Models.
Seasonic - any model
Corsair - any model
Thermaltake - "Toughpower" series only
Coolermaster - "Real Power Pro" series only
PC Power & Cooling - any model
Silverstone - any model

What Brand and Model PC is this or if it is a custom build what Motherboard do you have?

Simon1402 · 12-29-2008, 11:46 AM

Its an Advent T3907 PC I got given by a relative to fix and i got to keep it. I think they bought it from PC World or some store like that.

The motherboard is MS-7255 made by MICRO-STAR INTERNATIONAL CO according to the AMIBIOS scan I ran.

I'll look into the PSUs you mentioned

Simon1402 · 12-29-2008, 02:10 PM

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Thermaltake-...0584935&sr=1-4

How does that look for a PSU? Is 80£ cheap for a PSU of the level I need?

**wrench97** · 12-29-2008, 02:18 PM

One of the best you can't go wrong with a Tough Power. You don't need a 750w but it won't hurt anything and will allow future upgrades.

Simon1402 · 12-29-2008, 06:18 PM

I checked a few websites and it seems that for the Thermaltake Tough Power range, I can get 750w like the one I linked or around 420W. There doesn't seem to be any around 650W unless Im looking in the wrong places, any ideas?

Edit: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/120676

I found that one which is a 550W but that very cheap compared to others, is that because its bad or...?

**wrench97** · 12-29-2008, 06:42 PM

With my limited knowledge of UK sites I didn't find one either but I did find the Corsair but for the 10 pounds I don't if it's worth it?
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/135514

**wrench97** · 12-29-2008, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simon1402

I checked a few websites and it seems that for the Thermaltake Tough Power range, I can get 750w like the one I linked or around 420W. There doesn't seem to be any around 650W unless Im looking in the wrong places, any ideas?

Edit: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/120676

I found that one which is a 550W but that very cheap compared to others, is that because its bad or...?

Junk

Simon1402 · 12-29-2008, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrench97

With my limited knowledge of UK sites I didn't find one either but I did find the Corsair but for the 10 pounds I don't if it's worth it?
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/135514

Thats a good price I think... it would be around 120 USD dollars more or less. I have the money to get that so would you recommend buying it?

Simon1402 · 12-29-2008, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrench97

Junk

Haha... if only the cheap stuff could be worthwhile.

How about this one? bit more expensive and gets decent reviews but not one of the brands you recommended. I think this brand is the same as my current PSU.

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/116522...oduct_reviews#

**wrench97** · 12-30-2008, 01:33 AM

That's a lessor quality unit they make their name off the better units then sell the lessor models for more then they are worth based off brand recognition.

12-28-2008, 10:11 PM	#1 (permalink)
Simon1402 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 16 OS: XP SP2	Wanting to graphics card - Advice needed Hi my current setup plays most games to a suitable standard but I would like to make some improvements, starting with a new graphics card. The main usage is running multiple clients of the same game using 1 box and dual monitor setup. Current System Intel Core 2 - 1.86 GHz ATI Radeon X1650 Series 256MB 2GB RAM Running in XP Media Edition SP3 I would like to buy any new components in the UK if possible but can buy from anywhere if needs be. If I need to give more details then please let me know, im still quite new to upgrading as this post will tell

12-28-2008, 10:17 PM	#2 (permalink)
BoT Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: earth Posts: 447 OS: Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate x64 My System	Re: Wanting to graphics card - Advice needed which games are you playing and which games in multiple instances? whats the budget like? any brand preference? desktop/ laptop? monitor size? __________________ MainStation: Q9450@3.6 \| ASUS P5Q-E \| OCZ Platinum 4x2Gb PC8500 \| eVGA GTX260 \| WD VRaptor

12-28-2008, 10:24 PM	#3 (permalink)
Simon1402 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 16 OS: XP SP2	Re: Wanting to graphics card - Advice needed I will be playing this game http://www.eve-online.com/download/windows.asp with "Classic" settings but I would like to use premium with multiple clients. Buget would be as cheap as possible but how does 50-100 British £ sound? No brand preference in particular but my current ATI card has served me quite well so i'd be happy to stick with this brand. Playing on desktop with 2x 19 inch monitors running 1440x900 resolution Hope that helps

12-29-2008, 12:25 AM	#4 (permalink)
BoT Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: earth Posts: 447 OS: Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate x64 My System	Re: Wanting to graphics card - Advice needed ok, i think this is a real bargain and should do the trick. it will be able to display on two desktops and play your games. Force3D HD 3850 512MB - £65.76 http://www.ebuyer.com/product/148212 not sure about the brand another bargain Force3D HD 3870 512MB - £83.98 http://www.ebuyer.com/product/148211 a step up ASUS HD 4850 512MB - £118.26 http://www.ebuyer.com/product/146705 a step down Gecube HD 2600Pro 256MB - £46.97 http://www.ebuyer.com/product/130566 __________________ MainStation: Q9450@3.6 \| ASUS P5Q-E \| OCZ Platinum 4x2Gb PC8500 \| eVGA GTX260 \| WD VRaptor

12-29-2008, 03:35 AM	#5 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,586 OS: Win7	Re: Wanting to graphics card - Advice needed The most important question when it comes to video card upgrades is what power supply do you have? There is a label on the side of the power supply inside the case which will list the Brand, Model, the number of 12v rails and the rating for each. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

12-29-2008, 11:21 AM	#6 (permalink)
Simon1402 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 16 OS: XP SP2	Re: Wanting to graphics card - Advice needed Thanks for the suggestions BoT I'll check them out. I took a look at my power supply and got the following info: FSP Group Inc Fortron / Source Model: FSP350-60MDN Rev.A AC Input: 230-240V 5A, 50-60Hz DC Output: 350W After that there was a lot of information about voltages, amps and colour... im guessing those are the lanes you mentioned? + 12V 19.5A (Yellow) - 12V 0.5A (Blue) There were a few more of these if you need to know them too. Hope this helps

12-29-2008, 11:37 AM	#7 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,586 OS: Win7	Re: Wanting to graphics card - Advice needed For a HD2600,HD3950 you will need at least a quality 550w and for a HD3870,HD4850 or 9800GT you will need to go to a Quality PSU of at least a 650w from one of these Manufacturers and Models. Seasonic - any model Corsair - any model Thermaltake - "Toughpower" series only Coolermaster - "Real Power Pro" series only PC Power & Cooling - any model Silverstone - any model What Brand and Model PC is this or if it is a custom build what Motherboard do you have? __________________ Power Supply and Selection

12-29-2008, 11:46 AM	#8 (permalink)
Simon1402 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 16 OS: XP SP2	Re: Wanting to graphics card - Advice needed Its an Advent T3907 PC I got given by a relative to fix and i got to keep it. I think they bought it from PC World or some store like that. The motherboard is MS-7255 made by MICRO-STAR INTERNATIONAL CO according to the AMIBIOS scan I ran. I'll look into the PSUs you mentioned

12-29-2008, 02:10 PM	#9 (permalink)
Simon1402 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 16 OS: XP SP2	Re: Wanting to graphics card - Advice needed http://www.amazon.co.uk/Thermaltake-...0584935&sr=1-4 How does that look for a PSU? Is 80£ cheap for a PSU of the level I need?

12-29-2008, 02:18 PM	#10 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,586 OS: Win7	Re: Wanting to graphics card - Advice needed One of the best you can't go wrong with a Tough Power. You don't need a 750w but it won't hurt anything and will allow future upgrades. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

12-29-2008, 06:18 PM	#11 (permalink)
Simon1402 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 16 OS: XP SP2	Re: Wanting to graphics card - Advice needed I checked a few websites and it seems that for the Thermaltake Tough Power range, I can get 750w like the one I linked or around 420W. There doesn't seem to be any around 650W unless Im looking in the wrong places, any ideas? Edit: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/120676 I found that one which is a 550W but that very cheap compared to others, is that because its bad or...? Last edited by Simon1402; 12-29-2008 at 06:27 PM.

12-29-2008, 06:42 PM	#12 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,586 OS: Win7	Re: Wanting to graphics card - Advice needed With my limited knowledge of UK sites I didn't find one either but I did find the Corsair but for the 10 pounds I don't if it's worth it? http://www.ebuyer.com/product/135514 __________________ Power Supply and Selection

12-30-2008, 01:33 AM	#16 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,586 OS: Win7	Re: Wanting to graphics card - Advice needed That's a lessor quality unit they make their name off the better units then sell the lessor models for more then they are worth based off brand recognition. __________________ Power Supply and Selection