GFX Card buying advice

Acer565 · 09-03-2007, 06:25 PM

Hi I was wondering if I could get some feedback on a graphics card i was thinking of buying, the EVGA 8800GTS 320MB version of the 8800 chip. Basically right now I'm running a rig with an AMD 3800+ single core cpu, 1 gig of ram, a SB Audigy 4 soundcard and an ATI x850XT card. I bought this setup about a year and a half ago and until games started making SM3.0 mandatory it was fine for my purposes, which is mostly gaming, some dvd watching and school stuff. I should have seen it coming when rainbow six vegas and splinter cell double agent required SM3.0 but obviously now im pretty much up the creek because all the new games coming out are requiring it, i.e. Bioshock and MOH Airborne. So basically I'm wondering if this card will fulfill my gaming needs and more importantly whether or not the other components of my system will bottleneck the power of the card and therefore make it pretty much useless to upgrade. Also i believe I only have a 350W power source so obviously that will have to be upgraded to go with a new card, any suggestions for a good PS would be much appreciated too. Thanks for the help.

**pharoah** · 09-03-2007, 11:35 PM

those are a good video card i have one just like it.as for power supply get at least a antec tp3 650

Acer565 · 09-04-2007, 12:43 PM

ok thanks, but more importantly will my cpu bottleneck it? because if it will i dont know how much use there would be in buying it

**Deleted090308** · 09-04-2007, 01:07 PM

I don't think the CPU will be a problem, but you may want to upgrade to 2 GB of system RAM.

Acer565 · 09-04-2007, 01:14 PM

ok thanks alot guys, and also what about a power source, is 650W necessary? I'm not too keen on going for a $100 plus PSU after spending 300 bucks on a new gfx card, anyone know of a cheaper one that would serve my needs?

**Deleted090308** · 09-04-2007, 01:24 PM

It's a bad idea trying to save money on the PSU. The 8800GTS 320MB needs 103 Watts on its own - so you need strong 12V rails. The PSU pharoah recommended is $80 after MIR.

Acer565 · 09-04-2007, 07:34 PM

ok thanks alot guys, just one more thing, anyone know how the card will run games like Medal of Honor Airborne, Bioshock, Brothers in Arms: Hells Highway and COD4? I know that most of these are not out yet but any ideas on how it will run them would be really helpful because these are the games im really upgrading to play, also i should throw in Crisis to that list, although im not really expecting to be able to max that out when it comes out with anything i buy

**1 g0t 0wn3d** · 09-04-2007, 07:56 PM

It will run them well at med resolution

09-03-2007, 06:25 PM	#1 (permalink)
Acer565 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 55 OS: WinXP	GFX Card buying advice Hi I was wondering if I could get some feedback on a graphics card i was thinking of buying, the EVGA 8800GTS 320MB version of the 8800 chip. Basically right now I'm running a rig with an AMD 3800+ single core cpu, 1 gig of ram, a SB Audigy 4 soundcard and an ATI x850XT card. I bought this setup about a year and a half ago and until games started making SM3.0 mandatory it was fine for my purposes, which is mostly gaming, some dvd watching and school stuff. I should have seen it coming when rainbow six vegas and splinter cell double agent required SM3.0 but obviously now im pretty much up the creek because all the new games coming out are requiring it, i.e. Bioshock and MOH Airborne. So basically I'm wondering if this card will fulfill my gaming needs and more importantly whether or not the other components of my system will bottleneck the power of the card and therefore make it pretty much useless to upgrade. Also i believe I only have a 350W power source so obviously that will have to be upgraded to go with a new card, any suggestions for a good PS would be much appreciated too. Thanks for the help.

09-03-2007, 11:35 PM	#2 (permalink)
pharoah TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 5,188 OS: vista business edition My System	Re: GFX Card buying advice those are a good video card i have one just like it.as for power supply get at least a antec tp3 650 __________________ Follow These Steps First Power Supply Selection Posting System Specs Oblivion Tweak Guide Video Drivers& Information TSF folding at home team 85015

09-04-2007, 12:43 PM	#3 (permalink)
Acer565 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 55 OS: WinXP	Re: GFX Card buying advice ok thanks, but more importantly will my cpu bottleneck it? because if it will i dont know how much use there would be in buying it

09-04-2007, 01:07 PM	#4 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: GFX Card buying advice I don't think the CPU will be a problem, but you may want to upgrade to 2 GB of system RAM.

09-04-2007, 01:14 PM	#5 (permalink)
Acer565 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 55 OS: WinXP	Re: GFX Card buying advice ok thanks alot guys, and also what about a power source, is 650W necessary? I'm not too keen on going for a $100 plus PSU after spending 300 bucks on a new gfx card, anyone know of a cheaper one that would serve my needs?

09-04-2007, 01:24 PM	#6 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: GFX Card buying advice It's a bad idea trying to save money on the PSU. The 8800GTS 320MB needs 103 Watts on its own - so you need strong 12V rails. The PSU pharoah recommended is $80 after MIR.

09-04-2007, 07:34 PM	#7 (permalink)
Acer565 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 55 OS: WinXP	Re: GFX Card buying advice ok thanks alot guys, just one more thing, anyone know how the card will run games like Medal of Honor Airborne, Bioshock, Brothers in Arms: Hells Highway and COD4? I know that most of these are not out yet but any ideas on how it will run them would be really helpful because these are the games im really upgrading to play, also i should throw in Crisis to that list, although im not really expecting to be able to max that out when it comes out with anything i buy

09-04-2007, 07:56 PM	#8 (permalink)
1 g0t 0wn3d TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Sedona, az Posts: 6,528 OS: Vista basic 32bit My System	Re: GFX Card buying advice It will run them well at med resolution __________________ Bench Test \| PC Wizard \| System specs \| PSU info \| PSU calculator \| Memtest86+ \| Speedfan