Graphics card woes.

rhturner · 11-15-2007, 09:50 AM

Hi,
I've been in the computer gaming "area" for a while now, and just recently decided to upgrade again. Instead of heading balls out into a situation like I previously have, I figured I'd inquire about a graphics card to purchase. I was looking around, just snooping, and see that nearly everything is GDDR3. This puzzled me, considering I didn't even know there was DDR3 out now.

I have 2GB of DDR2 RAM, So what exactly do I do?

Is it possible to put a GDDR3 Graphics card and DDR2 RAM together?

Also, can anyone give me some recommendations on a graphics card? I Play WoW quite a bit and random FPS's as well, I'd like to push Crysis fairly well, so any recommendations?!

OH! I have a PCI Express x16 I think, I'll have to check when I get home on Friday. Thank you again!
Thanks much!

**Deleted090308** · 11-15-2007, 10:20 AM

Hi, welcome to TSF.

The video RAM is only used internally by the card, so your motherboard won't have a problem with the DDR3. There will be no conflicts with the DDR2.

If you have the money (and the PSU) - have a look at one of these: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...GeForce+8800GT

rhturner · 11-15-2007, 10:33 AM

Ahh! Thank you SO much! Also for the graphics card, that's wicked. Thank you VERY much!

rhturner · 11-15-2007, 10:39 AM

Eick one thing, will the PCI express 2.0 work in a PCI Express 16?

**Deleted090308** · 11-15-2007, 10:57 AM

Yes, it should be backwards compatible - but I'm not 100% sure.
Please correct me if I'm wrong.

rhturner · 11-15-2007, 11:26 AM

Alright, well I'll need to find out for sure, anyplace I can check?!

**Deleted090308** · 11-15-2007, 11:31 AM

I'll ask the other members of the hardware team.

rhturner · 11-15-2007, 11:33 AM

Great! Thank you so much!

**Deleted090308** · 11-15-2007, 11:40 AM

Yes it is. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCI_Express

rhturner · 11-15-2007, 11:43 AM

Alright, thanks! You guys are awesome!

**Deleted090308** · 11-15-2007, 11:49 AM

Post back if you there's anything else you're pondering over.
And, don't forget - upgrading your video card will most likely require a new power supply.

rhturner · 11-15-2007, 11:50 AM

Oh really? I've never done that before when upgrading graphics cards.. Peculiar. What would you recommend updating to?

**Deleted090308** · 11-15-2007, 11:54 AM

Antec True Power Trio TP3-650 - an excellent, silent PSU.

rhturner · 11-15-2007, 11:55 AM

I did have to try and install a new power supply one time due to lightning, but it was years ago. How hard are they to install now?

**Deleted090308** · 11-15-2007, 12:01 PM

It's easy. When you get there - post back if you need help, and we will guide you through the process.
Just make sure there's room in the computer case before you order the parts. If you have a small (micro ATX) case there may not be room enough.

rhturner · 11-15-2007, 12:02 PM

I have an XPS, so the case is extremely large

**Deleted090308** · 11-15-2007, 12:04 PM

That's a Dell? They're not large, AFAIK.

rhturner · 11-15-2007, 12:05 PM

It's a pretty big case actually, alot larger than the other dells I've seen. Alot of empty space inside of it, (can't resist checking things out sometime )

**Deleted090308** · 11-15-2007, 12:11 PM

What model?
There shouldn't be a problem with the PSU, but some video cards are enormous.

rhturner · 11-15-2007, 12:12 PM

One sec, I'll look er' up. I'm away from my desktop in another town ( college ) right now and don't remember the exact specs. :)

11-15-2007, 09:50 AM	#1 (permalink)
rhturner Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 13 OS: XP	Graphics card woes. Hi, I've been in the computer gaming "area" for a while now, and just recently decided to upgrade again. Instead of heading balls out into a situation like I previously have, I figured I'd inquire about a graphics card to purchase. I was looking around, just snooping, and see that nearly everything is GDDR3. This puzzled me, considering I didn't even know there was DDR3 out now. I have 2GB of DDR2 RAM, So what exactly do I do? Is it possible to put a GDDR3 Graphics card and DDR2 RAM together? Also, can anyone give me some recommendations on a graphics card? I Play WoW quite a bit and random FPS's as well, I'd like to push Crysis fairly well, so any recommendations?! OH! I have a PCI Express x16 I think, I'll have to check when I get home on Friday. Thank you again! Thanks much! Last edited by rhturner; 11-15-2007 at 09:53 AM.

11-15-2007, 10:20 AM	#2 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Graphics card woes. Hi, welcome to TSF. The video RAM is only used internally by the card, so your motherboard won't have a problem with the DDR3. There will be no conflicts with the DDR2. If you have the money (and the PSU) - have a look at one of these: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...GeForce+8800GT

11-15-2007, 10:33 AM	#3 (permalink)
rhturner Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 13 OS: XP	Re: Graphics card woes. Ahh! Thank you SO much! Also for the graphics card, that's wicked. Thank you VERY much!

11-15-2007, 10:39 AM	#4 (permalink)
rhturner Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 13 OS: XP	Re: Graphics card woes. Eick one thing, will the PCI express 2.0 work in a PCI Express 16?

11-15-2007, 10:57 AM	#5 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Graphics card woes. Yes, it should be backwards compatible - but I'm not 100% sure. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

11-15-2007, 11:26 AM	#6 (permalink)
rhturner Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 13 OS: XP	Re: Graphics card woes. Alright, well I'll need to find out for sure, anyplace I can check?!

11-15-2007, 11:31 AM	#7 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Graphics card woes. I'll ask the other members of the hardware team.

11-15-2007, 11:33 AM	#8 (permalink)
rhturner Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 13 OS: XP	Re: Graphics card woes. Great! Thank you so much!

11-15-2007, 11:40 AM	#9 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Graphics card woes. Yes it is. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCI_Express

11-15-2007, 11:43 AM	#10 (permalink)
rhturner Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 13 OS: XP	Re: Graphics card woes. Alright, thanks! You guys are awesome!

11-15-2007, 11:49 AM	#11 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Graphics card woes. Post back if you there's anything else you're pondering over. And, don't forget - upgrading your video card will most likely require a new power supply.

11-15-2007, 11:50 AM	#12 (permalink)
rhturner Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 13 OS: XP	Re: Graphics card woes. Oh really? I've never done that before when upgrading graphics cards.. Peculiar. What would you recommend updating to?

11-15-2007, 11:54 AM	#13 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Graphics card woes. Antec True Power Trio TP3-650 - an excellent, silent PSU.

11-15-2007, 11:55 AM	#14 (permalink)
rhturner Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 13 OS: XP	Re: Graphics card woes. I did have to try and install a new power supply one time due to lightning, but it was years ago. How hard are they to install now?

11-15-2007, 12:01 PM	#15 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Graphics card woes. It's easy. When you get there - post back if you need help, and we will guide you through the process. Just make sure there's room in the computer case before you order the parts. If you have a small (micro ATX) case there may not be room enough.

11-15-2007, 12:02 PM	#16 (permalink)
rhturner Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 13 OS: XP	Re: Graphics card woes. I have an XPS, so the case is extremely large

11-15-2007, 12:04 PM	#17 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Graphics card woes. That's a Dell? They're not large, AFAIK.

11-15-2007, 12:05 PM	#18 (permalink)
rhturner Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 13 OS: XP	Re: Graphics card woes. It's a pretty big case actually, alot larger than the other dells I've seen. Alot of empty space inside of it, (can't resist checking things out sometime )

11-15-2007, 12:11 PM	#19 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Graphics card woes. What model? There shouldn't be a problem with the PSU, but some video cards are enormous.

11-15-2007, 12:12 PM	#20 (permalink)
rhturner Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 13 OS: XP	Re: Graphics card woes. One sec, I'll look er' up. I'm away from my desktop in another town ( college ) right now and don't remember the exact specs. :)