Whats the "best" video card for my pc???

Mvgratz · 03-08-2009, 07:26 PM

I would like suggestions on what video card would be a good match for the pc I have. I have a Inspiron 530 (yeah, I've learned the hard way not to buy a Dell! lol) But it was a bday present so I didn't have any input into the pc type or build. I've upgraded everything else I can or want to and the video card I picked when I started this stinks! I haven't owned a pc for a few years so I didn't really know all the differences in the spec's and what they meant. Here's what I got now and would love any suggestions. Something I wont have to mortgage the house to buy. (just 1 card )
Dell 530 (full size), Vista 64, E8400/1333mhz EO staying stock @3ghz (0RY007mobo that's why its stayin stock because its not o'clockable),4gb/800mhz crucial ram, 500gb seagate 32mb cache hd, 250gb seagate 8mb cache hd (not in raid), Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtremegamer, Samsung SyncMaster 2033sw LCD, X-540 Logtech 5.1's, Corsair modular HX620watt psu, and currently the evga geforce 9400GT 1GB that needs help!!! My stock intergraded video chip was almost as good. Any suggestions? I have a "step-up" option with evga that they'll give me what I paid for this gpu towards a better one. I'm limited if I do that to a handful that they'll let me trade up to. I've just started getting into the games. So, telling me how many more fp/s more one is than the other isn't going to help me. PainKiller Gold Edition is probably the most gpu demanding game I own and have played thus far. I use my pc to watch dvd's too. Thanks for any info! If I stay with evga the best sounding options that I saw were; 9800gt 512, 9800gt 1gb, or a 9800gtx+. I'm not dead set on staying with them if those aren't vastly superior to the one I have now.

**emosun** · 03-08-2009, 09:46 PM

Out of the bunch the 9800 gt 512mb would be best. You actually have a good enough power supply to run it. Most people usually don't

The reason I say the 9800gt 512 is because the 1gb really isn't going to be much faster because it's still the same gpu as the 512, and the gtx you'll want a 700w. So the 9800 gt 512 would be best.

**emosun** · 03-08-2009, 09:49 PM

Oh , and the 9800 gt will be roughly 3 or 4 times faster then your 9400.

Mvgratz · 03-09-2009, 10:40 AM

Thanks for your help!

03-08-2009, 07:26 PM	#1 (permalink)
Mvgratz Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 44 OS: Vista Home Prem. 64	Whats the "best" video card for my pc??? I would like suggestions on what video card would be a good match for the pc I have. I have a Inspiron 530 (yeah, I've learned the hard way not to buy a Dell! lol) But it was a bday present so I didn't have any input into the pc type or build. I've upgraded everything else I can or want to and the video card I picked when I started this stinks! I haven't owned a pc for a few years so I didn't really know all the differences in the spec's and what they meant. Here's what I got now and would love any suggestions. Something I wont have to mortgage the house to buy. (just 1 card ) Dell 530 (full size), Vista 64, E8400/1333mhz EO staying stock @3ghz (0RY007mobo that's why its stayin stock because its not o'clockable),4gb/800mhz crucial ram, 500gb seagate 32mb cache hd, 250gb seagate 8mb cache hd (not in raid), Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtremegamer, Samsung SyncMaster 2033sw LCD, X-540 Logtech 5.1's, Corsair modular HX620watt psu, and currently the evga geforce 9400GT 1GB that needs help!!! My stock intergraded video chip was almost as good. Any suggestions? I have a "step-up" option with evga that they'll give me what I paid for this gpu towards a better one. I'm limited if I do that to a handful that they'll let me trade up to. I've just started getting into the games. So, telling me how many more fp/s more one is than the other isn't going to help me. PainKiller Gold Edition is probably the most gpu demanding game I own and have played thus far. I use my pc to watch dvd's too. Thanks for any info! If I stay with evga the best sounding options that I saw were; 9800gt 512, 9800gt 1gb, or a 9800gtx+. I'm not dead set on staying with them if those aren't vastly superior to the one I have now.

03-08-2009, 09:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
emosun Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: usa Posts: 7,025 OS: xp pro sp2 My System	Re: Whats the "best" video card for my pc??? Out of the bunch the 9800 gt 512mb would be best. You actually have a good enough power supply to run it. Most people usually don't The reason I say the 9800gt 512 is because the 1gb really isn't going to be much faster because it's still the same gpu as the 512, and the gtx you'll want a 700w. So the 9800 gt 512 would be best. __________________ Gpu Benchmarks Cpu-Z Power supply information and selection Gpu-Z Video card quick list

03-08-2009, 09:49 PM	#3 (permalink)
emosun Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: usa Posts: 7,025 OS: xp pro sp2 My System	Re: Whats the "best" video card for my pc??? Oh , and the 9800 gt will be roughly 3 or 4 times faster then your 9400. __________________ Gpu Benchmarks Cpu-Z Power supply information and selection Gpu-Z Video card quick list

03-09-2009, 10:40 AM	#4 (permalink)
Mvgratz Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 44 OS: Vista Home Prem. 64	Re: Whats the "best" video card for my pc??? Thanks for your help!