choosing an upgrade

8-bit · 03-29-2009, 11:10 AM

So i've been working this video card for about 6 years and I think its time to upgrade. My motherboard is a Gigabyte GA-K8NSC-939 and my Card is a e-Geforce 6200. I'm upgrading mostly for gaming but have no idea what to look for.. any suggestions or help

? (I'd prefer it to be at a reasonable price

Thanks!

**Phædrus2401** · 03-29-2009, 11:27 AM

You're going to have trouble upgrading your GPU with that motherboard. The GIGABYTE website lists your model as having 5 PCI slots and one AGP slot. Most graphics cards now use the PCI-E 2.0 slot.

So assuming you have a mobo with the appropriate slot, there are a variety of options.

For a medium power card that won't need a large power supply, you could probably get a Geforce 9600GT or Radeon 4830 for about $100-150. Those cards would let you play most modern games at medium to high settings on a 1440x900 resolution at decent framerates.
9600GT - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...force%209600GT - $140
4830 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102827 - $125

For a high power card you'd probably need a non-stock PSU, probably 450+ Watts. I'd suggest a Geforce 9800GT or Radeon 4850 or Radeon 4870. I use a Sapphire Radeon 4870 with 1GB GDDR5 and I run Fallout 3 on a 1440x900 res on ultrahigh at 50fps. These will cost you $150-200, plus the cost of a power supply, if you don't have one that's sufficient.
9800GT - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130420 - $155
4850 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...=Radeon%204850 - $150
4870 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...=Radeon%204870 - $190 *what I use

For the really, really high end stuff you'll want to look into running two or more of the high-end cards in SLI or Crossfire, or get a 4870GX2 (two 4870s running on one card). Make sure you have an 800+ Watt PSU if you're going to be running one of those, preferably up to 1000 Watts.

I hope this helps.

8-bit · 03-29-2009, 12:00 PM

Thanks :D that helps a lot! I think i'm going to go pick up the Geforce 9600GT right now

**emosun** · 03-29-2009, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phædrus2401

You're going to have trouble upgrading your GPU with that motherboard. The GIGABYTE website lists your model as having 5 PCI slots and one AGP slot. Most graphics cards now use the PCI-E 2.0 slot.

Why are you recommending him pci-e 2.0 cards? His mother board only has pci and agp slots. None of the cards you posted will work with that board.

**Phædrus2401** · 03-29-2009, 08:21 PM

I SAID, if you got a new motherboard. I don't know any PCI cards.

**emosun** · 03-31-2009, 01:23 AM

If you do not know any pci cards then don't simply post links to cards you know , but are totally non compatible with there system. I hope they haven't already purchased the 9600 for there agp system based on your recommendation.

03-29-2009, 11:10 AM	#1 (permalink)
8-bit Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2 OS: Win XP	choosing an upgrade So i've been working this video card for about 6 years and I think its time to upgrade. My motherboard is a Gigabyte GA-K8NSC-939 and my Card is a e-Geforce 6200. I'm upgrading mostly for gaming but have no idea what to look for.. any suggestions or help? (I'd prefer it to be at a reasonable price Thanks!

03-29-2009, 11:27 AM	#2 (permalink)
Phædrus2401 Senior Tech, Games Team Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 4,617 OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 My System	Re: choosing an upgrade You're going to have trouble upgrading your GPU with that motherboard. The GIGABYTE website lists your model as having 5 PCI slots and one AGP slot. Most graphics cards now use the PCI-E 2.0 slot. So assuming you have a mobo with the appropriate slot, there are a variety of options. For a medium power card that won't need a large power supply, you could probably get a Geforce 9600GT or Radeon 4830 for about $100-150. Those cards would let you play most modern games at medium to high settings on a 1440x900 resolution at decent framerates. 9600GT - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...force%209600GT - $140 4830 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102827 - $125 For a high power card you'd probably need a non-stock PSU, probably 450+ Watts. I'd suggest a Geforce 9800GT or Radeon 4850 or Radeon 4870. I use a Sapphire Radeon 4870 with 1GB GDDR5 and I run Fallout 3 on a 1440x900 res on ultrahigh at 50fps. These will cost you $150-200, plus the cost of a power supply, if you don't have one that's sufficient. 9800GT - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130420 - $155 4850 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...=Radeon%204850 - $150 4870 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...=Radeon%204870 - $190 *what I use For the really, really high end stuff you'll want to look into running two or more of the high-end cards in SLI or Crossfire, or get a 4870GX2 (two 4870s running on one card). Make sure you have an 800+ Watt PSU if you're going to be running one of those, preferably up to 1000 Watts. I hope this helps.

03-29-2009, 12:00 PM	#3 (permalink)
8-bit Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2 OS: Win XP	Re: choosing an upgrade Thanks :D that helps a lot! I think i'm going to go pick up the Geforce 9600GT right now

03-29-2009, 08:21 PM	#5 (permalink)
Phædrus2401 Senior Tech, Games Team Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 4,617 OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 My System	Re: choosing an upgrade I SAID, if you got a new motherboard. I don't know any PCI cards.

03-31-2009, 01:23 AM	#6 (permalink)
emosun Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: usa Posts: 8,446 OS: xp pro sp2 My System	Re: choosing an upgrade If you do not know any pci cards then don't simply post links to cards you know , but are totally non compatible with there system. I hope they haven't already purchased the 9600 for there agp system based on your recommendation. __________________ Gpu Benchmarks Cpu-Z Power supply information and selection Gpu-Z Video card quick list