Which Card to buy? Or Buy New MoBo?

dansnipe · 07-10-2009, 08:24 AM

Hello,

My computer needs a new graphics card, the Sapphire Radeon x1650 Pro 512Mb I bought as a temporary replacedment for an old card which died, just can't cut it anymore. I was thinking about getting a powercolor HD 3870 512Mb, but cannot seem to find one, and was wondering whether my motherboard would support the Sapphire version. Here is a link to my motherboard's supported VGA list.

I know the motherboard is severly dated, so failing the above, would it be better to spash out abit more and get a new motherboard and then buy a new card? Which motherboard would people recommend that is on or around the £100 mark?

Many thanks

dai · 07-10-2009, 10:54 AM

it's not the brand that matters it is the card slot

agp/pcie

you may also need a psu upgrade to go with the card

Video card quick list

dansnipe · 07-11-2009, 05:17 PM

My PCU is a 500w (550w max) which i supose does need an upgrade. I have PCI-E 16 slot but is only a sinlge not a a crossfire / SLI motherboard, so was planning on either getting a new GPU or a new MoBo and new GPU. I could get a new PSU also but was wondering what GPU would fit my board. Does manufacturer matter as long as the core of the board is the saem? I usume the only difference is the quality of the components (capacitors etc). Will a different brand of GPU other than what is said to be supported on my MoBo supported list work?

dai · 07-11-2009, 11:19 PM

as long as it matches the slot you have[pcie]

dansnipe · 07-12-2009, 03:29 AM

Ok thanks! :)

dai · 07-12-2009, 08:08 AM

you will also be looking at a new psu

dansnipe · 07-13-2009, 10:26 AM

Yeah i found an online calculator via another forum and from what i can gather i need at least an 800W PSU to cope with what i want to get. Which brands would you recommend for PSUs? Obviously gettin a high quality one is paramount.

dai · 07-13-2009, 10:39 AM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...nc.-_-17139009

Power Supply Information and Selection

07-10-2009, 08:24 AM	#1 (permalink)
dansnipe Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Suffolk Posts: 11 OS: Xp64 SP2	Which Card to buy? Or Buy New MoBo? Hello, My computer needs a new graphics card, the Sapphire Radeon x1650 Pro 512Mb I bought as a temporary replacedment for an old card which died, just can't cut it anymore. I was thinking about getting a powercolor HD 3870 512Mb, but cannot seem to find one, and was wondering whether my motherboard would support the Sapphire version. Here is a link to my motherboard's supported VGA list. I know the motherboard is severly dated, so failing the above, would it be better to spash out abit more and get a new motherboard and then buy a new card? Which motherboard would people recommend that is on or around the £100 mark? Many thanks

07-10-2009, 10:54 AM	#2 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,759 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: Which Card to buy? Or Buy New MoBo? it's not the brand that matters it is the card slot agp/pcie you may also need a psu upgrade to go with the card Video card quick list __________________

07-11-2009, 05:17 PM	#3 (permalink)
dansnipe Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Suffolk Posts: 11 OS: Xp64 SP2	Re: Which Card to buy? Or Buy New MoBo? My PCU is a 500w (550w max) which i supose does need an upgrade. I have PCI-E 16 slot but is only a sinlge not a a crossfire / SLI motherboard, so was planning on either getting a new GPU or a new MoBo and new GPU. I could get a new PSU also but was wondering what GPU would fit my board. Does manufacturer matter as long as the core of the board is the saem? I usume the only difference is the quality of the components (capacitors etc). Will a different brand of GPU other than what is said to be supported on my MoBo supported list work?

07-11-2009, 11:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,759 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: Which Card to buy? Or Buy New MoBo? as long as it matches the slot you have[pcie] __________________

07-12-2009, 03:29 AM	#5 (permalink)
dansnipe Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Suffolk Posts: 11 OS: Xp64 SP2	Re: Which Card to buy? Or Buy New MoBo? Ok thanks! :)

07-12-2009, 08:08 AM	#6 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,759 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: Which Card to buy? Or Buy New MoBo? you will also be looking at a new psu __________________

07-13-2009, 10:26 AM	#7 (permalink)
dansnipe Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Suffolk Posts: 11 OS: Xp64 SP2	Re: Which Card to buy? Or Buy New MoBo? Yeah i found an online calculator via another forum and from what i can gather i need at least an 800W PSU to cope with what i want to get. Which brands would you recommend for PSUs? Obviously gettin a high quality one is paramount.

07-13-2009, 10:39 AM	#8 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,759 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: Which Card to buy? Or Buy New MoBo? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...nc.-_-17139009 Power Supply Information and Selection __________________