Should i get a new Gfx Card or a new computer??

LostAlot · 10-08-2009, 03:50 PM

Computer Specs:
OPS:Windows Vista Home Premium(6.0, Build 6002)
Manufacturer:Acer
Model:Aspire X1200
BIOS:Pheniox - Award Wirjstation BIOS v6.00PG
Processor: Athlon Dual Core Processor 4050e 2.1GHz
Ram: 3GB

Gfx Card: Nividia GeForce 9200 1392 mb

So is getting a new computer better or just upgrading my Gfx card to a 9500-9800 better?
Ask anymore questions if needed not so sure what you wanted.

Thanks.

**emosun** · 10-08-2009, 10:55 PM

From a technical standpoint the Aspire X1200 is a good pc. But the problem is it's form factor. It's a compact business pc with a small case , which in turn means a small power supply. The small power supply can't really support gpu upgrades, and it doesn't have to either. It's basically the users fault if the power supply blows out from a gpu upgrade and not acer's. Also the case limits only slimline cards , that and it's small so cards will tend to overheat.

Even if you were to get a bigger case , you would also need a standard atx power supply , and a cd drive since the x1200 uses a laptop sized drive. It's a good business pc but not a good choice for upgrading to a gaming pc.

**emosun** · 10-08-2009, 10:59 PM

However that doesn't mean you need a "new" pc , you can easily buy a used or lower end oem standard atx sized pc and upgrade it from there. Or sell the x1200 for some extra dough toward the new pc. Check out our building section and they can help , 500$ can you something pretty decent today.

LostAlot · 10-09-2009, 01:15 AM

So if i were to put a geforce 9500 it would over heat and fry basically without a better power supply?

Phædrus2401 · 10-09-2009, 01:21 AM

Most likely it wouldn't function at all, or if it did it would chug along with sub-par performance for a while before either the PSU died or the graphics card's VRAM got destroyed by voltage fluctuation.

I agree with emosun, upgrading your current computer will be difficult, but it is possible. It depends on how much sweat and money you're willing to put into this compared to building one yourself from parts, or (shudder) buying a new one from the store.

**emosun** · 10-09-2009, 01:25 AM

Well the card would overheat/fry due to the case size, or the power supply would eventually wear out from powering it. I would either get a decent case and power supply for this machine , or consider a different machine.

LostAlot · 10-09-2009, 03:46 AM

Are there any gaming desktop worth buying at this time???

**emosun** · 10-09-2009, 06:09 AM

Prebuilt? none that I know of considering I never buy prebuilt for gaming. If your interested in a new pc try the building section , just post your budget and what you plan to do and they can find something that'll do it.

10-08-2009, 03:50 PM	#1 (permalink)
LostAlot Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 7 OS: Vista	Should i get a new Gfx Card or a new computer?? Computer Specs: OPS:Windows Vista Home Premium(6.0, Build 6002) Manufacturer:Acer Model:Aspire X1200 BIOS:Pheniox - Award Wirjstation BIOS v6.00PG Processor: Athlon Dual Core Processor 4050e 2.1GHz Ram: 3GB Gfx Card: Nividia GeForce 9200 1392 mb So is getting a new computer better or just upgrading my Gfx card to a 9500-9800 better? Ask anymore questions if needed not so sure what you wanted. Thanks.

10-08-2009, 10:55 PM	#2 (permalink)
emosun Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: usa Posts: 7,087 OS: xp pro sp2 My System	Re: Should i get a new Gfx Card or a new computer?? From a technical standpoint the Aspire X1200 is a good pc. But the problem is it's form factor. It's a compact business pc with a small case , which in turn means a small power supply. The small power supply can't really support gpu upgrades, and it doesn't have to either. It's basically the users fault if the power supply blows out from a gpu upgrade and not acer's. Also the case limits only slimline cards , that and it's small so cards will tend to overheat. Even if you were to get a bigger case , you would also need a standard atx power supply , and a cd drive since the x1200 uses a laptop sized drive. It's a good business pc but not a good choice for upgrading to a gaming pc. __________________ Gpu Benchmarks Cpu-Z Power supply information and selection Gpu-Z Video card quick list

10-08-2009, 10:59 PM	#3 (permalink)
emosun Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: usa Posts: 7,087 OS: xp pro sp2 My System	Re: Should i get a new Gfx Card or a new computer?? However that doesn't mean you need a "new" pc , you can easily buy a used or lower end oem standard atx sized pc and upgrade it from there. Or sell the x1200 for some extra dough toward the new pc. Check out our building section and they can help , 500$ can you something pretty decent today. __________________ Gpu Benchmarks Cpu-Z Power supply information and selection Gpu-Z Video card quick list

10-09-2009, 01:15 AM	#4 (permalink)
LostAlot Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 7 OS: Vista	Re: Should i get a new Gfx Card or a new computer?? So if i were to put a geforce 9500 it would over heat and fry basically without a better power supply?

10-09-2009, 01:21 AM	#5 (permalink)
Phædrus2401 Hardware Tech Team Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 3,892 OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 + Ubuntu 9.04 My System	Re: Should i get a new Gfx Card or a new computer?? Most likely it wouldn't function at all, or if it did it would chug along with sub-par performance for a while before either the PSU died or the graphics card's VRAM got destroyed by voltage fluctuation. I agree with emosun, upgrading your current computer will be difficult, but it is possible. It depends on how much sweat and money you're willing to put into this compared to building one yourself from parts, or (shudder) buying a new one from the store. __________________ Good PSU brands: Corsair, SeaSonic, CWT, PC Power and Cooling, Thermaltake Toughpower, CoolerMaster Real Power Pro On 80+ Certification - PSU Information and Selection - Power Supply Myths You don't get what you don't pay for.

10-09-2009, 01:25 AM	#6 (permalink)
emosun Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: usa Posts: 7,087 OS: xp pro sp2 My System	Re: Should i get a new Gfx Card or a new computer?? Well the card would overheat/fry due to the case size, or the power supply would eventually wear out from powering it. I would either get a decent case and power supply for this machine , or consider a different machine. __________________ Gpu Benchmarks Cpu-Z Power supply information and selection Gpu-Z Video card quick list

10-09-2009, 03:46 AM	#7 (permalink)
LostAlot Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 7 OS: Vista	Re: Should i get a new Gfx Card or a new computer?? Are there any gaming desktop worth buying at this time???

10-09-2009, 06:09 AM	#8 (permalink)
emosun Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: usa Posts: 7,087 OS: xp pro sp2 My System	Re: Should i get a new Gfx Card or a new computer?? Prebuilt? none that I know of considering I never buy prebuilt for gaming. If your interested in a new pc try the building section , just post your budget and what you plan to do and they can find something that'll do it. __________________ Gpu Benchmarks Cpu-Z Power supply information and selection Gpu-Z Video card quick list