Need a new Vid. Card. Which one can I get cheap?

ice_glitch · 10-15-2005, 10:44 AM

I currently have an "Intel 82915G/GV/910GL Express Chipset Family" integrated chip that is fairly decent for having come with a new Dell. It is a 128 MB size memory. But I now have got games that this chipset cannot handle without the frames freezing or other stuff. So, I need a new card that can run Half-Life 2, Counter Strike: Source, America's Army, and Doom 3 with the textures tuned to at least Normal graphics. All this time I've been having to tune textures, etc., down to it's lowest in order for gameplay to be smooth, but even still my card runs slower than hay on certain scenarios or levels that demand big cards even when they're turned as low as can go. So what card can I get that would run all these games without problems? Money is somewhat of an issue though, I can really only afford to spend about $150-$180, so I was hoping eBay would have to do, even though it's quite risky. Also, I want a card with at least 256 MB Memory, that will fit inside my Dell Dimension 4700. Any suggestions as to a card that won't make me go broke?

dai · 10-15-2005, 10:54 AM

also check you have enough power to run it before you buy

ice_glitch · 10-15-2005, 12:04 PM

Yeah, I've heard about that too, it's just, how can I find out how many watts my computer is running on? In order to be safe with a new video card.

ice_glitch · 10-15-2005, 12:07 PM

I have one of those APC Power Chutes so I went to go check my watt output on it with my system. I watched it and it looked like about 95-130 watts... is that really bad? CUz from what I know I think it is. Also, there was a bar from 0-210 watts and mine was at about 120 sometimes, but, if the maximum watts I can get is 210, then how am I supposed to run a video card that needs 300 watts?!

dai · 10-15-2005, 01:29 PM

http://www.jscustompcs.com/power_supply/
add 30% to the result

ice_glitch · 10-15-2005, 10:46 PM

Er... adding the 30% to 227 I came up with approx. 303 watts of power recommended MINIMUM to run my system. Uh...was my APC Back-UPS correct when it said I was running on about 95-180 watts typically? But my maximum output on the bar said 210 watts, so even if I could get more than 180 watts, 210 watts was max? If 303 watts is recommended for my computer how can it even RUN on 180?? Is there another way I can test the output wattage that is coming to my computer, for sure? If I am not getting enough power to my computer, what would you recommend doing? Okay, I have two outlets with a splitter of about 4 plug-ins coming off all them combined. So I only have 4 plug-ins. Running off of those 4 plug-ins I have 2 surge bars, running two different computers. Could this cause power supply to go down because I'm only running off two outlets?

**mgoldb2** · 10-15-2005, 11:09 PM

Quote:

I can really only afford to spend about $150-$180

eVGA 128-P2-N368-TX Geforce 6600GT 128MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 $153
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130214

OR

POWERCOLOR R43CA-GD3D Radeon X800GT 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 $162
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814131420

Andrew0987 · 10-17-2005, 06:34 AM

I assume you have a pci-e interface. Here is a small video card that will fin in you case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814135182

10-15-2005, 10:44 AM	#1 (permalink)
ice_glitch Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 59 OS: XP SP2	Need a new Vid. Card. Which one can I get cheap? I currently have an "Intel 82915G/GV/910GL Express Chipset Family" integrated chip that is fairly decent for having come with a new Dell. It is a 128 MB size memory. But I now have got games that this chipset cannot handle without the frames freezing or other stuff. So, I need a new card that can run Half-Life 2, Counter Strike: Source, America's Army, and Doom 3 with the textures tuned to at least Normal graphics. All this time I've been having to tune textures, etc., down to it's lowest in order for gameplay to be smooth, but even still my card runs slower than hay on certain scenarios or levels that demand big cards even when they're turned as low as can go. So what card can I get that would run all these games without problems? Money is somewhat of an issue though, I can really only afford to spend about $150-$180, so I was hoping eBay would have to do, even though it's quite risky. Also, I want a card with at least 256 MB Memory, that will fit inside my Dell Dimension 4700. Any suggestions as to a card that won't make me go broke? __________________ Dell Dimension 4700, BIOS A10, Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 2, Pentium IV Processor 3.0 Ghz, 2.5 GB RAM, 30GB Seagate Master, 100GB Seagate Slave, Pioneer DVD R/RW Drive,256 MB PNY GeForce 8600 GT, No Floppy Drive, 500watt modular PSU Last edited by ice_glitch; 10-15-2005 at 10:45 AM.

10-15-2005, 10:54 AM	#2 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,680 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	also check you have enough power to run it before you buy __________________

10-15-2005, 12:04 PM	#3 (permalink)
ice_glitch Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 59 OS: XP SP2	Yeah, I've heard about that too, it's just, how can I find out how many watts my computer is running on? In order to be safe with a new video card. __________________ Dell Dimension 4700, BIOS A10, Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 2, Pentium IV Processor 3.0 Ghz, 2.5 GB RAM, 30GB Seagate Master, 100GB Seagate Slave, Pioneer DVD R/RW Drive,256 MB PNY GeForce 8600 GT, No Floppy Drive, 500watt modular PSU

10-15-2005, 12:07 PM	#4 (permalink)
ice_glitch Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 59 OS: XP SP2	I have one of those APC Power Chutes so I went to go check my watt output on it with my system. I watched it and it looked like about 95-130 watts... is that really bad? CUz from what I know I think it is. Also, there was a bar from 0-210 watts and mine was at about 120 sometimes, but, if the maximum watts I can get is 210, then how am I supposed to run a video card that needs 300 watts?! __________________ Dell Dimension 4700, BIOS A10, Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 2, Pentium IV Processor 3.0 Ghz, 2.5 GB RAM, 30GB Seagate Master, 100GB Seagate Slave, Pioneer DVD R/RW Drive,256 MB PNY GeForce 8600 GT, No Floppy Drive, 500watt modular PSU Last edited by ice_glitch; 10-15-2005 at 12:10 PM.

10-15-2005, 01:29 PM	#5 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,680 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	http://www.jscustompcs.com/power_supply/ add 30% to the result __________________

10-15-2005, 10:46 PM	#6 (permalink)
ice_glitch Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 59 OS: XP SP2	Er... adding the 30% to 227 I came up with approx. 303 watts of power recommended MINIMUM to run my system. Uh...was my APC Back-UPS correct when it said I was running on about 95-180 watts typically? But my maximum output on the bar said 210 watts, so even if I could get more than 180 watts, 210 watts was max? If 303 watts is recommended for my computer how can it even RUN on 180?? Is there another way I can test the output wattage that is coming to my computer, for sure? If I am not getting enough power to my computer, what would you recommend doing? Okay, I have two outlets with a splitter of about 4 plug-ins coming off all them combined. So I only have 4 plug-ins. Running off of those 4 plug-ins I have 2 surge bars, running two different computers. Could this cause power supply to go down because I'm only running off two outlets? __________________ Dell Dimension 4700, BIOS A10, Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 2, Pentium IV Processor 3.0 Ghz, 2.5 GB RAM, 30GB Seagate Master, 100GB Seagate Slave, Pioneer DVD R/RW Drive,256 MB PNY GeForce 8600 GT, No Floppy Drive, 500watt modular PSU Last edited by ice_glitch; 10-15-2005 at 10:51 PM.

10-17-2005, 06:34 AM	#8 (permalink)
Andrew0987 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 79 OS: xp	I assume you have a pci-e interface. Here is a small video card that will fin in you case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814135182