Advice on new gaming GPU (AFFORDABLE!)

[Noobtastic]

My gpu just shut down last week. The monitor is on but no image is showing up on screen. I've tried multiple monitors but same problem. Sound works fine...I can hear the login sound for windows when it loads up, so I don't think this is motherboard problem.

Anyways, the card was an Nvidia 8600GTS. I can only spend $50-100, and I won't be buying it online.

So, suggestions? I'd rather stick with Nvidia.

I mostly play valve games, nothing too intensive. Half life 2 on high/med ran well with the 8600.

 

[toyota]

if you arent buying online then how do we know what products you can buy locally? a 9500gt is about dead even with an 8600gt but it will likely be very expensive at a local store.

also something is wrong if you could not max out HL2 on an 8600gts. that makes me think the rest of your system is even worse than that video card.

 

[blanketyblank]

Look at prices you can get for the following: 8800s, 9600s, 9800s, GTS 240, and GTS 250. Those are probably the best cards you can get in your budget if they are in your budget and still being sold. Local prices usually suck though so unless your area has some good computer stores you need to figure what you can even get first.

 

[melek-taus]

50-100

Try and find a 4850 1gb they cost around 80 bucks. If u have a bit more to spare consider a 4870 or 4890 as lately there have been alot of crazy deals on those cards.

4850 will still play most games on decent to high graphics.

 

[toyota]

the guy may have a Pentium 4, 1gb of memory and a 250 watt psu for all we know.

 

[melek-taus]

But yer first we need to know what kind of specs the rest of ur parts have. Doubt its 250w and pent 4 but indeed for all we know its a celeron lol.

 

[Noobtastic]

Right, sorry.

intel core duo @ 2.0+ ghz.

honestly, I don't remember the exact model. I don't know the PSU, but its a standard dell "customized" from their online store.

320 gig HD, 2 gigs of ram, vista, etc.

About a year old.

again, i'd rather stick with nvidia because that is what the system came with but i'll go ATI if it is workable.

im not sure if dell is built for ATI.

i've never, ever used one of their cards before...ever.

i really would like to buy online, but it isn't an option at the moment.

So what card is most comparable to the 8600GT/GTS within the $50-100.

And, hypothetically - if I were to buy online, what would be the ideal card?

 

[nenforcer]

At the high end you could get a Geforce 9800GT 512MB GDDR3 / 1 GB GDDR5.

In the middle the best and newest card is a Geforce GT 240 512 / 1GB GDDR5 for around $75 after rebates.

At the low end you are looking at a Geforce 9600GT 512MB GDDR3 but these are not much cheaper and definitely not the newest on the block.

I would go middle end since its the newest card out of the bunch and supports the newest features and memory. However, you may have trouble buying this retail. Do you shop at local computer stores or big box retailers? It seems like Best Buy is the only retailer left that carries video cards. It looks like you may be able to get it via Walmar Site to Store.

 

[Noobtastic]

At the high end you could get a Geforce 9800GT 512MB GDDR3 / 1 GB GDDR5.

In the middle the best and newest card is a Geforce GT 240 512 / 1GB GDDR5 for around $75 after rebates.

At the low end you are looking at a Geforce 9600GT 512MB GDDR3 but these are not much cheaper and definitely not the newest on the block.

I would go middle end since its the newest card out of the bunch and supports the newest features and memory. However, you may have trouble buying this retail. Do you shop at local computer stores or big box retailers? It seems like Best Buy is the only retailer left that carries video cards. It looks like you may be able to get it via Walmar Site to Store.

There are several best buys where I live and some other electronic stores.

Is the 2400 comparable to the 8600? Wouldn't the 9600 be faster than the 8600 since its a more recent model?

I'm not gonna play cyrsis or anything, just Half life 2, bad company, TF2, portal, etc...

I was able to run all games med/high without a problem...

 

[Madcatatlas]

for the love of all that is holy, stick with nVidia if your rig is built by Dell. going AMD/ATi on a rig like that can prove too much in terms of troubleshooting.

Come back when your getting a new rig and the suggestion may change

 

[RussianSensation]

Your best bet would be to try to find a GTS250 1GB for ~ $100. Other good alternatives would be 9800GTX, 9800GT/8800GT 1GB versions.

 

[-Slacker-]

for the love of all that is holy, stick with nVidia if your rig is built by Dell. going AMD/ATi on a rig like that can prove too much in terms of troubleshooting.

Come back when your getting a new rig and the suggestion may change

What's wrong with ATI cards on Dells?


I'd get a hd4770. It's better and - I think- cheaper than a 9800GT.

 

[melek-taus]

i think u mean a 4850 or 4870. I personally wouldnt go for any of the above. The 9000 series of nvidia sucked and the gtx260- are just waste of cash if u can buy a much better stronger and cheaper 4870 or 4890. and both those cards are pretty good cards wich still play all games on high settings and both are fairly cheap.

And a gpu is a gpu no pc will care if u put in a nvidia or an ati card. So it wouldnt matter if u put an ati in a dell pc.

 

[spittledip]

ATI runs HL2 TF2 etc better, so you probably should go ATI.

Also, as far as running ATI on Dell, I can say that I have run ATI cards on Dells with no problems. Truth is, I have never had any problems at all with any video card by any manufacturer. The only time I had trouble was easily solved by running driver cleaner.

 

[Skurge]

Id say get a 4850 they are usualy 80-99 bucks. GTS250s are usually over $100 and i'd recomend a 512mb 5750

Lower than that you can get a 9800gt or 4770

even lower and you should get a 9600gt or 4670 DDR4

 

[Creig]

I don't know the PSU, but its a standard dell "customized" from their online store.

In order to be able to safely recommend a video card for you, we really need to know the specs of your power supply. The pertinent information (Manufacturer name, model number, overall wattage, etc) should be printed on a sticker affixed to the side of the power supply. If you can supply us with that information, we can give you a few suggestions that won't overload your stock PS.

 

[happy medium]

Jeez, try and grab a 9600gt or 9800gt and call it a day.
Both will run in a half decent Dell psu.

 

[nyker96]

get a 9800gt or 8800gt used or gts 250 or whatever that card is named now.

 

[ArchAngel777]

Nothing in his price range locally is going to overload his PSU. Dell standards have been 350 watt for a long time and with at least 18 - 22amps on the 12v. That is sufficient for pretty much any card in his price range, especially locally... Hopefully he at least has a Fry's or Micro Center close to him...

 

[frozentundra123456]

I got a 9800GT low power edition at Best Buy for about 85.00 on close out. If you have more than one best buy and are shoping those, be sure to check them all in person. At least around here (Minneapolis) prices seem to differ widely from store to store even on the same card, especially if one store is having a close out.

You should be able to find a DDR5 GT 240 for less than 100 dollars. If you could find a HD4850, GT 250 they would be faster though.

Just be careful in Best buy.. If you are lucky you can find a pretty good deal, but they also have some old and really weak cards priced close to what decent modern cards are priced at.

 

[Sylvanas]

What's wrong with ATI cards on Dells?


I'd get a hd4770. It's better and - I think- cheaper than a 9800GT.

Nothing. He's trolling like he does in other threads.

9800GT or 4770 is all you really need, 9600GSO would do fine. Be aware it's best you do a driversweep before installing.

 

[CraigRT]

ATI 4850. I play Valve games too. They work good.

Hell, I have 2 for sale if you want to buy one. They are the newer Sapphire design, they run quieter and cooler than reference design.