Dell GX270 - Upgrade Graphics Card Recommendations Requested

[imported_TomH]

I am upgrading some hardware in an old (3.5 yrs)Dell Optiplex GX270. I will be adding a PC Power & Cooling 410W PSU (Dell GX270 compatible). I want to upgrade to a 19" or 20" LCD and a Newer Graphics Card. The system originally came with an NVIDIA 5200 Ulta - but this card is dying. I want to upgrade, if possible to a NVIDIA® GeForce® 7300GS or 7600 GS, or something similar. I would appreciate any/all recommendations (from GX270 owners especially that have successfully upgraded their gpu's). I'm open to ATI cards, just have never had one. I'm not a gamer - but would appreciate some 3-D performance, if I can get it out of this older system. With 410W PSU - better GPU cards are possible. Any recommendations? Thank you. XP Pro (SP 2), PCP&C 410W PSU, (To get: 19-20" LCD) P4 2.6 1.5 gigs DDR 400 RAM (PC 3200 Crucial) Additional PCI slot fan for extra cooling.

 

[imported_TomH]

/shamless bump

 

[Slugbait]

Is there a specific reason you're upgrading the PSU?

Just get the 20", they are capable of higher resolutions than the 19s.

Skip the 7300, I believe they all use TurboCache (read: sucks enormous amounts of slow system memory).

You'd be better off with a 7600 series. The GT would be better than the GS, but once you reach the GT's price point, you'd be much better off getting this 7800GS for $20 less than a 7600GT (after rebate, of course).

Seems the 7-series AGP cards are starting to become scarce...newegg carries only one 7800GS now, and only a couple of 7600GTs. Performance upgrades for the older AGP machines appear to be getting squeezed out in favor of PCI-E (saw something similar happen with PCI machines back in the old days)

 

[imported_TomH]

You'd be better off with a 7600 series. The GT would be better than the GS, but once you reach the GT's price point, you'd be much better off getting this 7800GS for $20 less than a 7600GT (after rebate, of course)

I was just trying to stay "rational" with the 7600GS card thought - but if that dell 865 AGP board will support/run a 7800GS - then yeah, I'd do that. This box had the mb replaced last year and should see a couple of more years out of it, at least (for the wifes use, principally, and some net surfing). The PSU has a 3 yr warr, the DDR 400 Crucial RAM has a lifetime warrantee and the P4 Northwood should keep on chugging since it's not OC'd ($70 replacement if it dies), a decent 19" monitor ($250) and it should make a useable 2nd rig.

So you think this mb will run that 7800GS - I want to do it, but don't want to play the RMA game, if unnecessary.

 

[Slugbait]

If it's about the cost, considering the 7600GS is quite rational.

As long as the mobo is AGP 8x (it should be), then it'll be fine. Considering you will be getting an uber sweet PPC unit, you'll have plenty of clean power for adding a 7800GS.

BTW, my Northwood 1.6A was OC'd at 2.4 for almost four years, then I put it in a different case and backed down to 2.2 last year, and my wife has been using it since. Overclocking won't burn your CPU if properly cooled. But that may be a moot point: I don't believe the Dell mobo will allow you to OC.

 

[imported_TomH]

But that may be a moot point: I don't believe the Dell mobo will allow you to OC.

You can say that again. If you've seen the dell bios, you can barely change the boot order - lol.

But, I'm not sure this old rig is gonna be worth that 7800GS - it may just be overkill, that's why I'm thinking the 7300GT may be the wiser option ($99). Should marry up well with a decent 19" monitor (not intended for gaming). But that 7800GS is sooo tempting. Decisions, decisions ...

 

[imported_TomH]

I'm going to go with this:

GeForce 7800GS

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814143046