New Video Card???

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DoobieNaq23

Member
Jul 13, 2004
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I just ordered a XFX GeForce FX 5700 LE 256MB Video Card it is an has and 8X interface speed but I think my motherboard is only 4X, so will it work at all? My friend recommended this card because I will be upgrading my whole system in the future and he says it will only run at the max speed the motherboard will let it run at until I upgrade the motherboard. Is he correct are have I just wasted about 100 bucks?

In case you are wondering I am a New-B

Thanks in advance
 
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Sonic587

Golden Member
May 11, 2004
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I would suggest taking whatever your friend says with a grain of salt. No, 4X AGP bus won't hurt your card. It won't affect it at all. In addition, your card will not run any faster if you upgrade to an 8X motherboard.

I question your friend's choice of card, too. Unless you can OC it, you indeed may have wasted $100. Are you a gamer?
 
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gururu

Platinum Member
Jul 16, 2002
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it will run at 4x. and there is no noticeable difference IMO when running at 4x or 8x.
 
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DoobieNaq23

Member
Jul 13, 2004
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I am not really a gamer because I don't have the system for it, but I am working on it. I wish I would have found this site sooner. I didn't recieve the card yet (I just placed the order last night) so could you suggest a card in-case I can stop the order and change it. What other info about my system would help in your answers (as I said I am a new-B, so I have no idea)
 
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DoobieNaq23

Member
Jul 13, 2004
42
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Thanks for the help
CPU Pentium 4 1.8GHz 100MHz external bus
Motherboard ? can't find information on it
RAM 768MB (presently 256MB, but another 512MB is ordered with video card)
PSU Brand ? 160watt (got the computer 2 yrs ago with Gateway)

where can look to find what motherboard I have?
 
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Sonic587

Golden Member
May 11, 2004
1,146
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Originally posted by: DoobieNaq23
Thanks for the help
CPU Pentium 4 1.8GHz 100MHz external bus
Motherboard ? can't find information on it
RAM 768MB (presently 256MB, but another 512MB is ordered with video card)
PSU Brand ? 160watt (got the computer 2 yrs ago with Gateway)

where can look to find what motherboard I have?
Click to expand...


Hmmm. Ok, first off, are you ordering SD RAM or DDR RAM? If it's the first, then you are wasting your money. SD RAMs' speed is a bottleneck to start with, and you shouldn't be throwing money into a black hole like that.

Second, your PSU has VERY, VERY low wattage. You may not be able to get the PC to start up with an extra 512MB RAM and a new videocard.

You said you are upgrading in the future? If so, I would suggest you cancel your order of the new vid card/RAM and put the money you get from that into a new system. You have a lot of bottlenecks to work around it seems, and you may be better off just building a new system if you are looking into doing some serious gaming/intensive tasks. With us as help, of course :D
 
vshah

vshah

Lifer
Sep 20, 2003
19,003
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if you were to cancel the ram/video card, what would be your budget for a new system right now?

-Vivan
 
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Marsumane

Golden Member
Mar 9, 2004
1,171
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Originally posted by: Sonic587
Originally posted by: DoobieNaq23
Thanks for the help
CPU Pentium 4 1.8GHz 100MHz external bus
Motherboard ? can't find information on it
RAM 768MB (presently 256MB, but another 512MB is ordered with video card)
PSU Brand ? 160watt (got the computer 2 yrs ago with Gateway)

where can look to find what motherboard I have?
Click to expand...


Hmmm. Ok, first off, are you ordering SD RAM or DDR RAM? If it's the first, then you are wasting your money. SD RAMs' speed is a bottleneck to start with, and you shouldn't be throwing money into a black hole like that.

Second, your PSU has VERY, VERY low wattage. You may not be able to get the PC to start up with an extra 512MB RAM and a new videocard.

You said you are upgrading in the future? If so, I would suggest you cancel your order of the new vid card/RAM and put the money you get from that into a new system. You have a lot of bottlenecks to work around it seems, and you may be better off just building a new system if you are looking into doing some serious gaming/intensive tasks. With us as help, of course :D
Click to expand...

Adding on to this, you can get a decent mobo/cpu/heatsink/fan for around $150. I reccomend the NF7 motherboard and a 2500+ barton XP cpu. The heatsink/fan is on newegg. Search for vantec and find the one that is rated for 3300+, has 3 led lights in it, and is around $12-$13. You can get a stick of ram for around $70 (512mb pc3200) and a power supply for around $40. (antec anything 300w or above) After all these upgrades, do you have any money left to spend? Your total is around $260 by the way. Tell us how much u have left to spend or how much you will be looking to spend in the future and we can tell u what video card to get.
In this i have assumed you have a hard drive, cd rom drive, and a case with proper cables to hook up your drives.
 
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DoobieNaq23

Member
Jul 13, 2004
42
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I placed the order on tigerdirect.

S167-3240 :: Sony DRU530A DVD Burner / 8x4x12x DVD+RW / 4x2x12x DVD-RW / 40x24x40x CD-RW / Dual Format

TC2-DDR-512 :: Premium 512MB PC2100 DDR 266MHz Memory

L48-2218 :: Linksys - EG1032 - Instant Gigabit Network PCI Adapter

A271-9600 :: Sapphire Radeon 9600se Video Card / 128MB DDR / AGP 8X / TV Out & DVI / Lite Version

I don't really have the money to waste on this stuff but I am hell bent on being able to play games without lag on this system.
 
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DoobieNaq23

Member
Jul 13, 2004
42
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0
Sorry disregard that last post, I copied from the wrong file. This is the actual invoice:

1 TC2-DDR-512 PD Premium 512MB PC2100 DDR 266MHz $99.99 $99.99

1 L48-2218 Linksys EG1032 Instant Gigabit Network Adapter $29.99 $29.99

1 S167-3240 Sony - 8x DVD+R, 4x DVD-R, 4x DVD-RW $129.99 $129.99

1 P450-8511 XFX GeForce FX 5700 LE 256MB DDR 8X AGP W/TV & DVI $139.99 $139.99



Net Product: $399.96
Sales Tax: $0.00
P & H: $15.56
Total Shipment: 415.52
 
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Sonic587

Golden Member
May 11, 2004
1,146
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0
Originally posted by: DoobieNaq23
I don't really have the money to waste on this stuff but I am hell bent on being able to play games without lag on this system.
Click to expand...

The first step is to cancel your order then. Tiger-direct hasn't been too good in price/service lately.

There are plenty of people here who want to see you get the best system for your money. Give us an idea of how much you want to spend here and on what. Is this all going to go into your current system? Or is this for the new one?
 
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DoobieNaq23

Member
Jul 13, 2004
42
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0
Thanks guys
I would really like to build a new system. This 400 bucks can go towards a new system if I don't need too many other things. I can use my present hard drive and CD-ROM, at least. I have to count in on the DVD burner, However not right this minute (this is for my fiance`)
 
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DoobieNaq23

Member
Jul 13, 2004
42
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0
Would I be able to order the basics and put all my components into it until I can afford to purchase the rest of what I need? ex. my (old) video card, hard drive, and CD-ROM. And maybe wait on the video card for a while to get a pretty good one. I don't want my computer to be down for too long because I need it for school.
 
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DoobieNaq23

Member
Jul 13, 2004
42
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Would the demisions of the power supply fit my case? or is that anything to worry about.

BTW Sonic587, thank you very much, I have a lot to learn about this stuff. and the order was already shiped out, but the rep. told me all I have to do is refuse the shipment and they will take it back, minus shipping I'm sure.
 
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Sonic587

Golden Member
May 11, 2004
1,146
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Originally posted by: DoobieNaq23
Would the demisions of the power supply fit my case? or is that anything to worry about.
Click to expand...

That is a good question. Try calling or emailing Gateway about your PC to see if the model conforms to ATX standards.

EDIT: Do you have a link to your system? I could take a look at it and see if it has the info.
 
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DoobieNaq23

Member
Jul 13, 2004
42
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0
My computers model # is Gateway 500SE
if you would like the serial number to get the exact specs maybe I can e-mail you are PM, but I am presently chating with gateways tech support (hopefully he can give me the answer)

Gateway.com

***The tech said that it does conform to ATX standards.***
 
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ikickpigeons

Senior member
Jun 17, 2004
393
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im glad to see a newbie be directed with great advice everyone needs to remeber that they werer all once newbs. My advice is to definatly cancel your order. use your money to either upgrade core compenents ie. mobo, cpu, ram. or save some money and then completly make a new pc. thats what im doing. after my summer job im gonna build myself my dream pc. also building your computer REALLY isnt hard at all. As long as u ask questions and learn you will be perfectly fine. i hope i helped.
 
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Sonic587

Golden Member
May 11, 2004
1,146
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Ok, that's good. You'll be able to upgrade your PSU then. To be 100% sure, ask the tech. Also, ask him if you can upgrade to an ATX motherboard.
 
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