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Parents got a Dell for my brother for xmas

Z

Zolty

Diamond Member
He likes Fps games (CS, halo, ect.)

Parents bought him the following, I would like to get him a video card to support the games he wants to play.

I would like to keep this under $150 so I am looking around the ATI X850PRO or the Nvidia 7600GT, I have always used nvidia chipsets in the past, but I wouldn't be opposed to going the other way, any suggestions?

OptiPlex 320 Mini Tower Pentium
Intel® Pentium® D Processor 820 (2.80GHz, 2X1M, 800MHz FSB), Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition,SP2, with Media, English
OptiPlex 320 Minitower P4 Intel® Pentium® D Processor 820 (2.80GHz, 2X1M, 800MHz FSB)

File System NTFS File System for all Operating Systems

Memory 512MB DDR2 Non-ECC SDRAM, 533MHz, (1DIMM)

Keyboard Dell USB Keyboard, No Hot Keys, English, Black

Monitors Dell 17 inch E177FP Flat Panel, Analog

Video Card ATI Radeon® X300 Integrated Graphics

Boot Hard Drives 80GB SATA 3.0Gb/s and 8MB DataBurst Cache?

Floppy Drive Options No Floppy Drive

Operating System(s) Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition,SP2, with Media, English

Mouse Dell USB 2-Button Entry Mouse with Scroll, Black

Lead Free Motherboard RoHS Compliant Lead Free Chassis and Motherboard

Removable Media Storage Devices 48X CD-ROM

Speakers No Internal Speaker

Resource CD No Resource CD

Dell Energy Smart Dell Energy Smart Enable

Warranty & Service 3 Year On-site Economy Plan

Miscellaneous 320 Minitower P4
Click to expand...
 
Won't get much performance with 512MB single channel.
I'd suggest a quick upgrade to 1GB with another stick of 512 and then buy a video card with the remainder of the money.
 
Originally posted by: Ayah
Won't get much performance with 512MB single channel.
I'd suggest a quick upgrade to 1GB with another stick of 512 and then buy a video card with the remainder of the money.
Click to expand...

it's already been ordered, and not by me. I am actually calling dell about this tomarrow when they open.
 
Originally posted by: Gl4di4tor
7600GT
Click to expand...


Quote:

Ayah
Golden Member


Won't get much performance with 512MB single channel.
I'd suggest a quick upgrade to 1GB with another stick of 512 and then buy a video card with the remainder of the money.

-------------------------
I agree
 
ummm... you might be screwed. The X300 is an integrated graphics card. As such, they might not even be a PCI-E slot for a card in the system. One of my relatives had the same problem with an integrated card on board...
 
Not sure if it's still in the price range, but I would go with the 7900GS. I know best buy had it for $154 after MIR a few weeks back. And as was pointed out by another poster, check to make sure you have a PCI-e slot before you buy anything

*edit*

Per the specs on Dells website it does have a 16x PCI-e, you should be good to go
 
7900GS is possible(I doubt it though), if the 7900GS isn't possible then go with the 7600GT, I was in a similar situation a few months ago, but I went with a 7900GT for some reason.
edit: If you're in store for a mouse like some people are talking about, I would recommend getting the G5 over the razor diamondback, I've used both.
 
Originally posted by: Fallen Kell
ummm... you might be screwed. The X300 is an integrated graphics card. As such, they might not even be a PCI-E slot for a card in the system. One of my relatives had the same problem with an integrated card on board...
Click to expand...

According to the product specs, the regular mini tower has:

Number of Bays
2 internal 3.5", 1 external 3.5", 2 external 5.25"
Dimensions
H: 16.2" W: 7.4" D: 17.0"
H: 41.14cm W: 18.7cm D: 43.18cm
Slots
2 full height PCI
-(H: 4.2" X L: 11")
1 full height 1 PCIe x16 graphics,
-(H: 4.2" X L: 9")
1 full height PCIe x1
-(H: 4.2" X L: 9")
Power Supply
305W

So while it does have a PCI Express x16 graphics slot available, the system only has a 305 watt PSU. According to evga, a 7600 GT requires "Minimum of a 350 Watt power supply."

So unfortunately a fast graphics card may be too much for your PSU, especially with that power hungry Pentium D in there.
 
I used to have a Dell with my 7800gs and a 250watt power supply and it worked and I overclocked with it! I still have the power supply now. I'm sure the 305 can handle the 7600gt mabe even the 7900gs. Dell"s power supply's are underated.
 
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