Recommendations on an entry-level GPU

[michaeljhowie]

My current system specs are:

Dell Dimension E510
Windows XP Pro
Pentium D 820 (2.8 Ghz)
1 GB DDR2 533 RAM (may be upgrading to 2 GB very soon)
160 GB SATA HDD
17" Dell Ultrasharp LCD
ATI Radeon X300 SE HyperMemory 128 Mb

I am looking to purchase a PCI express x16 graphics card for this system. The system is used primarily to watch DVD's and play some games such as Unreal Tournament 2004. I would like to spend no more than ~$150 and closer to the $100-130 range.

I have considered the following:

- BFG Tech BFGR76256GTOCE GeForce 7600GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814143049)
- SAPPHIRE 100166L Radeon X1650XT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102068)

- XFX PVT71PUDP3 GeForce 7900GS 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 EXTREME Video Card (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150202)
- EVGA 256-P2-N624-AR GeForce 7900GS 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 KO Video Card (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130056)
- POWERCOLOR X1950 PRO 256MB 256-bit PCI Express x16 Video Card (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131026)
- DIAMOND X1950PRO256PCIE Radeon X1950PRO 256-bit GDDR3 VIVO PCI Express x16 VIVO Video Card (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814103021)

- SAPPHIRE 100200L Radeon X1950GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102094)

Your recommendations are greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[michaeljhowie]

Forgot to add that the power supply is only ~300W (305W IIRC) if that impacts the decision at all. Thanks.

 

[aka1nas]

You should normally be able to drop up to a 7900GS or X1950 Pro into that model and be ok with the PSU limitations. However, your's has a Pentium D rather than a C2D so it probably sucks up more juice. You can try one of the above models, but they may not be stable on that PSU.

 

[michaeljhowie]

It seems that a 7300GT will definitely work with a 300W power supply, however this wouldn't be much of an improvement over the stock integrated graphics.

There are also a few 7600GS and 7600GT that will work with a 300W power supply.

However I came across this on Newegg:

PNY VCG8600GXPB GeForce 8600GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card

[http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133199]

It is only $149.99. I get the impression that PNY is not the best co. to buy a graphics card from though based on the price and reviews on Newegg. But hey it runs DirectX 10 and would be a big step up from what I've got now.

What are your opinions on this card? Thanks for your help.

 

[michaeljhowie]

Well I went ahead and got the extra 1 GB of RAM. Now the system is at a total of 2 GB of dual channel (4 x 512MB) 533 PC4200. Still unsure on the video card though. Recommendations appreciated. Are there any power supplies that will bolt right up into the Dell E510 case? This could solve the problem all together if I upgraded the power supply.

 

[Immortal1]

Well I have the identical system as yours, (except I just installed another 2 gigs RAM for a total of 3 gigs)
and I just upgraded to the 3d Connect X1650XT.
Runs fine with the stock PSU. I don't game, so I can't comment on the performance, but plays DVDs fine.
Fan is reasonably quiet till it goes 100% but even then it's liveab;e.
Still running it through it's paces, but so far it's been a good upgrade.
After I bought the card, I found out that it appears that 3d Connect could be out of business (or in the process of being bought) so if the card goes out you'll have to rely on the Newegg return policy.
HTH

 

[zylander]

7900gt's pop up in the FS/FT section here all the time for good prices and I would suggest one of those, but I dont know how well it would run on your PSU, if at all.

 

[imported_Kiwi]

The already named 7600 GS and X1650 cards are mid-level for games, while not being heavy current parts, almost anything any more capable than those (including the 7600 GT) are going to need more PSU to run. Several Inet companies offer aftermarket support for replacement PSUs, but the best of them is PC Power and Cooling. Those aren't cheap, but they are high quality.

 

[michaeljhowie]

Well from what I see it's between the X1650XT and the 7600GS. Thanks for the input Immortal1. From what I can gather the X1650XT is a better choice when looking at benchmarks [http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics_2007.html] at Tom's Hardware.

However the 8600GT catches my eye even though it may be about $50 more:
from eVGA: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130085
from PNY: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133199

How much of a performance difference would I see by getting the 8600GT over the X1650XT? Anyone running the 8600GT now? Details? I ask this because I couldn't find detailed benchmarks of the 8600GT.

Thanks again for your input guys.

Or I could always pop in a 470W Silencer PSU from PC Power and Cooling: http://www.pcpower.com/products/viewproduct.php?show=S47D and then a 7900GS or X1950. I don't really want to spend another $125 on a new power supply though.