Replacing onboard video on Compaq SR1710nx

[Shagger]

I have the Compaq Presario SR1710NX Desktop PC. It has integrated video along with its X200 express chipset. I am looking to upgrade the video. Does anyone know what video card this integrated video is comparable to? I can put a PCI-E X16 card in this mobo so I am also wondering what is the best bang for the buck out there?

 

[Matt2]

What are the specs on the rest of the system?

 

[bloodthirster]

Just about anything is better than the onboard video. Newegg has video cards from $31 to $600. It all depends on what games you will be playing. Id recommend something from the Nvida 6200 series on up or the ATI X800 series on up. Just make sure you dont get a card that requires tons of power or you'll be updating your power supply to.

Newegg's PCI-E selection.

 

[Shagger]

Originally posted by: Matt2
What are the specs on the rest of the system?

CPU
Sempron (P) 3400+ 2.0 GHz
1600 MT/s (mega transfers/second)
Socket 939

Chipset
ATI Radeon Xpress 200

Motherboard
Manufacturer: Asus
Motherboard Name: A8AE-LE
HP/Compaq motherboard name: AmberineM-GL6E

Memory
3X512MB PC3200 MB/sec

Hard drive
100 GB SATA
7200 rpm

 

[Shagger]

Originally posted by: bloodthirster
Just about anything is better than the onboard video. Newegg has video cards from $31 to $600. It all depends on what games you will be playing. Id recommend something from the Nvida 6200 series on up or the ATI X800 series on up. Just make sure you dont get a card that requires tons of power or you'll be updating your power supply to.

Newegg's PCI-E selection.

Where does it say what the power requirements are for each card?

 

[happy medium]

Originally posted by: Shagger

Originally posted by: bloodthirster
Just about anything is better than the onboard video. Newegg has video cards from $31 to $600. It all depends on what games you will be playing. Id recommend something from the Nvida 6200 series on up or the ATI X800 series on up. Just make sure you dont get a card that requires tons of power or you'll be updating your power supply to.

Newegg's PCI-E selection.

Where does it say what the power requirements are for each card?

I allmost sure your power supply is 250 watts. What that means is your options are limited.
7600gt is a good low power requirement card.

In your case I'd upgrade my power supply first (cheap 400watts 26 amp 12v+ rail) and grab a Nvidia 7900 series since there not as power hungry as ATI's 1900 series.

 

[Shagger]

Originally posted by: happy medium

Originally posted by: Shagger

Originally posted by: bloodthirster
Just about anything is better than the onboard video. Newegg has video cards from $31 to $600. It all depends on what games you will be playing. Id recommend something from the Nvida 6200 series on up or the ATI X800 series on up. Just make sure you dont get a card that requires tons of power or you'll be updating your power supply to.

Newegg's PCI-E selection.

Where does it say what the power requirements are for each card?

I allmost sure your power supply is 250 watts. What that means is your options are limited.
7600gt is a good low power requirement card.

In your case I'd upgrade my power supply first (cheap 400watts 26 amp 12v+ rail) and grab a Nvidia 7900 series since there not as power hungry as ATI's 1900 series.

I have a few free AR PS's sitting around that are supposedly 500W, I'll have to check the 12v rail...

But I guess my real question is what Video Card is comparable to the integrated X200 video? What do I have to buy to make SURE that I am going to have much higher performance than what I have currently. Its the kids box, but they do play some high end games so I want to make sure that the card I buy has life for the future...

 

[happy medium]

OK ,well first of all integrated video is the absolute the crap of the crap.

So choose your poison.
I'll start cheap and med performance,and go to the high end

Nvidia based cards.....run a little cooler and have a little less power requirements than Ati cards.

1. 7600gt...130.00$
2 7900 gs....160.00$
3. 7900gt or 7950gt..... 210.00$ depends on memory size
4. skip the 7900gtx and go to a 8800gts 320mb 275.00$
5. 8800gts 640mb version... I think you will need a faster cpu for this one. 380.00$
6. 8000gtx ..... forget about it!!..... 500.00$ plus

Ati based cards. and there Nvidia eqivalent. Prices are also similar.

1. 1650xt = 7600gt
2. 1950gt = 7900gs
3. 1950 pro =7950gt
4. 1950xt = 8800gts 320mb
5. 1950xtx = somewhere in between a 8800gts 320 and 8800gts 640. Price and performance. I think you'll need a faster cpu for this one to.


To play most games at 1280x1024 with med/high setting you need a 7950gt/1950pro.

What are you looking for?

Still confused ...Read this...

http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/03/06/...g_video_cards_for_the_money/page3.html


Edit: This is a spectacular deal on the x1950xt for 219.00$ plus a 20.00$ rebate =199.00$
The card is has duel slot cooling so it will exhaust hot air out of your Compaq case.
This card will play anything your kids want for a year at least. Make sure you have a 450 watt power supply and a 30 amp 12v+ rail.

Heres a little read for the card

http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/03/06/...g_video_cards_for_the_money/page4.html

Heres where to get it cheap

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102067

 

[Shagger]

Happy medium, et al;
Thanks very much for all your help. I have been perusing Newegg to get ideas for an upgrade, but the gist of it was I didn't want to waste my money on a cheapo 6200LE when it would not be much better than the onboard video. From talking with you guys and chatting with the trained chimps at Compaq tech support, I think that I have finally gotten it through my thick skull that the onboard video is garbage and virutally ANYTHING would be better than that. The real issue is that I only paid $125 for the system after all the rebates, so its hard to justify a $300 card to slap in it!
I guess its time to start working the wife to soften her up to the idea of an upgrade...
Thanks again to all for your help!