Upgrade card for Vista?

[Athena]

I'm looking for an upgrade vido card for my 4-year old Dell Optiplex GX260. It has a Radeon VE (dual DVI monitors but only 32MB). I figure that if I know what I'm looking for, I can just watch for a "Hot Deal" and grab one when it comes up.

I've never bought a video card and I have to admit, I'm somewhat overwhelmed by the available choices. I don't care about gaming at all and I'm not likely to do any video editing on this machine. What would be a good entry/medium level, Vista capable card for this machine. I guess that means 256MB and AGP but I don't understand the different AGP numbers.

Thanks

 

[apoppin]

price range?

 

[Athena]

I really don't know yet. I was thinking of around $100 but if that wouldn't be adequate, I could go for more. I was just looking at this Radeon X1600PRO -- ATI would give me a $50 credit for the old card so the net cost would be $150 + tax + shipping. Would that one support all of the fancy Vista stuff?

Hmmm...I just read some user reviews and many mentioned heat. Is that something I should be thinking about when I upgrade my card? Do I have to get another fan or something?

 

[hans030390]

I have a 6600gt and it works just great. Should be cheaper, and a bit faster, than the x1600pro.

 

[apoppin]

the x1600 would be fine.

perhaps you could go for an x1300pro . . . they are cheaper and should be sufficient for a non-gamer.

Why are you upgrading now? Vista has been delayed over-and-over . . . probably not available till next year.

 

[Athena]

Okay, thanks. I wasn't going to rush out and buy a card, I just wanted to know which of all the many cards I should be considering. I had thought I would get a new machine in January but then it occurred to me that I really don't need anything but a new video card.

I'll keep my eye on deals for the X1300 Pro and the 6600gt. Do I have to be concerned about the heat for these two?

Thanks again for the info.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: Athena
Okay, thanks. I wasn't going to rush out and buy a card, I just wanted to know which of all the many cards I should be considering. I had thought I would get a new machine in January but then it occurred to me that I really don't need anything but a new video card.

I'll keep my eye on deals for the X1300 Pro and the 6600gt. Do I have to be concerned about the heat for these two?

Thanks again for the info.

you're welcome

and heat should be no problem.

My advice is to 'wait' . . . there is a new generation of video cards due late this year that will DROP prices on cards your are currently looking at.

Check back here when you are actually ready to purchase. . . . there will probably be a 'hot deal' then.

 

[Roguestar]

For Vista, wait for a DX10 card.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: Roguestar
For Vista, wait for a DX10 card.

i am sorry but that is ridiculous.

did you even read the OP's first post?
:roll:

AND are we going to have problems with the OP's 4-year old Dell Optiplex GX260 AGP slot's voltage? Is it agp2x or 4?
:Q

 

[Athena]

Originally posted by: apoppin
AND are we going to have problems with the OP's 4-year old Dell Optiplex GX260 AGP slot's voltage? Is it agp2x or 4?

So that's what those "x numbers" mean

Here's what the system documentation says about the expansion bus

• AGP expansion-card connectors - one
  AGP expansion-card connector data width (maximum) - 32 bits
  AGP expansion-card connector size - 172 pins
  AGP bus protocols - 4x modes at 1.5 V

I see a lot of 4X/8X cards so I assume they would be work for me. In any case, I'm going to follow your advice and wait a bit. I figure the Thanksgiving sales would be a good time to get serious about this.

 

[aka1nas]

You are fine with newer AGP cards as it is a 1.5v slot. I would grab a 7600GS or GT and call it a day. There will probably not be ANY DirectX 10 AGP cards and to be honest, you don't need one. Dx 10 requires Vista, Vista does not require Dx10. Dx9 is only required for the Aero glass theme.

 

[Athena]

Originally posted by: aka1nas
You are fine with newer AGP cards as it is a 1.5v slot. I would grab a 7600GS or GT and call it a day. There will probably not be ANY DirectX 10 AGP cards and to be honest, you don't need one. Dx 10 requires Vista, Vista does not require Dx10. Dx9 is only required for the Aero glass theme.

I've been using Vista on and off for over a year but haven't paid any attention to the graphics stuff since my card is a "1". I'm getting more interested in that side of things now though.

Newegg is selling the PNY VCG66256APB Geforce 6600 256MB 128-bit DDR AGP 4X/8X Video Card for $82.99 (plus tax and shipping). Is this a good choice? I found it because CompUSA is promoting the same card for $100 in the paper this week and I wondered whether that was a good price for that card.

Thank you.

 

[GundamSonicZeroX]

I looked on newegg and found a similar card (slightly slower) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130262 for about 55.99. after rebate. I think the eVGA card will be best as they have a lifetime warranty (I think another manufacturer has that but I can't remember atm.)

 

[Athena]

Would the eVGA 256-A8-N330-LX Geforce 6600LE 256MB 128-bit DDR AGP 4X/8X Video Card give me glass in Vista? That's really all I want/need. Video is not my thing, most of the technical specs on these cards don't actually tell me much. How is it a "slower" card and what would that mean for my use?

From what I've been reading, I'll also need to upgrade my power supply (it's 250w now) so I was thinking of ordering this one with the card.

I don't want to spend much money here -- just enough to enable me to see glass on this machine.

 

[GundamSonicZeroX]

Vista requirements
According to this it should work.
And also the one I showed doesn't have as many pixel pielines which shouldn't matter since you aren't gaming. As for the PSU, I think it'll suffice for a low powered cards such as the 6600.

 

[Athena]

Originally posted by: GundamSonicZeroX
And also the one I showed doesn't have as many pixel pielines which shouldn't matter since you aren't gaming.

I don't see anything about pixel pipelines in the specs for my old card so it could hardly be worse.

I was hoping for a dual display card but hardly ever even turn on my second monitor these days so I figure I can experiment with this card and get a better one later if necessary. There are a couple of other machines here with the same specs that could use it if/when I need to get something better.

I think I'm going to order this and spend the next few weeks playing around. Thank you all for the help.