Upgrading Just Video Card

[Aisengard]

Hey all -

I recently upgraded from a Geforce 6800GT to a 8800GT, and boy the difference was amazing.

My system still only consists of these parts:

A64 3200+ (Venice core, overclocked to 2.4 GhZ, this is only a single core)
1 GB DDR SDRAM (not DDR2)
Antec 550W TruPower

Even with these old parts, games like Bioshock and Company of Heroes and Oblivion run like a dream, even with the highest settings on 1680x1050 resolution.

Just goes to show that games today rely mostly on the graphics card, and you don't need an uber-quad-core processor to play. Haven't tried Supreme Commander with the new card, but I suspect it will give me similar performance to my old card, but at the higher settings.

 

[VeZ]

Heh Im about to upgrade from an Athlon 64 3000+, 1gb ram, and a 6800 to an e6750, 2gb ram, and an 8800gt oc. I cant wait to see the performance difference

 

[imported_dareino]

I have a 2yr old system. Here are my specs:
Windows Vista Ultimate 64
AMD 64 x2 3800+
2Gig ram
Antec SmartPower 450w
Epox 9NPA
ATI 800xl 256mb
DVD
Sata II HDD
USB External HDD


My concern is the PS. Thats all I see that is feeding off the PS. Should this one be ok?
thxs
DR

 

[Aisengard]

450 should still be good. It's not really the wattage that counts, it's the quality. Your system probably wouldn't use close to 450 under load.

 

[xgsound]

The critical item seems to be the amps on the 12V system. I'm running a 8800GT with a FSP AX400 that delivers 18A on 12V1 and 16A on 12V2. The requirement is from 22A to 24A combined on the 12V rails.

On a single hard drive, single DVD, non quadcore system several people have reported running on a 350W PSU, but that's pressing it.


Jim

 

[techmanc]

If you plan on adding upgrades to your rig in the future I would a higher PSU than you need right now

 

[kmmatney]

Originally posted by: dareino
I have a 2yr old system. Here are my specs:
Windows Vista Ultimate 64
AMD 64 x2 3800+
2Gig ram
Antec SmartPower 450w
Epox 9NPA
ATI 800xl 256mb
DVD
Sata II HDD
USB External HDD


My concern is the PS. Thats all I see that is feeding off the PS. Should this one be ok?
thxs
DR

You might want to consider getting an ATI 3850 ($169), which uses lower power. They can overclock to 3870 speeds quite easily, from what I've seen.