Vid card died, looking for upgrade advice

[clange50]

6600GT bit the dust. I basically started out today looking at video cards and ram, since I need both. Current specs before I go further..

A64 3000+ winchester
VNF4 Socket 939 motherboard
2x512mb PC3200 value ram
6600GT (dead)
400W smartpower PSU
2 hard drives, dvd burner, floppy

I started looking at video cards. I liked what I read about the 8800GTS 320, so that was the starting point. Then I figured I need more ram, so toss on 2x1GB PC3200 for about $150. Then why have that much of a video card and not do anything with the CPU, so toss on a A64 4000+ for $76 and I quickly ended up with an $80 vid card death turning into a $600 upgrade. Not good.

So give me some direction here. I don't really play too many games, although I like to check things out here and there. For example I might try rainbow six vegas. I also do not have a monitor worth anything, and I'm not sure if/when I'll ever replace the 17" I have now. So, whatever I do play will be low resolution for the time being, and I suspect a much cheaper card would work fine. However, if I'm going to spend $200+, might was well get the 8800GTS?

Honestly I'd rather keep this as cheap as possible, so maybe a $150-$200 video card that would work really well at low resolution would work, and if you see something drastically wrong with either the CPU or RAM yell at me for that too. Thanks.

 

[s44]

12x10LCD means you'll want to use AA on everything, so GPU power isn't such a bad thing. Still, you *could* just spend spend $100-$150 now (7600GT/7900GS/x1950GT) and save the rest for your next full-system upgrade, by which time GTS-level power might be a lot cheaper.

About the only thing I'd do otherwise is try overclocking the Winchester. Oh, and check the caps on your Smartpower -- make sure nothing's leaking/bulging.

 

[clange50]

12x10LCD is a set of resolutions on LCD monitors I assume? Don't have an LCD yet, just an old 17" CRT. I don't even know what the maximum resolution is.

If I just went with a lower range card and more ram, would the 3000+ I have now be a bottleneck at all?

 

[s44]

Oh! A CRT? Then you don't really even need AA.

The 3000+ probably wouldn't bottleneck you much.

 

[clange50]

Ok I'm looking at the 7900GS. How about http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814150209

Am I missing something? Speeds are listed as 600 core, 1600 memory. Thats a ton faster than any other 7900GS on newegg..

 

[Sniper82]

Originally posted by: clange50
Ok I'm looking at the 7900GS. How about http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814150209

Am I missing something? Speeds are listed as 600 core, 1600 memory. Thats a ton faster than any other 7900GS on newegg..

thats a XFX XXX Edition which means its factory overclocked. When I buy $150-200 budget cards I try to buy the factory o/ced ones(if they are any) because they usually ain't much higher. Thats probably the fastest 7900GS aside from eVGA which usually sells factory o/ced cards aswell. I think they are known as the KO. But eVGA might not have one.

 

[clange50]

The evga one isnt OC'd nearly as much. I guess I could do it myself, but not only do I run the risk of messing something up (which may or may not matter with the warranty), the OC'd evga in anandtechs test barely matched the 600/1600 anyway. Both have a lifetime warranty it seems.

What are the power requirements for this? I didn't see anything on newegg, or the XFX site.

Also, the remaining question is keep the 3000+ or upgrade that a little. Hell, if it wont affect much I might put the cost towards an LCD.

 

[Sniper82]

Well it depends on what kinda deal I can find on either eVGA or XFX. Unless the standard non o/ced 7900GS is quite a bit cheaper($30 or more) I always go for XFX or eVGA. But I prefer the XFX myself. Your PSU should be fine. Like someone else mentioned if you know how to take a PSU apart(unplug it first) check for leaky/bulging caps. If your PSU has them and it fails it could take your whole system. Otherwise you shouldn't have any problems running a 7900GS(o/ced or not) on the PSU. Some older Antecs are bad about the Caps. I got one that has them.

As for the CPU unless you go dual core I wouldn't bother. Just try to o/c that CPU. It should hit 2.2-2.4 no problems.

 

[clange50]

Ok, got the card today. It has a separate connection for power, with two plugs (one for each 12v rail I assume). My power supply has a dedicated plug for pci-e. Show I use that or use the one that hooks up to two different rails?

 

[crimson117]

Originally posted by: clange50
Ok, got the card today. It has a separate connection for power, with two plugs (one for each 12v rail I assume). My power supply has a dedicated plug for pci-e. Show I use that or use the one that hooks up to two different rails?

The two 4-pin molex connector thing is an optional adapter. If your power supply can plug directly into the card, do it.

 

[catalysts17az]

good choice on the video card i have the BFG version of the 7900Gs. as for your chip upgrade while you can, socket 939 is now dead so supplies will become harder to find as the weeks go by. the only reason i would recommend dual core is if you have applications that take advantage of it such adobe products (photoshop, primiere, etc) if not go for the 4000+. i believe this will make and keep you happy for another year or two and you could possibly skip the entire DDRII hardware generation and rebuild when DDRIII parts come out. but that is my .02 cents.