Vid Card for Older Dell XPS system

[brencat]

Trying to help my brother pick out a new vid card. He's running a Dell XPS system built in April 2005 that came with a 6800gt 256mb. The PSU is proprietary and the 12v rail amps are unknown but the total wattage is 460W. There is 1 available 6 pin plug to power the new vid card. Processor is a P4 @ 3.2ghz, 2gb RAM, running Win XP.

He wants to hold onto this thing for at least 1 more year, despite my offers to build him a new PC and sell his existing components. I've suggested the following cards given his budget:

3850 256MB
X1950 Pro 512MB
X2600XT

I'm not married to ATI btw and would welcome any additional suggestions. But whatever we pick, his PSU needs to be able to handle it comfortably as that is the big wildcard here.

Card will be used for shooters -- trying to play COD4 at more than low settings @ 26 FPS, 12x10 with his current setup :roll: :thumbsdown:

 

[BassBomb]

3850 best card there

Id be interested in the 8800GS which just came out too.

I am assuming you are referring to PCIe

 

[moonboy403]

i think the galaxy 8800 gt is going for 180 after a 40 bucks rebate

 

[bunnyfubbles]

Originally posted by: moonboy403
i think the galaxy 8800 gt is going for 180 after a 40 bucks rebate

180 is higher than 170...and if 170 is the absolute upper limit (the OP really only has $170 to spend, ie not some flexible budget), the $220 initial cost is even worse.

 

[brencat]

Originally posted by: BassBomb
3850 best card there

Id be interested in the 8800GS which just came out too.

I am assuming you are referring to PCIe

Yessir...PCIe. Thanks for the reply. I was leaning toward 3850 out of these 3 anyway given the price for performance. Hadn't realized the 8800gs was out so thanks for that -- also in the same price range. I'll bet the 3850 is probably the better card though if my bro changes to a 16 x 10 monitor in the future, given its higher 256-bit interface and good OC ability.

Bah...this is a 12 - 15 month committment for him. By then I'll be summoned to build him a new PC instead of the crap from Dell. Just hope that PSU holds up...that's the only thing that concerns me.

 

[iskim86]

8600 series

 

[adlep]

Originally posted by: iskim86
8600 series

The key word is Windows XP meaning no need for DX10
My suggestion would be the 3850 given its low power requirements; it will be just perfect for Dell systems that are known for the barely adequate power supplies.
This fellow is only $149.00 AR

Well below the OP's budget

The combination of the price/performance/power requirements make the 3850 series a very attractive choice for the owners of the branded PCs.

 

[Arkaign]

3850 hands down.

 

[cubeless]

a 3850 is more gpu than this pc can use... it's going to be cpu limited... you can get an 8600gts for around $100 and have a well matched box that will run nicely at 1280x1024...

 

[happy medium]

Originally posted by: cubeless
a 3850 is more gpu than this pc can use... it's going to be cpu limited... you can get an 8600gts for around $100 and have a well matched box that will run nicely at 1280x1024...

I agree the 8600gts is more then enough for a pent 4.
A 3850 is to much gpu for a 3.2 pent 4. Waste of money Imho.

Edit: heres one for 109.00$ plus 30.00$ rebate=79.00$
Thats a good deal for x1950 pro performance.


http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814186022

or a 8800gs for 159.00 shipped no rebate .dam! If you want a better card for a future cpu uprade

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814150275

 

[iskim86]

Originally posted by: adlep

Originally posted by: iskim86
8600 series

The key word is Windows XP meaning no need for DX10
My suggestion would be the 3850 given its low power requirements; it will be just perfect for Dell systems that are known for the barely adequate power supplies.
This fellow is only $149.00 AR

Well below the OP's budget

The combination of the price/performance/power requirements make the 3850 series a very attractive choice for the owners of the branded PCs.

8600 has DX10 support?

 

[JustaGeek]

How about GeForce 8800GS for about 170 bucks...?

 

[bryanW1995]

Originally posted by: happy medium

Originally posted by: cubeless
a 3850 is more gpu than this pc can use... it's going to be cpu limited... you can get an 8600gts for around $100 and have a well matched box that will run nicely at 1280x1024...

I agree the 8600gts is more then enough for a pent 4.
A 3850 is to much gpu for a 3.2 pent 4. Waste of money Imho.

Edit: heres one for 109.00$ plus 30.00$ rebate=79.00$
Thats a good deal for x1950 pro performance.


http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814186022

or a 8800gs for 159.00 shipped no rebate .dam! If you want a better card for a future cpu uprade

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814150275

um, that's nice, but why would he take an 8800gs for 159 when he could spend 179-20 reb = 159 for a 3850 512? and really, the 3850 256 is certainly all he needs.

don't buy an x19xx series or 86xx series card right now. get either an 8800 or 3000 series card.

 

[happy medium]

Originally posted by: bryanW1995

Originally posted by: happy medium

Originally posted by: cubeless
a 3850 is more gpu than this pc can use... it's going to be cpu limited... you can get an 8600gts for around $100 and have a well matched box that will run nicely at 1280x1024...

I agree the 8600gts is more then enough for a pent 4.
A 3850 is to much gpu for a 3.2 pent 4. Waste of money Imho.

Edit: heres one for 109.00$ plus 30.00$ rebate=79.00$
Thats a good deal for x1950 pro performance.


http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814186022

or a 8800gs for 159.00 shipped no rebate .dam! If you want a better card for a future cpu uprade

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814150275

um, that's nice, but why would he take an 8800gs for 159 when he could spend 179-20 reb = 159 for a 3850 512? and really, the 3850 256 is certainly all he needs.

don't buy an x19xx series or 86xx series card right now. get either an 8800 or 3000 series card.

To be honest rebates are not my thing is all. At his resolution 1280x1024, a 256 8800gs is faster then a 3850,512mb and consumes less power. So at 159.00 it's still a better deal.

 

[brencat]

Originally posted by: happy medium
To be honest rebates are not my thing is all. At his resolution 1280x1024, a 256 8800gs is faster then a 3850,512mb and consumes less power. So at 159.00 it's still a better deal.

You all are very kind. Thanks a lot for all the feedback gang. And thank you happy medium for addressing my power consumption question. That may seal the deal...

Edit: Just ordered him the XFX 8800gs for $160 at Newegg.

 

[happy medium]

Sure would like to see some benchmarks for the 8800gs with a pent 4 @3.2 brencat.?
It would be interesting to see how much that cpu bottlnecks the 8800gs.
Thanks...

 

[brencat]

Originally posted by: happy medium
Sure would like to see some benchmarks for the 8800gs with a pent 4 @3.2 brencat.?
It would be interesting to see how much that cpu bottlnecks the 8800gs.
Thanks...

Heh, I'll see if I can talk him into running a few but no promises. Unfortunately he doesn't have 1/3 the interest in computers I do and doesn't OC either. He lives hours away otherwise I'd go over there and run them myself!