GPU Buying Guide - (Read first post)

Wait, where on the PC is it? Honestly, I have no clue where the account is located

http://www.zalman.co.kr/ENG/product/...ad.asp?idx=196 Hey, could you do me a huge favor and let me know—just as a ballpark figure—what the minimum wattage and amperage requirements would be for these machines?

I suppose that Cooler Master should be able to handle an NVIDIA GeForce GTX series. At least, that's what this link suggests.
😁

Alright, thanks!

I'm trying to figure out the actual difference between an NVIDIA GeForce FX series and an X1650 at HG spot, since there's a sale going on right now and I might just grab one.

The x1650 is worth it if you get the pro version with DDR3 memory.

It uses DDR2 memory, which makes it cheaper $33 than the NVIDIA GeForce FX series, but performance-wise, it’s definitely worse

Here is a quick comparison graph of a couple of cards I currently have on hand.

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare



The rest of my setup includes;

MSI 790FX-GD70
AMD Phenom II X4 at 3.6Ghz
Quad-core DDR3 RAM

It’s actually pretty interesting to look at how the Radeon HD 4830 in a Crossfire setup stacks up against the GTX 275.
Since CoD4 is basically the only game I play... there really isn't much of a dilemma for me regarding which one is the better choice...
Heat and noise levels from running two 4830s are about the same as the GTX 275, so I'm not too worried about that part...

Yeah, you know, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare really stands out because it offers arguably the best support for CF and SLI setups out there... 🙂 ...which is exactly why you're seeing that kind of resolution boost. In my own experience, when I was running an 8800 GTX in SLI, I felt like I was getting a full 100% jump in FPS, though honestly, most other games just don't perform quite that spectacularly with those configurations 🙂

Yo, I need some serious help picking out a new graphics card, budget is up to $333. From what I've been digging around, the Radeon HD 4870 looks like the sweet spot, but I don't know. Right now I'm rocking an AMD Athlon X2 5200, 2 gigs of RAM, a Gigabyte motherboard, and an old HD 4650. Mostly just grinding World of Warcraft, and I really don't want my rig to totally tank when I'm out there in the Raiders. Come on guys, help a brother out! :P

Power supply?

quietcyclist89 said:It won't work for me in Raiders, someone help please :P

I guess a new build won't actually help that much. World of Warcraft is just so overoptimized that you'll probably still deal with stuttering, though maybe slightly less. Don't get your hopes up. I have a pretty solid rig myself, and even then, I run into lag quite often during 40-man raids.

A solid power supply is actually worth it even if you upgrade to a much beefier rig. Right now, I'm stuck torn between picking up a GeForce GTS 250 or an HD4870, which puts me at roughly $333.
I’ve been digging through the web, and so far I've only found those two, but who knows what else is out there in terms of raw performance? Honestly, I haven't really kept up with this stuff for a few years now, so I'm feeling pretty lost in all this technical nonsense.😕

quietcyclist89 said:Upgrading the PSU would actually benefit a much more powerful rig—like if you were choosing between a GeForce GTS 250 and an HD4870, we’re talking roughly $333.
I've been digging through some sites, and I found those two, though honestly, I have no idea what else is out there performance-wise. I haven't really kept up with this stuff for a few years now, so I'm feeling a bit lost in this whole mess.😕

Who is the manufacturer of the power supply? That is the crucial part... a 600W unit from some budget junk isn't the same thing as one from Corsair...

...I was hoping you guys could help me out with some advice 🙂>

>[*]Do you need an AGP or a PCI-E card?>>
>
>

>[*]What does your current or upcoming setup look like, and what kind of power supply are you running?>>
>

>[*]What resolution are you playing at?>>
1024 x 768...mostly stuff like The Sims or various simulators

>[*]What’s your budget looking like?>>
Around $233>

>[*]Which stores are you considering?>>
Maybe Best Buy or maybe just local shops, but it doesn't really matter...as long as they're near San Francisco 😁>

>[*]If you have any other specific requirements, let us know.>>
I used to have an NVIDIA GeForce 8500 GT...and I just found out it didn't even have a fan 😕...it literally fried itself from overheating 😢...so now I'm looking for something where I can avoid that whole mess

RAM memory >

...thanks so much!🙂>

System Specs:
CPU...
AMD Athlon X2 3600
Package: Socket AM2 (940)
Clock speed: 1909.5 MHz
Motherboard...
ASRock AM2NF3-VSTA
Memory...
Kingmax 4096 MB PC2 - 6400 (400 MHz)
Power Supply..
600 W

Do I need an AGP graphics card for this setup?
My usual gaming resolution is roughly 1042 x 768.
Budgeting about $233...
Regarding retailers, any shop will do as long as they have a website for ordering and offer standard mail delivery...

Just one thing to note: I previously had an ATI Radeon HD 3650 on AGP and ran into massive driver issues. It somehow functions on Windows XP, but absolutely nothing works on Windows 7, and I’d really prefer to be playing on Windows 7.
Thanks in advance.🙂

Hey there... I've run into a bit of a dilemma... I'm having some trouble deciding between a couple of graphics cards—I'm definitely not an expert here—so I'm asking for some help... (and I'll even get on my knees if I have to 😁)... So, here’s the situation: I've got a pretty weak setup right now. It's running an AMD Athlon LE 1640 at 2.61 GHz... the GPU is a total disaster, just an NVIDIA 6150... I have a 450W power supply... 4 GB of DDR2 RAM... and the biggest headache of all is that I'm trying to run a 1920 x 1080 resolution. I'm torn between the ATI Radeon HD 4670 with 1 GB of DDR3 http://www.bestbuy.com/product_info.php?c...oducts_id=6626... the Gainward GeForce series with 1 GB of DDR3 http://www.bestbuy.com/product_info.php?c...oducts_id=7834... or a Gigabyte GeForce GT 240 with 1 GB of DDR3 http://www.bestbuy.com/product_info.php?c...oducts_id=7667. Please help me out... or feel free to suggest something else entirely up to $183... Thanks in advance

So, which 4670 card should I grab? Should I go with Sapphire or Gigabyte? Also, what’s the actual deal with the difference between the 512MB and 1GB versions—I mean, looking at price versus actual performance? Is there anything out there that beats this one while staying within the $200 range?

Clearly, if you're looking at the monitor, it might actually make sense to shell out a bit extra for the Radeon HD 4770.

Otherwise, the main difference between the Sapphire and Gigabyte models comes down to the bundle and the cooling setup, though both manufacturers will keep the card running just fine.
As far as memory goes, the 1GB version isn't worth it—there's no real performance jump to justify the cost.

I could use some help here too.... please... just looking at the last 24 pages... please...😢