GPU Buying Guide - (Read first post)

Peter Wood2 said:I'm a total novice here—how am I supposed to test a power supply? 🙄
As for the graphics card, it might be used...

I'm wondering if either of those two options is actually compatible with my rig (the DDR2 setup and that DDR3 card you suggested?)

You just open up the case and read whatever is printed on the power supply unit.

The type of memory you're installing on the motherboard doesn't have anything to do with the video card's memory. You could theoretically plug in a DDR5 card regardless of whether your system RAM is DDR2.

crimsonstag84 said:Then maybe this one: 🙂

http://www.newegg.com/product_info.php?c...oducts_id=7572

Thanks! Yeah, I was actually hoping for something closer to an HD 5850! 👍

PX 400,255 W, 10A/5A, 60/50 Hz 🙂

Peter Wood2 said:PX 400, 255 W, 10A/5A, 60/50 Hz 🙂

Man, what a mess... I've never even heard of that brand before. 😁 If you could swap it out for a Corsair CX400W, $123 that would be ideal—plus, you might actually get some use out of it in your next build. I suppose if you aren't planning on running SLI or Crossfire, it shouldn't be an issue. As for a GPU under $800, those options previously mentioned—the Nvidia 250 and the ATI 4850—should suffice...

Thomas Martin4 thanks anyway 👍

Since I found out my HD 4350 is basically trash now, I need a new GPU.
I was thinking about picking up this one:
So, I'm asking you guys—could this thing actually run most games on High settings, or at least most of them, paired with my
Pentium dual-core e6300 2.80@3.20Ghz
2GB of RAM
I have no clue what my power supply is because I haven't opened the case in two years to avoid messing with the warranty, and Best Buy didn't specify anything either; I just know it's 450W.
Got any better recommendations?

Maybe just let me know what kind of budget you're working with first? We might be able to find an HD 4730 for the same price, which would probably be a bit better than the one you've got your eye on anyway.

crimsonstag84 said:Look, just tell me your budget first. You could probably find an HD 4730 for the same price, and that'd actually be an upgrade over what you're looking at right now.

I mean, I've got $100, maybe a little more if it's worth it.$33 😉 I just want to be able to run games without everything lagging out. It feels totally stupid to drop half my total PC build cost on a GPU if it's just going to stutter anyway.😉
Where can I even find a 4730?

Not quite on high settings, no. You’ll definitely have a smooth experience, but you'll need to dial the details back a bit to keep things moving. If you're looking for something more substantial—something that can actually handle higher settings—you should probably look into a Radeon 4770, a 4850, or maybe an Nvidia 250...

Casey Long2 said:High settings? No way. It'll run fine, but you're gonna have to drop the details. With an Nvidia 250...

So, playing Assassin's Creed at 1440 x900 on Max settings should be a breeze, right?😕

edit: Would adding 2 GB of RAM help me hit those high settings?😁

Well, I’d say Assassin's Creed is a pretty demanding title. You might get decent performance on medium settings if you're running an HD 4730, though I haven't actually come across a benchmark for it yet... 🤔
Having 2GB of RAM would definitely help, but 4GB is pretty much the baseline for gaming these days; you'd likely notice a real difference there... 🙂

crimsonstag84 said:Look, Assassin's Creed is a pretty heavy game. I'd say you'll pull decent performance on medium settings if you're rocking an HD 4730, but honestly, I haven't seen a benchmark for that specific combo yet... 🤔
Upgrading to 2GB of RAM would definitely help, but 4GB is basically the baseline for gaming these days—you’ll definitely feel the difference... 🙂

Alright—I already have 2GB, so I was thinking about picking up another 2GB. I'm asking because my buddy has an HD4670 and he can play it.
He plays AC at 1440 x900-Max and it runs totally fine, even though he's on a Core 2 Duo E4500 2.2, while I've got a Pentium dual-core E6300🙂 2.8 OC @ 3.2Ghz

1 x DDR2 2048MB ( 2GB ) PC6400 Kingmax, 800MHz, CL5, KLDE88F-B8KB5
1 x XFX HD4830 512Mb DDR3 575MHz, Dual DVI, HDTV out, HDCP ready

$343

I’d go this route if you’ve got the budget, but if things are tight, just grab the GPU ($240-AMD); it's a massive step up from an HD4670, and you can always upgrade the RAM later on 👍.

My PC was in at the repair shop near me until today because it wouldn't boot—it would run, but I wasn't getting any video signal. Just picked it up, and they told me the GPU was dead. They tested my card on their rig and it failed, then tried their card in my machine and it worked perfectly.

I get home, plug everything back in, hit the power button, and lo and behold, it works. Now I'm stuck because I already shook hands on a deal with some guy to buy a new GTX 275.

The card is an 8800GT. Has anyone dealt with something like this? Is it possible the card is failing intermittently? I noticed that when it originally refused to show a picture, the GPU fan spun up like crazy as if I were mid-game. This time, it spun up for a second or two, slowed down, and then booted normally. There’s definitely something weird going on here. Anyone got a fix?

crimsonstag84 said:1 x DDR2 2048MB (2GB) PC6400 Kingmax, 800MHz, CL5, KLDE88F-B8KB5
1 x XFX HD4830 512Mb DDR3 575MHz, dual DVI, HDTV out, HDCP ready

$343

If you've got the cash, that's the move. If not, just grab the GPU ($240-AMD); it's way better than an HD4670, and you can always slap more RAM in later. 👍

Gotcha, thanks. Any idea what it'd cost to have someone install this? I can't open the case myself because of the warranty, even though I totally know how to swap a card. I bought the whole rig at Best Buy.

I honestly have no clue what the total cost would be; I've always just put everything together myself... 🤷

crimsonstag84 said:I have zero clue what a build would cost; I've always just done everything myself... 🤷

Heh! But maybe you know how I can peel off the warranty sticker and stick it back on😁 so I don't lose my coverage? It feels super sketchy to let someone else$33 open up my rig, yank out the old GPU, pop in the new one, and plug it into the power supply....😵

analogcobra53 said:Heh! I suppose you might know some trick for peeling off a warranty seal and sticking it back on perfectly😁—anything to avoid losing that coverage—because the idea of actually having to $33 hand my rig over to someone just to have them swap out an old GPU for a new one and plug it into the power supply... it's just too much hassle for me.😵

Consider this a lesson for the future—don't let them slap a sticker on there and claim it voids your one-year warranty...

Hey there! So, I’m currently in the middle of putting together a new PC build, and I've got myself stuck on some questions regarding the graphics card. Here’s the deal with my situation:

wiredmarlin5 said:So, you’re sitting there staring at your motherboard, scratching your head, and wondering: "Do I actually need an AGP card or should I finally jump on the PCI-E bandwagon?" Honestly, it's one of those classic tech dilemmas that just keeps popping up, isn't it? It's like choosing between an old-school muscle car and a modern electric ride—both have their charms, but they take you places in totally different ways! Are you trying to breathe some life into a vintage rig just for the nostalgia, or are you looking to actually get some decent frames while playing something like Diablo 3? It really all comes down to what kind of beast you're building and what your budget is looking like right now!

So, I was just sitting here thinking about PCI-E—you know, that whole standard we all rely on—and it really gets you wondering how much things have actually changed since we first started plugging stuff into our motherboards, doesn't it? It’s wild when you stop to consider the sheer evolution of data transfer speeds and how we went from those early days to where we are now! Like, can you even imagine trying to run a modern rig without the bandwidth we take for granted today? It's absolutely mind-blowing!

So, I gotta know—what’s everyone rocking in their rigs right now, or better yet, what kind of beastly setup are you guys dreaming about building next? And please, for the love of all things holy, tell me what kind of power supply you're running through those circuits! Is it some high-end, gold-rated masterpiece that could probably jumpstart a semi-truck, or are we talking about those budget units that make you sweat every time you hit the power button? I'm dying to hear the specs!

It’s not all totally squared away just yet, but hey, I’ve got a feeling it’ll all come together eventually, right?
So, I was just sitting here thinking about that old Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3 motherboard—you know, that classic P35 board that runs dual PC2-6400U DDR2? Man, does it bring back memories! It’s one of those legendary pieces of hardware that just feels like it had so much soul compared to the plastic-feeling stuff we see today, right? I can't help but wonder if we ever truly appreciated how solid these builds were back in the day! Just snagged it! Finally! Can you believe it? I am absolutely stoked right now!
Man, I was just sitting here thinking about that old Intel Core 2 duo E6750 and honestly, isn't it wild how much we used to squeeze every last drop of performance out of those chips? Like, seriously, remember when having a decent processor felt like you were basically driving a supercar instead of just a regular commuter car? It’s kind of crazy to look back on now, right? But man, that specific little piece of silicon really held its own back in the day! Just snagged it! Finally!
So, I just stumbled upon this 4 GB kit—you know, that 2x2GB setup—running at PC 6400 DDR2-800 from Kingston, and honestly, isn't it funny how much of a lifesaver a little extra memory can be? Like, you’re sitting there trying to get things moving and suddenly you realize you're just one solid RAM upgrade away from actually enjoying your afternoon, right? It’s such a classic, reliable choice!
So, I was just looking at this Corsair VX 450W ATX 2.2 power supply, and honestly, isn't it wild how much we overlook the heart of the machine? Like, you can spend all day obsessing over your GPU or picking out the perfect flashy case, but if your PSU is acting up, the whole thing is basically a house of cards, right? This little unit is pretty straightforward, nothing too crazy or over-the-top, but sometimes you just need that reliable backbone to keep everything humming along without any drama!
So, I was just looking at this LG GH22NS50 SATA 22x DVD burner—seriously, who even uses these anymore? Is it just me, or does anyone else get that weird hit of nostalgia whenever they see one of these things lying around? It’s such a classic little piece of hardware! Even though we’re all living in a world of cloud storage and streaming everything, there’s still something so satisfying about having a physical disc, right? Like, you know exactly where your data is! Anyway, I was just thinking about how much fun it is to mess around with these drives, especially when you're trying to burn some old files or just tinkering with your setup. Isn't it wild how much tech has changed since we were first getting into this stuff? Such a trip!
So, I was just messing around with this Samsung 500 GB 3,5" SATA drive—specifically that HD502HJ model—and man, where does the time go? It’s funny how much space we used to think was "huge" back in the day, right? I mean, looking at this thing now, it really makes you wonder how we ever managed to juggle our files without having terabytes of everything at our fingertips! But hey, it still gets the job done for certain tasks, and honestly, sometimes you just need that reliable, old-school storage to keep things running smoothly while you're tinkering around with your setup. Is it cutting edge? Absolutely not. But is it satisfying to get a little piece of tech working exactly how you want it to? You bet it is!
So, I was just hanging out thinking about my next build, right? And honestly, it’s such a struggle because you can't just pick whatever looks cool to you—you actually have to find something that my wife thinks looks decent in the office! It’s like, I want all this RGB madness and heavy-duty airflow, but she’s looking at it like I’m trying to bring a neon spaceship into our living room! Has anyone else dealt with that? Like, how do you balance "hardcore gamer aesthetic" with "looks like actual furniture"? I’m basically on a mission to find some random case that won't cause a domestic dispute, haha! Any suggestions for something that looks sleek enough to pass the wife test but still lets me geek out? 🙂
So, I guess I’m just gonna hang onto that old 19" LCD for now, you know? It's still rocking that native 1280x1024 resolution, and honestly, why mess with perfection when it's still doing its thing?

So, I gotta know, what kind of resolution are you guys actually running when you're diving into your games? Are we talking full-on crisp 4K glory, or are you just vibing with something lower to squeeze out a few extra frames per second? I’m always curious how everyone sets things up!

So, I don’t actually get much time to sit down and game these days, but man, I am seriously planning to dive into some heavy hitters soon—I'm talking about picking up The Witcher, Fallout 3, Diablo 3, and a whole bunch of other classics! Since I'll be jumping into those worlds, do you think running at 1280x1024 would be enough to get me by, or am I totally dreaming? 🤷

So, I gotta ask, how much cash are we actually talking about here? Like, what’s the real budget you guys are willing to drop on this? Are we talking "saving up my pennies" money or "just swipe the credit card and don't look at the receipt" kind of money? Honestly, I’m dying to know where everyone stands!

The smaller the better, right? I mean, we’re aiming for that sweet spot where everything stays lightning fast and nothing—and I mean nothing—becomes a massive bottleneck for the graphics card!

So, I was just sitting here wondering, like, which stores are even worth checking out for this? I mean, there are seriously so many options out there now, right? Are we talking about hitting up a local Best Buy or maybe scrolling through some deals on Amazon? Or are you thinking more along the lines of those massive big-box retailers like Walmart or Target? Honestly, it really depends on what kind of hunt you're on! Is it a quick run for a specific part, or are we going full scavenger hunt mode at a place like Micro Center? What do you guys think? Where should we be looking?

Should I just hit up eBay or maybe find some other online shop over in Austria?

If you’ve got any other super specific requests or weird little details you want me to keep in mind, just lay them out for me! Seriously, don't hold back—what else is on your mind?

I mean, honestly, a used card should totally do the trick for me, unless you guys think I should be looking at something else entirely! Someone actually suggested I pick up an ATI 4850... but is that like, way too much overkill for what I need? I'm not exactly some hardcore pro gamer or anything, you know? Should I be aiming for the 512 MB version or go big with the 1024 MB? And does anyone have a ballpark idea of what I'd be looking at paying for one of those around here?

So, looking at the rest of this setup, do you think everything else is holding up alright, or would you be looking to swap some stuff out—maybe an upgrade here or a downgrade there? What do you guys reckon?

Thanks a million!

Hey there!

Honestly, picking up an 8800 GT, an HD4850, an HD4770, or even a 250GTS would definitely get the job done quite nicely... 512MB is actually more than enough when you're looking at cards in this specific class. You can usually find them used on eBay for somewhere around $450-$183. If I had to pick one, I’d personally suggest the HD4850, though I’d be a bit careful and only go for one with a decent heatsink attached... those single-slot models are just absolute garbage...

As for the rest of your build, I’d really recommend bumping up the storage capacity a bit, maybe grabbing something like a 1TB Seagate 12 series or perhaps a Samsung F3 1GB... Your power supply seems perfectly fine, and honestly, that cheaper CX400 isn't any worse than your favorite model...