Should I upgrade my card?

[Adams551]

I have a 4 year old Dell with a 2.2Ghz P4. Not sure what MoBo. I think it has 100Mh FSB. I have an ATI 9600GT. My 3DMark05 was 1650.

My question is: Is it worth upgrading the Vid card or is my system now going to limit any respectable gains. I was thinking 6600GT or 6800GT. Any help or suggestions much appreciated.

[pam123]

You're a good candidate for a 6600GT.

[MakeYourslf2012]

I agree with pam. A 6600GT or even a 6800GT will considerably raise the 3mark05 score.

[jfk]

I agree as well. The 6600GT is a great performer at the price. If you want to spend more, a 6800GT, X800XL or X850XT are all good bets, but will run from $250-350. The 6600GT is around $150 or less. Any of them will be a HUGE improvement over what you have now. The other thing that will help gaming performance is to add memory. How much do you have now? A nice 6600GT with maybe another 512Mb of ram (depending on how much you have now) will certainly perk up the performance.

[Adams551]

Originally Posted by jfk I agree as well. The 6600GT is a great performer at the price. If you want to spend more, a 6800GT, X800XL or X850XT are all good bets, but will run from $250-350. The 6600GT is around $150 or less. Any of them will be a HUGE improvement over what you have now. The other thing that will help gaming performance is to add memory. How much do you have now? A nice 6600GT with maybe another 512Mb of ram (depending on how much you have now) will certainly perk up the performance.

I have 1Gb of Ram so no worries there. However, I still have my stock PSU. I think its in the 250 to 300W range. Will a 6600GT be OK still? I'm waiting for Vista to come out and will build a complete system next year. Just trying to get by for now.

[pam123]

read this thread : http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.p...power+supplies

If I were you I'd go looking either for the XClio or for a Fortron or Sparkle 350 watt supply.

edit : Would you please post the model number of that Dell? That way we'll no for sure if you can buy a standard power supply for it or not.

[Adams551]

Originally Posted by pam123 read this thread : http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.p...power+supplies If I were you I'd go looking either for the XClio or for a Fortron or Sparkle 350 watt supply. edit : Would you please post the model number of that Dell? That way we'll no for sure if you can buy a standard power supply for it or not.

I'm sorry, I did say Dell didn't I. Oops. Its a Gateway 700XL

[pam123]

Take off the sides and look.
That model was one of the power machines of it's day and it may have a very decent power supply.

[Adams551]

Originally Posted by pam123 Take off the sides and look. That model was one of the power machines of it's day and it may have a very decent power supply.

Newton Power Ltd. 250W (unless I'm mistaken thats a crap PSU. And going on its fourth year.)

What will a 6600GT require?

[pam123]

You want a minimum 350 watt power supply anyone of the previously suggested power supplies should do the job.
Going by Gateway's site they use standard power supplies.
Check it out for yourself here : http://accessories.gateway.com/Acces...t.htm?clv=atoz

[tomster2300]

The nicer the quality of the psu the lower you can go in wattage. I'd say a good 350 watt would do it for you. Go with pam, she knows what she's talking about.