Video card question

[V-MAN]

I'm looking to get a little more mileage out of my ageing system until I build a whole new system later in the year.

Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2
Motherboard: ASUS A7V880
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) 3200+, MMX, 3DNow, ~2.2GHz
Memory: 2046MB RAM
Hard Drive: 137 GB Total 15GB free
Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT AGP 8x 256MB
Monitor: 19" CRT monitor
Sound Card: Sound Blaster Audigy.

I was thinking about getting this card

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/s...html?GWD-78GSH

It's obviously a lot better than my current card, I'm just wondering if my PC will benefit from it or is the CPU too limited and going to hold it back?

[freakitchen]

Your link is broken - looks like you copied a truncated version from somewhere (it's got the ..... in the middle)

[V-MAN]

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/s...html?GWD-78GSH

Sorry my bad.

Sorry about the cross post as well. I realised I had posted in the wrong forum that's all.

hmm it's still getting truncated but it works this time for the moment

[Khalil]

I have never owned a Gainworld nor have I ever known anyone who owned one. 199 pounds? isnt that about $300 US? I would recommend you go with an eVGA or an Asus Video card. Unless someone else can give Gainworld the thumbs up.

[freakitchen]

the text part of the link that shows up is truncated by our forum software, but the link it points to is in full. Problems occur when links are copied that have already been truncated.

I'd be happy to trust Gainward, they're one of the better manufacturers we have in the UK, largely in the absence of eVGA. I wouldn't recommend that particular one, though - the 7800 series is now a couple of 'generations' old.

For a great value for money AGP card, take a look at this one.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...=56&subcat=403

It's considerably cheaper than the one you picked, and it will play pretty much any game out there at the moment on high visual settings. Your processor is not particularly underpowered, and you have 2GB of RAM. I'd say an x1950Pro will extend the life of that system very well.

The only potential caveat is your power supply. You'll need a quality 450w unit to run a card like that.

[chuck4456]

I brought life back to an AGP system with the SAPPHIRE X1650 PRO 512. Only 125.00. SH3, BF2, HL and FAR CRY are perfect. It's only GDDR2 but it's got great clock speeds and settings. I've got mine set to 16x and 1280x1024 on everything. Runs flawlessly.

[mobusta]

i dont know if your mb has a pcie slot or not but if it does i'd go with this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102075

its 164 $ american after rebate and its 512MB.. its a sick card i just bought it and i love it!

edit: also that VC does HDR and AA... playing oblivion in HDR are absolutely gorgeous!

[V-MAN]

cheers fellas, i think i'll go for that card then .

[freakitchen]

Which one?

[V-MAN]

The Gainworld one, the cost of the card isn't a problem for me. I was just worried about it being too much for my current system.

[freakitchen]

I'll still say you'd be getting a MUCH better value for money card with the x1950 Pro.

Whatever you get, keep the power supply issue in mind. If you connect any strong card to an underpowered, low quality power supply, ALL of your components are at risk.

[V-MAN]

Mine is a Thermaltake 460w, I used to have a noname brand 600w but was told that slightly lower wattage good quality PSUs own noname high wattage PSUs.

Good question is will my Thermaltake 460w PSU be okay then?

This is the PSU in question

http://www.thermaltake.com/product/P...68/w006768.asp

I think it will be fine as it says it's designed for high end PCI cards.

[freakitchen]

Thermaltake PSUs are of decent quality, and 460w would suggest that it'll handle a stronger AGP card. Open up the case and look at the label on the side of the unit - it should tell you the amount of AMPS on the +5v Rail - i'd say if it has around 30 or more you'll be ok.

[V-MAN]

Yeah 30A so I should be fine

[Andrewxcav]

I've got nothing but praise for Gainward