the card I wanted...

[rwest]

HIS 4670 IceQ turbo 512mb
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814161252

It's low power would have made it a great card(I think) for my second pc. I couldn't afford it at the time.

Anyway, I would like to get a video card for this pc:

Compaq Presario SR1650NX upgraded, as follows:
Original mb: ASUS A8-AELE socket 939 mb
AMD Athlon64 X2 4400+ 2.2ghz
3gb DDR400 running in Dual Channel 4 stix total
Onboard video ATI Radeon Xpress200 chipset / sb400 southbridge
250gb Seagate ide
320gb WD SATA
Original 740r DVD burner
Original Memory card reader
Original 300watt PSU
PCI-E x16 1.0 compliant slot

I already have an AM3 system I built; so I'm not planning to upgrade the PSU, I will when it dies. I can actually play oblivion on low settings with the onboard. But I would like to step it up a notch or two. My problem is, I seem to be having a hard time trying to determine which cards my psu can handle. I don't remember who made the PSU but I'm very comfortable with it, I've had this board fully loaded with drives before and and never a hiccup. Anyway, can youse guys(and gals) gimme some suggestions that'll fill the spot?
$100 or less. w/ S-video out.

[MaxRat]

if that is any reasonable PSU ot will handle it fine....if it is a generic brand than it may be iffy...

[glc]

The strongest cards that a 300 watt PSU can handle are Nvidia 9400GT and Radeon HD 4550. I looked it up. S-video is fast becoming a thing of the past with HDMI taking over.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814187037

[rwest]

Thanks for the help. Yeh, I know...but s-video is still better than composite. I can't quite afford the tv I want, and I'm just not ready to give up my 60" RCA projection screen. I got it for next to nuthin'. $150 bucks! And, it's in great shape. She can produce 1024 x 768, but I run her at 800 x600 when gaming. (Onboard video)I had to do something with the old unit.

Of course now it's hard to get me outta' my recliner, since I can acces the net, watch tv, or game a little, by just using the remote.


Hey since were kinda on the subject. Is there anything that can be done besides increasing the DPI setting to help make letters appear more clear on the screeen? I have the video set for 120 dpi.

[glc]

On a rear projector? Not really.

[Masaki 7-11]

If you use S-Video instead of composite, you'll have a clearer picture usually, including clearer letters. If you plan on upgrading the video card, I wouldn't trust your old PSU as most pre-built computers have very little headroom in terms of power; it may be enough for drives but very rarely is it enough for a video card; especially a better video card such as the HD4670. If you can find an Antec Basiq 350W at a local store, that would be a good power supply upgrade and would be able to handle the video card fine; last I saw them they were selling for around $20.

[rwest]

GLC, thanx anyway, just thought I'd ask. And thanks for checking on specs for me. I can get that card easily. I really missed the boat on the HIS card, but I was in the process of building my AM3 rig. At the time, i found the 4400+ for $70.00 on craigs list. Really nice bump from the stock 2gig single core.

Wif'es starting to put the brakes on my parts funding, so that itty bitty $40 buckaroos is gonna help me stay married a bit longer.

Maskai, thanks for the tip. I'll check the locals here. Maybe it'll be another long term up grade for me. Get the card to play a few games, bump the psu locally, upgrade the vid card again, and stick the first card in another unit. Course by then I'll probably be wanting to upgrade the AM3 system. Geez, I need another job just to support my hobby, or ya' think I should just find a new hobby.

[glc]

A 4670 requires a 400 watt PSU according to ATI/AMD. You should look at a Basiq or Earthwatts 430. The Earthwatts 430 is on sale right now at Newegg for 50 bucks and free shipping.

[rwest]

Maybe I'll just do that. The HIS 512 OC Turbo version didn't require an additonal power conncector. Also a handful of reports were given saying it runs fine on 300 watt psu, although this was only personal reviews.
Here's a tech review.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/H..._Turbo/24.html

It really doesn't matter now. I can't find one.

[glc]

Can you open the case and read the label on the PSU? What I'd like to see is the brand and model, +12v amp ratings, and the 6 digit "E" number.

[rwest]

Okay so it's only four screws, but I can't believe I had to pull the PSU to see the Label.
Bestec ATX-300-12Z E127778
+!2V...19A +5V....30A +3V...28A

[glc]

That PSU is a ticking time bomb. It has nowhere near enough amps on the +12v to support any PCI-E card other than a bare entry level card that's no better than the onboard video, and not only that, Bestecs have a nasty habit of blowing out and taking the motherboard with it. It's an old ATX 1.x design that has no business being in a computer that has a PCI-E video card slot.

My advice? Do NOT put a video card of ANY sort in there without replacing the PSU. If you overload the thing with a video card, it will pop and take more components out with it.

[Masaki 7-11]

Originally Posted by rwest Maybe I'll just do that. The HIS 512 OC Turbo version didn't require an additonal power conncector. Also a handful of reports were given saying it runs fine on 300 watt psu, although this was only personal reviews. Here's a tech review. http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/H..._Turbo/24.html It really doesn't matter now. I can't find one.

Your system with the HD4670 won't take up more than around 300 watts, as long as you get a reliable power supply with at least 350W you should be good. I've had a computer with a higher power video card running with a 350W power supply (powerman) and had no problems, your system taking up less power should work fine. If you manage to find an inexpensive Antec Earthwatts power supply (lowest is 380W, I think), then that would be better as they are more reliable than the basiq series and have better efficiency.

[rwest]

Guess that makes me lucky. So glad we went there. I'll get a psu for her then. You wouldn't beleive what I've put this psu thru, it's been in and out of many cases, probably 5 or 6 yrs old, way too many power surges, a couple of monitors, and a fried mb. It's really been a work horse for me. It's been my sure fire test unit in the last 4 years. I guess it is time let it rest.

Shoot if I'm gonna spend the money, $50.00 will get a a real nice unit, and will give me better pickings on a video card. I gues it can't hurt to give the system a doulble pump.

Just hit me too. Come November(my b-day) when I upgrade my Radeon 3870 from the AM3 system it'll slide right iin. I can handle onboard till then, shoot the 3870 was my first "REAL' video card any way.

The Antec 500 would handle the system easily, huh? Course now I gotta go check my email and see if newegg's sent me a new promo!

[glc]

According to ATI, you need 450 watts for a 3870, so a 500 watt unit sounds like a good number.

Right now at Newegg, the Earthwatts 500 is 70 bucks with free shipping, and there's a promo code good for a couple more days to knock 15 bucks off that.

[rwest]

I saw that too. It's on it's way now.
I've never noticed before, but I thought psu's could only be installed one way. I've clearly put this psu in upside down and backwards, label was facing in. Since I know I've moved it, alot..., wouild that have the opposite effect than one would think; Whereas, constantly moving it, gave it more life than expected?

Hey, 500 earth watts would be better for my AM3 system, than the 550watt Rosewill I ordered with my case, right?

Rosewill RP550V2-D-SL 550W ATX12V v2.01 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817182030

[glc]

Definitely - Rosewill PSU's are poor quality. You can't install a standard ATX PSU upside down - there's only one way it will go in and have all 4 screw holes line up.

[rwest]

I doulble checked, the holes are there. Itis a Compaq case though, propietary.

[dushuai]

Originally Posted by glc The strongest cards that a 300 watt PSU can handle are Nvidia 9400GT and Radeon HD 4550. I looked it up. S-video is fast becoming a thing of the past with HDMI taking over. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814187037

Two Hands support,you need a better PSU than 300watt

[rwest]

Dushual thanx, but I have already ordered the Antec 500 earthwatts from this page.

(link removed by admin, contains personal information)

Promos are the best way to shop Newegg. If you don't have one, you should sign up for an account and let them send you the adds in your e-mail.

Here's the link without the promo code.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-007-_-Product