Graphics card assistance needed

  • Thread starter poolio
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poolio

poolio

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pooliogeordio
I've never used my PC for gaming before, I've always been a console junkie. But now I'm getting kinda bored with the console scene I'm looking to upgrade my computer and use it as a games machine.

I'm a bit stumped as to which graphics card to get because I'm new to PC gaming and don't really know what to look for. This is where you guys come in. I don't know if it makes a difference to which card you think is best but I will mostly be playing driving/racing games

Thanks in advance 👍
 
It depends on two main things and many smaller ones. The big ones are, how much do you want to pay for it and which slot does your mainboard have? The smaller ones include, for example, the question about if you should upgrade your entire rig to make justice to the graphics card...
 
I agree, with some current specs we might be able to better steer you in the right direction. Also, what games are you looking to play? What kind of performance are you looking for?
 
Get an Nvidia 8800GT. Best price/performance available.
 
Pako
I agree, with some current specs we might be able to better steer you in the right direction. Also, what games are you looking to play? What kind of performance are you looking for?
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I just want the games to run smoothly. I'll be playing GTR, Live for speed (when i get it), TDU and I'm gonna try Race 07

I'm running on a Pentium 4 processor with PCI slots and 704 Mb RAM

edit - my device manager shows my processor as Intel Pentium 4 CPU 3.00Ghz (it's showing up twice for some reason?)
 
A dual-core Pentium D with integrated graphics.

The processor shows up twice because it has two cores. The reason why you have 704MB or system memory is because the integrated graphics needs to take a part of it. You probably have 768MB of actual system memory. 768 - 64 = 704.
 
Even if your video processor is on board the motherboard should have at least an AGP slot.
 
How much are you willing to spend? It might be worth it just to get a new mobo while you're at it.
 
Solid Fro
A dual-core Pentium D with integrated graphics.

The processor shows up twice because it has two cores. The reason why you have 704MB or system memory is because the integrated graphics needs to take a part of it. You probably have 768MB of actual system memory. 768 - 64 = 704.
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Could be a Pentium 4 HT. Due to hypertheading it appears in task manager just like a dualcore, with two graphs etc, despite being only single core.
 
Nvidia 8000 series it is, then. Either 8600GT if you want to spare some money, 8800GT for more power, 8800GTS or GTX if you need the most power you can get.
 
Greycap
Nvidia 8000 series it is, then. Either 8600GT if you want to spare some money, 8800GT for more power, 8800GTS or GTX if you need the most power you can get.
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I'd steer clear of the GTS and GTX versions. No way does the extra cost justify the small performance gain compared to the 8800GT.

8800GT !...
 
8800GT is twice as good as the GTS and almost as good as the GTX. Don't even consider a GTS.
 
Not unless the revised version of the GTS comes out soon as rumoured...

I wish these cards would stop being replaced so quickly!
 
G.T
Not unless the revised version of the GTS comes out soon as rumoured...

I wish these cards would stop being replaced so quickly!
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That is not on the market. Therefore, saying the GTS is better than the GT is wrong and confusing.
 
G.T
Not unless the revised version of the GTS comes out soon as rumoured...

I wish these cards would stop being replaced so quickly!
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They haven't been replaced in over a year.
 
Omnis
8800GT is twice as good as the GTS and almost as good as the GTX. Don't even consider a GTS.
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Huh? Twice? With slightly higher GPU and memory MHz, less physical memory and a narrower memory bandwidth, definitely not. Cheaper, a bit. Equal, maybe. But surely not twice as good.
 
poolio
Yes there is an AGP slot



Is 8800GT the one we all agree on then? What sort of price am I looking at for one?
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The 8800GT does sound like the best bang for the buck at around $230, just Google it to check current pricing.

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I would agree, a video card will make the most noticeable difference. Next look at ram, cpu, hd, mobo. But be careful because if you're considering upgrading those other components as well, you might as well do it now and get the PCI-E version of that card.
 
Revolution.
Could be a Pentium 4 HT. Due to hypertheading it appears in task manager just like a dualcore, with two graphs etc, despite being only single core.
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I missed this post earlier. Yes you are correct it is Pentium 4 HT, does this make performance the same as a dual core or is it basically a tuned up single core?
 
No, I think HT dynamically splits one core into halves.
 
poolio
sounds kinda pointless................
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It allows one core to act like two cores and by doing that the processor is able to work more efficiently. Performance can be improved, because the computer can work on two things at once instead of just waiting for one thing to finish.
 
ROAD_DOGG33J
It allows one core to act like two cores and by doing that the processor is able to work more efficiently. Performance can be improved, because the computer can work on two things at once instead of just waiting for one thing to finish.
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oh. looks like i have the basis of a good machine then?
 
Unfortunately I think I'll have to be the bad news guy... you said earlier that you have PCI slots, but then you said you have an AGP slot?

The GeForce 8800 series is a PCI-E card, if you have an AGP slot you'll be best off with either a GeForce 7900 series or an ATI radeon X1950 series. PCI-E cards are better but if you don't have that slot buying one of them would necessitate upgrading the entire system.
 
Greycap
Unfortunately I think I'll have to be the bad news guy... you said earlier that you have PCI slots, but then you said you have an AGP slot?

The GeForce 8800 series is a PCI-E card, if you have an AGP slot you'll be best off with either a GeForce 7900 series or an ATI radeon X1950 series. PCI-E cards are better but if you don't have that slot buying one of them would necessitate upgrading the entire system.
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He has PCI slots, not PCIe. It's probably worth it to just buy a cheap PCIe board with the graphics card, though.
 
Can I make a suggestion? If you want to game properly, maybe a little more RAM, maybe 1 or 2 Gb, that if, your MBoard can take it. So it is Graphic card and Ram. The CPU is ok.
Has for graphic card, if you have AGP, I think the 7800/7900 series is the most powerful available (correct me if I am wrong).
 

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