Windows 7: I need help choosing the best graphics card for my system

I have an Aspire X1700 and I recently upgraded to Windows 7 Ultimate and I'm trying to find a graphics card that will work for my system. Right now I have a GeForce 100 and it works fine but I'm looking for the best graphics card that my PC will support. I'm a gamer and I'm looking for something that'll run games like oblivion and fallout with high video settings smoothly.

I've been looking at the Radeon HD 5570 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102874). Would that work on my PC?

What Graphics Card?

Desktop?

~Lordbob

Yeah it's a desktop.

What Graphics Card?

~Lordbob

Okay I looked at that and I'm confused, how do I find my PC's PSU?

You can check in your case, or online. I took a look, and it appears that you only have a 220W PSU, which is barely enough to run what you have now.

If you want a really good graphics card, you are going to need a minimum of 500 watts or more (depending on card).

If money is not an object, best single core chips on the market are the 5870 and the 465(?)
PassMark Software - Video Card Benchmarks - High End Video Cards

~Lordbob

Okay, so I've taken a look at the ATI Radeon HD 5870, if I bought that would it work with my PC? The model number on my Aspire x1700 is AX1700-U3700A if that helps anything. Also, money is not a problem.

It may not fit and you don't have the PSU to handle it.

Edit: It will NOT fit.

Hi,

Theoretically the card you are looking at will fit, if you replace the normal bracket with the low profile one that comes with the card (you will lose the vga port) and there is a PCIE 2.0 X16 slot available on the X1700

The first problem is that the recommended minimum system wattage is 400 Watt for the 5570 and the X1700 only has a 220 Watt power supply.

The second problem is because it's a small form computer case a regular power supply won't fit and I don't think it's easy or even possible to find a heavier power supply that will fit.

MK2