Good GFX cards?

[xXINSANELOSERXx]

Hello, its me again and well I was going to get myself a good GFX card and well I just wanted to know what a really good one is. Here is what I will be using it for; FSX XR (Xpand Rally) and some other intense games =D. Is there a good card out there that I can use with a dual monitor setup and play great games on? Just list some.

Thanks

 

[mcintyre94]

I'm looking at getting the Nvidia Geforce GTS250. The ATI equivalent (price wise) appears to be the Radeon HD4850. In terms of intense games, while ATI often has the edge spec-wise at same price range, many games utilise PhysX - Nvidia seem to have the edge software wise.

I'd look into the games you're going to play and whether you want PhysX, and then decide whether to go Nvidia or ATI.

 

[xXINSANELOSERXx]

Thanks! Ill go look at that

 

[thefabe]

For future prof cards look at the ATI 5 series. DX 11 Eyefinity, and 3 monitor support on one card.

 

[stormy13]

Hope this isn't for the computer listed in your specs as none of the suggested cards will work in it, as they are all PCI-E and your computer will only take AGP cards.

Best advice would be you want a new video card, get a new computer. Big reason is that anything you get for that Dell you won't be able to transfer over to a new computer.

 

[ThePizzaMan]

hmmmm yes you need to upgrade your computer if you really want to boost anything

 

[Capt.Jack Sparrow]

You could get

SAPPHIRE 100148 Radeon X1600PRO 256MB 128-bit GDDR2 AGP 4X/8X Video Card
OR
NVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT AGP graphics card

Since you have Intel 845G Chip set it support AGP card 4 X

 

[dispozable]

on my other computer i ran a x1650 pro agp and it worked pretty good. it was only about 50 bucks too. it wont be better than pci of course, but if you are on a budget i say the 1600 series is a good choice

 

[xXINSANELOSERXx]

Thank you all, yes I figured out that it was an AGP instead of a PCI express, however I also have a PC that has a PCI Express slot so ethier card would work. Never the less thanks for the information I will look into it and thanks again. Here is the card that I am looking at for a PCI Express slot btw it is a Dell Dimention 8400:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicat...BBER&cm_mmc_o=2mHCjCVybgwTyz__wyCjCVqHCjCdwwp

Is that a good card?

 

[stormy13]

Two things wrong with that card in that computer,

1. That Dell will severely bottleneck that card and keep it from running anywhere near its full potential. Really need a decent dual core (quad better) to get the most from a card like that.

2. You will definitely need a new power supply if you get that card as I really don't think the 350W in the 8400 is up to running that card.

 

[xXINSANELOSERXx]

Ok......so basically what I need to do is buy a new PC perhaps? Or are there other alternatives.

 

[ThePizzaMan]

hm.... actually you'd be best to build you a new rig you'd be much happier, and their might be.... but not any that i can think of

 

[smarteyeball]

Is there a good card out there that I can use with a dual monitor setup and play great games on?

Ok......so basically what I need to do is buy a new PC perhaps? Or are there other alternatives.

It depends on your definition of 'great games'. if great games means newer/latest games, then yes, you'd basically need a new PC.

You could save a few dollars by recycling a few parts (case, drives etc) and build the rest yourself if you are comfortable with that.

Otherwise a new 'pre-built' machine would be the way to go.

 

[kpo6969]

Two things wrong with that card in that computer,

1. That Dell will severely bottleneck that card and keep it from running anywhere near its full potential. Really need a decent dual core (quad better) to get the most from a card like that.

2. You will definitely need a new power supply if you get that card as I really don't think the 350W in the 8400 is up to running that card.

1. Very true

2. 350 continious watts w/ 28amps on the 12v rails

HD5750 might be a better option (128bit bus)

 

[xXINSANELOSERXx]

well, thanks for all the information guys I love it =D here is another question that I have, I have a Dell XPS 420, Quadcore, 6 GB RAM, I think it is a PCI-E but are these good cards for it?:

Newegg.com - HIS H467PS1GH Radeon HD 4670 iSilence4 1GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

Newegg.ca - HIS H467QS1GH Radeon HD 4670 1GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

Newegg.ca - XFX HD-467X-ZDF2 Radeon HD 4670 1GB 128-bit DDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE 100296HDMI Radeon HD 4670 1GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

Let me know if those are good cards or if I could get better ones

Thanks

 

[Wishmaster]

The 4890s require a MIN of 500W PSU and 2 75W PCI-E connections FYI

they are very good cards, but as others have suggested, it would be severly bottlenecked even if you meet the power req.

The XPS shows :
Power
375 W standard
425 W available on select configurations

You might be OK with a 4670, but I do not know for sure. Depends what PSU you have.

If you m ust upgrade the PSU,, possibly consider just going with something like a 4850 ..

4670s recommend 400W
4850s recommend 450W and would offer better performance. Or the 5750 as suggested earl;ier .. same Power req.

 

[bobkn]

well, thanks for all the information guys I love it =D here is another question that I have, I have a Dell XPS 420, Quadcore, 6 GB RAM, I think it is a PCI-E but are these good cards for it?:

Newegg.com - HIS H467PS1GH Radeon HD 4670 iSilence4 1GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

Newegg.ca - HIS H467QS1GH Radeon HD 4670 1GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

Newegg.ca - XFX HD-467X-ZDF2 Radeon HD 4670 1GB 128-bit DDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE 100296HDMI Radeon HD 4670 1GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

Let me know if those are good cards or if I could get better ones

Thanks

If you don't have a manual for the XPS 420, I suggest that you download it from support.dell.com.

The 420 has a single PCI-E X16 graphics card slot. (I suppose that it's not Version 2, but I doubt that's important.) It had either a 375W or 425W PSU. The 375W supply has a single 6 pin PCI-E power cable. The 425W has two.

The Radeon 4670 is a midrange card. It gets all of its power through the PCI-E slot. It should work in the XPS 420.

You may be able to use the newer Radeon 5770. It requires a single PCI-E 6 pin power connector. It appears to be a significantly better card than a 4670. (It also costs a lot more.) The 5000 series is the latest technology, though, and supports DirectX 11.

There are more powerful cards yet. The biggest monster at the moment is the Radeon 5970, which is basically two 5870 cards in crossfire in a package that fits in a single PCI-E slot. Like other high-end cards, it needs an 8 pin PCI-E power connector (specified to provide up to 150W), plus one 6 pin (75W). The minimum recommended PSU for one of these is 650W. It also lists for over $600US, and www.newegg.com is out of stock on all versions.

 

[rvbfan]

Another thing is that card may just plain not fit in your case. Last couple
of generations of cards, are on the large side for anything over entry
mid range level.

 

[thefabe]

Another thing is that card may just plain not fit in your case. Last couple
of generations of cards, are on the large side for anything over entry
mid range level.

I think this is a good thought as we all know OEM's have ways to keep you from upgrading one of them is having cases,power supplies and other components made just for them. And as we know these new cards are 10-11 inches long.

 

[Fumz]

Never mind about the power supply's rated output; that's almost irrelevant... what you need to look for is high amperage on the +12 volt rail. If you want to run a modern graphics card, then don't consider anything under 34 amps on the +12 and don't bother with dual rail psu's. Choose a psu with a strong single rail and you'll be a happy camper.