New Video Card suggestions

[gallione11]

Looking to upgrade the video card on my computer, but I'm kinda clueless what to get. Way too many options out there.

I currently have NVIDIA GeForce 6150 SE nForce 430. In other words, a piece of crap.

Runs World of Warcraft alright but that's about it. Would like something that's a good mix between performance and value as my budget is US$100-200. I was looking at http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130759
which was running at $179 a few weeks ago. Now $209. Doh! But like I said. I'm clueless with video cards so would like some help.

Thanks.

[Tyler12]

How many watts is the Power Supply in that machine? also what are the system specs? There is a line where the CPU isn't powerfull enough to get any gain no matter how high of a card you put in.

[gallione11]

Originally Posted by Tyler12

How many watts is the Power Supply in that machine? also what are the system specs? There is a line where the CPU isn't powerfull enough to get any gain no matter how high of a card you put in.

Yeah, I'm somewhat worried about that as well. It was a pretty cheap computer.

AMD Dual-core 2.5 GHz processor
3GB Ram
300W power supply

Full specs:

Spoiler!

Compaq Presario CQ5110Y - Athlon X2 7550 2.5 GHz specifications

• General
• Recommended Use Home use
• Product Form Factor Tower
• Localization English / United States
• Processor
• Type AMD Athlon X2 7550 / 2.5 GHz
• Number of Cores Dual-Core
• 64-bit Computing Yes
• Installed Qty 1.0
• Max Supported Qty 1.0
• Mainboard
• Chipset Type NVIDIA GeForce 6150 SE / nForce 430
• RAM
• Installed Size 3.0 GB / 4.0 GB (max)
• Technology DDR2 SDRAM
• Memory Speed 800.0 MHz
• Memory Specification Compliance PC2-6400
• Form Factor DIMM 240-pin
• Configuration Features 1 x 1 GB + 1 x 2 GB
• Storage Controller
• Type 1.0 x Serial ATA - Integrated
• Controller Interface Type Serial ATA-300
• Storage Controller (2nd)
• Type None
• Storage
• Floppy Drive None
• Hard Drive 1.0 x 320.0 GB - Standard - Serial ATA-300 - 7200.0 rpm
• Hard Drive (2nd) None
• Optical Storage
• Type DVD±RW (±R DL) / DVD-RAM - Serial ATA
• Read Speed 40x (CD) / 16x (DVD)
• Write Speed 40x (CD) / 16x (DVD±R) / 12x (DVD±R DL)
• Rewrite Speed 32x (CD) / 6x (DVD-RW) / 8x (DVD+RW) / 12x (DVD-RAM)
• Disc Labeling Technology LightScribe Technology
• Optical Storage (2nd)
• Type None
• Storage Removable
• Type None
• Monitor
• Monitor Type none.
• Graphics Controller
• Type Integrated
• Graphics Processor / Vendor NVIDIA GeForce 6150 SE Shared video memory (UMA)
• Audio Output
• Type Sound card - Integrated
• Sound Output Mode 5.1 channel surround
• Compliant Standards High Definition Audio
• Input Device
• Type Keyboard , Mouse
• Keyboard
• Interface USB
• Mouse
• Technology Optical
• Interface USB
• Audio Input
• Type None
• Telecom
• Modem Fax / modem
• Max Transfer Rate 56.0 Kbps
• Networking
• Networking Network adapter
• Data Link Protocol Ethernet , Fast Ethernet
• Printer
• Type None
• Expansion / Connectivity
• Expansion Bays 2.0 (total) / 0.0 (free) x Internal - 5.25" x 1/2H , 1.0 (total) / 1.0 (free) x Front accessible - 3.5" x 1/3H
• Expansion Slot(s) 2.0 (total) / 0.0 (free) x Processor - Socket AM2 , 2.0 (total) / 1.0 (free) x Memory - DIMM 240-pin , 1.0 (total) / 1.0 (free) x PCI , 1.0 (total) / 0.0 (free) x PCI Express x16 , 1.0 (total) / 1.0 (free) x PCI Express x1
• Interfaces 1.0 x Keyboard - Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX - Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm ( 2 front, 4 rear ) , 6.0 x Mouse - Generic - 6 pin mini-DIN (PS/2 style) ( 1 front, 1 rear ) , 1.0 x Headphones - Line-out - Mini-phone 3.5 mm ( 1 in front ) , 1.0 x Audio - Generic - 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15) , 1.0 x Network - Input - RJ-45 , 2.0 x Hi-Speed USB - Line-in - 6 pin mini-DIN (PS/2 style) , 1.0 x Display / video - VGA - 4 pin USB Type A , 1.0 x Microphone - Output - Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm , 1.0 x Audio - Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm
• Power
• Device Type Power supply
• Power Provided 300.0 Watt

[T@T]

Originally Posted by gallione11

Yeah, I'm somewhat worried about that as well. It was a pretty cheap computer.

AMD Dual-core 2.5 GHz processor
3GB Ram
300W power supply

Full specs:

Spoiler!

Compaq Presario CQ5110Y - Athlon X2 7550 2.5 GHz specifications

• General
• Recommended Use Home use
• Product Form Factor Tower
• Localization English / United States
• Processor
• Type AMD Athlon X2 7550 / 2.5 GHz
• Number of Cores Dual-Core
• 64-bit Computing Yes
• Installed Qty 1.0
• Max Supported Qty 1.0
• Mainboard
• Chipset Type NVIDIA GeForce 6150 SE / nForce 430
• RAM
• Installed Size 3.0 GB / 4.0 GB (max)
• Technology DDR2 SDRAM
• Memory Speed 800.0 MHz
• Memory Specification Compliance PC2-6400
• Form Factor DIMM 240-pin
• Configuration Features 1 x 1 GB + 1 x 2 GB
• Storage Controller
• Type 1.0 x Serial ATA - Integrated
• Controller Interface Type Serial ATA-300
• Storage Controller (2nd)
• Type None
• Storage
• Floppy Drive None
• Hard Drive 1.0 x 320.0 GB - Standard - Serial ATA-300 - 7200.0 rpm
• Hard Drive (2nd) None
• Optical Storage
• Type DVD±RW (±R DL) / DVD-RAM - Serial ATA
• Read Speed 40x (CD) / 16x (DVD)
• Write Speed 40x (CD) / 16x (DVD±R) / 12x (DVD±R DL)
• Rewrite Speed 32x (CD) / 6x (DVD-RW) / 8x (DVD+RW) / 12x (DVD-RAM)
• Disc Labeling Technology LightScribe Technology
• Optical Storage (2nd)
• Type None
• Storage Removable
• Type None
• Monitor
• Monitor Type none.
• Graphics Controller
• Type Integrated
• Graphics Processor / Vendor NVIDIA GeForce 6150 SE Shared video memory (UMA)
• Audio Output
• Type Sound card - Integrated
• Sound Output Mode 5.1 channel surround
• Compliant Standards High Definition Audio
• Input Device
• Type Keyboard , Mouse
• Keyboard
• Interface USB
• Mouse
• Technology Optical
• Interface USB
• Audio Input
• Type None
• Telecom
• Modem Fax / modem
• Max Transfer Rate 56.0 Kbps
• Networking
• Networking Network adapter
• Data Link Protocol Ethernet , Fast Ethernet
• Printer
• Type None
• Expansion / Connectivity
• Expansion Bays 2.0 (total) / 0.0 (free) x Internal - 5.25" x 1/2H , 1.0 (total) / 1.0 (free) x Front accessible - 3.5" x 1/3H
• Expansion Slot(s) 2.0 (total) / 0.0 (free) x Processor - Socket AM2 , 2.0 (total) / 1.0 (free) x Memory - DIMM 240-pin , 1.0 (total) / 1.0 (free) x PCI , 1.0 (total) / 0.0 (free) x PCI Express x16 , 1.0 (total) / 1.0 (free) x PCI Express x1
• Interfaces 1.0 x Keyboard - Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX - Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm ( 2 front, 4 rear ) , 6.0 x Mouse - Generic - 6 pin mini-DIN (PS/2 style) ( 1 front, 1 rear ) , 1.0 x Headphones - Line-out - Mini-phone 3.5 mm ( 1 in front ) , 1.0 x Audio - Generic - 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15) , 1.0 x Network - Input - RJ-45 , 2.0 x Hi-Speed USB - Line-in - 6 pin mini-DIN (PS/2 style) , 1.0 x Display / video - VGA - 4 pin USB Type A , 1.0 x Microphone - Output - Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm , 1.0 x Audio - Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm
• Power
• Device Type Power supply
• Power Provided 300.0 Watt

Your power supply needs to be upgraded before you get a good vid card, think 450+

[Vulcan]

You might get by, by purchasing a card without a 6 pin PCI-e power connector. A couple of years ago the HD 5670 should have worked. There may be newer, better models.

I'd pay attention to the power recommendations by the manufacturers for these cards but a little cheating if your power supply is decent can be done.

Here's a half decent Power Supply at a good price that will upgrade your video card choices.

http://ncix.com/products/index.php?s...c&promoid=1015

[BloodFetish]

Tom's Hardware keeps a running tab on the best video cards for the money...

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...view,3107.html


Edit: and according to the article...

The Radeon HD 7750 is the fastest graphics card you can get right now that doesn't require a auxiliary power input; it draws all that it needs from a 16-lane PCIe slot.