Advice on Upgrading GFX Card?

Ryooshi

Ryooshi

New Member
Howdy, all. Sorry I haven't been able to sign on the past couple days. Hope all is well.

I figured I'd post this here to ask for advice on my questions, as well as any opinions on the answers I've received so far:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AiQ3MOyvyfFzFgZvVBIhpefsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20100928141315AA4Hl8V

If you can, please read my question and let me know any answers you've got. Also, please see the answer from Joseph S, and let me know if the importance of the 12V rail is correct.

As for the graphics card I'm looking at: http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-Radeon-PCI-Express-Graphics-100289L/dp/B0033WSDO2/ref=/ref=cm_cd_f_pb_t

Much appreciated!
 
I will look into this more later...I am currently swamped with stuff I need to get done, and trying to build the motivation to do them...lol
 
XionTawa said:
I will look into this more later...I am currently swamped with stuff I need to get done, and trying to build the motivation to do them...lol
Click to expand...

Thanks, man. I appreciate it; take your time. :) Also, if anyone else has any input on my question/setup/possible card update, please let me know. I'd just like to make an informed decision when upgrading. :D Thanks!
 
Ryooshi said:
As for the graphics card I'm looking at: http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-Radeon-PCI-Express-Graphics-100289L/dp/B0033WSDO2/ref=/ref=cm_cd_f_pb_t

Much appreciated!
Click to expand...

I will post more later...but... Looking at that card...I don't think you will get much performance out of it at all... This issue here is that you want a nice card, but don't want to upgrade the PSU...which is completely understandable for financial sake... But here is the issue...with a 350w you will be stuck getting a 128-bit card...now I am yet unsure what the bits mean, but in my experiences, the lower the bits, the lower the performance of the card... So even if you have 1GB of VM it will only perform like a 512MB, or even 256MB... Currently most just over $100 video cards run 384-bit, and have 512MB-1GB of VM... However, they require at least a 500w PSU... If I had to choose a card that would run on a 350w...I would look into a 256-but card with 512MB...it would preform better than the one you linked...

Also...if you choose that you are still wanting to just get 128-bit...this card is cheaper and nVidia: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150322

After doing some research, it looks like with a 350w you are going to have to get a 128-bit...but I suggest looking here: http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCate...ktop-Graphics-Video-Cards&Page=1&Order=RATING instead of amazon...you will get better prices, and be able to read a lot of feedback...plus...newegg will never let you down...been ordering parts from there for 6 years...
 
The "bits" represents the bus speed. It is how quickly the motherboard passes information between the CPU and the GFX card. So a 256-bit card can handle passing data faster than a 128-bit card. The motherboard may also limit this though, an older computer may not be able to support 256-bit bus speed. I do not know how to tell what the bus speed of the MB is though, sorry.
 
Sweet. Thank you, guys, for the advice. I may just wait it out until I can spare the cash for a new PSU before replacing the card. I also wasn't aware of the bits issue.

After running Belarc Advisor, I found that my motherboard has a bus clock of 266 megahertz, if that tells you anything. Would my motherboard support a 256-bit card?
 
I don't know if that is the same thing or not, it would make sense. I haven't really looked into PC hardware in several years.
 
Also consider that black friday is around the corner and you will be able to get the best deal of the year on a video card then.
 
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