Getting a new Graphics Card

Cicero · Post by **Cicero** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 7:55 am

Now that I've sorted out all my RAM problems I need to get a new GC. I'm looking at the Geforce 6600 GT. This one to be exact and first off will it work ok on a Dell 4600 2.8 Ghz 1.25 RAM.

Would there be much of an improvement in going for This one and how do I know if I have a free PCI express slot.

Sorry about all the questions but when it comes down to this sort of thing I have no idea.

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Cicero · Post by **Cicero** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 9:06 am

Well I checked and I do have a free PCI slot so thats one question answered at least.

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sintekk · Post by **sintekk** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 9:20 am

I bet it'll work, but just to be safe, I'd check how big your power supply is. These things chug a lot of power, so you should have over 450 watts.

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sintekk · Post by **sintekk** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 9:20 am

As far as I can tell, both cards are the same, but it's early over here, I might of missed something, lol

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000 · Post by **000** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 9:57 am

Cicero wrote: Well I checked and I do have a free PCI slot so thats one question answered at least.

A PCI express slot and a regular PCI slot are different.
There should probably only be one PCI express slot on your motherboard. As there is usually only one AGP slot on a MB.
Look up your dell model on the internet or in your documentation and you should be able to find out.

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Cicero · Post by **Cicero** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 11:28 am

0 wrote:
Cicero wrote: Well I checked and I do have a free PCI slot so thats one question answered at least.

A PCI express slot and a regular PCI slot are different.
There should probably only be one PCI express slot on your motherboard. As there is usually only one AGP slot on a MB.
Look up your dell model on the internet or in your documentation and you should be able to find out.

Ah, good point, the book doesnt say anything about a PCI express slot, just 3 normal PCI's. Right well that helps making a desicion.

As for the power, I'm working with 230 v at the moment and I think the 6800 needs 350. Hmmm. That could be a problem. I'll have to look at other cards then.

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Cicero · Post by **Cicero** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 11:35 am

This is getting more expensive by the second, a new PSU might be the answer. Any Good?

I'll have to try find out the no. of pins I have

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sintekk · Post by **sintekk** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 4:17 pm

That power supply should work.

FYI, you should know that at the moment, having PCI-Express video cards doesn't make a speed difference over AGP at the moment, unless you plan on doing SLI mode (which requires two of the exact same video cards)

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Cicero · Post by **Cicero** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 4:23 pm

No, It wont be anything like that, AGP would be fine.. I'll have to go and check the bank, and then decide if its worth it or will I just hold out for another year or so and buy a new pc.

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The Gheyness · Post by **The Gheyness** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 7:33 pm

Okay, now you've got me confused.

1) That first card you linked is AGP? Not PCI...they don't make a pci version of it, I don't think, just pci express.

2) Unless Dell has hugely upgraded their motherboard chipsets, I doubt you have pci express. Your system falls in the the "2nd tier" for Dell systems. The 8000 series are the only ones with pci express, I thought. Edit: And those new-ish XPS or whatever they're called...the ones designed for "power gamers".

3) You really wouldn't see any difference between those two cards, anyways.

4) You should really, really consider getting a card with either 256 of RAM or that's 256 bit or, preferably, both. Especially if you're playing any of the newer games. Even moreso if you're playing first-person shooters. And even moreso if you're playing them online.

5) Your power supply should be fine. As in, you'll be able to run that card normally, etc. But don't be too shocked if it craps out on you every now and then, especially after being on for a long time.

6) Your power supply probably can't be upgraded. I have the DCSE certification (for my job...we all have to be Dell certified techs since that's all the government uses) and the biggest power supply I've ever seen on a Dell computer is 250 watts. And that was 3 years ago for my own personal Dimension 8200. Their power supplies used to be proprietary in design, too, so you can't just go out to the store and buy one. You'd have to order it from them (and I don't believe they sell them).

7) Depending on what kind of games you play (or, if not games, what are you needing a new graphics card for?) you might be better off getting an ATI card. I don't know about their availability or pricing in Ireland, though. o_O

8) I like to list things.

9) Ana rates this list a 10.0. I ROCK.

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000 · Post by **000** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 10:03 pm

There is not a game made yet that even comes close to utilizing the AGP 8x technology. Most don't utilize AGP 4x. I wouldn't get a mother board with PCI Express at the moment. I'd wait. AGP 8x is fine.

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sintekk · Post by **sintekk** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 10:07 pm

0 wrote: There is not a game made yet that even comes close to utilizing the AGP 8x technology. Most don't utilize AGP 4x. I wouldn't get a mother board with PCI Express at the moment. I'd wait. AGP 8x is fine.

I agree for single cards, but if you're uber-ubbber-hardcore, two pci-ex cards in sli mode can significantly boost fps in the superduper fine looking games

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Cicero · Post by **Cicero** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 8:04 am

Legend wrote: Okay, now you've got me confused.

1) That first card you linked is AGP? Not PCI...they don't make a pci version of it, I don't think, just pci express.

2) Unless Dell has hugely upgraded their motherboard chipsets, I doubt you have pci express. Your system falls in the the "2nd tier" for Dell systems. The 8000 series are the only ones with pci express, I thought. Edit: And those new-ish XPS or whatever they're called...the ones designed for "power gamers".

3) You really wouldn't see any difference between those two cards, anyways.

4) You should really, really consider getting a card with either 256 of RAM or that's 256 bit or, preferably, both. Especially if you're playing any of the newer games. Even moreso if you're playing first-person shooters. And even moreso if you're playing them online.

5) Your power supply should be fine. As in, you'll be able to run that card normally, etc. But don't be too shocked if it craps out on you every now and then, especially after being on for a long time.

The first link was AGP but the second one was PCI express, which I dont have.

I would be playing the newer type of games, at the moment Medal of Honour Pacific assault and Brothers in arms wont work, and I want to play them.

But with the powert thing, do you think that it work now with the 230V or there abouts even though the 6600 needs 350V?

EDIT: I think that the 230V is the power coming from the sockets, so I'm not the actual power may be a bit higher.

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The Gheyness · Post by **The Gheyness** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 6:49 pm

The 6600 doesn't actually require that big of a power supply, that's just what they recommend.

Depending on your system and how many things are running at the time, you really don't need that big of a power supply.

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Cicero · Post by **Cicero** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 6:50 pm

Ah right, its not so bad then. I'll do a bit of digging tomorrow and see what happens.

Thanks

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Brooklynite · Post by **Brooklynite** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 12:06 am

I am looking at buying a graphics card myself. I currently have only integrated graphics, and I have troule playing some games with it.
A friend of mine suggested I get this card: this card
My computer specs:
AMD 2600+ XP
512 MB DDR RAM
S3 ProSavage graphics DDR (integrated)
What is the difference between PCI and PCI express?

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Red Squirrel · Post by **Red Squirrel** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 12:09 am

PCI express is much faster and better... but you'll also pay a pretty penny to get it.

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The Gheyness · Post by **The Gheyness** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 12:17 am

Brooklynite wrote: I am looking at buying a graphics card myself. I currently have only integrated graphics, and I have troule playing some games with it.
A friend of mine suggested I get this card: this card
My computer specs:
AMD 2600+ XP
512 MB DDR RAM
S3 ProSavage graphics DDR (integrated)
What is the difference between PCI and PCI express?

You don't have pci-express, so no need to worry about it.

Unless you're also planning on buying a new system...

What kind of motherboard do you have? I wouldn't recommend that card at all, but I guess it depends on how much you want to spend.

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sintekk · Post by **sintekk** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 1:05 am

I'd also avoid that card, I'd spend some extra money and upgrade to a Radeon 9800 or maybe a low-end GeForce 6XXX if you have the money.

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