Graphics Card Upgrade

simoncpage · Apr 9, 2006, 11:16 AM

Computer: Dell Dimension 8300, 3.2Ghz P4 HT, 1GB DDR

Current Graphics Card: ATI Radeon 9800 Pro

I'm looking to upgrade to one of these

BFG GeForce 6800 GS OC 256MB GDDR3 TV-Out/DVI (AGP)
Gainward BLISS GeForce 6800 GS Goes Like Hell Edition 512MB GDDR3 TV-Out/DVI (AGP)
Leadtek GeForce 7800 GS 256MB GDDR3 TV-Out/DVI (AGP)
PowerColor ATI Radeon X850 XT 256MB DDR3 VIVO TV-Out/DVI (AGP)

Haven't upgraded this before but I want it specifically for gaming - Far Cry is getting too jerky...

Any recommendation will be great, Thanks
Simon

pr0digal jenius · Apr 9, 2006, 06:36 PM

7800GS...hands down

simoncpage · Apr 9, 2006, 06:40 PM

There isn't any compatibility issues with the 7800? Won't need to upgrade PSU or anything?

Thanks

mike2h · Apr 9, 2006, 06:52 PM

as above, 7800gs. i know it is not on your list but i have the evga 7800gs sc & highly rec it. it is the fastest, readily available agp card you can get. it will defintely lengthen the useful life of your comp.
how many watts is your psu & do you just have the basic dell config or have you added other hardware?

simoncpage · Apr 9, 2006, 11:41 PM

Just the basic config - what is it with the PSU alot of people have mentioned this - should I get a new one?

mike2h · Apr 10, 2006, 11:35 PM

like i asked before, how many watts is your psu? until we know that nobody can answer your question

simoncpage · Apr 10, 2006, 11:52 PM

dell computer from what I can see don't sound fun to replace the psu...

Dell 250W Power Supply (SATA) - M0148

mike2h · Apr 11, 2006, 12:14 AM

you need a new psu. i would get a quality psu in the 400 - 450 range. make sure that the psu is not some sort of custom dell setup 1st.

simoncpage · Apr 11, 2006, 12:17 AM

Yeah I gathered that much ... is there anyone I can ask regarding the easiest psu to fit an 8300...

mike2h · Apr 11, 2006, 12:30 AM

dell?

fobis · Apr 11, 2006, 01:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike2h

dell?

Yep. ttt

simoncpage · Apr 19, 2006, 09:55 PM

Sort out the PSU - found a company that custom dell ones of 470W

Does it make sense to keep my current ATI 9800 pro in the machine can I have 2 card running in the same machine? (I thought it would make dual screens alot easier than using DVI and VGA port?)

GeForce 7800 GS 256MB GDDR3 is the one I am looking at...also is this going to be Vista friendly???

simoncpage · Apr 23, 2006, 01:34 AM

Went for the Gainward 7800GS 512MB in the end...

mike2h · Apr 23, 2006, 02:44 AM

good call

simoncpage · Apr 23, 2006, 12:24 PM

I almost went back on the order for the BFG version. Since the Gainward takes up 2 slots and I was concerned the fan went above the AGP slot but I'm pretty sure look at some of the pictures that it goes below the slot (purely because my agp slot is right at the top and has no slots above it).

I guess this would be a bad design fault otherwise - but can someone confirm this is the case?

easyrider · Apr 25, 2006, 12:21 AM

I have a BFG 7800GS OC, and can tell you it's a nice upgrade, specially from your 9800. I had an x1600pro, and this is almost twice the card that was for sure.
Benefits would be you have sm3 and HDR with the 7800gs card, if that's what you want, and I personally want a card thta can do the latest stuff if I want to do it, I wanna be able to have the ability to do it.
As far as a power supply, all you need is a 350watt psu, I am running an Antech 350psu, and doing just fine, even at the oc I have, wich is basically a double overclock, I overclocked an overclocked card

, but it's working jsut fine.

Apr 9, 2006, 11:16 AM	#1
simoncpage DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 23 Rep Power: 0	Graphics Card Upgrade Computer: Dell Dimension 8300, 3.2Ghz P4 HT, 1GB DDR Current Graphics Card: ATI Radeon 9800 Pro I'm looking to upgrade to one of these BFG GeForce 6800 GS OC 256MB GDDR3 TV-Out/DVI (AGP) Gainward BLISS GeForce 6800 GS Goes Like Hell Edition 512MB GDDR3 TV-Out/DVI (AGP) Leadtek GeForce 7800 GS 256MB GDDR3 TV-Out/DVI (AGP) PowerColor ATI Radeon X850 XT 256MB DDR3 VIVO TV-Out/DVI (AGP) Haven't upgraded this before but I want it specifically for gaming - Far Cry is getting too jerky... Any recommendation will be great, Thanks Simon

Apr 9, 2006, 06:40 PM	Thread Starter #3
simoncpage DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 23 Rep Power: 0	Compatibility There isn't any compatibility issues with the 7800? Won't need to upgrade PSU or anything? Thanks

Apr 9, 2006, 06:52 PM	#4
mike2h DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: norcal Posts: 6,483 Rep Power: 91 System Specs	as above, 7800gs. i know it is not on your list but i have the evga 7800gs sc & highly rec it. it is the fastest, readily available agp card you can get. it will defintely lengthen the useful life of your comp. how many watts is your psu & do you just have the basic dell config or have you added other hardware? __________________

Apr 9, 2006, 11:41 PM	Thread Starter #5
simoncpage DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 23 Rep Power: 0	Hi Just the basic config - what is it with the PSU alot of people have mentioned this - should I get a new one?

Apr 10, 2006, 11:35 PM	#6
mike2h DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: norcal Posts: 6,483 Rep Power: 91 System Specs	like i asked before, how many watts is your psu? until we know that nobody can answer your question __________________

Apr 9, 2006, 06:36 PM	#2
pr0digal jenius Delete Me Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 14,648 Rep Power: 0	7800GS...hands down

Apr 10, 2006, 11:52 PM	Thread Starter #7
simoncpage DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 23 Rep Power: 0	dell computer from what I can see don't sound fun to replace the psu... Dell 250W Power Supply (SATA) - M0148

Apr 11, 2006, 12:14 AM	#8
mike2h DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: norcal Posts: 6,483 Rep Power: 91 System Specs	you need a new psu. i would get a quality psu in the 400 - 450 range. make sure that the psu is not some sort of custom dell setup 1st. __________________

Apr 11, 2006, 12:17 AM	Thread Starter #9
simoncpage DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 23 Rep Power: 0	Yeah I gathered that much ... is there anyone I can ask regarding the easiest psu to fit an 8300...

Apr 11, 2006, 12:30 AM	#10
mike2h DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: norcal Posts: 6,483 Rep Power: 91 System Specs	dell? __________________

Apr 19, 2006, 09:55 PM	Thread Starter #12
simoncpage DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 23 Rep Power: 0	Sort out the PSU - found a company that custom dell ones of 470W Does it make sense to keep my current ATI 9800 pro in the machine can I have 2 card running in the same machine? (I thought it would make dual screens alot easier than using DVI and VGA port?) GeForce 7800 GS 256MB GDDR3 is the one I am looking at...also is this going to be Vista friendly???

Apr 23, 2006, 01:34 AM	Thread Starter #13
simoncpage DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 23 Rep Power: 0	Went for the Gainward 7800GS 512MB in the end...

Apr 23, 2006, 02:44 AM	#14
mike2h DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: norcal Posts: 6,483 Rep Power: 91 System Specs	good call __________________

Apr 23, 2006, 12:24 PM	Thread Starter #15
simoncpage DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 23 Rep Power: 0	2 Slots??? I almost went back on the order for the BFG version. Since the Gainward takes up 2 slots and I was concerned the fan went above the AGP slot but I'm pretty sure look at some of the pictures that it goes below the slot (purely because my agp slot is right at the top and has no slots above it). I guess this would be a bad design fault otherwise - but can someone confirm this is the case?

Apr 25, 2006, 12:21 AM	#16
easyrider DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 156 Rep Power: 0	I have a BFG 7800GS OC, and can tell you it's a nice upgrade, specially from your 9800. I had an x1600pro, and this is almost twice the card that was for sure. Benefits would be you have sm3 and HDR with the 7800gs card, if that's what you want, and I personally want a card thta can do the latest stuff if I want to do it, I wanna be able to have the ability to do it. As far as a power supply, all you need is a 350watt psu, I am running an Antech 350psu, and doing just fine, even at the oc I have, wich is basically a double overclock, I overclocked an overclocked card , but it's working jsut fine. __________________ P4 3.0 Prescott Corsair 2x512 mem (1 gig) BFG 7800gs oc default 400/1250, to 480/1450