Getting my first graphics card…help

fayho · TweakNOOB Joined: 07 Oct 2005 Posts: 8

I want to upgrade my computer. I got a stock hp pavilion 754n, and the most I can spend is $150. I know I can’t get much with that but I want to get the best I can get. I’ve been reading a couple reviews and the ATI All-in-Wonder X600 Pro sounds good but I hear that for gaming is garbage. Help me out with some suggestions please.

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HoseB · SirTweaksabit Joined: 03 Oct 2003 Posts: 260

The All-in-Wonder is also a TV Tuner and media capture board. Is that what you want?

fayho · TweakNOOB Joined: 07 Oct 2005 Posts: 8

For me it only a nice added bonus, not a necessity. If someone can recommend something better without those features that fit my price range, I would get it. I’m just look for the best card for my money.

Ham_fisT · Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2005 9:03 am Post subject:

best gaming bang for the buck... 6600GT

http://tweaknews.pricegrabber.com/search_attrib.php?page_id=5&form_keyword=6600gt+agp&rd=1
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fussnfeathers · Lord of the Tweak Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 2763

Keep in mind that your HP has a 4x AGP slot. You'll definitely see some improvement over the old Intel graphics chip, but you'll have a bit of a bottleneck in speed...........for most games, that won't matter too much, but games like D3 or HL2 that use massive amounts of GPU won't run as fast as an 8x AGP slot.
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2old2care · Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2005 10:18 am Post subject:

FnF was dancing all over a problem here.....all X600 cards I know of are PCIx...you have an AGP slot....Soooooo....AGP for you. Any gfx card you get MUST be agp.
In that price range are several choices that will offer a bunch-o-help over that onboard. As previously mentioned some 6600gt's can be had for that. 9800pro's are there now also.
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fussnfeathers · Lord of the Tweak Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 2763

Right..........a little tired here, got the cold from hell.

All X600 cards are PCI Express, so rule that one right out.........you can't use it.
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fayho · TweakNOOB Joined: 07 Oct 2005 Posts: 8

damn! so i cant get nothing good

fussnfeathers · Lord of the Tweak Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 2763

No, that's not the case at all.

You can get a 6600GT, which is an excellent card, in your price range.
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Noxide · Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2005 9:36 pm Post subject:

^^^What he said. I have the BFG 6600 on my wifes pc and I put a work load on it playing Battle Field 2. Not as fast as my 6800. I just OCed it with Coolbits and off it goes! Its a Great card if you ask me. Not to mention the damn price drop since Ive bought it. If I were you.....I'd get it.....save some more $$$$ and get better cooling for it.....then tweak that baby!!!! This is what my wifes card looks like now. http://img287.imageshack.us/my.php?image=picture0021dq.jpg
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fussnfeathers · Lord of the Tweak Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 2763

I'm looking at that card for myself. I should have a job here soon, I'll be replacing RAM, vid card, and case..........in that order.

And maybe finally a DVD burner, although I'll probably never use it. My CD burner is getting old, though so it's due for an upgrade.
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fayho · TweakNOOB Joined: 07 Oct 2005 Posts: 8

How about a RADEON 9800 Pro 128 MB Graphics Card

fussnfeathers · Lord of the Tweak Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 2763

That'd be an excellent choice. You'll be happy with it.
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fayho · TweakNOOB Joined: 07 Oct 2005 Posts: 8

how about the Sapphire Atlantis Radeon 9600 XT AGP 8X 256MB DDR Video Card i found it here. I found for about $100. Ive been spending ALOT of time reading reviews. Whats are the advantages of a 256mb card over 128mb card? Out of these three cards RADEON 9800 Pro 128 MB, 6600GT, apphire Atlantis Radeon 9600 XT which in your opipion is the best. Will I be able to play some games like Halo or D3 or HL2?

Oh and thanks for all the help guys.

fussnfeathers · Lord of the Tweak Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 2763

You will, but not with all the graphics turned on. For full-on performance in those games, a 6800 or 7800 PCIe is needed, or an X850XT.

I don't think you'll notice much of a difference between 128 and 256, due to your 4X slot, but you might as well get the best you can afford.

As far as which is best, I would go for the 6600GT. It's a newer card, and it performs better than the 9600XT.
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2old2care · Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2005 11:32 am Post subject:

1) 6600gt
2) 9800pro
3) 9600XT

Would be my order based on capabilities. But the next concern would be power consumption......which is always a concern with "box" computers that are built with very little "extra" capabilities. From that point of veiw I would order them;

1) 9600XT
2) 6600gt
3) 9800pro

I think you'd prolly get away with the 6600gt best....IMO
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[KoG]^weaZel · Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2005 11:40 am Post subject:

^^^^agreed^^^^ in fact took the words right out of my mouth.
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fayho · TweakNOOB Joined: 07 Oct 2005 Posts: 8

Alright so I guess I am going to go with a http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=321018&affiliate=pricegrabber I need a 300w psu. Can someone recommend a good, cheap one for me, or point me to a site that has one that will work with this hp. Thanks Very Happy

fayho · TweakNOOB Joined: 07 Oct 2005 Posts: 8

i double checked it and it says 400W system power supply or higher is recommended.

fussnfeathers · Lord of the Tweak Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 2763

Don't go cheap on a PSU. Getting a cheap 500w model will be worse than a name-brand 350w model.

I have this model, and recommend it highly:

http://tweaknews.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=3284140

Other good ones are Enermax. ThermalTake, or PC Power and Cooling. I would be looking to spend a minimum of $75 on a PSU. (this is the one thing I don't recommend going budget on.........a cheap PSU can cause a ton of problems.)

You should have a standard PSU in your HP, but I would take it out, measure it, and verify that it is a standard ATX PSU.
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fayho · TweakNOOB Joined: 07 Oct 2005 Posts: 8

awww crap....looks like i need to sell some more blood

-=Pyro-Psycho=- · Tweakafile Joined: 26 Dec 2003 Posts: 935 Location: TN

Would a new PSU even work with the mobo in his HP?
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fussnfeathers · Lord of the Tweak Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 2763

Yeah, it should. It's a standard ATX mobo, made by MicroStar.
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GeForce · TweakNOOB Joined: 22 Jan 2005 Posts: 81

What about this new X800GT? Better than the 6600 GT and is £111 or so in the UK.

fussnfeathers · Lord of the Tweak Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 2763

The X800GT is PCIe only, no AGP. Won't work for him.
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