Graphis Card help :O

Dante2500Dante2500 Join Date: 2009-10-17 Member: 69071Members
in Off-Topic
Alright, my brother got a pre-built PC a little while back without consulting me, and it's pretty bad at gaming. Now he wants my help to get him a new graphics card. I don't know what will fit though, or what spec's he needs. Apparantly he wants it for modern gaming, 'cuz on his steam he has stuff like Fallout 3, Oblivion, and i said he should try APB.
I've noticed that most people here are well-versed in computers and are kind, so I'm hoping you can help.

Here's the specs of pre-built badness [Please don't cringe too much]:

<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Form Factor

* µATX Form Factor.
* 21.0 x 23.0 cm.

CPU Support

* Socket LF-LGA775.
* Supports all Intel Pentium (Dual Core), Core 2 Duo
* 1333 MHz Front Side Bus speed.

Chipset

* NVIDIA nForce 630i MCP.

System Memory

* 2 banks.
* DDR2 533 / DDR2 667 DIMMs.
* Supports up to 4 GB system memory.

Video

* NVIDIA GeForce 7050 GPU.
* 256 MB shared video memory with TurboCache.

Audio

* Realtek ALC 888S audio codec.
* High Definition Audio subsystem.
* 7.1 channel support.

Network

* Realtek RTL8201N.
* 10/100 Mbit.

Expansion Slots

* 1x PCI Express 16X.
* 1x PCI Express 1X.
* 1x PCI.

Drive Support

* 4 SATA II connectors.
* 1 Ultra ATA-133 connector.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

SO, can anyone help suggest a new graphics card that will actually fit into it, and will run modern games smoothly on atleast Medium settings. If it ain't possible, I will laugh in his face. Cheers in advance.
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Comments

  • spellman23spellman23 NS1 Theorycraft Expert Join Date: 2007-05-17 Member: 60920Members
    Well, you have a PCI-E x16, which is nifty. That means at the very least a modern GPU card can get a slot. Is it just a PCI-Ex16? Or a PCI-Ex16 2.0 slot?

    However, I'm concerned about the uATX form factor. Most modern GPU cards take up all the room a full ATX motherboard offers. 21cm only gives you 8.26 inches to work with.

    Doing a quick newegg.com search, if it is just a PCI-Ex16 slot, your choices are limited. Still, GeForce 8 and 9 cards are solid if you can get the higher end ones, like a 8800GT. The trouble is I don't see these types of cards on stock in newegg.com anymore for a PCI-Ex16 slot.

    It looks like this card might fit. 7.2inch length. Kinda pricy.
    <a href="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814103104" target="_blank">http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16814103104</a>

    I recommend doing a little looksie around <a href="http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/Components,1/Graphics-Cards,4/" target="_blank">Tom's Hardware</a> to get some advice and good performance/price points.
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  • lolfighterlolfighter Snark, Dire Join Date: 2003-04-20 Member: 15693Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1775190:date=Jun 17 2010, 08:45 PM:name=Dante2500)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dante2500 @ Jun 17 2010, 08:45 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1775190"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->and i said he should try APB.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    He should, as long as he doesn't have to pay for it. It's not worth the money. DEFINITE try-before-you-buy material.
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  • ThaldarinThaldarin Alonzi&#33; Join Date: 2003-07-15 Member: 18173Members, Constellation
    A newegg link isn't good for a forum member from England ;)

    Value for money right now Dante is the 5770; for some reason the one I bought by Saphire has increased by £30 since release date which is pretty weird but here's the cheapest 1GB 5770 from ebuyer; I'd recommend it @ 121.99, HIS 5770 : <a href="http://www.ebuyer.com/product/191864" target="_blank">http://www.ebuyer.com/product/191864</a>
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  • lolfighterlolfighter Snark, Dire Join Date: 2003-04-20 Member: 15693Members
    Got a 5770 as well, very satisfied. Didn't blow my budget, runs very nicely. The RAM in that system is atrociously slow though. No better than DDR2 667Mhz supported? Ouch.
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  • PipiPipi Join Date: 2009-12-09 Member: 69550Members
    nVidia MB chipset .. ? uh..

    anyhow, i'd still drop an HD4890 in there, like from powercolor, cheap as hell but sill very reliable, and runs you fallout 3 all maxed no problem.
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  • PstranglerPstrangler Join Date: 2003-09-25 Member: 21198Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1775208:date=Jun 17 2010, 05:31 PM:name=Thaldarin)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Thaldarin @ Jun 17 2010, 05:31 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1775208"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->A newegg link isn't good for a forum member from England ;)

    Value for money right now Dante is the 5770; for some reason the one I bought by Saphire has increased by £30 since release date which is pretty weird but here's the cheapest 1GB 5770 from ebuyer; I'd recommend it @ 121.99, HIS 5770 : <a href="http://www.ebuyer.com/product/191864" target="_blank">http://www.ebuyer.com/product/191864</a><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    For about the same price I'd recommend : <a href="http://www.ebuyer.com/product/201168" target="_blank">http://www.ebuyer.com/product/201168</a>

    The 4870 is the previous generation but it packs a bit more bang for the same price, the only trade off is the lack of DX11 support (which is not present if oblivion and fallout 3 anyway and in most games out except maybe a handful).

    I just bought one, very satisfied so far
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  • lolfighterlolfighter Snark, Dire Join Date: 2003-04-20 Member: 15693Members
    The 4870 also has bigger power draw and heat output, so make sure the power supply and air flow can handle it. In particular it may need two 12V power connectors which less beefy power supplies sometimes don't have. And you still need to look at the slow memory, that's going to be kind of a bottleneck no matter what GPU you get.
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  • ZaggyZaggy NullPointerException The Netherlands Join Date: 2003-12-10 Member: 24214Forum Moderators, NS2 Playtester, Reinforced - Onos, Subnautica Playtester
    Augh, prebuild, Packard Bell I believe.
    Check what PSU they put in there, pray it supports a nice videocard.
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  • ObraxisObraxis Subnautica Animator & Generalist, NS2 Person Join Date: 2004-07-24 Member: 30071Super Administrators, Forum Admins, NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, NS2 Developer, Constellation, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Silver, WC 2013 - Supporter, Subnautica Developer, Pistachionauts
    edited June 2010
    Agreed. Find out the Wattage of your PSU first, as you my need to upgrade that. PC Builders often put in the bare minimum PSU to save cash,

    I'd also recommend the 5770 for bang-for-you-buck.
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