Thinkin about upgrading

**VOP2288** · June 20, 2007, 05:25 PM

So, I have some extra cash laying around and I was thinking of upgrading the gaming performance of my desktop PC. I mostly haven't had problems with current or top games, usually I can run most games released from 2004 - 2006 on medium/high settings and have no problems (FEAR, RTW, Company of Heroes, M2TW, COD2, etc).

Yet I'm starting to find newer games that are being released within the last 3 or so months like STALKER and Warhammer Mark of Chaos are just slowing down too much to enjoy or I have to run them on the LOWEST of settings.

Currently I'm running an HP Pavilion Desktop PC with Windows XP, 1.0GB memory, an AMD Athlon 64 Processor, a 160 GB Hard drive, and an ATI Radeon x700 Pro 256Mb video card...

I'd mostly just like to boost my gaming performance and speed (be able to play newest games on medium/high settings without slow down along with being able to play MASSIVE battles on M2TW or RTW without any slow down whatsoever).

Any suggestions on what upgrades I should make a purchase of? Or set ups I should consider...by the way I'm only looking to spend maybe no more than...400-500 bucks, even less would be GREAT.

EDIT: I keep looking at newer Radeon video cards - the PCI ones like x1950 and x1650 - and they keep mentioning something about a power supply upgrade, what the hell are they talking about...a PCI adapter, PCI power upgrade, etc etc. I'm missing some info, someone plz explain! Last thing I knew all I needed to do with replacing a vid card was just plug the damn thing into my PC!

**Admiral Nelson** · June 20, 2007, 06:06 PM

The simplest and cheapest upgrade would be adding an extra gig of ram.

If your current video card is PCIe, then you could upgrade that to an 8800GTS 320mb, which is probably the best bang-for-buck card around. Shop around online, usually you can find much better deals online than in retail outlets.

I was able to buy an 8800GTS 640mb for just the Canadian equivalent of $370 US about a month ago online. Awesome deal.

**VOP2288** · June 20, 2007, 07:25 PM

Hmmm yeah just under 400 bucks for a video card alone may be a little too much for me at the moment (I could do it but other factors check in - like the fact that I'll be only using this desktop excessively for the next 3 months...then college time!)

I'm looking into the newest ATI Radeon which is the x1950 PCIe card for just under 200 bucks. How bout that? Any kinda clue what kinda performance I could get with that?

EDIT: Ok, now I'm looking at two video cards...the ATI Radeon x1950 PCI and the ATI Radeon x1650 PCI...the newest is obviously the x1950 but I'm wondering which is better now...the x1950 has 256 Mb while the x1650 is 512 Mb. The 1950 requires AMD 64 FX, 2.4+ GHz, and a PCI Express X16 Slot. The 1650 requires just AMD 64, 2.0+ GHz, and a 12v Power Connector....

Ok - I mostly don't know what 3/4 of that means...anyone care to translate into English which is better (or better for my system).

I looked up my GHz and it's says it's running 2.19 GHz so that would mean no to the x1950 right? Or what can I do to raise that then? I also need to take power supply into concern...how do I find out how much wattage I can and am using? The x1950 is 450+ and the 1650 is 420+.

Also, how can I tell if I have a PCI Express X16 slot?

**Freddie** · June 21, 2007, 06:06 AM

Originally Posted by VOP2288

Also, how can I tell if I have a PCI Express X16 slot?

Start>Run>Dxdiag. Have look at the display tag and it should tell you if your running on PCIe or AGP.

I have a feeling your motherboard has an AGP port and not a modern PCIe port judging by the video card you currently have (I think the first ATI PCIe were the X850's).

**Erik** · June 20, 2007, 07:52 PM

Originally Posted by VOP2288

they keep mentioning something about a power supply upgrade, what the hell are they talking about.

Modern video cards consume a lot of power, more than 150W for the high-end models.
So if you plan to replace your video card, you have to make sure your power supply can deliver enough electricity to power your new video card and all the other components.

For a high-end card (like a x1950) you'll need at least a 350W power supply (about 150W for the graphics card, and 200W for the rest of the PC), maybe even more.
450W or more would be playing it safe. (should cost between $50 and $75 or so)

If your current power supply is rated below 400W (it probably is) then you'll do good by replacing it before installing a high-end graphics card.
Mid-range cards will probably work straight away, because your current card is mid-range too.

..a PCI adapter, PCI power upgrade, etc etc. I'm missing some info, someone plz explain! Last thing I knew all I needed to do with replacing a vid card was just plug the damn thing into my PC!

You need to know what kind of graphics slot your PC has, it's one of these three: PCI, PCIe or AGP.
Then make sure your new card has the same interface, or else it won't fit.

I'm looking into the newest ATI Radeon which is the x1950 PCIe card for just under 200 bucks. How bout that? Any kinda clue what kinda performance I could get with that?

It's a very good card for that money, but it's not the newest Radeon though (that would be the Radeon HD series)
The only thing it lacks is DirectX10 support, but you probably won't be playing any DX10 games on that computer anyways since it requires Vista.

I also recommend buying an extra GB of RAM.

**VOP2288** · June 20, 2007, 09:00 PM

If your current power supply is rated below 400W (it probably is) then you'll do good by replacing it before installing a high-end graphics card.

Ok, how can I find out the W of my PC then in the first place?

You need to know what kind of graphics slot your PC has, it's one of these three: PCI, PCIe or AGP.

Well, what am I looking for as far as distinguishing which is which?

I also recommend buying an extra GB of RAM.

RAM as in memory? You'll have to excuse me...as far as PC hardware and technology stuff I'm kinda retarded.

**Admiral Nelson** · June 21, 2007, 12:04 AM

Originally Posted by VOP2288

Ok, how can I find out the W of my PC then in the first place?

Give the exact model number of your HP computer and search it up online. My old HP computer had the model number right in front on the case (HP Pavilion a450n)

Well, what am I looking for as far as distinguishing which is which?

Same as above, search up your computer online and right beside the video card name (x700) it'll say AGP, PCI, or PCIe.

Or you can go to "System Information" in your control panel (I think it's there in Windows XP, if I recall correctly) and look at your hardware there.

RAM as in memory? You'll have to excuse me...as far as PC hardware and technology stuff I'm kinda retarded.

Yup. RAM stands for Random Access Memory.

**VOP2288** · June 21, 2007, 03:03 PM

Ok after running Dxdiag I found out that my PC actually has 3 PCI expansion slots and a single PCIe slot...which is good news for getting a new ATI Radeon card. I also found out that my PC runs on more than enough watts of electricity to power either of those video cards...so it's looking like I'll go with the x1650 seeing as how I do not have an AMD Athlon 64 FX or 2.4+ GHz for the x1950 (and I dont have the cash at the moment to upgrade to an AMD Athlon 64 FX - which I found to be close to 600 - 800 bucks).

Now, for the 1 GB of memory - I'm currently running two sticks of 512 Mb memory out of a DDR. I've been looking at 1 GB sticks and have come across alot of DDR IIs. If I have DDR can I not use DDR IIs? Is there something different in the actual physical hardware that makes it so I can't use it?

**boboftl** · June 21, 2007, 03:46 PM

When you look at your PSU the watts doesn't matter much, the amount of A on the 12 Volt line is VERY IMPORTANT for your video card. A PSU may say its 400 watts but its spread out between the 5V line, 12V line, etc. Bottom line make sure that you have enough A on the 12V line, if I were you I'd still get a new PSU regardless of whichever video card you get, HP isn't exactly known for having outstanding PSU.

You sure it says you need a AMD Athlon 64 FX or 2.2 Ghz+ for the x1950? From what I know about video cards, the processor shouldn't matter if you're picking a video card...

**Erik** · June 21, 2007, 04:23 PM

Originally Posted by VOP2288

so it's looking like I'll go with the x1650 seeing as how I do not have an AMD Athlon 64 FX or 2.4+ GHz for the x1950

Uhmm.....what does it matter what kind of CPU you have?
The x1950 will work with any CPU.

If I have DDR can I not use DDR IIs?

No, you can't.
DDR2 is very different from DDR, they aren't compatible.

**VOP2288** · June 21, 2007, 06:25 PM

You sure it says you need a AMD Athlon 64 FX or 2.2 Ghz+ for the x1950? From what I know about video cards, the processor shouldn't matter if you're picking a video card...

ATI Radeon x1950 Pro HD PCI Express 256Mb Video Card specs:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

Bottom line make sure that you have enough A on the 12V line,

Ok which line is the 12v line? I found my wattage via the sticker on the back of my PC. There are two lines of text. The top line reads 100-127V - 6.0 A while the bottom line reads 200-240V - 3.0 A

**boboftl** · June 21, 2007, 06:53 PM

It should look kind of like this.

**VOP2288** · June 21, 2007, 09:22 PM

Ok - so now it looks like not only am i in the market for a new graphics card and an addition 1GB of RAM but also a PSU. I'm thinking of getting the Ultra X-Finity 600-Watt PSU which fits my needs for both the x1950 and x1650...

It now looks like I meet the specs for the x1950 but the question still remains...what about it saying it requires the AMD Athlon 64 FX? I only have the AMD Athlon 64 and there's no way in hell im dishing out 700 bucks for a new processor just for a damn vid card.