Graphic card needed...suggestions?

**ignasigh** · January 28, 2007, 09:23 AM

Hi guys!

Well, as the title says..I want to change my actual graphic card from NVIDIA GeForce 5200 FX 128MB
to?

That's what I want to know....I'm afraid I don't have enough knowledge and experience in graphic cards to choose well. Recently one shop near from home has one graphic card:
GeForce 7300 LE 512MB for 52€

What do you think? I don't want to change it and realise that doesn't improve anything.

Thanks for your help!

**Doono** · January 28, 2007, 03:41 PM

don't buy a 7300 series card put a bit extra in and get a 7600GS/GT. But you say you have a 5200 FX which means your mobo is probably AGP so you have to make sure you buy the correct model or the card won't fit.

**ignasigh** · January 29, 2007, 08:01 AM

Wow...that's why I ask for someone who can explain me.

What should I take into account? What cards are the compatible ones with mine? I prefer GeForce than ATI....is that a good choice?

Thanks a lot

**Spart** · January 29, 2007, 11:33 AM

Make sure your PC is otherwise decent to make use of new card, and see that your power supply is powerful enough. If you don't know about your supply, open the side of your case and see the text in side of the power supply (yes, the little box up there with lots of power lines going to it), it should say the total Wattage (W) somewhere. Should be 300W and up for 7600GS. If your PC is good enough to handle it, 7600GT would be even better choice.
So, try to find out =)

**ignasigh** · January 29, 2007, 12:53 PM

As far as I remember 350W - 400W so that's not the problem.

I'll search for 7600GS-7600GT but I'm afraid of having another kind of problems like motherboard or...I don't know!

**ignasigh** · January 29, 2007, 12:54 PM

NVIDIA GeForce 7600GS 256MB DDR PCI-Express DVI/TV 87,50€

But this is 256MB should I try for a 512MB?

**Spart** · January 29, 2007, 12:58 PM

That's PCI-e as it says.. Look for AGP. And there's no need for 512mb memory, 256 is fine.

**ignasigh** · January 30, 2007, 02:47 AM

And can you explain me the main differences between PCI - AGP? I think I've PCI connector but I¡m a complete ignorant about it....should I go to the shop with my actual graphic card?

Thanksssss

**Spart** · January 30, 2007, 03:06 AM

So, there are three kinds of graphics card interfaces (or whatever) nowadays, PCI (old crap), AGP and PCI-express (the latest).
Now, this is difficult, because the card you have, is made for both PCI and AGP-slots. Usually there are many PCI-slots in the motherboard in addition to AGP or PCI-e, so the hope is not lost. You'll have to find out the type of your motherboard, or use some program, like Everest to check if you have AGP-slot.
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4181.html

**ignasigh** · January 31, 2007, 02:26 PM

Originally Posted by Spartacus the Finn

So, there are three kinds of graphics card interfaces (or whatever) nowadays, PCI (old crap), AGP and PCI-express (the latest).
Now, this is difficult, because the card you have, is made for both PCI and AGP-slots. Usually there are many PCI-slots in the motherboard in addition to AGP or PCI-e, so the hope is not lost. You'll have to find out the type of your motherboard, or use some program, like Everest to check if you have AGP-slot.
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4181.html

OK NOW I understand..thanks to you both guys. Final questions:
- Mine is Bus type 8@8 AGP so whatever AGP could be nice in the same place....not the PCI-E right?
- And...only upgrade from 128 to 256. What and how many is improved in graphic details? Keep un mind that now I should play with low to low and with a limit of 3000 men.

Thanks!!!

**Doono** · January 30, 2007, 09:56 AM

once you supply the motherboard details it becomes easy, but a lot of things need to be taken into account when making an upgrade from pretty old hardware to new hardware.

1. does your current hardware support this new hardware, example Most cards these days (made in the last year) use a pci-express port. Older motherboards won't support this sort of hardware using either the outdated AGP port or dead PCI port

2. Your hardware supports the upgrade, great but now comes the next question will the upgrade do anything? Example you fit an 8800GTX but you have 512 megs of ram and a centrino/sempron processor. The cards amazing but the processor and ram will bottleneck your ability to utalise the full power of such hardware.

Basically if your whole system is badly outdated it would be better to save the money and get a good bearbones kit as a base and work from there.

**Spart** · January 31, 2007, 02:31 PM

As I said before, memory means nothing. 7600GS or GT will wipe the floor with your 5200FX, which is just pure crap.
And yes, if you have 8X AGP, make sure you get an AGP-card.

But as Doono said, I hope your system is otherwise good enough to take advantage of this upgrade.