Video Card question

Coach · 08-25-2007, 10:11 AM

I am looking to upgrading my video card. Currently, my video card is from the PC/motherboard.

What choices would you recommend for a video card that I am only limiting myself to at least LESS than $150?

Thanks in advance.

**DaFace** · 08-25-2007, 10:16 AM

I'm not going to have a ton of strong recommendations for you, but others are going to need to know what type of card you can use in order to answer your question. Does your computer have open PCI, AGP, or PCI-X slots?

Coach · 08-25-2007, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaFace

I'm not going to have a ton of strong recommendations for you, but others are going to need to know what type of card you can use in order to answer your question. Does your computer have open PCI, AGP, or PCI-X slots?

That I need to find out. I know from looking at this website, or so I hope, since I went to gateway.com and put in my information on there to get the computer that I bought.

http://support.gateway.com/s/MOTHERB...6158Rsp2.shtml

Two PCI Conventional bus connectors
One PCI Express ×1 bus add-in card connector
One PCI Express ×16 bus add-in card connector

**Saulbadguy** · 08-25-2007, 10:36 AM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150229

It will support all the new games, and do a pretty good job at it for under $150

Coach · 08-25-2007, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saulbadguy

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150229

It will support all the new games, and do a pretty good job at it for under $150

Yeah, which brings another question for me. Is there really any difference between a 256MB Video Card to a 513 MB? (Other than the price of course, which is about $20 more or so.)

Would it be a better choice for me to get a 513 instead of a 256? I don't mind having to shell a little bit more to get the 513 instead....

**Saulbadguy** · 08-25-2007, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coach

Yeah, which brings another question for me. Is there really any difference between a 256MB Video Card to a 513 MB? (Other than the price of course, which is about $20 more or so.)

Would it be a better choice for me to get a 513 instead of a 256? I don't mind having to shell a little bit more to get the 513 instead....

Bigger is always better.

Crashride · 08-25-2007, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saulbadguy

Bigger is always better.

thats what she said

Coach · 08-25-2007, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saulbadguy

Bigger is always better.

That's what I figured. What would you recommend for a 513 then? You'd still go with GeoForce brands? Is GeoForce compatitible for Intel Based Motherboards/Processeors?

I had a GeoForce 5500 or something like that a few years back, and I thought it was a very solid video card chip.

TN_Chief · 08-25-2007, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saulbadguy

Bigger is always better.

Not true. I work medical imaging IT...and we've got some problems with one of our products right now that's directly related to having too much RAM on a high-end video card (plus the memory limits of a 32-bit OS). "Bigger is always better" can get you into trouble.

htismaqe · 08-25-2007, 11:22 AM

I just bought this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127285

jidar · 08-25-2007, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TN_Chief

Not true. I work medical imaging IT...and we've got some problems with one of our products right now that's directly related to having too much RAM on a high-end video card (plus the memory limits of a 32-bit OS). "Bigger is always better" can get you into trouble.

This is why they should've kept Windows out of medicine.

edit: Actually, I guess that's how your software vendor is spinning it, but believe me they are full of shit.

If having too much video memory is screwing up your system, it's not your fault, it's the fault of whoever designed the software. They should have checked for whatever bounds they going over.

htismaqe · 08-25-2007, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coach

That's what I figured. What would you recommend for a 513 then? You'd still go with GeoForce brands? Is GeoForce compatitible for Intel Based Motherboards/Processeors?

I had a GeoForce 5500 or something like that a few years back, and I thought it was a very solid video card chip.

nVidia makes GeForce chipsets. Yes, they will work with Intel motherboard/processors.

The problem is that you're going to have to find a small form factor card - the ones that Saul and I posted might not work because your motherboard is a microATX, which means they might not actually fit inside your case.

**TrebMaxx** · 08-25-2007, 12:51 PM

Also keep in mind the memory speed. A 256 card with DDR3 is faster than a 512 not using DDR3.

Coach · 08-25-2007, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by htismaqe

nVidia makes GeForce chipsets. Yes, they will work with Intel motherboard/processors.

The problem is that you're going to have to find a small form factor card - the ones that Saul and I posted might not work because your motherboard is a microATX, which means they might not actually fit inside your case.

But if it's a PCI-E it should fit without any problems, eh?

Kerberos · 08-25-2007, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coach

But if it's a PCI-E it should fit without any problems, eh?

You might look at the dimensions of the video card you are looking to buy and use a tape measure to measure the PCI-E slot from the end where the card will go against the open hole of the case and measure BACK to where the card will end up and make sure NOTHING is right over the top of where the card will come to a stop.

go with card length and height to get the dimension you are looking for inside the case.

08-25-2007, 10:11 AM
Coach Champs! Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $5968476	Video Card question I am looking to upgrading my video card. Currently, my video card is from the PC/motherboard. What choices would you recommend for a video card that I am only limiting myself to at least LESS than $150? Thanks in advance.
Posts: 53,200

08-25-2007, 10:16 AM	#2
DaFace Kind of a mod Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Donkey Land Casino cash: $2046899	I'm not going to have a ton of strong recommendations for you, but others are going to need to know what type of card you can use in order to answer your question. Does your computer have open PCI, AGP, or PCI-X slots?
Posts: 51,762

08-25-2007, 10:36 AM	#4
Saulbadguy When a nightmare becomes real Join Date: Nov 2003 Casino cash: $2656966	http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150229 It will support all the new games, and do a pretty good job at it for under $150 __________________ http://www.goemaw.com
Posts: 46,965

08-25-2007, 11:22 AM	#10
htismaqe 'Tis my eye! Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Chiefsplanet Casino cash: $10269900	I just bought this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127285
Posts: 100,022

08-25-2007, 12:51 PM	#13
TrebMaxx Supporter Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Peoples Republic of CoMo Casino cash: $1497252	Also keep in mind the memory speed. A 256 card with DDR3 is faster than a 512 not using DDR3.
Posts: 4,321