Graphics help

I have a 300w powersupply and i play cod4 on lowest settings, now my question is what is the best gaming oriented graphics card i can use?
here are my system specs

System Information
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Time of this report: 8/29/2010, 20:37:19
Machine name: MATTHEW-PC
Operating System: Windows Vista™ Home Premium (6.0, Build 6002) Service Pack 2 (6002.vistasp2_gdr.100608-0458)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
System Model: Inspiron 530
BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E6550 @ 2.33GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.3GHz
Memory: 3326MB RAM
Page File: 2032MB used, 4839MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 11

Display Information
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Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 8300 GS
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce 8300 GS
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0423&SUBSYS_049410DE&REV_A1
Display Memory: 1520 MB
Dedicated Memory: 113 MB
Shared Memory: 1407 MB
Current Mode: 1280 x 800 (32 bit) (60Hz)

Any budget to work within?

up to 100 + shipping
i was thinking of a 9400 gt, if its compatable, but if there is a better card that will work with my computer i will go with the better card

Given you're working to low power requirementments, something along the lines of the 4770 or 5750 should suit your needs. Although the 4770 will be cheaper and offer similar performance to the 5750, you'll be lucky to source one as it's End Of Line (no longer produced / stocked)

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/512MB...-DVI-I-HDMI-DP

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/190258

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/XFX-ATI-Radeon...eo_TV_Cards_TW

The 5750 is DX11 compatible, has slightly better performance (in the region of 5% - nothing you'd really notice though), and is slightly lower power when idle (i.e. at desktop it uses less power)

TBH I'd probably go for the 4770 on Ebay @£68 delivered.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cptwhite_uk

Given you're working to low power requirementments, something along the lines of the 4770 or 5750 should suit your needs. Although the 4770 will be cheaper and offer similar performance to the 5750, you'll be lucky to source one as it's End Of Line (no longer produced / stocked)

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/512MB...-DVI-I-HDMI-DP

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/190258

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/XFX-ATI-Radeon...eo_TV_Cards_TW

The 5750 is DX11 compatible, has slightly better performance (in the region of 5% - nothing you'd really notice though), and is slightly lower power when idle (i.e. at desktop it uses less power)

TBH I'd probably go for the 4770 on Ebay @£68 delivered.

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Not sure I would want to use that with the OP's 300W PSU.

Even the 5670 has an official power requirement of a 400W PSU.

Nvidia say the GT240 can use a 300W PSU:

http://www.nvidia.com/object/product...gt_240_us.html

That takes you from the 8 shaders of the 8300gs to 96 shaders, so you should see a huge difference and well within budget.

Note that most of the cheap ones have a big heatsink that takes up the slot next to the graphics card, make sure you have space for it in your case. This is the sort of thing I mean:

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/179746

Or buy a new powersupply and a graphics card. GPU - £60 + PSU - £30. This means you'll be able to run any of the above suggested cards a bit more comfortably.

If not I'd say any of the above suggestions :)

I agree with getting a corsair 400w and then buy a 5750,but i think it might get bottleneck from the low clocked core 2 duo 2.33ghz.

Definitely go for the Corsair PSU as suggested.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DanceswithUnix

Not sure I would want to use that with the OP's 300W PSU.

Even the 5670 has an official power requirement of a 400W PSU.

Nvidia say the GT240 can use a 300W PSU:


That takes you from the 8 shaders of the 8300gs to 96 shaders, so you should see a huge difference and well within budget.

Note that most of the cheap ones have a big heatsink that takes up the slot next to the graphics card, make sure you have space for it in your case. This is the sort of thing I mean:

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so is the gt240 better than a 9400 gt?

The GT240 is about the equivalent to a 9600GT but with better power consumption and heat.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by AdamAnubis

The GTS240 is about the equivalent to a 9600GT but with better power consumption and heat.

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so this would be able to run my cod4 at a reasonable graphic setting? lol right now im at 640x480 with every little "eye candy setting" set to off or low

Quote:

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Originally Posted by helostrike

so this would be able to run my cod4 at a reasonable graphic setting? lol right now im at 640x480 with every little "eye candy setting" set to off or low

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oh and also im on nvidia website and it says that GTS 240 needs 450 watt but the GT 240 needs 300w which one are u talking about?

At 1680*1050 with settings on high you're looking at 50fps. Anything above 30 is good.

The GT 240 sorry, just realised I added the S in by mistake. Sorry :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by AdamAnubis

At 1680*1050 with settings on high you're looking at 50fps. Anything above 30 is good.

The GT 240 sorry, just realised I added the S in by mistake. Sorry :)

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ok thanks, im actually in panic as my 8300 gs went up after 3 years and if im gonna replace it im gonna get a good 1
actually most games now are set to run at 60 smoothly, but it will run at 40 without the jittery feeling. So its the gt240 i shoiuld get?, where would u recommend getting this card from? through dell or straight from nvidia?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by helostrike

ok thanks, im actually in panic as my 8300 gs went up after 3 years and if im gonna replace it im gonna get a good 1
actually most games now are set to run at 60 smoothly, but it will run at 40 without the jittery feeling. So its the gt240 i shoiuld get?, where would u recommend getting this card from? through dell or straight from nvidia?

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i looked up on dell and it has this card
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/p...chassisid=8455
is that similar or better than nividia's?

It has double the ram 1Gb as opposed to 512Mb, but other than that it's the same. The RAM isn't worth the extra money in the case of the GT240.