Neeed new gfx card!

[touficjohn]

Ok, I need a new graphics card simply because the day I bought my AGP motherboard PCI-E was announced... Bummer.... It was then that i knew my P4 3.2ghz 1.5gb ram 220gb hdd system would b obsolete in the gaming world in the near future... And its happened... Tried running FEAR and HL2 lost coast on my 128mb ATI 9200 and you would be disgusted...
Anyway!
I need a new gfx card! and it needs to be AGP because i dont feel like spending money on a new mobo RAM etc etc... lol
Any ideas? Thanks!!!

PS under 250-300 quid...

[noTHINGface]

6800GT and clock it to ultra speeds? That should keep you in the game for a little while longer with that board.

[sawyen]

tough to get a 6800GT agp in stock now.. and they're usually very expensive to say the least. You might have some luck with a AGp X850XTPE instead.. they will be more expensive, but at least they are still in stock in some places..

If you're lucky enuf to find a 6800GT at acceptable price, then get it.. They arent stellar cards for todays standards..mine running at 430/1200 before was like ages slower than a 7800GT.. and not to mention the amount of heat these old hag give out..

[Jinx]

If it has to be AGP, then I would suggest one of the new line of AGP 6800GS range from nVidia. They have fewer pipelines than a GT, but the core speed is quicker than that of an Ultra.

Plus, on top of all of that, they can be had for a touch over £160. OcUK currently have the XFX 6800GS (256Mb) for £154.95 +VAT, which for the performance, is not bad at all, but I'm sure could be found cheaper elsewhere.

If you're interested, the card mentioned above can be found here.

[ed^chigliak]

If you're prepared to spend £300

Inno3D 7800GT £210inc
http://www.pcnextday.co.uk/product_d...ENV&pgroup=VID

That leaves £90 for an intel motherboard with PCI-E. I'm sure there must be something with PCI-E you can use your existing RAM and what not.

Obviously cheaper and less hassle to go AGP 6800gs which will be a massive improvement over your existing card.

[touficjohn]

Hmmm thing is I'd want one of the better mobo's out there... not just the good ones for 90 quid... And im not sure how easy i would find it to move my processor onto the the new one and re-wire the power supply etc... i know it like lego but id probably fry the system knowing me...
Also this might sound like a stupid question but are all motherboards standard size and compatible with any case?

[ed^chigliak]

If your PC has a standard ATX case (99% likely that it does) you can change whatever you like including the motherboard and power supply. A motherboard has several holes to facilitate fixing it down inside the case. The holes on different motherboards are not always in the same place but this OK because you can move little brass standoffs inside the case to suit whatever motherboard you buy. As for the ports at the back which also vary from motherboard to motherboard you will get a new backing plate. These are a push fit design so simply remove the old one and fit the new one which comes with the motherboard.

High end graphics cards are using more juice than ever before. If your PSU is unbranded cheap no name type or branded but less than 350W I would recomend you upgrade the PSU prior to installing a new graphics card.

I'm not sure if Dell are still doing there own thing with non-standard case & PSU designs. I don't know much about the Dell range but I'm sure others can advise.

[ed^chigliak]

double post... oops

[touficjohn]

Thanks for that....
Thing is I got a Sony Vaio desktop and its a powerfull machine but theyve managed to cram it all in one smaller than average case...Which is why I was asking... I dont have any free power connectors from the power supply... (what dyu call those power cables that go into the back of the DVD & hdd?)... So cant add one of the gfx i wanted to get...
Also the power supply reads: Output max 295 Wat
So im assuming that thats pretty crap...
Ouch... so wat im looking at new mobo (which could mean new RAM and new processor if I dont find one compatible with my P4 3.2ghz... should be easy to find) and a new power supply...
Just for a high end gfx card....
Might aswell re-haul my system damn it.....

[kalniel]

Tried running FEAR and HL2 lost coast on my 128mb ATI 9200 and you would be disgusted....

but not surprised. The 9200 was never a gaming card!

The 6800gs AGP would be a great match to your system (which the rest of is more than fine) and give you some great gaming.

[ed^chigliak]

The 6800GS is very fast and a good match for the 3.2Ghz CPU you have. I would imagine the Sony PSU is reaonable quality but 295W is low by todays standards. You could try with a power splitter to the drives and move a dedicated power lead to the graphics card see what happens

Personally I would upgrade the PSU to around 400W which is more than enough. I opted for a Seasonic PSU myself this time around but in the past have been using Enermax & Antec PSUs without issue.

[touficjohn]

Ok after all your great replies I have one final question!
Plunge and change mobo to PCI-E SLI?
OR
Upgrade gfx card + PSU and wait?
Personally what would you guys do?

[killkoy]

id change to pci-e with £300 you gould probably upgrade your system to better than it would be by just upgrading the graphics card

[kalniel]

Personally I would just get the agp card and nothing else.

295W is probably fine - knowing Sony they underspec the PSU rather than overspec like most brands.

Then, your next upgrade down the line could be a new m/bo and PSU, and if you were going to keep the agp card but didn't mind swapping to AMD you could use one of the ASrock boards to keep you going over the AGP to PCIe switch.

[sawyen]

Just drop the cash on a X850XTPE.. they're having them for 230ish over at overclockers this week.

U can save the rest for a Seasonic 500W / Tagan 480W.. Done £300..

[ed^chigliak]

You could go either way.

If you just want to play the games minimal hassle. Buy an AGP card and maybe replace the PSU. I wouldn't invest a load of money in an AGP card as it will likely be non transferable at your next upgrade. Bang for buck 6800gs is hard to beat.

If you want to mess around with hardware. Sell the Sony/Intel system on the strength of the brand names and with 3.2Ghz CPU you could get a good price. Take the money + £300 and build a new PC preferable AMD A64 which is faster for gaming.

Both options you can play the games. One option is more hassle than the other but ultimately more rewarding to build your own PC. It will be a tight budget to build a new rig especially when you consider the cost of windows XP.