ATI Radeon X1650 XT Advice/Help

[aeolos666]

Hello, I’m thinking about buying the HIS ATI Radeon X1650 XT 256mb AGP card, and was hoping to get a little advice on whether my pc would support this card or if I would need to update my PSU (I know that the 512MB Version needs a 450w PSU).

My system is the following:
Compaq Presario S5290UK
Pentium 4 2.66 GHz
1.5 GB RAM
32 bit Operating system, running Windows Vista Home Premium
280w PSU
120GB Hard Drive
DVD-RW
17” LCD Display
Current Graphics Card: Sapphire Radeon 9550 256mb AGP.

If this card won’t be compatible with my system, is there an equivalent card that would work with my system, my budget is £100.

The games I play are usually RPGS and MMORPGS, Neverwinter Nights 2, City Of Heroes, Dungeons & Dragons Online, Phantasy Star Universe and Obivion.

Any help or advice would be really appreciated.

Thanks

Aeolos.

[Flewis]

Firstly, how good is your psu? If you could tell us how many amps on the 12V rail it has we can let u know (see sticker on the side of the psu case).

Also consider a 7600GT, about equal to the ATI if not ever so slightly better:

http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/127243

Probably better value imo

[aeolos666]

Ok I just had a look at the sticker,

its a Liteon 250w (not 280w)
model PS-5251-08HP

I'm not sure what any of this means (sorry i'm new at this)

input - 127v/6a -50/60hz
240v/3a -50/60hz

ouput - +5v-25a +12v - 14a
+3.3v-18a -12v - 0.8a
+5v5b-2a

combined power on -

+5v and +3.3v rails 165w max
+12v and +5v 218w max


Ok thats what the whole sticker says if that helps any, i'm not sure if thats good or bad.

Aeolos.

[Flewis]

I would recommend getting a new psu too then. This one would fit the bill:

http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/115238

14A on the 12V rails wont be enough. The one i have listed would be very solid. You could go with a slightly cheaper no-name one but you risk it blowing and taking your components with it. Remember google checkout and save £10 on each order!

[aeolos666]

thanks for the reply, i will look into getting a new PSU from the site you mentioned before.

i was looking at other graphics cards in the geforce 7600 range and found this on the overclockers website.

Gainward BLISS GeForce 7600 GT "Golden Sample" 256MB GDDR3 TV-Out/DVI (AGP) - Retail

the specs seem good, what do you think to this card?

Aeolos.

[Flewis]

No way is that card worth £100, if you want to spend that much then i would recommend this:

http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/119300/rb/28286396292

The 1950pro is probably the best AGP card available and this is a very good price (sub £100 with google checkout). Only one slightly better is 7950GT AGP but it is never worth £150 of anyones money.

Cards that have different speeds like the one you listed are the same as normal cards but have been overclocked at the factory. You can overclock a cheaper card yourself to equal speeds. Personally i would always go for a cheaper card of a range and overclock myself if i felt the need to.

[aeolos666]

Ok if i get that card you listed, will the PSU you listed before work for it or will i need a bigger voltage for it?

Sorry i dont mean to go on i just wana make sure i get it right before i buy it. :-)

[Flewis]

Yeah, the x1950 pro will run happily on the 380W seasonic. It has dual rails, one with 10A and another with 15A.

[aeolos666]

Ok thanks very much for your help I will see about getting them soon.

Thanks again

Aeolos.

[Flewis]

Make sure you come back once youve installed and tested your parts. Let people know how much of a difference it made.

[PieEater]

Yeah, the x1950 pro will run happily on the 380W seasonic. It has dual rails, one with 10A and another with 15A.

I asked my regular etailer whether my 350 Enermax would be up to the job of running a 1950Pro and they said that a 450w PSU is required. Whilst you're happy to state that a 380w PSU would be sufficient, if the OP had problems running the card I doubt any supplier would begin to RMA it if it hadn't been proven with a higher rated PSU.