ATI Radeon X1650 XT Advice/Help

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.

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

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.

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!

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.

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.

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. :-)

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

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

Thanks again

Aeolos.

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

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Flewis

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

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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.