8800 gt to ? - Q6600 2.4ghz processor- Please Help

[axxeman01]

Hello,

I have an older Dell Inspiron 530, Intel Q6600 Core Duo at 2.4Ghz. My 8800 GT ran fine for years, but it's finally died on me. I've already ordered a 730 watt power supply to replace the stock 300/350 watt, and I've got 8GB of RAM ordered (DDR2-800), which is an upgrade from 3GB (Yeah... I know). I'm running Windows 7 64bit.

This motherboard is older and only has PCI express x1 and x16. My gaming usage is primarily games like Oblivion and the upcoming Skyrim (Elder Scrolls series). Other than that, nothing out of the norm.

Which graphic card would be an upgrade to the 8800gt, AND not be slowed down tremendously by my motherboard/CPU situation? Should I try to scrimp and get a cheap one with the thought of getting a new rig in a year, or can I go ahead and get something like a GTX 560 or so and get great use out of it for a long while?

Thanks in advance - Chris

 

[guavasauce]

a 560 will do you fine, or even a 6870 for your set up. what res do you play at? either will do just dandy up to 1080. your quad core cpu should pose any bottlenecks, and in the event that you think it is, a low OC will tidy that up.

why are you getting 8g of ram? cause the really low cost i hope. the only game ive seen use more than 4 was when my wife plays aion (lame) in the massive pvp battles/bosses.

 

[axxeman01]

Hi Guava,

Thanks for the fast reply; good to know my CPU's can handle modern stuff and my PCI slots won't slow me down. Going to just go with 4G (saving ~$60 on the Gskill). Resolution is 1920 x 1080 generally. I believe I'll spend the extra cash and get the GTX 560 TI by EVGA for ~ $250 or so.

Thanks again, very happy with this!

 

[yummerzzz]

No, you processor will most likely block any GTX 560 ti's, and since Dell have locked Mobos, you wouldn't be able to OC, I recommend downgrading the card to a HD 6850/HD 6870 or GTX 460/GTX 560 and spending the rest on another S775 mobo that will allow you to overclock your CPU.

 

[nikhilmitta]

I have the same CPU and I decided to go for the ATI HD 5770 in January. The Sapphire VaporX version cost be about $140-$150. I can't recall the basis on which I decided but I did some good research. 4GB of RAM should be enough if you ask me ( I currently have only 3GB). It ran Modern Warfare 2 and Black Ops fine and had problems with Assassin's Creed and Crysis Warhead. Ended up blowing the PSU twice, so never buy a cheap PSU. (The ones I had probably cost <$10 and taught me a lesson).

 

[guavasauce]

Yummerzzz, please explain how the cpu will "block" the 560? do you mean mobo arangemet? proccessing issues? cause im not following . and further you say "I recommend downgrading the card to a HD 6850/HD 6870 or GTX 460/GTX 560 " which is my VERY suggestion, and "GTX 560 ti's" which are mentioned no where.

 

[axxeman01]

Hey Guava- I think you mean Yummerzz. My psu that I have incoming is: RAIDMAX HYBRID 2 RX-730SS 730W ATX12V V2.2/ EPS12V.

Nikhilmitta- I'm wondering if the HD 5770 was chosen because of space? The 560 is a bit longer and taller, so I'll have to check the space inside my case when I get home.

 

[yummerzzz]

He means bottleneck, which it will do tot a GTX 560 Ti.

EDIT : Has the PSU arrived?, I would cancel that order ASAP for that garbage PSU and order something more reliable like this : Antec EarthWatts EA-500D 500W 80Plus PSU

 

[guavasauce]

you are correct Axxe. edited.

 

[yummerzzz]

Guava, not sure what you are talking about, but OP clearly states he was planning to spend the extra cash on a GTX 560 Ti.

EDIT : I also recommended him to get a new motherboard, as(Most) Dells can't OC, which you also recommended him to do.

So no, It wasn't your very exactly what you recommended.

 

[guavasauce]

gtx560 and gtx560 ti are two different cards.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127592 <560

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127565 <560 ti

"Should I try to scrimp and get a cheap one with the thought of getting a new rig in a year, or can I go ahead and get something like a GTX 560 or so and get great use out of it for a long while?"

 

[axxeman01]

Yes, provided it will fit, the 560 is what I am going to get. When I upgrade the whole rig in a year+, I believe the card will be able to be moved and still serve me well.

 

[008Rohit]

Better to build a new PC. DDR2 is pretty old and costly, so is the PCIe 1.0 x16

 

[yummerzzz]

Are you blind?

 

[yummerzzz]

Hi Guava,

Thanks for the fast reply; good to know my CPU's can handle modern stuff and my PCI slots won't slow me down. Going to just go with 4G (saving ~$60 on the Gskill). Resolution is 1920 x 1080 generally. I believe I'll spend the extra cash and get the GTX 560 TI by EVGA for ~ $250 or so.

Thanks again, very happy with this!

Couldn't edit my above message.

 

[guavasauce]

agreed, OP did mention it in a second post. and if i was blind, i guess im reading and typing in brail. good one.

 

[Onus]

+1 to Yummerzzz on the Chokemax PSU. Something in the 500W range from Seasonic, Antec, or Corsair would be a lot safer.

 

[axxeman01]

The power supply already shipped Oh well, it got good reviews on newegg, so hopefully it'll be enough. Really I'm just trying to spend a few hundred to save a portion of the $1300 or so I specced out for a new machine, to get me through Skyrim. I think based on the info above that I'm good to go.

 

[axxeman01]

Quick update - EVGA GTX 460 worked fine; the only problems I encountered were physically putting it in the box, as it's a tad longer than the 8800GT and overlapped my primary HD sata port. Once I figured that out, I just moved the sata connector and the card fit in fine.

Installation was no sweat. Thanks all for the recommendations, I've played crysis 2 on it already and the CPU's hold up just fine!