AGP UPGRADE NEED YOUR HELP

[sectoid01]

Hello to All.

I need to pick your brains and ask whats my limit on upgrading my old AGP FX5500.

My basic spec is as follows:

Dell
System Model - DIM4500
CPU 2.53ghz P4 Northwood - Socket 478mPGA
Chipset - Intel i845E / Southbridge - Intel 82801DB
Clocks 2525.0/Multiplier x19.0/ Bus Speed 132.9mhz/ RatedFSB 531.6mhz
DDR 1024
AGP Version 3.0
DRAM Frequency -Timings 132.9mhz
XP with DirectX 9.0c
1022mb Ram
Antec Eathworks 380 watts supply - good for 17a at 12v I think?
(+3.3V@20A,+5V@20A,+12V1@17A,+12V2@17A,-12V@0.8A,+5VSB@2.5A)

Would like to get a AGP card that is Pixel 3/4, Directx 9.0 (not 10.0) and 512mb or more if system can run it. But will enable me to run and play new games.
So whats the best AGP card I can use. Many thanks if you can help.
Not worried about Nvidia or ATI either way. Cost and availability does come in to it as well.

 

[iArereya]

get a HD 3850 AGP if you can, best AGP card. Don't think it'll run latest games as it has a P4 which is a single core processor. You should upgrade Motherboard/RAM/CPU/GPU so that you can run latest games. An easier option would be to buy/build an entirely new system all toghether

 

[sectoid01]

THANKS iARERYA. Thanks for the info. Can not afford to upgrade whole system bu tfor now just need a newer Graphics Card. I know i will not be able to run latest games on full spec but it would be nice to still be able to play them.

The HD 3850 is only pulling 6amps but is only 256mb, there must be better cards than that, how about the HD 4670? Will this cause a bottle neck on my P4? or is the HD 3850 the Limit? What about GeForce cards?

 

[sectoid01]

http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/-/668/875/-/5416296/Sapphire-ATI-Radeon-HD-3850-512MB-DDR3-AGP-8X-Graphics-Card/Product.html

Looking at this link the power consumption will be greater than what I have, is that right? So I can not use this card - correct.

 

[sectoid01]

get a HD 3850 AGP if you can, best AGP card. Don't think it'll run latest games as it has a P4 which is a single core processor. You should upgrade Motherboard/RAM/CPU/GPU so that you can run latest games. An easier option would be to buy/build an entirely new system all toghether

Hello. Can you confirm power consumption of this card, as just taken a look at and seems I need a bigger power supply, is that true or can I run it with what I posted at beginning of thread?

http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/-/668/875/-/5416296/Sapphire-ATI-Radeon-HD-3850-512MB-DDR3-AGP-8X-Graphics-Card/Product.html

 

[wurkfur]

If you search google shopping, there are quite a few options for a Radeon HD4670 in AGP form. However, for the same money a person could get a Radeon 6850 and play in 1080P all day.

Personally, I would just save up $100 for a motherboard, $75 for a processor, $40 for ram, and then $80 will get you a nice GPU. All that for a hair over $300.

 

[eggbrook]

honestly even if you do upgrade your graphics card, I don't know of a single newer game that does not require a dual core processor. At this point a graphics card upgrade would be a waste of money. Save the money you would spend on the card and then put together a ~$600 system. It won't be worth it to spend $50 or more on an AGP graphics card

 

[mactronix]

You want a 4670 my friend. Even a turbo edition like this one, http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/HIS/HD_4670_IceQ_Turbo/1.html
does not need any additional power so you will be fine to power it.
performance wise its on a par with the 3850 in some games while in others it makes the difference between playable and not when compared with the 3850.

Your system is pretty old, as you know. However the 4670 is the card we used to recommend others in your situation back when lots of people were doing the final AGP upgrade. I have never had anyone post back saying it was a mistake but then prices were a bit different back then You just seem to have made your last a fair while longer is all.

Depends if you think it worth it or not.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161337


Mactronix

 

[sectoid01]

Card sound good, yeah would like a dual core but money is tight so will have to wait six months for that, but just need an extra boost from a card to be able to play a bit longer before I do that.

Will the 4670 work on my 380Watts, says it needs 400Watts and does my unit produce enough amps for it to run, think it was 17A but will have to check back at start of thread for details.

 

[mactronix]

Card sound good, yeah would like a dual core but money is tight so will have to wait six months for that, but just need an extra boost from a card to be able to play a bit longer before I do that.

Will the 4670 work on my 380Watts, says it needs 400Watts and does my unit produce enough amps for it to run, think it was 17A but will have to check back at start of thread for details.

See my post above

Mactronix