Need Help Upgrading Graphics Card

Status
Not open for further replies.

Donavaughn_08

Distinguished
Oct 26, 2009
97
0
18,630
System Specs:
Dell Vostro 220s
Windows 7 Ultimate
CPU: Intel Dual Core E5300 2.60ghz
Memory: 3gb ddr2
HD: Westerm Digital 250gb
GPU: EVGA Geforce GT 430 1GB DDR3
PSU: Stock I believe between 250-300 watts
Monitor: Acer 21.5" Widescreen HD
Resolution: 1900 x 1200

I am looking to upgrade my graphics card because it has a lot of problems playing games at 1900 x 1200 resolution and crashes a lot. I play games like WoW, Rift, and the Total War franchise. I can play WoW at that resolution with everything on Medium settings and get about 30fps but RIft on low settings at that resolution I only get about 10-20 I understand that Rift is more GPU intensive. Because I have a slim case I am restricted in getting a card so I was wondering what would be the best card to get to play WoW at 1900 x 1200 at high settings with good FPS. I am looking for a card that would play those 3 games great without upgrading the case. I could possibly upgrade the PSU but not wanting too unless I have too. I have two cards I am currently looking at here is the links.

SAPPHIRE 100293L Radeon HD 5570 1GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready Low Profile Ready Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102874

XFX HD-567X-ZNL3 Radeon HD 5670 1GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150535

I understand the second card is bigger and was wondering if I could put a big card like that in my current case?

 
Solution
Coolermaster is not a good brand.
Honestly it is sounding like you would be best off just building a new computer. Your CPU is already pretty poor for gaming. It could be raised to acceptable if you could overclock it but you can't do so on a Dell motherboard. Trying to convert what you have now into a computer that will game well on high settings at 1920x1200 just isn't worth it.
A new system doesn't have to be crazy expensive however. I would recommend something like this;

Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition 3.4GHz AM3 Quad-Core Processor & SAPPHIRE HD 6870 Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.693862

BIOSTAR A880G+ AM3 880G Motherboard & Patriot Gamer 2 8GB(2 x 4GB) DDR3 1333...

Donavaughn_08

Distinguished
Oct 26, 2009
97
0
18,630
Ah ok, Im wanting something that will run the games that I listed without any kind of problems at very high settings. I will upgrade my PSU if I need too but not going too if I can get a good card that will run on my current PSU. I wish I could put a big, good card in my case.
 

Donavaughn_08

Distinguished
Oct 26, 2009
97
0
18,630
I'm looking into transferring everything to this case on newegg
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811156224

Also looking to upgrade my PSU to this:RAIDMAX HYBRID 2 RX-530SS 530W ATX12V V2.2/ EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Modular LED Power Supply

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817152028

And looking at upgrading to this card: HIS Radeon HD 6850 1gb GDDR5
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161384

Does this look sufficient and would everything work fine and play at the settings I want them to play at? Also I have a wifi card that goes in the slot under my current graphics card would it take up that slot?
 
Picking the right PSU is not easy

the PSU you picked will only provide a max of 400W on the 12v rail; however, you do not want to run at max.

you should consider a 600W or 650W PSU since this video card can draw quite some power.

a power supply for this type of video card should cost about $80 to $100 dollars

look at Seasonic, Corsair, XFX, or Antec and a 80 Plus Bronze Certified or better
 
Coolermaster is not a good brand.
Honestly it is sounding like you would be best off just building a new computer. Your CPU is already pretty poor for gaming. It could be raised to acceptable if you could overclock it but you can't do so on a Dell motherboard. Trying to convert what you have now into a computer that will game well on high settings at 1920x1200 just isn't worth it.
A new system doesn't have to be crazy expensive however. I would recommend something like this;

Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition 3.4GHz AM3 Quad-Core Processor & SAPPHIRE HD 6870 Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.693862

BIOSTAR A880G+ AM3 880G Motherboard & Patriot Gamer 2 8GB(2 x 4GB) DDR3 1333
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.703630

CORSAIR CX500 V2 500W 80 PLUS PSU & Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.707942

Antec Three Hundred Illusion Black Steel Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066

SAMSUNG CD/DVD Burner Black SATA
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151233

The above totals $579 shipped and $509 after rebates.
 
Solution

Donavaughn_08

Distinguished
Oct 26, 2009
97
0
18,630
Yea I don't have that kind of money at the moment though lol trying to scrap it together would take a good bit of time for me, I am trying to get the money together to build a computer right now maybe if I sell my current one and my 360 might be able to have enough then. I am looking at a ati 6850 low profile card that I could possibly upgrade too
 
Your PSU can't handle the HD6850 and you would need a new case for a PSU that could which makes low profile entirely unnecessary.
If the above build is too pricey there are some ways to make it a bit cheaper.
Ditching the 965/HD6870 combo and going with the HD6850 you linked and this;
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.696215
Will cut it down $50. The processor can be unlocked in the motherboards BIOS into a x4(not definitely but the odds are very good, 85-90%) and it can easily be OCed up to 3.4ghz like the other one.
Ditching the Antec 300 for this would save another $20;
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146055
Using the hard drive/dvd drive from the old computer could save more(though selling it intact might make more sense.) Perhaps save a few dollars by going down to 4gb though that might be hard as the combo I linked is pretty good and ram is cheap.
 

Donavaughn_08

Distinguished
Oct 26, 2009
97
0
18,630
Yea I am going to try to get what you have listed about I'm going to sell this PC with an old monitor for $300 sound like a good price to sell it for? I'm selling it and my 360 with some games for $600 to try to get the money to build the other build that you had up there. I was trying to upgrade this one without having to rebuild but it isnt really viable or possible so for $500 for that build isnt bad so might as well try to get the money to do it. I'm taking the Wireless card out of my current PC and putting it in the one I'm going to build bc All I have is wireless internet.
 
Well you were going to need $250+ for the card/case/PSU anyway and like I said your processor is pretty weak to be pairing with cards that will do well at 1920x1200.
Keep in mind also that the above is just the best I could do right now. Newegg has several sales a week if you sign up for their mailing list and you can save money by keeping an eye on it for good deals on components you need if you are patient.
Getting $300 for the old system I'm not sure about. Depends on your sales ability perhaps and I guess the quality of the monitor you will be including.
 

Donavaughn_08

Distinguished
Oct 26, 2009
97
0
18,630
I'm signed up for there mailing alerts and yea you have a point, I mean $500 is well within my current budget I will have $220 tomorrow without selling anything. I am using craigslist and where I live at I think I can sell it for $250-300 there is morons buying way worse computers than mine for like 300-400.
 

Donavaughn_08

Distinguished
Oct 26, 2009
97
0
18,630
AMD Phenom II x4 840 at 3.2ghz quad core

1GB GDDR3 Geforce GTS 250 graphics card

4GB DDR3 @ 1600mhz G.Skill Memory

+1000GB (1 TB) Samsung Spinpoint F3 @ 7200rpm

-Asus M5A78L-M LX w/ AM3+ socket for future proofing

Apevia HTPC slim case

500w Continuous Apevia Power Supply with 120mm fan

Windows 7 64-bit Ultimate

buying this PC off a guy I know that built it a couple weeks ago for only $300 and nothing is wrong with it, is it worth the price? Im going to upgrade the video card to a Geforce gtx 560 ti, will this machine do what I need it to do?
 
It's not a bad deal I guess but I have a few problems with it personally. First off the Phenom II x4 840 is NOT actually a Phenom II. The only actual difference between a Phenom II and an Athlon II is L3 cache and the 840 does not have L3 cache. Calling that one a Phenom II is just a shady marketing move by AMD.
Then there is the case and PSU. Slim cases are in general a rather bad idea for a gaming PC. A slim case usually needs a low profile video card and a non-standard form factor power supply which will severely limit your options for upgrading. The current PSU is almost definitely quite poor and the current card is likely about the best it can handle. The current card is likely this;
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814187098
Which is severely underclocked compared to a normal GTS 250.
Last, for that price it's rather the likely the OS is not legit, if you care.
 

Donavaughn_08

Distinguished
Oct 26, 2009
97
0
18,630
Ah ok I see I didn't know if it could play the games I like to play like WoW, total war, and Rift, I read that you could fit a 9.5" card in that case and I was going to try to upgrade the PSU anyways and the geforce gtx 560 ti was under 9.5"
 
Status
Not open for further replies.