Need new video card, best options for my comp specs?

piznati

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Mar 25, 2009
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I need to buy a new video card, but i dont know what kind i should get, and what my computer will be able to handle. Here are my computer specs...

Mainboard : Unspecified P4X333-8235
Chipset : VIA P4X266 (VT8753)
Processor : Intel Pentium 4 @ 2400 MHz
Physical Memory : 768 MB
Video Card : NVIDIA GeForce2 MX/MX 400 (Microsoft Corporation)
Hard Disk : SAMSUNG (40 GB)
DVD-Rom Drive : HL-DT-ST RW/DVD GCC-4480B
DVD-Rom Drive : MW3044F OSG988W SCSI CdRom Device
Monitor Type : 27 inches
Network Card : Realtek Semiconductor RT8139 (A/B/C/810x/813x/C+) Fast Ethernet Adapter
Operating System : Microsoft Windows XP Professional 5.01.2600 Service Pack 2

Thanks in advance


 
Your motherboard has an AGP x4 slot.

This kind of graphics card slot isnt used any more . The good news is that an 8x AGP graphics card should work . The bad news is that there are limited choices because they are not made anymore [ maybe just a few ] .

I would buy a second hand card on an auction site or go through the parts bin in your local computer shop . The rest of your computer is pretty old in computer terms so its not worth spending any more than you need to just to get it running again . $20 max .

The card you have now is an MX 400 . Why do you think it needs to be replaced ?
 

IH8U

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Dec 29, 2007
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AGP 4x is the best your MB can handle, personally I'd build a new one, even $350 can get you a decent system now.

Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147110
$30 Rosewill R226-P-BK
PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153023
$41 Thermaltake TR2 430W
MB: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813135075
$70 ECS A780GM-A (AM2+ motherboard)(Has onboard video)
CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103255
$54 AM2 X2 4850e
RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231207
$36 G.Skill 2x2GB DDR2 800
HDD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136113
$48 WD2500AAJS 250GB WD SATA 7200rpm
DVD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106281
$21 Lite-On 22x DVDR/RW IDE (OEM drive)

Total no OS: $300 + S&H (not counting MIR, or combo/special)
 
Here's a bottom-dollar AMD build:
Rosewill R101-P-BK 120mm Fan MicroATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
Model #:R101-P-BK
Item #:N82E16811147112
$29.99 -$5.00 Instant $24.99

BIOSTAR A760G M2+ AM2+/AM2 AMD 760G Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Model #:A760G M2+
Item #:N82E16813138138
$64.99 $64.99

PC Power & Cooling Silencer PPCS370X 370W ATX12V 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
Model #: PPCS370X
Item #:N82E16817703018
$59.99 -$10.00 Instant $49.99

AMD Athlon 64 X2 5050e Brisbane 2.6GHz Socket AM2 45W Dual-Core Processor Model ADH5050DOBOX - Retail
Model #:ADH5050DOBOX
Item #:N82E16819103298
$62.50 $62.50

A-DATA 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model ADQVE1B16K - Retail
Model #:ADQVE1B16K
Item #:N82E16820211188
$38.99 $38.99

Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3160815AS 160GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Model #:ST3160815AS
Item #:N82E16822148230
$39.99 $39.99

LG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA Model GH22NS30 - OEM
Model #:GH22NS30
Item #:N82E16827136152
$24.99 $24.99

Subtotal: $306.44
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Can be improved easily by switching the CPU to a Kuma 7750 X2, and adding a video card. The PSU I've listed will have no trouble with a 4670, which needs no auxiliary power, or a 4830, which does. Change to an Antec Earthwatts 430 to run up to a 4850. The Thermaltake 430 in IH8U's list is not too bad, but is over-rated. It's really a 350W-375W PSU, which is too small for a 4830.