Old PC delimma

[dndhatcher]

My good computer (athlon 64x2) has a 9800 GTX+ GPU in it.

I have an older computer my 8 year old son uses to play online games (at low-med settings resolutions 1024x768 or 800x600) sometimes. It is an AcerPowerFG (apfg-u-5161) that has a pciex16 (not 2.0) slot in it. The CPU is a P4 (2.8GHz).
It has a liteon (Ps6301-08a) 300W power supply (no pcie power plugs I can see).
I put a pcie Radeon 9250 (256MB) GPU in it years ago.

The problem is the 9250 wont do pixel shader 2.0 and I have recently found some games it just wont work on, which makes my son feel left out. I am would like to find a cheap way to get a couple years more out of it and I am looking for options or recommendations you have.

If I could put the 8800 GTX+ in the old acer pciex16 slot I could buy myself a nicer GPU. Is that possible? To do so will I need to buy a new PSU with 2 pcie6 plugs? Any cheap PSU recommendations?

If not is there a really cheap pciex16 GPU that will not require a new PSU but will run newer games at low-medium settings as well as or better than the 9250?

Thanks in advance for your responses.

 

[MGDJoker]

I would get at least a 500watt PSU for the machine if your going to put an 8800 in it.
or u could get a lower end 9 series or 8 series card that should run on that PSU. like a 8400 or 9400.

 

[dndhatcher]

Does that mean a 9800 GTX+ will definitely run (though slower) in an older PCIEx16 (non-2.0) slot?

It looks like even the old GPUs cost $40-50 so if I can get an ok PSU for about that price it will make more sense in the long run for me to move the 9800 and get a 275 or 4890 for my main machine.

Something like this under $40 PSU?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817121024

 

[MGDJoker]

2.0 cards do run slower in the old 1.0 slots. For your son tho i dont think it would really notice the difference.

 

[uncfan_2563]

a 4670 would be a good choice for your son's pc if you're not using him as an excuse to upgrade (we all do this at some point )

It doesn't require any 6pin power. dont get a 9400GT or the like. its not worth your money

 

[dndhatcher]

Thanks, the 4670 does look like the best option for a new card.
So it looks like I have two acceptable options:

1> get a 4670 (about $70) and throw it away when the old pentium dies.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814141081

2> Get a good (about $70) 500-600W PSU I can use both in the old Pentium and put in the athlon when I build the new computer (and buy a 4890 or 275 for myself)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341017

In either case I guess I better wait a couple weeks and see what happens with GPU prices.

 

[mactronix]

You wont see the benefits of your old good card in his older machine as the CPU will restrict its performance somewhat.
By far your best bet is to buy a 4670 for his comp and if possable up the memory to 2gb as newer games even those a year or so old will benefit from it.
Resell your good PC's card on a well known auction site and you should make back a good chunk if not all that the 4670 will cost you.
All you have left to worry about then is upgrading your own PC.

PS a 8400 or 9400 would make good door stops or possibly frisbees

Mactronix

 

[megamanx00]

I'd say you shouldn't spend too much on your sons computer and just get him a cheap 9500GT. While a 4670 is faster it may not be a good bet if the PSU in that acer is of poor quality (which it likely is). Going with anything faster is a bit of a waste with that old P4 CPU in there. While giving him your 9800GTX+ would give you an excuse to put a faster card in your system, you will need to buy a decent PSU for your sons system and the 9800GTX+ would really be held back by his CPU so you wouldn't see much benefit in that system over a cheaper Radeon 4670.

 

[jsc]

Once you make a commitment to put in even a semi-modern, semi-powerful video card, you need a pretty good PSU. And the Kingwin that you linked to is POS PSU.

This is one of the best 400 watt PSU's around and if you hurry, you can get for $30 after rebate:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139008

 

[dndhatcher]

If I decide to move the 9800 I am now thinking a good PSU like this 500W OCZ
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341016
which will be used as the PSU for the athlon 64x2 and the 750W PSU currently in the athlon will be used in my next computer (which will be when XP is not viable or the P4 motherboard dies). This way I would be spending nothing on my sons computer, just kind of buying parts for the next computer early. (Think my wife will buy that?)

In any case I have a couple weeks to ponder. How much GPU prices drop will probably be the deciding factor.

 

[uncfan_2563]

also don't bother with a 4890/275 on your own computer at this point. I also have an Athlon X2 and it bottlenecks my 4870 so a 4890/275 would be overkill