Question about upgrading my 9500 gt

[caseyj89]

Hi i have been wondering which video card would be better to upgrade my 9500 gt card. my psu has a 450w and i'm looking to have hi-resolutions like 1900-xxxx. i would like to say my budget is around $100-150. Any help would be really appreciated.

 

[mactronix]

Can you give us the rest of the system specs please.
At that resolution it would be easy to suggest a card that outstrips the rest of the system and would actually be a waste of money. Also what type of gaming is it you do, which games.

Mactronix

 

[Lmeow]

For $150 the best card you'd be able to get is probably the Radeon HD 5770 1GB GDDR5 at 1920 x 1080 or 1920 x 1200.

Here's two different HD 5770s:

ASUS CuCore Radeon HD 5770 - $159.99, $10 rebate available ($149.99 after rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121363&cm_re=hd_5770-_-14-121-363-_-Product

PowerColor PCS+ HD 5770 - $159.99, $15 rebate available ($144.99 after rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131327&cm_re=hd_5770-_-14-131-327-_-Product

I'd personally go for the ASUS version because mainly because it seems to have the better cooling system.

Although as Mactronix said, the rest of your system specs, and what type of games will help us decide the best card for you.

 

[caseyj89]

sure, my specs is (from the top of my head sorry),

amdx2 dual core 2.8GHz
4GB Ram
windows vista 32bit

As for types of games they would be FPS/high graphic rpg's and such.

 

[caseyj89]

Yeah Lmeow, i have been browsing these forums a little right now and noticed the 5770. It looks promising. I'm sorry i couldnt give you a detailed specs but my brother has my 9500 for now because he will be using it when i upgrade. Any of specs i'm sure i will be able to answer on the top of my head or if i look in the case.

 

[wa1]

The most important here, what is your PSU? brand? model?

 

[caseyj89]

Raidmax

heres the link i found

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16817152032

 

[wa1]

I won't dare to use HD5770 on that PSU....

 

[caseyj89]

Hmm well then what i have been browsing now is that i need a better PSU that has more than 500w?

or also just a different graphics card all together.

Upgrading my computer will probably take about 2-3 weeks anyways so no rush.

 

[caseyj89]

I read in another forum post that this PSU might be good for the hd 5770...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139008&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3463938&SID=

 

[wa1]

Do you want to upgrade your PSU as well?

if you don't, then get a card which doesn't need an additional power from PSU...

 

[caseyj89]

Well what I'd like is to get a pretty good upgrade from the 9500 but it doesnt have to be the top of the line.

I can settle with something that will maybe last a year or 2. Just trying to figure out which would be the best choice.

If there is another graphics card that could work with my PSU and be a good upgrade, then i wouldn't mind using that one either. I just appreciate all the help I am getting.

 

[wa1]

okay, with 30 amps on 12V then i won't say no to that PSU, Corsair is one of the best brand... And absolutely HD5770 will be fine with that PSU.

Well, about your CPU, we need more detail, what kind of X2? Dual core?

 

[caseyj89]

Hmm i believe it is the AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+.

And yes its dual core.

 

[caseyj89]

5600+ more likely

 

[wa1]

Then you won't need a high end card, your cpu will bottlenecking the high end card...
Get 9800GT instead, you don't need to change the PSU...

 

[caseyj89]

Just the 9800 gt and not gtx?

Well then i'll try that out. Thanks alot for all your help. Along with Lmeow and mactronix.

 

[caseyj89]

Best answer selected by CaseyJ89.

 

[caseyj89]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130440&cm_re=9800_gt_1gb-_-14-130-440-_-Product

Good choice?

 

[wa1]

well, no need to rush...
let's hear the other opinions as well...

No, don't get a 9800GT with power connector...
You must get a card with no additional power connector.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127441
like that one...
remember, choose a 9800GT with no additional power connector...

 

[Mousemonkey]

A GT240 would be about the same performance wise, surely.

 

[wa1]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150472

That's a GT240, you will better with that card, just as mousemonkey said, newer tech, more "cool" card than 9800GT...

 

[caseyj89]

Haha well whichever card will be better for me will work.

That GT 240 seems nice. Any will do really i am just trying to get a card that will be used for high end gaming that will be out for the next year or so,
and will look good on my 42' tv.

 

[caseyj89]

The actual graphics card i have in my system is the 9500 gt 512mb.

 

[Mousemonkey]

If it's high end gaming that you're after then you might want to set the bar a little higher than a GT240/9800GT but you will need to think about upgrading your PSU at some point.