Seeking advice buying a new graphics card for HP xw4400:
APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: By November 15th (2 weeks from time posting)
BUDGET RANGE: $80 - $120 (After Rebates)
USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Minecraft server; Other games that my 9yr old boy might start playing; Adobe Photoshop, Fireworks, & Illustrator; Watching movies and DVD burning; Internet search & email.
CURRENT GPU AND POWER SUPPLY: Graphics- Nvidia Quadro FX 1700; Pwr- Stock HP 460 watts.
OTHER RELEVANT SYSTEM SPECS: This Desktop PC is an HP XW4400 Workstation (circa 2007); CPU- Intel C2D E6700 @2.67GHz; Mobo- HP Model 0A68h chipset- Intel 975X;; Mem: 4GB; HD- Hitachi GST Deskstar T7K500, 400GB, 7200 RPM, 16MB Cache SATA ; OS- Windows 7 Ult.
PREFERRED WEBSITE FOR PARTS: None COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA, Az, Tucson
PARTS PREFERENCES: None. However, I have some experience with Nvidia Control Center so I am comfortable with that.
OVERCLOCKING: Yes, sounds interesting. Need to learn more. SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Probably not
MONITOR RESOLUTION: Gateway 17” @ 1280 x 1024; or Haier 22” @1366 x 768
I am currently considering purchasing one of these two graphics cards:
ASUS EAH6670/DIS/1GD5 Radeon HD 6670 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121442
or
EVGA - GeForce GT 640 2GB DDR3 PCI Express 3.0 Superclocked Graphics Card
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/EVGA+-+GeForce+GT+640+2GB+DDR3+PCI+Express+3.0+Superclocked+Graphics+Card/5608277.p?id=1218672937529&skuId=5608277&ky=2oh0NrwOl4j1qjMx3Oy2gXfVGhMUl0WiJ&utm_campaign=bazaarvoice&utm_medium=SearchVoice&utm_source=RatingsAndReviews&utm_content=Default
(The EVGA card, I am able to get for $65.45, tax included, brand new from a friend, very tempting, actually sitting in front of me still in its shrink wrap…)
I am looking for opinions on which of these would be best for my machine and intended use. Also, if you have an idea for a better card then either of these, please inform.
I plan to boost memory to 6 GB soon. Literature says it maxes out at 8 GB. (Originally this PC came with ECC memory, but I changed the BIOS setting to accept non-ECC memory which is what I am using now.) Certainly I am thinking to replace this hard drive… just now sure about it somehow. (Doesn’t purr quite right). Processor upgrade is possible and intriguing but not sure if it is necessary yet.
I originally purchased this PC used last month to use as a Minecraft server for my son and his friends. Now I kind of like it. It’s nice having a desktop again, certainly different from my small Asus laptop, which I love, but this big box machine is cool.
Thanks!
APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: By November 15th (2 weeks from time posting)
BUDGET RANGE: $80 - $120 (After Rebates)
USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Minecraft server; Other games that my 9yr old boy might start playing; Adobe Photoshop, Fireworks, & Illustrator; Watching movies and DVD burning; Internet search & email.
CURRENT GPU AND POWER SUPPLY: Graphics- Nvidia Quadro FX 1700; Pwr- Stock HP 460 watts.
OTHER RELEVANT SYSTEM SPECS: This Desktop PC is an HP XW4400 Workstation (circa 2007); CPU- Intel C2D E6700 @2.67GHz; Mobo- HP Model 0A68h chipset- Intel 975X;; Mem: 4GB; HD- Hitachi GST Deskstar T7K500, 400GB, 7200 RPM, 16MB Cache SATA ; OS- Windows 7 Ult.
PREFERRED WEBSITE FOR PARTS: None COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA, Az, Tucson
PARTS PREFERENCES: None. However, I have some experience with Nvidia Control Center so I am comfortable with that.
OVERCLOCKING: Yes, sounds interesting. Need to learn more. SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Probably not
MONITOR RESOLUTION: Gateway 17” @ 1280 x 1024; or Haier 22” @1366 x 768
I am currently considering purchasing one of these two graphics cards:
ASUS EAH6670/DIS/1GD5 Radeon HD 6670 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121442
or
EVGA - GeForce GT 640 2GB DDR3 PCI Express 3.0 Superclocked Graphics Card
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/EVGA+-+GeForce+GT+640+2GB+DDR3+PCI+Express+3.0+Superclocked+Graphics+Card/5608277.p?id=1218672937529&skuId=5608277&ky=2oh0NrwOl4j1qjMx3Oy2gXfVGhMUl0WiJ&utm_campaign=bazaarvoice&utm_medium=SearchVoice&utm_source=RatingsAndReviews&utm_content=Default
(The EVGA card, I am able to get for $65.45, tax included, brand new from a friend, very tempting, actually sitting in front of me still in its shrink wrap…)
I am looking for opinions on which of these would be best for my machine and intended use. Also, if you have an idea for a better card then either of these, please inform.
I plan to boost memory to 6 GB soon. Literature says it maxes out at 8 GB. (Originally this PC came with ECC memory, but I changed the BIOS setting to accept non-ECC memory which is what I am using now.) Certainly I am thinking to replace this hard drive… just now sure about it somehow. (Doesn’t purr quite right). Processor upgrade is possible and intriguing but not sure if it is necessary yet.
I originally purchased this PC used last month to use as a Minecraft server for my son and his friends. Now I kind of like it. It’s nice having a desktop again, certainly different from my small Asus laptop, which I love, but this big box machine is cool.
Thanks!