Upgrading GPU

[Jerakor]

My son has a Gateway FX 7020 - AMD Phenom 9600 cpu, 3 gigs of DDR2 memory, The Nvidia 8800 GT 512mb just died on

him and we were looking to upgrade the GPU. The power supply is a Delta 400w that came with the system.

http://support.gateway.com/s/POWER/6501066/6501066mvr3.shtml Power supply currently has 1 - 6 pin connector and plan on

using the adaptor for the other 6 pin on the opposite rail.

Should i just go for the upgrade i know will work like the 4850 or the 9800 gtx? Id like to get the 4870 now and use the

existing power supply for about 1 month as our budget ($150) only allows for the price of the card for now. So my question is will

that work as a short term solution? His monitor is a Samsung 22" lcd with a max resolution of 1680 x 1050. From what ive

been reading anything more than 512mb of memory on the new gpu would be a waste due to the max resolution of the

monitor and there are no plans to replace the monitor anytime soon.

Games he plays are WoW, Combat Arms, CoD4, Insurgency and EQ2.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[coozie7]

Please tell us your budget!
I will not recommend the HD4870 unless you change the power supply, it simply draws too much power. And yes, I'm being cautious but I've fried a system by overloading a PSU🙁
And just to make your mouth water:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150352

 

[bildo123]

Please tell us your budget!
I will not recommend the HD4870 unless you change the power supply, it simply draws too much power. And yes, I'm being cautious but I've fried a system by overloading a PSU🙁
And just to make your mouth water:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150352

If you check his rails though each one has 16A's. My Thermaltake 500W has a hair less on each and I'm about to put in a 4870 (hopefully this week). I don't really think that should be to much of an issue for him. My PSU is beefier on the 5 and 3.3 areas but that doesn't count as much as the 12V rails(especially since the video card is the concern). I actually think he could pull off a 4870. Either way I can let you know how it goes for me, thats right, I'm takin one for the team.

 

[dirtmountain]

Although the Delta 400w is a very good quality power supply, i'd stick with the HD4850/GTS250 range of graphic cards, rather then the 4870/GTX260. A couple of links for more information.
In this one the "gaming computer" would be closest to the rig with a 4850. With a GTX260 "high end gaming PC1" would be closer.
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/coolers/display/system-wattage.html

This other link is just an overall graph of GPU power usage>
http://forums.atomicmpc.com.au/index.php?showtopic=264

 

[coozie7]

@ Bildo123: For the short term, it would probably work, as Dirtmountain says, Delta are one of the better suppliers, but I know from experience that 'short term' often means something else, hence my caution.

Nice article, Dirtmountain! Another for the Favourites.

 

[megamanx00]

That PSU is O.k. with dual 16A rails. I say you just get a single 4850 1GB. A 4870 uses more power and would be pushing it a little. While I don't think it will fry, you will experience stability problems on a cheap PSU if you continuously draw too much power.

 

[Jerakor]

Thanks to all for replies! Seems the consensus is to stick with the lower cards.
Bildo GL with your install hope it works great for you!