Upgrading my v-card, any suggestions??

[BigPUMPEN]

I was looking at one of these deals

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=Radeon+HD+4890&x=0&y=0

My budget is around 200 USD or so, thats the top I would spend on a card. My card currently is an NVIDIA GeForce 6150 SE and I've been getting by with that since I got this computer in July.

Here is my System info

OS Name Microsoft® Windows Vista™ Home Premium
Version 6.0.6002 Service Pack 2 Build 6002
Other OS Description Not Available
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name W0O0O0SH
System Manufacturer HP-Pavilion
System Model NC686AA-ABA a6700y
System Type x64-based PC
Processor AMD Phenom(tm) 9150e Quad-Core Processor, 1800 Mhz, 4 Core(s), 4 Logical Processor(s)
BIOS Version/Date Phoenix Technologies, LTD 5.28, 12/18/2008
SMBIOS Version 2.4
Windows Directory C:\Windows
System Directory C:\Windows\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1
Locale United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "6.0.6002.18005"
User Name w0o0o0sh\HUGEFUCKENASSHOLE
Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Installed Physical Memory (RAM) 4.00 GB
Total Physical Memory 3.87 GB
Available Physical Memory 842 MB
Total Virtual Memory 7.96 GB
Available Virtual Memory 4.40 GB
Page File Space 4.17 GB
Page File C:\pagefile.sys

Any suggestions? If a 4890 HD seems good enough which one of those offers on newegg would be the best, price wise and for my CPU.

 

[JofaMang]

The CPU will be your main limitation on how powerful of a GPU you can actually use. I am thinking a 4890 might be on the high side of what you can utilize, but overall would probably be a pretty tight gaming choice.

You haven't mentioned your PSU, though, and that is important. If it is an HP prebuilt computer, odds are it won't have enough juice in your PSU to run a 4890. For 200, you can get a decent PSU and a 5750/70 for DX11. Just popping in a 4890 may not work, and end up costing your more after the fact for a viable PSU.

 

[mfarrukh]

It's Good.
Nice Thinking
Go for SAPPHIRE one

 

[BigPUMPEN]

The CPU will be your main limitation on how powerful of a GPU you can actually use. I am thinking a 4890 might be on the high side of what you can utilize, but overall would probably be a pretty tight gaming choice.

You haven't mentioned your PSU, though, and that is important. If it is an HP prebuilt computer, odds are it won't have enough juice in your PSU to run a 4890. For 200, you can get a decent PSU and a 5750/70 for DX11. Just popping in a 4890 may not work, and end up costing your more after the fact for a viable PSU.

I forgot what my PSU is but it's fairly decent from what I remember, my computer's model is a6700y

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5316156&SRCCODE=PRICEGRABBER&cm_mmc_o=2mHCjCVybgwTyz__wyCjCVqHCjCdwwp

This seems like a better card and a better deal than the 4890!

 

[JofaMang]

Raw performance in DX9/10 will go to the 4890. Since it can't do DX11, can't really compare it to the 57xx cards, but a 5770 is generally considered on par with a 4870, itself only a step below the 4890.

Your Computer comes with a 300w PSU. While HP generally puts quality power supplies in their prebuilts, it still wouldn't be enough for a 4890. You could probably get away with a 4770 without a new PSU, a 4670 for sure.
Sapphire 5770 154.99 with free shipping:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102864&cm_re=5770-_-14-102-864-_-Product
Corsair 400w PSU 49.99 free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139008&cm_re=corsair_power_supply-_-17-139-008-_-Product

before $10 mail in rebate, it would be $205, and this would probably be the route I would take if this was my system and my budget.

 

[coozie7]

@ BigPUMPEN: It is vital that the PSU is up to the job of powering the upgrade. At the very least the system will not run, at the worst, the PSU will overload and blow, possibly taking other components with it if it lacks the power to run the system.
Given the fairly weak CPU and unknown PSU I would not recommend anything over the 9800GT 'low power' editions-These cards need no extra power lead and draw just 75 Watts at full load while the HD4890 needs two 6 pin PCI-E connectors from the powersupply and can chew through over 180 Watts at full load.

EDIT: Nice finds by JofaMang BTW!...They'll work well together.
My solution is cheaper, though

 

[BigPUMPEN]

Raw performance in DX9/10 will go to the 4890. Since it can't do DX11, can't really compare it to the 57xx cards, but a 5770 is generally considered on par with a 4870, itself only a step below the 4890.

Your Computer comes with a 300w PSU. While HP generally puts quality power supplies in their prebuilts, it still wouldn't be enough for a 4890. You could probably get away with a 4770 without a new PSU, a 4670 for sure.
Sapphire 5770 154.99 with free shipping:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102864&cm_re=5770-_-14-102-864-_-Product
Corsair 400w PSU 49.99 free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139008&cm_re=corsair_power_supply-_-17-139-008-_-Product

before $10 mail in rebate, it would be $205, and this would probably be the route I would take if this was my system and my budget.

nice, but a friend linked me to this card, which is gr8 and can run with my PSU.

great value

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814261056

 

[JofaMang]

It is a lower power draw card, but nowhere near the same performance level of a 5770, nevermind the 4890 you mentioned (nevermind lacking DX11). With a budget of 200, I wouldn't settle for that card, but to each their own. If you want to save some cash you can go that route and still get an impressive gain in graphics performance. in that vein, a $50-70 DDR3 4670 will give you similar performance for lower price, and even lower power consumption.

 

[BigPUMPEN]

It is a lower power draw card, but nowhere near the same performance level of a 5770, nevermind the 4890 you mentioned (nevermind lacking DX11). With a budget of 200, I wouldn't settle for that card, but to each their own. If you want to save some cash you can go that route and still get an impressive gain in graphics performance. in that vein, a $50-70 DDR3 4670 will give you similar performance for lower price, and even lower power consumption.

So buying a 5770 and the 50$ PSU would be better in the long run?

 

[JofaMang]

IMO, yes, but if money is better saved in your hands, the 240 won't do you wrong for a while, neither will the 4670. As DX11 matures, newer titles will benefit greatly from a DX11 card (5770) so that is a consideration you have make. Also, straight up performance of the 5770 + PSU will spank the 240/4670.

 

[jyjjy]

The HD5770 is twice as powerful as the GT 240 and supports DX11. The GT240 is also overpriced and the HD4670 is much better buy in that performance area.
What cards you should be looking at depends highly on what resolution you will be using which you have yet to mention.

 

[BigPUMPEN]

IMO, yes, but if money is better saved in your hands, the 240 won't do you wrong for a while, neither will the 4670. As DX11 matures, newer titles will benefit greatly from a DX11 card (5770) so that is a consideration you have make. Also, straight up performance of the 5770 + PSU will spank the 240/4670.

At this point I'm just thinking about buying a new computer because I am deeply in hate with my PC. I bought a warranty with this computer so IUNO if I can do anything with that.

Pretty much I want a rig that can run games with high fps with quality, 7 home premium 64, run excellent, and be around 500-700 or so.....

 

[jyjjy]

I would recommend building it yourself. It's not as hard as you might think. You'll save money and know you are only getting high quality components.

 

[JofaMang]

You don't need a whole new computer. An upgrade to an AM3 processor should be doable since you are currently using an AM2+ mobo, and they are generally compatable. A decent Phenom II/Athlon II x3 or x4 processor would modernize your box very well.

Editted to remove memory recommendation, as I thought you only had 2gb, and I was wrong, heh.

 

[BigPUMPEN]

I'm thinking about looking for nice prebuilts or building my own, but I don't really know where would be the best place to order parts from, and the best parts for the best price... newegg? I'm kind of lost here I just want to be able to have a decent computer the end

 

[JofaMang]

Your motherboard can host up to a 95w CPU, so an Athlon II 630x4 should work, though more research to confirm compatability should be undertaken. If a 630x4 is usuable, it would provide a MASSIVE performance increase over your 9150e, which is a low speed, power conservative quad core, but made on older more innefficient processes.

 

[JofaMang]

I wouldn't recommend a complate rebuild, as you would be disposing of so many current and usable parts. If you want the experience of building your own, go for it, but for the price, being able to pop in a new CPU along with the 5770 + PSU would be a huge performance increase for the dollar, compared to buying all the parts from new.

You may even be able to get a few bucks for your old quadcore.

 

[jyjjy]

Yeah, new cpu, psu + HD5770 should do nicely and will be a lot simpler/cheaper than building a whole new system.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-310-5970,2491.html

Here's the "winners" from THG's latest (December) GFX Roundup
Best Graphics Cards For The Money: December '09


$50 - HD 4650
$65 - HD 4670 / 9600 GSO
$85 - 9600 GT
$95 - 9600 GT / HD 4830
$110 - GTS 250 512 MB
$120 - GTS 250 1 GB
$155 - HD 5770 / GTX 260
$200 - HD 4890
$240 - 2 x GTS 250
$310 - No winner (HD 5850 Honorable Mention)
$330 - 2 x GTX 260 / 2 x HD 5770
$400 - 2 x HD 4890
$410 - No winner (HD 5870 Honorable Mention)
$465 - No winner (GTX 295 Honorable Mention)
$625 - No winner (HD 5970 Honorable Mention)

Make sure whatever you buy will fit in your case...the 4890 is about 9.5" long.

 

[JofaMang]

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-310-5970,2491.html

Here's the "winners" from THG's latest (December) GFX Roundup
Best Graphics Cards For The Money: December '09


$50 - HD 4650
$65 - HD 4670 / 9600 GSO
$85 - 9600 GT
$95 - 9600 GT / HD 4830
$110 - GTS 250 512 MB
$120 - GTS 250 1 GB
$155 - HD 5770 / GTX 260
$200 - HD 4890
$240 - 2 x GTS 250
$310 - No winner (HD 5850 Honorable Mention)
$330 - 2 x GTX 260 / 2 x HD 5770
$400 - 2 x HD 4890
$410 - No winner (HD 5870 Honorable Mention)
$465 - No winner (GTX 295 Honorable Mention)
$625 - No winner (HD 5970 Honorable Mention)

Make sure whatever you buy will fit in your case...the 4890 is about 9.5" long.

Did you even read the discussion going on in the thread? It isn't just about the best card for the money, but the best card for the system, and the total budget to achieve. Now we are talking about a complete rebuild/CPU upgrades.

 

[BigPUMPEN]

Yeah, new cpu, psu + HD5770 should do nicely and will be a lot simpler/cheaper than building a whole new system.

Yeah I think I'm just going to upgrade. But I hate this 64 enabled computer but 32 bit Vista, it's horrible. I want Windows 7 home premium. I just want to know what to get and what to do to make sure everything goes fine and I'm happy with my computer.

how much would a Athlon II 630x4 cost and where could I get it? would it be best for gaming, multi-tasking or both? I heard an intel dual with 3.00+GHz would be good

 

[JofaMang]

newegg.com

Athlon II 630x4 $112.99:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103704&Tpk=athlon%20II%20630

 

[JofaMang]

For an intel dual core, you would have to replace your motherboard, and a decent one would cost almost as much as the Athlon II 630x4. The Phenom IIs are slightly better for gaming, but no game that would run nice on a phenom II will be crippled by the Athlon II. They are an incredible price/performance offering in the market right now.

 

[jyjjy]

Yeah, Athlon II x4 is the best buy for the money right now and should serve you well. Just call HP to make absolutely certain the chip will work with your motherboard. It's also possible you will need to upgrade your bios.

 

[BigPUMPEN]

here's some screen caps if it helps...

http://img704.imageshack.us/img704/3539/eeeeeeee.png - 4 slots, only difference between them are the serial numbers

http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/1686/hfggfhf.jpg

http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/2008/kjkjk.png

http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/5407/tyryer.png

I just want to look at a new processor, that can meet the 65nm req for my computer apparently, the new card, and the PSU... if I can get by with these than I could also probably get W7 but iuno.... all I really want is to run games very nicely with the ati card.....so yeah 65nm cpu anyone??