What Card for My System?

[Ruffsta]

Hey there,

Was wondering what graphics card could i put in this system for gaming. Or is the whole thing not going to cut it? Do i need to upgrade most parts?

Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit
QuadCore Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200, 2333 MHz (7 x 333)
Asus P5QL Pro (3 PCI, 2 PCI-E x1, 1 PCI-E x16, 4 DDR2 DIMM, Audio, Gigabit LAN)
Intel Eaglelake P43
4096 MB (DDR2-800 DDR2 SDRAM)
NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GTX+ (512 MB)
Realtek ALC1200 @ Intel 82801JB ICH10 - High Definition Audio Controller
Dell U2311H (Digital) [23" LCD]
Seagate Desktop USB Device (931 GB, USB)
WDC WD6400AAKS-22A7B0 ATA Device (596 GB, IDE)
TSSTcorp CDDVDW SH-S223F ATA Device (DVD+R9:16x, DVD-R9:12x, DVD+RW:22x/8x, DVD-RW:22x/6x, DVD-RAM:12x, DVD-ROM:16x, CD:48x/32x/48x DVD+RW/DVD-RW/DVD-RAM)
500W Power Supply

Thanks.

 

[monoproelio]

I wouldn't expect 60 frames on battlefield 3, but putting in a 500 series or other PCI-E 2.0-2.2 graphics card would benefit it. Just make sure you get a pci-e x16 card. What are you hoping to get out of this? If possible upgrade the ram first! Hope we can help you! God bless!

 

[davemaster84]

I thinnk to your procesor a 400 series card like a gtx 460 or even the 480 would be nice. Regards

 

[Ruffsta]

Hey guys.

Thanks so much for your responses.

Yeah i just wanted to get a little upgrade to play guild wars 2 and CS:GO. Obviously not goin to be able to get a latest card with this setup but just need that little more oomph if ya know what i mean.

 

[jase240]

Well you could upgrade to any video card with no problem, even PCI-E 3.0 cards work fine in PCI-E 2.0 slots(No loss of speed as long as its 16X, very very minimal loss at 8X)

The only thing is, your using ddr2 Ram and a core 2. If you did upgrade your GPU to even the newest 600 series, your CPU/RAM would bottleneck you soon enough.

I would recommend upgrading you motherboard/CPU/RAM along with a GPU, I would go with an Ivy Bridge. For Motherboard choose a z77 chipset.

For CPU an i5 3570k would work great with just games, but anything more powerful like rendering and video making you would need an i7 3770k.

And for RAM you cant go wrong with 1600/1833 speed DDR3 Corsair Vengance Memory. Either 2 4GB sticks(8GB total), 4 4GB sticks(16GB total), 2 8GB sticks(16GB total), or 4 8GB sticks(32GB total).
Really I would go with 2 4GB sticks and add 2 more if you need more later on.

For a GPU 500 series cards like the 560Ti would suffice, but for best performance/value go with a GTX 670.

However if you decide against upgrading your compents, and only the GPU. I would get a GTX 670.

 

[monoproelio]

If you are just going for decent GW2 graphics and say 40 FPS and assumeing you don't want to spend your whole paycheck, I'd just get a gtx 560ti and not worry about bottle-necking your DDR2 too badly. Hope this helps! God bless and happy gaming!

 

[Ruffsta]

Best answer selected by Ruffsta.

 

[jase240]

Depending on the games you play is what card you should really get like mono said.

If you aren't playing the newest and latest, then the 560Ti would be perfect price-wise.

 

[Ruffsta]

Thanks jase240,

Yeah im just looking to upgrade the GPU at the moment as in this weekend/next week kind of thing.

I will upgrade the whole thing down the line. Its just the card is what i can only afford at this time.

For 500 series whats the difference between 560Ti and just a normal 560?

Im looking at
ASUS ENGTX560 DCII OC/2DI/1GD5 GeForce GTX560 DirectCU II Overclocked 1GB GDDR5 PCI-E2.0

and

Gigabyte GV-N560OC-1GI GeForce GTX560 Ti Overclocked 1GB GDDR5 PCI-E2.0

 

[monoproelio]

Basically, the Ti models use significantly less power for either greater or near equal performance. The 560ti is recommended for price, performance and power.

 

[Ruffsta]

Thanks mono and everyone else.

I will pick up a GTX 560Ti in the coming days =)

Im assuming the size of the card is much bigger than my 9800GTX? Hopefully can fit it in my case lol.

 

[jase240]

The 9800GTX+ is 10.5 inches
560Ti is 9 inches
560Ti 448 Cores Edition is 10.5 inches

You shouldn't have any troubles fitting it!

 

[Ruffsta]

Thats good to hear. Thanks for that.

Another thing.

How come this one:

GIGABYTE GV-N560OC-1GI GEFORCE GTX560 TI OVERCLOCKED 1GB GDDR5 PCI-E2.0
$367 New Zealand Dollars

is cheaper than these two:

EVGA NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX560 TI DS SUPERCLOCKED 1GB GDDR5 PCI-E2.0 (01G-P3-1567-KR) $379 NZD

ASUS ENGTX560 TI DCII TOP/2DI/1GD5 GEFORCE GTX560 TI DIRECTCU II 1GB GDDR5 PCI-E2.0 $397 NZD

Sorry for all the newb questions =)

 

[jase240]

Well its preference, EVGA is the best brand for GPUs, but they use Nvidia reference design(usually loud).

I use ASUS's DCIItop GTX670 and have had no problems with it at all(just don't use the included GPU tweak program).
The ASUS one would be the quietest , but it does include a higher cost.



For value though that Gigabyte is a great price, if I were you I would pick it. Factory Overclocked meaning it will be faster than EVGA's by default, and with a custom cooler it should be quieter.

 

[Ruffsta]

Man, you're on fire!

Thank you again for your help (and everyone elses)

I will get that one for sure =)

 

[jase240]

No problem,

Have fun with GW2 and CS:GO when they release!

 

[Mousemonkey]

This topic has been closed by Mousemonkey