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Recommend me a graphics card please

Jon20

Jon20

Jon20

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Joined
12 Feb 2008
Posts
1,515
Location
Shropshire
Hi,

I'm looking for a new graphics card. I've got a Packard Bell iMedia 1628 which currently has a ATI X600 XT 256MB PCI-e x16 graphics card. I'm going to be upgrading the PSU to this http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-006-CS&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=1088 as it currently uses a 250W PSU that came with it. I've got a budget of around a £100 for the graphics card. It can be either ATI or nVidia. My only requirements are:
  • Its quiet
  • Its a normal PCI-e x16 card, i.e. not PCI-e 2.0, as people have been having problems with Packard Bell computers and PCI-e 2.0 cards not working, even though its supposed to be backwards compatible?
  • Single slot as I'm not sure if a double slot card would fit.

Thanks.
 
9600GT, although maybe a little noisy

3850 with a single slot cooler if you can find one.

single slot coolers are always going to be more noisy than the larger dual slot options however.

If you venture into second hand you may get an 8800GT
 
Jon20 said:
Hi,

I'm looking for a new graphics card. I've got a Packard Bell iMedia 1628 which currently has a ATI X600 XT 256MB PCI-e x16 graphics card. I'm going to be upgrading the PSU to this http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-006-CS&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=1088 as it currently uses a 250W PSU that came with it. I've got a budget of around a £100 for the graphics card. It can be either ATI or nVidia. My only requirements are:
  • Its quiet
  • Its a normal PCI-e x16 card, i.e. not PCI-e 2.0, as people have been having problems with Packard Bell computers and PCI-e 2.0 cards not working, even though its supposed to be backwards compatible?
  • Single slot as I'm not sure if a double slot card would fit.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

I'm agree with Skeeter but I don't think 9600GT is noisy at all. It has a a large stock fan as same as the revised version of 8800GT.
My 3870 is much more noisier but not sure about 3850.

For 100 quids, 9600GT is the best choice atm. It even beats 3870 on many games, especially Crysis. You could SLI it with another 96GT later and gain 80% boost.
 
Thanks for the replies but aren't those cards PCI-e x16 2.0 (the new version) and not PCI-e x16. I'm looking for a PCI-e x16 (version 1.0) graphics card. I probably didn't make that clear in my first post so apologies for that. But thanks for the suggestions so far, please keep them coming.
 
Jon20 said:
Thanks for the replies but aren't those cards PCI-e x16 2.0 (the new version) and not PCI-e x16. I'm looking for a PCI-e x16 (version 1.0) graphics card. I probably didn't make that clear in my first post so apologies for that. But thanks for the suggestions so far, please keep them coming.
Click to expand...

All PCIE 2.0 cards are downward compatible, so no worries:)

Edit: My 8800GTS G92 was working fine on my GA P965 DS3 without a glitch:p
 
PCI-E 2.0 is backward compatible with 1.0 so shouldn't be any problem.

Although there are a few older PCI-E motherboard out there that can't run PCI-E 2.0 for some reason.
 
steve258 said:
PCI-E 2.0 is backward compatible with 1.0 so shouldn't be any problem.

Although there are a few older PCI-E motherboard out there that can't run PCI-E 2.0 for some reason.
Click to expand...

BIOS problem I reckon. Some of my customers can't even run PCIE 1.0 cards on their PCIE 1.0 mobos. But the cards are flying after they flashed the latest BIOS. So should not be an issue:)
 
I dont think anythign is strictly PCIe 2.0 anyway. Its more like they are PCIe 1.1 cards that are forwards compatible to 2.0...

they dont use anywhere near specs of the 1.1 slots, let alone 2.0
 
I'm not sure if this would be any help but the motherboard is a Gigabyte GA-8I945PM-RH. Is there anyway to find out if there would be any compatibility issues when using a PCI-e 2.0 graphics card without actually buying the card? I understand there shouldn't be any problems but some people on the Packard Bell support forum have been experiencing issues when using a PCI-e 2.0 graphics card i.e they get 'no signal' on their monitors. Can you get a 8800 GT that is PCI-e x16 1.0?
 
This isnt aimed at you, because, well, your on these forums asking sensible questions therefore dont fall into the 'dumb user' category..

but people who buy packard bell 'off the shelf' computers are sometimes a little unfamiliar with the workings, and getting a no signal error could be due to a lot of things. not plugging the power connectors in properly for one.
 
Jon20 said:
I'm not sure if this would be any help but the motherboard is a Gigabyte GA-8I945PM-RH. Is there anyway to find out if there would be any compatibility issues when using a PCI-e 2.0 graphics card without actually buying the card? I understand there shouldn't be any problems but some people on the Packard Bell support forum have been experiencing issues when using a PCI-e 2.0 graphics card i.e they get 'no signal' on their monitors. Can you get a 8800 GT that is PCI-e x16 1.0?
Click to expand...

No you can't get one with PCI-E 1.0. I'll see if there's a BIOS update available either from Packard Bell or Gigabyte that enables you to use PCI-E 2.0

Other than that you'll just need to make sure the power supply is powerful enough.
 
steve258 said:
No you can't get one with PCI-E 1.0. I'll see if there's a BIOS update available either from Packard Bell or Gigabyte that enables you to use PCI-E 2.0

Other than that you'll just need to make sure the power supply is powerful enough.
Click to expand...

Ok, thanks to yourself and everyone who has posted so far, you've all been very helpful. I've done a bit more research and it appears that the compatibility issues are with motherboards that use VIA chipsets. I don't know how true that is or why it would be a problem. Anyway my motherboard uses an Intel chipset so it may not cause a problem. I'm only being cautious as I don't want to buy a graphics card and then find that it doesn't work.
 
Yes, you could always return it within 7 days, many stores even have 14 days full refund policy. But dudes, don't over use it! You have the right, but abusing it is not a right thing. It would not be only causing the trouble to the stores, but also causing inconvenience to yourself. Even the distance selling act has exceptions toward certain products. As far as I know, Game Shop has changed their policy towards PC games now. They only accept swap because many people abused their policy by copying the games and returning them to the shop for a refund.

I do think Jon20 has the right attitude towards technology. He did a bit of research and asked something he's not sure before buying a new product. It would save a lot of hassle.
 
Skeeter said:
What?

How is buying a card, if it doesnt work, sending it back abuse of the system?
Click to expand...

I had a customer. He bought a 8600GT PCIE from me. After 2 weeks, he called me and said he had just found out his board is an AGP board and asked me for the full refund. I was surprised but still honored that. But I found some dirt on the cooler after I received the card back and opened the damaged box.
Then I only refunded the cost of the card exc. postage and blacklisted the customer.
 
Right, this is the inside of the case
PictureorVideo014.jpg


I'm just wondering if I'm likely to be able to fit a double slot graphics card in? There's about 12 inches of space between the left hand side and the back of the HDD and a couple of inches between the current graphics card and the card below it.
 
Becareful because of your 250 psu i not sure how good they are either and what are they like to upgrade the psu do they use a normal size psu
nevermind me missed you upgrading the psu must be going blind
 
Last edited:
The PSU seems to be using the normal ATX format but the space between it and the optical drive is a bit worrying.

You have more than enough room for a dual slot GFX.
 
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