Time for an upgrade

SkidMarkKing · 25 Jul 2009 at 18:49

Im looking for a new graphics card to play TestDriveUnlimited. I have the game on xbox360 but I like the mods on pc so im going to play the pc version also.

I will be selling 12 xbox360 games on ebay to get some money for a new GFX card. Hopefully ile make £100. I have upto £70 to spend on a GFX card because ile probably need a new PSU also.

Here is the current pc spec:

PSU : 355W

My RAM is : 2GB

CPU is :2 processors running - AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4400+ (2.30Ghz)

CPU speed is : 2.30 Ghz

Video card is: NVIDIA GeForce 6100 nForce 405 (GeForce 6100 nForce 405)

Tr Insanity · 25 Jul 2009 at 18:54

Slightly over but should be good : http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-111-HT&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=938

What res are you playing at aswell ?

SkidMarkKing · 25 Jul 2009 at 18:57

Thank you Tr. I dont know what resolution yet bud. Ile either be using a 19" pc monitor or a 32" HD Samsung TV

Tr Insanity · 25 Jul 2009 at 19:03

It should play both well

SkidMarkKing · 25 Jul 2009 at 19:04

Oki bud

Don't surpose you could show me a in-game screenshot while using that GFX card?

Tr Insanity · 25 Jul 2009 at 19:08

Ha , haven't got it myself , but it's regarded as a great card for resolutions upto 1680x1050

I suspect someone else could post one though

Like you said though , you'll need a more powerful PSU.

There's a few other cards around the £90-100 mark aswell if you do make more cash than you expected.

Rroff · 25 Jul 2009 at 19:12

Looks like the best card in your price range... the nearest cheaper card is quite a lot slower - you get a lot of extra performance for the extra £10... its very capable at resolutions upto 1920x tho best suited to 1680x (or lower).

After that your quickly adding extra money on - the 250GTS is debatably faster but its another £10 again and then you have the 4870 but its another £20+ on top.

Rroff · 25 Jul 2009 at 19:23

Rest of the system isn't _that_ power hungry so you might get away with the PSU - maybe not depends.

Tr Insanity · 25 Jul 2009 at 19:27

355w isn't a usual rating so I suspect it's a generic PSU aswell.

coupe69 · 25 Jul 2009 at 19:35

This was with either a EVGA 8800 ultra superclocked, 8800GT or might even have been my 8800GTS 640mb can't really remember been a while since I've played test drive. CPU would have been an E6600@ 3.4 GHz, 16X Anisotropic filtering 8X Anti Aliasing.

SkidMarkKing · 25 Jul 2009 at 20:29

Thanks for the pictures Coupe

The pictures look a good quality. Ile look into those GFX cards

Just seen a review for the 9600GT

"Got this to play my Firstflight G4.5 RC simulation. I had some problem initially for it was stuck at 300 Mhz for the core clock and I cannot clock it up to 600. Reinstalled the driver and eveything is working normal again. This is my first "serious" graphics card my other one was a cheap $40 model and I'm starting to understand what the specs mean. I have a Dell 4100 with only a 350 Watt PSU hence it cannot handle more powerful GPU without upgrading the PSU. I think this card is the fastest card without the need for a higher wattage PSU. So far so good. There is a $20 rebate but it is hard to find the link."

Maybe I wont need a new PSU with this GFX card?

Once again

thanks~

SkidMarkKing · 26 Jul 2009 at 12:28

What do you recon to the 9600GT?

Will I need a better PSU than 350W?

Rroff · 26 Jul 2009 at 12:38

9600GT is an ok card - but the 4850 gives you a lot better performance for only a little more money and spec wise they are only 95 watt v 110 watt.

You'd be better off looking at the 4770 (tho the cheaper ones aren't in stock atm here) if your going for a card with less power draw - 80watt and probably slightly better performance than the 9600GT on balance.

SkidMarkKing · 26 Jul 2009 at 12:40

Welll hopefully ile have £100/£120 but ile need to get a new PSU so I can only spend £70 on a GFX card

coupe69 · 26 Jul 2009 at 12:52

You could always opt for an Eco 9800GT like this

These take all the power they need from the slot, so would probably be ok on your current psu.

SkidMarkKing · 26 Jul 2009 at 12:53

Thanks Coupe. Ile bookmark it

Rroff · 26 Jul 2009 at 13:20

oh nice link on the eco 9800GT.

division72 · 26 Jul 2009 at 17:09

If you can stretch to £80 for a card I would go for the XFX HD4850 .

A better cooler than the HIS as it vents the hot air straight out of the back of your case.

Then £50 will get you a decent power supply, both the Antec and the OCZ 500w in that range would be more than enough.

SkidMarkKing · 26 Jul 2009 at 19:45

division72 said:
If you can stretch to £80 for a card I would go for the XFX HD4850 .

A better cooler than the HIS as it vents the hot air straight out of the back of your case.

Then £50 will get you a decent power supply, both the Antec and the OCZ 500w in that range would be more than enough.

I wont be able to afford £80 GFX card and £50 PSU. Ile stick to the ECO 9800GT.

Thanks for the replys, very helpful