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Upgrade advice

pwcollins

pwcollins

pwcollins

Associate
Joined
28 Dec 2007
Posts
7
Hi all,

I have around £150 to upgrade my graphics card.

I have a Gateway GT5029b and it has onboard graphics and I would like to fit a new card and most probably a new psu to power it.

What do you recommend for my budget?

Regards

Paul.
 
Last edited:
With that being another company that builds PC's it may be seen has a competitor because the site also has links to where to by their brand of PCs too.

I'll post the specs direct for you so the Link won't be needed

Processor: Intel® Core™2 Quad Processor Q6600 with Intel® Viiv™ processor technology1
(each core operates at 2.40GHz, 2x4MB L2 cache, 1066MHz FSB)
Operating System: Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium2
Chipset: Intel® G33
Memory: 2048MB 667MHz DDR2 dual-channel memory (2 × 1024MB)
Expandable to 8GB
4 DDR2 slots total, 2 DDR2 slots available
Hard Drive: 320GB SATA II (7200rpm, 8MB cache)3
Optical Drive: 16x super multiformat dual-layer DVD±RW drive
Up to 8.5GB with dual-layer media
Write max: 16xDVD±R, 8x DVD±R DL, 8x DVD±RW, 12x DVD-RAM, 48x CD-R, 40x CD-RW
Read max: 16x DVD-ROM, 48x CD-ROM, 8x DVD-ROM DL
Media Reader: High-performance 15-in-1 digital media card reader
Up to 40x faster
xD-Picture Card™, CompactFlash® I (CF), CompactFlash® II, Secure Digital™ (SD), Mini Secure Digital™ (Mini SD™)4 , Multi Media Card™ (MMC), Reduced Size MMC (RS-MMC)4 , MMC Mobile4 , MMC Plus, Memory Stick™ (MS), Memory Stick Duo5 , Memory Stick Pro, Memory Stick Pro Duo5 , SmartMedia, IBM Microdrive™
Video: Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 3100
Up to 256MB shared video memory
PCI-Express slot available for upgrade
Audio: 8-channel (7.1) high-definition audio
Network: Intel® 10/100Mbps Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 port)
Integrated 802.11b/g/n Wireless LAN
Modem: PCIe Modem with RJ-11 Modem Cord
Peripherals: Premium multimedia keyboard
USB optical 2-button wheel mouse
Amplified stereo speakers (USB powered)
Ports/Other: 8 - USB 2.0 (2 front, 6 rear)
2 - IEEE 1394 (1 front, 1 rear)
1 - VGA connector
2 - PS/2 ports (keyboard and mouse)
5 - Audio (rear): Front/Headphone (stereo), Rear (stereo), Center/Sub, Microphone, Line-in/Side (stereo)
2 - Audio (front): Microphone, Headphone (stereo)
1 - RJ-45 Ethernet port
1 - S/PDIF Optical
Dimensions: 395mm (H) x 182mm (W) x 410mm (D) (system only)6
Weight: 10.6 kg (system only)6
Warranty: 1 year parts and labor limited warranty7
 
This seems good for the money. I had noticed the Huntkey PSUs have been given good reviews by people that bought them.

OcUK ATI Radeon HD 3850 Pro 256MB GDDR3 TV-Out/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail = £93.99 inc VAT
OcUK Huntkey 650W PSU = £58.74

Total =152.73

Lets see what others come up with, :)
 
mike gunnz said:
What psu do you have?

Im no expert on power requirements but I would estimate a quality 450watt-500watt psu would be sufficient, given your spec.

Someone correct me if Im wrong.
Click to expand...

a lot of detective work has lead me to believe it will be a Hipro 400w PSU.
 
krooton said:
a lot of detective work has lead me to believe it will be a Hipro 400w PSU.
Click to expand...

Going by the quote below, great work Columbo :D. Just joking though as it could be any PSU.

pwcollins said:
Looking on the Gateway website it is a 300Watt PSU

So new card and psu then!
Click to expand...

Aye but you will have to wait in the cards coming back into stock if you want to meet your budget.

I would save up an extra few quid though and try and get the HD3850 Pro 512mb model as that will help when hitting higher resolutions than 1280x1024 and adding AA/AF.
 
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