Video Card Advice

heardie · 10-17-2006, 08:43 PM

So I'm looking for a new video card. I have a Gigabyte 848p motherboard, and have managed to work out that I don't have a PCI/E slot, so I am stuck with AGP.

I'm looking at a product listed as

'Gigabyte 256mb 7600GS TD AGP', which I think is

http://www.gigabyte.com.au/Products/...ProductID=2334

I am just wondering, how I tell whether it will be compatiable with the rest of the system? I think it is all good with the motherboard (it supports 8x AGP).

What else do I need to check? I see it is DVI, does VGA mean it supports analogue as well? Here is my screen:
http://www.superwarehouse.com/LG_Fla...710M/pf/335612

Thanks in advance...who would think choosing a video card is so confusing

Also: I just unplugged and replugged in my old video card to see I could. A new video card won't require anything fancy like an external power supply will it??

the_meanstrosity · 10-17-2006, 10:19 PM

Quote:

So I'm looking for a new video card. I have a Gigabyte 848p motherboard, and have managed to work out that I don't have a PCI/E slot, so I am stuck with AGP.

Do you have any plans of upgrading your PC in the near future? If so, I would hold off and upgrade to PCI-E rather than spending money on a new AGP card. You could probably upgrade the motherboard and processor pretty cheap if you stick to the 939 chipset from AMD.

Quote:

What else do I need to check? I see it is DVI, does VGA mean it supports analogue as well? Here is my screen:

Since you have an LCD, I would stick with the DVI connection. Just make sure you have a DVI cable. You can pick this up from NewEgg for less than $20.

Quote:

Also: I just unplugged and replugged in my old video card to see I could. A new video card won't require anything fancy like an external power supply will it??

The next generation video cards (G80) are said to be resource hogs, but you should be ok with any of the current video cards with a 400 W PSU.

heardie · 10-17-2006, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_meanstrosity

Do you have any plans of upgrading your PC in the near future? If so, I would hold off and upgrade to PCI-E rather than spending money on a new AGP card. You could probably upgrade the motherboard and processor pretty cheap if you stick to the 939 chipset from AMD.

Since you have an LCD, I would stick with the DVI connection. Just make sure you have a DVI cable. You can pick this up from NewEgg for less than $20.

The next generation video cards (G80) are said to be resource hogs, but you should be ok with any of the current video cards with a 400 W PSU.

Thanks for that. I'm probably not looking till get a new PC until around 2008 (when I will have to as I'll move out of home)

Maybe I am already using DVI...I am not so sure

the_meanstrosity · 10-18-2006, 08:06 AM

What is your current video card? If you don't plan on upgrading the cpu and motherboard for a while then an upgrade on the video card may help depending on how old your current card is.

I would wait till after November though since the new DX10 video cards are supposed to be out and should drive down the prices of the DX9 cards. I would stick with DX9 cards for 2007 and then on your next build (2008?) look at the DX10 cards.

heardie · 10-18-2006, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_meanstrosity

What is your current video card? If you don't plan on upgrading the cpu and motherboard for a while then an upgrade on the video card may help depending on how old your current card is.

I would wait till after November though since the new DX10 video cards are supposed to be out and should drive down the prices of the DX9 cards. I would stick with DX9 cards for 2007 and then on your next build (2008?) look at the DX10 cards.

I have a GEForce MX4000 so it's really crap

Full system upgrade will come in 2008

heardie · 10-19-2006, 11:38 PM

Thanks for the help, I have it up and running (although not on a DVI connection yet)

Nearly died when I got an 'insufficent power supply' message, but realised I needed to connect the little pin thingy, and now it seems fine

Cheers!

heardie · 10-25-2006, 09:43 PM

Ok just planning on buying more RAM next. What do I need to look out for here?

Looking at getting 1gb PC3200 corsair value select (2 x 512mg). Does that mean its double sided?

SiSoft says the current memory I have is
"512mg ddr-sdram"
with speed pc3200U, so this should be fine?

10-18-2006, 08:06 AM	#4
the_meanstrosity College Benchwarmer Join Date: Oct 2002	What is your current video card? If you don't plan on upgrading the cpu and motherboard for a while then an upgrade on the video card may help depending on how old your current card is. I would wait till after November though since the new DX10 video cards are supposed to be out and should drive down the prices of the DX9 cards. I would stick with DX9 cards for 2007 and then on your next build (2008?) look at the DX10 cards.

10-19-2006, 11:38 PM	#6
heardie n00b Join Date: Feb 2005	Thanks for the help, I have it up and running (although not on a DVI connection yet) Nearly died when I got an 'insufficent power supply' message, but realised I needed to connect the little pin thingy, and now it seems fine Cheers!

10-25-2006, 09:43 PM	#7
heardie n00b Join Date: Feb 2005	Ok just planning on buying more RAM next. What do I need to look out for here? Looking at getting 1gb PC3200 corsair value select (2 x 512mg). Does that mean its double sided? SiSoft says the current memory I have is "512mg ddr-sdram" with speed pc3200U, so this should be fine?

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