Best video card for an aging system?

[octopus41092]

I currently have a computer with these specs
AMD X2 4200+
2GB DDR 400 RAM
300GB HD
X1950 Pro 512MB

I'm looking to upgrade it with a new video card to play these games at 1280x1024, hopefully at medium to high graphic settings with AA off.

COD4
COD5
Bioshock
Fallout 3

What would be the best upgrade without being CPU bottlenecked?

 

[TC91]

one of 4670, 9600gt, 4830, 8800gt/9800gt

 

[toyota]

Originally posted by: TC91
one of 4670, 9600gt, 4830, 8800gt/9800gt

yeah those are pretty much it. with a 4200 X2 the minimum framerates will be pretty much the same with any of those cards in most newer games. also at just 1280x1024 anything above the 9600gt isnt likely to even add much to the average framerate either in many games. I would probably just get a 4670 unless the OP could find a really good deal on something a little better.

 

[speedfreak]

yeah i agree with their suggestions. you can get a 4670 at a cheap price and yet it performs well without the extra 4 pin power connector.

 

[s44]

I've found myself GPU limited with a 8800GT and 4400+

Would get in on one of the 4830 deals ATM -- definitely not less.

Edit: whoops, I'm way above 12*10, though. Never mind. 4830 is still a great deal, though ($75 AR!).

 

[Leyawiin]

9600 GT. I think your system would have enough "grunt" to make use of it and get better peformance than with an HD 4670. For more or less the same pricepoint (after rebate) I would rather err on the side of caution and make sure I have all the GPU the CPU could handle. If you've got a spare slot next to your PCI-e slot this would be a good deal (if you can buy from Newegg where you live).

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814127362

Edit: s44 has a good idea as well - its so cheap there's no way I would pass it over for an HD 4670 (or the one I posted above for that matter). This looks like the better deal:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814131129

 

[toyota]

well Im probably the only one here who has used a 8600gt, 4670, 9600gt and 8800gt with 5000 X2 which of course is stronger than the ops X2 cpu. I can tell you that none of those 3 cards could get a better minimum framerate in many games than even using my 8600gt. I dont think you guys realize how much an a slow X2 can hold your performance back. sure I could get higher max and usually higher average fps but playability just wasnt improved much when going with anything better than a 4670 in many games. that being said I would just get whatever card like the 4670 or above that you can get the best deal on.

 

[Leyawiin]

I've come to agree with you about bottlenecking toyota. I have an X2 6400+ with a 22 inch monitor and I saw little improvement with a GTX 260 replacing an 8800 GTX. Should have just saved my money. Still, for about $10 more I would get that HD 4830 s44 mentioned. The O.P. would have at least the option to use it in another more powerful rig, plus the guarantee that max FPS will be as high as it can be on the current.

 

[TurtleCrusher]

I have that exact system that i gamed with for years. Its sitting as my brothers vent/server box now, but it was my baby.

Now, i had a x7600gs, x1650pro, and those two cards played source games really well. Other games like Dirt would slow to an absolute crawl 3-7fps. When i upgraded to an 8800GTS 320mb all of my GPU limited games played very well. Dirt in single car modes went up to 24fps at times. Multi-car races still sucked ass at 7-15 fps. Source games ran very well with AA/AF at my current max resolution. I thought i had a problem with my 8800GTS so i changed over to a HD 3850. The performance was roughly the same as the 8800GTS, which led me to believe at that power segment i was CPU bottle necked. Dirt lost a few fps but all other games remained intact.

Bottom line, a 4670 would do you wonders, but you can absolutely max out games with the 4830 and still be CPU limited. Either one is a great choice. NV doesn't currently win at those price points. (the old 8800gso's for $44 were THE deal)

 

[Marty502]

Anything above and including the 4670 is fine for you. But I agree with the above poster, a 4830 would let you crank everything at 1280x1024 and still get smooth gameplay, and I wouldn't be so sure of that with a 4670.

However, I'd suggest to try and squeeze as many Mhz as you can from your CPU, to gain performance too. A 4200 at stock speed just won't cut it for newer games.

Even with a x1950 Pro I noticed the difference between my CPU at 2 Ghz and 2.7 Ghz.

 

[NoSoup4You]

I'd place the highest priority on replacing that cpu. It's simply inadequate for what you're looking for, regardless of which video card you're running. It's all about minimum framerates, and they will be brutal with that X2. My old X2 4400+ had the same problem.

E5200 - $70
cheap Intel mobo - $80
4 Gig's DDR2 - $35

Great, cheap starting point. And you could sell the old X2 system to offset some of the cost.