Parents got a Dell for my brother for xmas

[Zolty]

He likes Fps games (CS, halo, ect.)

Parents bought him the following, I would like to get him a video card to support the games he wants to play.

I would like to keep this under $150 so I am looking around the ATI X850PRO or the Nvidia 7600GT, I have always used nvidia chipsets in the past, but I wouldn't be opposed to going the other way, any suggestions?

OptiPlex 320 Mini Tower Pentium
Intel® Pentium® D Processor 820 (2.80GHz, 2X1M, 800MHz FSB), Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition,SP2, with Media, English
OptiPlex 320 Minitower P4 Intel® Pentium® D Processor 820 (2.80GHz, 2X1M, 800MHz FSB)

File System NTFS File System for all Operating Systems

Memory 512MB DDR2 Non-ECC SDRAM, 533MHz, (1DIMM)

Keyboard Dell USB Keyboard, No Hot Keys, English, Black

Monitors Dell 17 inch E177FP Flat Panel, Analog

Video Card ATI Radeon® X300 Integrated Graphics

Boot Hard Drives 80GB SATA 3.0Gb/s and 8MB DataBurst Cache?

Floppy Drive Options No Floppy Drive

Operating System(s) Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition,SP2, with Media, English

Mouse Dell USB 2-Button Entry Mouse with Scroll, Black

Lead Free Motherboard RoHS Compliant Lead Free Chassis and Motherboard

Removable Media Storage Devices 48X CD-ROM

Speakers No Internal Speaker

Resource CD No Resource CD

Dell Energy Smart Dell Energy Smart Enable

Warranty & Service 3 Year On-site Economy Plan

Miscellaneous 320 Minitower P4

 

[Ayah]

Won't get much performance with 512MB single channel.
I'd suggest a quick upgrade to 1GB with another stick of 512 and then buy a video card with the remainder of the money.

 

[Zolty]

Originally posted by: Ayah
Won't get much performance with 512MB single channel.
I'd suggest a quick upgrade to 1GB with another stick of 512 and then buy a video card with the remainder of the money.

it's already been ordered, and not by me. I am actually calling dell about this tomarrow when they open.

 

[secretanchitman]

between those two, i would say the 7600GT.

 

[Bateluer]

Another vote for the 7600GT, I see they've dropped in price since I last looked, around 125 USD now.

 

[Gl4di4tor]

7600GT

 

[Gl4di4tor]

oh and a razer diamondback mouse.

 

[happy medium]

Originally posted by: Gl4di4tor
7600GT

Quote:

Ayah
Golden Member


Won't get much performance with 512MB single channel.
I'd suggest a quick upgrade to 1GB with another stick of 512 and then buy a video card with the remainder of the money.

-------------------------
I agree

 

[Fallen Kell]

ummm... you might be screwed. The X300 is an integrated graphics card. As such, they might not even be a PCI-E slot for a card in the system. One of my relatives had the same problem with an integrated card on board...

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Not sure if it's still in the price range, but I would go with the 7900GS. I know best buy had it for $154 after MIR a few weeks back. And as was pointed out by another poster, check to make sure you have a PCI-e slot before you buy anything

*edit*

Per the specs on Dells website it does have a 16x PCI-e, you should be good to go

 

[ddviper]

Yes on the 7900GS, its $160 and $155 after mail in rebate:

eVGA: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130056

BFG: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814143070

 

[acole1]

Originally posted by: Gl4di4tor
oh and a razer diamondback mouse.

G5/6 FTW

(Yes, I know, it's all about user prefrence.)

7600GT!

 

[Smartazz]

7900GS is possible(I doubt it though), if the 7900GS isn't possible then go with the 7600GT, I was in a similar situation a few months ago, but I went with a 7900GT for some reason.
edit: If you're in store for a mouse like some people are talking about, I would recommend getting the G5 over the razor diamondback, I've used both.

 

[thescreensavers]

Gaming on a dell come on! stop being a noob

 

[crimson117]

Originally posted by: Fallen Kell
ummm... you might be screwed. The X300 is an integrated graphics card. As such, they might not even be a PCI-E slot for a card in the system. One of my relatives had the same problem with an integrated card on board...

According to the product specs, the regular mini tower has:

Number of Bays
2 internal 3.5", 1 external 3.5", 2 external 5.25"
Dimensions
H: 16.2" W: 7.4" D: 17.0"
H: 41.14cm W: 18.7cm D: 43.18cm
Slots
2 full height PCI
-(H: 4.2" X L: 11")
1 full height 1 PCIe x16 graphics,
-(H: 4.2" X L: 9")
1 full height PCIe x1
-(H: 4.2" X L: 9")
Power Supply
305W

So while it does have a PCI Express x16 graphics slot available, the system only has a 305 watt PSU. According to evga, a 7600 GT requires "Minimum of a 350 Watt power supply."

So unfortunately a fast graphics card may be too much for your PSU, especially with that power hungry Pentium D in there.

 

[emilyek]

512 stick and 7600GT.

7600GT has very low power draw, and I'm willing to bet it will work with the Dell PSU.

 

[happy medium]

I used to have a Dell with my 7800gs and a 250watt power supply and it worked and I overclocked with it! I still have the power supply now. I'm sure the 305 can handle the 7600gt mabe even the 7900gs. Dell"s power supply's are underated.