Upgrade video card?

[Drifter]

Hi all, need to know if it's worth upgrading my video card. I currently have a Dell demension 9200, running Vista 32bit, intel P965 chipset, 2.66 quad core(Q6700), 2gig ram, Nvidia 8600 GTS. Dell 3007WFP-HC 30-inch widescreen flat panel monitor. I was looking at the XFX GeForce GTX 260. I don't know how this card would perform with my system.

 

[theAnimal]

Is the card used for gaming, and if so are they current games?

 

[betasub]

8600GTS is weak by modern gaming standards. But it's pointless suggesting upgrades if we don't know your usage: games? at high detail? at 30" native res?

If you don't game, then dual-link DVI might be your only upgrade requirement.

 

[Drifter]

Yes, it's used for gaming also, play alot of Steam Source/Half-life/Day of defeat/Counter-strike. Like running my monitor at 32 bit color and 1280X1024 pixels.

 

[Dodger1]

I just sold my old 9200, which had a 8800GTS, because I wanted to upgrade to a GTX 260 but discovered that the OEM Dell 325w PSU didn't have enough power to run that card.

With your 3007WFP-HC monitor, the card you've got isn't sufficient to do it any sort of justice. Unfortunately the 9200, if I remember correctly, only has one video card slot and that's a PCIe 1.0 slot.

So, you can either, get a GTX 260 and a new PSU; or sell your rig and build/buy a new one.

FYI, your link is dead and I'd suggest dual sli GTX 260s, in order to take full advantage of your 30" monitor.

 

[cusideabelincoln]

?

If you're gaming at 1280x1204, then the 8600GTS is plenty fast for any Source-based game.

I say wait until the HD4770 comes out soon. It'll provide a nice boost over the 8600GTS and not use much more power. Plus it will be cheap, ~$100.

 

[bluemax]

BTW - you have a WIDEscreen, right? 1280x1024 is NOT a widescreen resolution so things will look WEIRD!

Use a widescreen resolution!

 

[Dodger1]

Originally posted by: bluemax
BTW - you have a WIDEscreen, right? 1280x1024 is NOT a widescreen resolution so things will look WEIRD!

Use a widescreen resolution!

The recommended resolution for his monitor is 2,560 x 1,600. Something tells me that he lowered the resolution to get a fps boost but it's got to look, as you said, weird.

With my 24" monitor I play games at 1920 x 1200, which is my screens recommended resolution and the games play and look fabulous. Of course my dual sli GTX 285s more than support gaming at that resolution, with outstanding fps, even in Crysis.

 

[angry hampster]

I'd look into getting a 4850 or 4870 512mb. For source games it should be plenty at max resolution.

 

[Drifter]

The 4850 or 4870 looks good, but it requires 500w PSU. My Dell has only 375w PSU. Might take up on cusideabelincoln, and wait for the HD4770. I didn't want to upgrade my PSU if I don't have to.

 

[cusideabelincoln]

The 4770 won't use much more power than the 8600GTS, so that would be the safest option and you'll probably double your framerates at the least.