Author Topic: Need advice on what grapics card to get (Read 1306 times)

adc90 · January 16, 2009, 02:05:21 PM

I play a lot of games on my grandpa's computer and it plays most games fine. However when I want to play any source games like HL2, L4D or Portal it slows up considerably especially in outdoor scenes.

My first question is what would be a good relatively cheap graphics card, about 120$ atm or cheaper that would be able to run source games smoothly. My second question is how hard is it to install a graphic's card, I've put in things like CD/DVD drives and ram before is it any harder than that?

I did a little research and I found out the computer has the following slots inside

Quote

PCI: 2 Slots
PCIe x1: 1 Slot
PCIe x16 (Graphics): 1 Slot

LINK to product page

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Diargon · January 16, 2009, 05:20:40 PM

Cool in my language arts class were doing a marley and me contest and the grand prize winner gets a 2000$ best buy gift card!

pingpeppy · January 16, 2009, 05:24:30 PM

Quote from: Diargon on January 16, 2009, 05:20:40 PM

Cool in my language arts class were doing a marley and me contest and the grand prize winner gets a 2000$ best buy gift card!

Wicked! :D

zackin5 · January 16, 2009, 05:25:40 PM

Quote from: adc90 on January 16, 2009, 02:05:21 PM

My second question is how hard is it to install a graphic's card, I've put in things like CD/DVD drives and ram before is it any harder than that?

You basically have to put the card in, plug in the power cord for it, hook it up to the monitor, then get some drivers

So yeah. most likely its gonna be like a CD drive

I never installed one so I dunno

adc90 · January 16, 2009, 05:26:41 PM

That's what I thought I had to install one before but that was forever ago so I wasn't sure.

Reactor Worker · January 16, 2009, 05:31:26 PM

My recommendation:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130085

Reasons:

Low cost
Decent performance (plenty for the games you mentioned)
Low power requirements, no 6-pin connector needed.
EVGA comes with lifetime warranty (just register within 30 days of purchase)

adc90 · January 16, 2009, 05:36:50 PM

Quote from: Reactor Worker on January 16, 2009, 05:31:26 PM

-snip-

Thanks that's less than I thought it'd be : )

Jess · January 16, 2009, 05:48:12 PM

ATI RADEON 4850 got it for 130$.

Or get the ATI RADEON 4850 Toxic, its just slightly better and has a cooler on the memory card.

I have the toxic and it runs all games on ultra high, and Crysis on HIGH with no dip in frames.

Have fun :D

adc90 · January 16, 2009, 05:54:14 PM

Quote from: Jess on January 16, 2009, 05:48:12 PM

ATI RADEON 4850 got it for 130$.

Or get the ATI RADEON 4850 Toxic, its just slightly better and has a cooler on the memory card.

I have the toxic and it runs all games on ultra high, and Crysis on HIGH with no dip in frames.

Have fun :D

I think I'll probably get what Reactor Worker said since I don't have much money, besides I don't run anything that intensive. Maybe one day when I have a job I can get a really nice set up... lol job