Getting a new something for my computer but I'm an ignorant starfish!

[DnaUnstable]

So like, I don't even know much about the inner workings of a computer so what I'm wondering is this;

Is this- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814195096 - a good graphics card?

And


Can my computer handle it?

And

What else should I upgrade based on above stats?

[Ad Bot]

[DnaUnstable]

Help? 

[dorkdotdan]

How much Hard Drive space? If theres even 20Gb left, Your Golden.

[DnaUnstable]

How much Hard Drive space? If theres even 20Gb left, Your Golden.

Cool. <3

[Makingblah]

You need to open your computer and check the Psu first. dont buy from newegg unless you are based in america either.

[DnaUnstable]

You need to open your computer and check the Psu first. dont buy from newegg unless you are based in america either.

I most defiantly live in america and Psu is where the graphics card plug thing goes into right?

[Ethan]

Is that a workstation GPU? Lol.
That's meant for business use.

How much Hard Drive space? If theres even 20Gb left, Your Golden.

That has nothing to do with this.

@OP, mind posting a pic of the display tab?

[DnaUnstable]

Is that a workstation GPU? Lol.
That's meant for business use.
That has nothing to do with this.

@OP, mind posting a pic of the display tab?

See man? I had no loving idea it was meant for that. I mean, I saw that it said workstation but the meaning went over my head.

Alright so display tab... Sure here you go;




What about this graphics card, notice it has a lack of 'workstation' on it :D
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102913

[Jorici]

May I reccomend this one?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130591&cm_re=Nvidia_GeForce_gtx460-_-14-130-591-_-Product

[Ethan]

What about this graphics card, notice it has a lack of 'workstation' on it :D
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102913

That's the newest equivalent of mine. It's a great card and runs every game on max, depending on resolution.
You're 1280x1024, so it would most definitely run everything on max.
It would be bottlenecked a bit by your CPU, meaning that no matter what your settings are at, it would be around the same FPS (the max your CPU can deliver, if you know what I mean)
It's a great GPU, and has great future-proofing capability, like DX11 and great tessellation scaling.

The one that Jorici recommended is also a great card, but is slower than the one you suggested by about ~20% in different tests. Still great value.

Alright. Now we will make sure it is supported. Take the side off your computer, and in the top left corner will be a box with lots of cables coming out. See what wattage it is.
Also, see your current GPU. Make sure you have at least 10 inches allowance between the rear IO and the hard drive bays (horizontally when the case is standing up).

[DnaUnstable]

It's a great GPU, and has great future-proofing capability, like DX11 and great tessellation scaling.


Alright. Now we will make sure it is supported. Take the side off your computer, and in the top left corner will be a box with lots of cables coming out. See what wattage it is.

Also, see your current GPU. Make sure you have at least 10 inches allowance between the rear IO and the hard drive bays (horizontally when the case is standing up).

First off, what is that?
Second off, it says 300w, which is too low so I'll look into that too, because this computer is like 6 years old anyway. EDIT: Is this a decently decent power supply that will fit my needs or do I need a higher power supply due to other things using it? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171036

Thirdly, I believe so.

[Ethan]

First off, what is that?
Second off, it says 300w, which is too low so I'll look into that too, because this computer is like 6 years old anyway. EDIT: Is this a decently decent power supply that will fit my needs or do I need a higher power supply due to other things using it? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171036

Thirdly, I believe so.

DX11 is the newest game framework released by Microsoft. You can only take advantage if you have Vista or 7 though. XP is capped to DX9. It pretty much just introduces better looking technologies and makes stuff run better. Tessellation is smoothing of polygons. I'm sure theres examples on youtube.
300W is too low, you'd want at least a 500W, but when I chose my GPU I went for a 550W to be sure as sometimes it wavers. 600W is great, I have the same line of PSU too, lol. If you tried to run it with a 300W, it would fry your entire computer.
Just make sure about the size, it would be a bummer to get it and it not fit. Although, mine retracts into my hard drive bays lol.

[Fredulus]

I say upgrade to W7 first lol.

[DnaUnstable]

DX11 is the newest game framework released by Microsoft. You can only take advantage if you have Vista or 7 though. XP is capped to DX9. It pretty much just introduces better looking technologies and makes stuff run better. Tessellation is smoothing of polygons. I'm sure theres examples on youtube.
300W is too low, you'd want at least a 500W, but when I chose my GPU I went for a 550W to be sure as sometimes it wavers. 600W is great, I have the same line of PSU too, lol. If you tried to run it with a 300W, it would fry your entire computer.
Just make sure about the size, it would be a bummer to get it and it not fit. Although, mine retracts into my hard drive bays lol.

I'm planning on upgrading to windows 7 too, I'm pretty much just re-hauling my computer.

If I wished to upgrade my CPU would http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103727 be a good option?

[Ethan]

I'm planning on upgrading to windows 7 too, I'm pretty much just re-hauling my computer.

If I wished to upgrade my CPU would http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103727 be a good option?

Very, but as it is AMD, it is a AM3+ socket, and your old Core 2 Duo uses a different socket, so you would have to update your motherboard too, lol.
I hope you've got a lot of money :/