Best Card for 250W P4 Dell?

[taosaur]

:waves: I'm probably going to replace my system in a couple months, but I'm thinking about grabbing a new AGP card in the meantime (running 5200FX now). I'm only a casual gamer, but I have a new 22" LCD and I want to push the pretty :)

The 7 series look like too much for my power supply (250W). Chip is P4 @ 2.8GHz, 1G DDR2 RAM. Any advice on the best card to plug in here? Is there any especially time-tested model in the 6 series?

[Medion]

If you can find one, a 9600XT would be a significant upgrade for you, and would work with that PSU. Forget about a 6 series, other than a 6200.

You're not likely going to find a video card that will work with that PSU and push your screen.

[taosaur]

If you can find one, a 9600XT would be a significant upgrade for you, and would work with that PSU. Forget about a 6 series, other than a 6200.

You're not likely going to find a video card that will work with that PSU and push your screen.

Thanks for the reply, that's helpful as I wasn't even considering ATI and they were outperforming nVidia when my PC came out. I don't expect to push the monitor's capabilities on this system, I'm just thinking about leveling it up on the cheap until I can swap out the system entirely. I've got about three months to Spore, and six to Starcraft 2, so those are my deadlines :)

[Medion]

Thanks for the reply, that's helpful as I wasn't even considering ATI and they were outperforming nVidia when my PC came out. I don't expect to push the monitor's capabilities on this system, I'm just thinking about leveling it up on the cheap until I can swap out the system entirely. I've got about three months to Spore, and six to Starcraft 2, so those are my deadlines :)

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=m37&satitle=radeon+9600xt&category0=

[taosaur]

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=m37&satitle=radeon+9600xt&category0=

Ya, I did that myself--a bit steeper than I want to go when that money could go toward the new system. I was hoping they'd be obsolete enough to go for $20--beyond that the cost/benefit of putting money into this system just doesn't add up.

[CaptNKILL]

Can't really do much for $20.

AGP cards are actually more expensive than PCI-E since there are far fewer of them made now.

[Medion]

Ya, I did that myself--a bit steeper than I want to go when that money could go toward the new system. I was hoping they'd be obsolete enough to go for $20--beyond that the cost/benefit of putting money into this system just doesn't add up.

It's funny but a mid-range AGP card costs more than a high-end PCI-E card at times Why? Rarity plays a part. Also, there's no way you're putting a high end card, AGP or otherwise, into an old Dell or Gateway. Helps the resale on the cards that can be put into those machines.

[taosaur]

It's funny but a mid-range AGP card costs more than a high-end PCI-E card at times Why? Rarity plays a part. Also, there's no way you're putting a high end card, AGP or otherwise, into an old Dell or Gateway. Helps the resale on the cards that can be put into those machines.

You've got to hand it to Dell, their systems hold up pretty well for being mostly generic components. My mid-range Dimension system has been solid for four years with just a memory upgrade and some drive swapping. Still, I'm surprised so many people are trying to upgrade them when there's just no way you're going to catch up with recent software or even some web media.

[XDanger]

http://www.thermaltake.com/product/Power/PurePower/w0099/w0099.asp
or similar.

[taosaur]

http://www.thermaltake.com/product/Power/PurePower/w0099/w0099.asp
or similar.

I saw one of those in a store just yesterday and contemplated it, but it makes even less sense than dropping $50 on a card my current PSU can handle, and I don't know that they support AGP anyway. Even if it would work for both my present AGP system and a near-future PCI-E box, I'd get more value out of my $80 just getting a better PSU in a new system. For that matter, aside from hassle and potential breakage, I'd be better off swapping in a full-fledged PSU that could migrate to a new system (though I'll probably just buy a mostly-complete system from cyberpowerpc in a couple months).

[XDanger]

Their entry level pc looks ok if you sell the graphics card and put a nice one in.

[Yaboze]

I ran a 6800GT AGP in a Dell like that. Even a ATI 9800 Pro would be an upgrade to a FX 5200. The Dell had a 9800 Pro and the 6800 GT was a nice jump.

[ragejg]

You have two choices

A: nVidia 7800 GS

More power efficient than a 6800, much faster, runs cool. When overclocked, can approach 7800GT/7900GS speeds. With a P4 @ 2.8 running Prey, Quake 4, HL2 and Full Spectrum Warrior should be no problem, and I'd venture to say that with compromised visuals, UT3 should run good as well. I ran UT3 butter smooth at fairly high settings at 1280x720 with a 7800 GS OC'ed with an A64 3000+ at stock. Ran much better with an X2 chip @ 2.5-2.7ghz however for what it's worth.

B. ATI Radeon HD3850

$150 gets you the absolute best AGP performance. Nothing touches it for the AGP slot, seriously. Dusts the 7 series and approaches high-end 8800-class performance.

...

You are cpu limited.

BUT enough people have tried cards ranging from 6600GT to HD3850 and have found that even for your "lowly" (I don't agree with that necessarily) Socket 478 setup, going all the way with an HD 3850 has way more benefits than drawbacks.

Your Dell PSU can handle an HD 3850 from what I've heard. Other machines with similarly badged PSU's cannot. Those Dells are solid machines and their PSU's are heavily under-rated by their manufacturer.



EDIT: Wait, you have DDR2... umm, I gotta ask, do you have a 478 P4, or an LGA 775? Cuz maybe a cpu upgrade could seriously help you as well if you have the right chipset.

[Medion]

I ran a 6800GT AGP in a Dell like that. Even a ATI 9800 Pro would be an upgrade to a FX 5200. The Dell had a 9800 Pro and the 6800 GT was a nice jump.

My old Dell with a 250W needed a PSU upgrade for the 9800 Pro. It was too close. I'd assume the same for the 6800/7800 recommendations that followed. Funny thing is, I still had that upgraded PSU (Antec 300W) sitting around until a week ago, or I'd let you have it for the cost of shipping.

[swaaye]

I'd lean towards a 6600GT or 7600GT. They won't suck down the juice.