going to make some small computer updates(including vid card)-Please look

[firezip]

Well I figured since vista is getting delayed(again..) that the DX10 video cards would not be coming out of the end of the year. So I've been sittin' here on my dell precision 340 thinking what small updates could I make to my computer that wouldn't kill my wallet. What I had in mind was upgrading the power supply(from 250 watts to a 500 watt) and upgrading to a 6800gs agp video card. Now what I am confused about are these issues

1. Will the new power supply kill my mobo?

2. Will an AGP 8x card run in 4x mode?

3. Is this the best kind of 6800gs you can find?

4. Whats a good power supply?

well thanks for the help

[sackynut]

Re: going to make some small computer updates(including vid card)-Please look

Well I figured since vista is getting delayed(again..) that the DX10 video cards would not be coming out of the end of the year. So I've been sittin' here on my dell precision 340 thinking what small updates could I make to my computer that wouldn't kill my wallet. What I had in mind was upgrading the power supply(from 250 watts to a 500 watt) and upgrading to a 6800gs agp video card. Now what I am confused about are these issues

1. Will the new power supply kill my mobo?

2. Will an AGP 8x card run in 4x mode?

3. Is this the best kind of 6800gs you can find?

4. Whats a good power supply?

well thanks for the help

1. shouldnt

2. if you only have a 4x slot, then yes. but the difference in 4x to 8x with gaming performance still isnt that much so I wouldnt worry.

3. i dont see a link or anything but, there was a 512mb 6800gs AGp floating around sometime ago. I would go for an evga 6800gs, a regular one. but really they are all good.

4. antec and ocz are good companies and they make good PSUs look into them. also check the trusted brands thread.

[megawhompertoo]

Re: going to make some small computer updates(including vid card)-Please look

1. Shouldn't; your mobo should draw only the power it needs. Be careful, though: dell is famous for having proprietary PSU's in their case. Make sure your's isn't a triangular shaped one with rounded sides and a 6-pin mobo connector!

2. Yes. Not a huge difference, but somewhat slower.

3. www.newegg.com; www.xpbargains.com; www.tigerdirect.com; www.froogle.com. The internets: she is a big place.

4. I love antec. The latest in the smartpower series and truepower series are really great PSU's. I prefer the 2x80mm push-pull fans in the PSU to the single 120mm that sits above the CPU. With a single 120mm, the air has to make a right turn to exit the system, leading to more noise with roughly the same amount of heat dissipation.

quite welcome

[firezip]

Re: going to make some small computer updates(including vid card)-Please look

Ok here are some 6800's I was looking at

PNY GeForce 6800 GS- Link

ASUS N6800/TD/512M Geforce 6800 512MB(It says this is a 128bit card?)
Link

My PSU is a square box, I'll provide some pics later. Also I couldn't find an eVGA 6800gs for under $250

Ok I was looking at this PSU. Also what do you guys think about getting an ATI X800GTO(because it's alot cheeper)PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...16817103931ATI x800GTO: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102609

[RAF92_Warhawk]

Re: going to make some small computer updates(including vid card)-Please look

All I can say for you is AGP is reallllllly holding you back....If you have the budget, I'd go ahead and get a new mobo so you can have pci-express...

[firezip]

Re: going to make some small computer updates(including vid card)-Please look

I just want something to last me till next year, then I plan to upgrade. I talked to my dad about it and he said he would rather me spend 300 bucks now instead of spending around $1,500. So I plan to get an eVGA 6800gs and an Antec 450 watt PSU.

[megawhompertoo]

Re: going to make some small computer updates(including vid card)-Please look

All I can say for you is AGP is reallllllly holding you back....If you have the budget, I'd go ahead and get a new mobo so you can have pci-express...

nonsense. a faster gpu will help him stretch his system for another 18 months. the gpu bandwidth between agp 4x and pci-e for a gpu in the price range he's looking at is nominal, at best.

so, no. by the time he bothers with getting a new mobo, he's going to want a new CPU AND a new gpu. he can SALVAGE the psu he gets now, and ebay the ~$170 nvidia 6800gs in another year and a half for $45-55, to the last of the people who are holding onto agp.

i say get the psu and the either a 6800 or (if he can save for it) a 7800gs. both will keep him gaming happy, minus some shadows and dynamic light that the programmers really don't know how to implement very well, anyway.

Ok here are some 6800's I was looking at

PNY GeForce 6800 GS- Link

ASUS N6800/TD/512M Geforce 6800 512MB(It says this is a 128bit card?)
Link

My PSU is a square box, I'll provide some pics later. Also I couldn't find an eVGA 6800gs for under $250

Ok I was looking at this PSU. Also what do you guys think about getting an ATI X800GTO(because it's alot cheeper)PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...16817103931ATI x800GTO: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102609

i've got an x800xt AIW, and i'm really happy with it. 16pipelines, 256mb of ram, and a 256bit interface keep me happy. did i mention it has a core/mem clock speed of 500/1000mhz?

x800gto would be better than a 6800gs. compared to the xt the gto 4 fewer pixel pipes, the same interface, is almost as fast as the xt (20mhz diff on core and mem), but much, much cheaper.

[edit] here is a link to a comparison http://www.pctuning.cz/index.php?opt...1&limitstart=7

if you don't speak czech, the numbers are all that matter :)

[firezip]

Re: going to make some small computer updates(including vid card)-Please look

Ok I've been reading some articles on unlocking a 6800gs, I think you can do the same with a x800gto too. Now my question is which one offers better performance. Also I plan to run games in 1024x768