Graphics card - help needed

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LancelotSA

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Hi guys,

I am needing a little assistance and there is no better place to ask for it than here on MyBB ;)

I am looking to purchase a new graphics card for my ten year old son. The main reason for this required purchase is that he has fallen for the lure of Spore and is addicted. The problem is the onboard "ATI RADEON XPRESS 200 Graphics" are obviously not at all helping with the performance of the said game. He can play but everything is VERY slow and every so often the entire system freezes up. I assume I am right in thinking this is purely graphics card related. It is a fairly low spec system but it is dual core, or core 2 duo not 100% certain anymore, and has 512Mb RAM (yes, I know this could also do with upgrading, and I may do so, but I see Spore minimum specs do say this should do).

Now the thing is he has a budget of R1000 for the upgrade. My problem is filtering through the hundreds of graphics cards on the market and deciding what would best meet his needs (and the budget of course!).

The motherboard is an Intel Desktop Board D101GGC which has a PCI Express slot, so I would be wanting a PCI card. The decision must obviously be based on the fact that he loves gaming, so this would be a priority. At the moment it is Spore but who knows which game it is next month! Need for Speed is also a fave but actually works OK on the current system!

Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. And if anyone can then steer me in the direction of any current special offers on cards which would meet these requirements, that would be even better. Obviously he is eager as anything and wants it done yesterday already!

Thanks in advance.
 
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Shake&Bake said:
Ke-keesus! :D

Not seen you around in a long while Sir Lancelot!

Have a look through the following thread started today also discussing GPU's in the sub R1k mark ;)

http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php?t=178346
Click to expand...

Ha ha, yeah it has been a while! ;)

Thanks S&B I did see that thread, and it did help somewhat, but the guy specified Nvidia. I on the otherhand am not so fussy ;) Any brand will do.
 
Gixxa said:
Well there are only 2 xD
Click to expand...

What two are we talking about here?

On that note... I have done some googling and have noted that you will find, for example, a Force3D HD4670 or a Gigabyte ATI Radeon HD4670 or a Sapphire ATI Radeon HD4670. Am I correct in assuming they are just cards that are manufactured by different people but they still have the same graphics chipset? Do these brands make any difference?
 
ATi and nVidia those 2 are what you get.

No, they don't make a difference. They a basicly all the same (reference design) except if Sapphire for example decides to overclock the core that will be the only difference. I personaly would not buy a Force3D because I don't know them. I would go with:

Asus, Gigabyte, Sapphire, XFX, MSI and EVGA (nVida only).
 
Gixxa said:
ATi and nVidia those 2 are what you get.

No, they don't make a difference. They a basicly all the same (reference design) except if Sapphire for example decides to overclock the core that will be the only difference. I personaly would not buy a Force3D because I don't know them. I would go with:

Asus, Gigabyte, Sapphire, XFX, MSI and EVGA (nVida only).
Click to expand...

On the note of overclocking, I noted this link on the other graphics card thread :
http://www.computersonly.co.za/productdetail.aspx?sku=N9600GTT2D512OC&categoryId=36093

I know what overclocking means but will this one come having been tweaked already? This is not really necessary for me as a "standard" one would be more than good enough, but it does look like a good price. Will overclocking effect the life span of the card?

Also you mentioned needing a PCI-E Power cable for some cards. Would this mean a separate power supply? do those cards come with them? Remember I am going to be fitting this myself so the simpler the better.

Thanks
 
Some of the newer cards need a 6 or 8 pin block connector and not a 12V molex. There is a thread somewhere that deals with this (power required etc.). They debate the use of a Molex to block connector adaptor vs a new PSU with unique connectors.

http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php?t=161504
 
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moggie said:
Some of the newer cards need a 6 or 8 pin block connector and not a 12V molex. There is a thread somewhere that deals with this (power required etc.). They debate the use of a Molex to block connector adaptor vs a new PSU with unique connectors.

http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php?t=161504
Click to expand...

Oh dear, that just confused me, and matters, more! ;)

So how do I ensure the card I buy can be used on the system I have. Preferably just plugged into the PCI Express and away I go!
 
Check what power connector it requires.

If Molex, then easy.

If block connector, check your current PSU connectors first...
 
a voice from the past? hello LancelotSA.

sorry i know zilch about graphics cards.
 
waynegohl said:
a voice from the past? hello LancelotSA.

sorry i know zilch about graphics cards.
Click to expand...

Hey waynegohl! I see you have moved up in the world - 15,000 plus posts. You have been busy. ha ha

No worries about the graphics card. Just be careful posting off topic like this... you might get slapped with a ban from the mods! ha ha ha ;)
 
Get the 4670, it does not require any "external" power, i.e. It receives all its power from the motherboard.

It should be able to play need for speed on high settings too

/the 4830 is also a good card, you might want to look at that too
 
ah, my non-smoking rival has returned.

all I could suggest is wait till next week - Esquire is promising big GFX Card Specials next week. so WAIT.

long time no see man.....
 
LancelotSA said:
I know what overclocking means but will this one come having been tweaked already? This is not really necessary for me as a "standard" one would be more than good enough, but it does look like a good price. Will overclocking effect the life span of the card?
Click to expand...

Well if it is cooled correctly then no it will not cause any probs. And if the Sapphire or who ever sell the Card with the clocks then they have been tested very long --> we are talking weeks to months under full load.
 
Keeper said:
ah, my non-smoking rival has returned.

all I could suggest is wait till next week - Esquire is promising big GFX Card Specials next week. so WAIT.

long time no see man.....
Click to expand...

Hey Keeper, so you given up smoking yet? ;)

Yeah, I see talk of Esquire specials but I had a peek at their site and it seems to be dealers only. Do they have a MyBB account? Also I see talk of the specials not being valid in Durban and that is where I am... how do I solve that issue? Online purchase? Cheers
 
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