Graphics Card Upgrade

Colossal Neel

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I desperately need to upgrade, not just the graphics card but the
entire computer.
I'm considering the entry level DX10 GeForce 8400gs - due to budget
constraints. I have some room to improve but not much as it will cut
out other upgrades. Which way should I go? Processor or Graphics?

Please Help
 
Range +- 2800

But 2 gb RAM - No compromise

What's 256+256? SLI? If so, does it really work? What's the cons?
Price range for SLI motherboard and the price for the mini board that joins the the two boards. I know the benefit is cheaper price than a better card,
but what about overheating. What's the price on cooling?

Getting a bit sidetracked - Is the 8400gs worth it or should I get something else, possibly a card from 7 series?

Than You
 
Checked the links - answers the 256+256, heard turbo cache slows system down but Q still stands for the card and SLI.
By the way, why 533 for the RAM 667 is pretty cheap.
 
I'm not a big fan of the 8400, 8500 or 8600 range personally...

yeah but, the 8600 or pretty good for mid-range users, besides, this guys tight on budget

and i have new links

and since your price range is R2800 and you need 2GB of Ram......

Intel Core 2 Duo E4400 CPU - R 1,128
DDR2 667MHz 1GB - R 344 x2 (I don really know why you need 2GB, 1GB is sufficent)
Gigabyte GA-946GMX-S2 Motherboard - R 749
Asus nVidia GeForce 8600GT - R1,214 (pretty good graphics card but if it is too much, rather go for the 8400GS)


http://www.pc123.co.za/catalog/prod...=1272&osCsid=2ab1193fdf9673bac98a967d93107bd2
http://www.take2.co.za/product.php?id=2060334
http://www.pc123.co.za/catalog/prod...=1187&osCsid=2ab1193fdf9673bac98a967d93107bd2
http://www.take2.co.za/product.php?id=2440796

but this is going for R3700 because you wanted 2GB of RAM and the MUCH better graphics card.....

But the 8400GS i gave you, the specs for it is prety good
 
Price range for SLI motherboard and the price for the mini board that joins the the two boards. I know the benefit is cheaper price than a better card,
but what about overheating. What's the price on cooling?

not really an expert on that......
 
...could wait dec/jan we will see revised/new ones of nvidia's cards.

8900 or 9900's coming out and then current dx10 will drop in price as well as the revised/new be same or bit cheaper that current ones was.

not so bad waiting a bit :)

-and besides then you can save up and get better components
 
Asus nVidia GeForce 8600GT - R1,214 (pretty good graphics card but if it is too much, rather go for the 8400GS)

Bit steep - But still on the SLI [not sure if 8400gs supports SLI - I quess depending on the manufacturer] I wonder if the two 8400gs's will be better than the 8600gt

Thanx anyway.
 
...could wait dec/jan we will see revised/new ones of nvidia's cards.

8900 or 9900's coming out and then current dx10 will drop in price as well as the revised/new be same or bit cheaper that current ones was.

not so bad waiting a bit

I can't, I've got an AGP card - can't use it in PCIX slot
 
o well i'll wait for the nice 8900's ;)

...G92
 
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Yeah using SLI will cost much more since you need new mobo and PSU

I'm thinking around the lines on upgrading in the future, as every six months or less technology is improving and software getting ever so
demanding. Imagine if I got the 8400gs then upgrade later with two
and when prices get better got a better card and doubeled it, that would beat buying a high end expensive card

Check out this link
http://techreport.com/articles.x/7671/1
it explains things deeply
 
A single higher card solution will always beat 2 lower end solutions in sli
eg no way 2 8800gts's will beat a 8800gtx plus the extra cost from the needed mobo and sli capable power supply makes it in your case impossible.

Not to mention that apparently there are still hassles with vista and sli (do not attack me on that one i do not use sli or vista :p )
 
1. G92 is not 8900, G92 is mid~high end card. 8800GT
2. You'll regret buying an 8400GS, SLI or not, rather a single 8600GT
3. 2x 8800GTS will walk all over a single 8800GTX and 8800 Ultra... All these GFX cards are G80...
4. There are no issues with SLI and Vista, esp in the DX10 enabled games such as World in Conflict, Lost Planet, BioShock, Company Of Heroes etc...
5. SLI only makes sense if you buy the two cards at the same time, if you delay then yes you will get an improvement from 3fps to 6fps.... :( (That's low to mid range cards only)

Everything else looks good just try for 8600GT
 
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Definitely not worth SLI-ing a 8400GS, it's hardly worth buying it. Are you planning to game on this system?

I'd also second the 8600GT for R1200. 2GB of ram is a good idea, especially for Vista. You could also look at AMD for a cheap CPU and better/cheaper mobo at the low-mid end. A 5200+ might be worth looking at compared to an E4400.
 
what about the nvidia 7950? heard thats a really good card..
 
not really dx 10 though

aggg but buy a dx 9 card man, at the end of day most days will run on dx 9 even though they are dx 10 games

you wont get all the ey candi, but running a dx 10 with 8600gt you wont get eye candi anyways
 
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