Need Help Picking a Graphics Card

koollykoolly
edited April 2006 in Hardware
Hi, love this site btw

I just got this HP A1250n at a great price and want to make it a gaming rig. I was going to buy a ati 850xt for 360 onsale at future shop but friend said I be better off getting something from NCIX. 7600gt or x800 gto he said alot cheaper, just over 200. So should I order the 7600gt or is the X850 xt platinum alot better? Or should i save up for the 7900gt.

Thanks for your time

Here specs hp a1250n

Clock speed 2 GHz
Processor type Athlon 64 X2
Installed processor qty 1
Max supported processor qty 1
Processor manufacturer AMD
Processor performance index 3800+
RAMRAM installed 1 GB
Max supported RAM 4 GB
Memory specification compliance PC3200
Memory speed 400 MHz
RAM form factor DIMM 184-pin
RAM technology DDR SDRAM
Video OutputGraphics processor ATI RADEON XPRESS 200
Video output form factor Integrated
Display (Projector)Display type None.
Service & SupportService & Support type 1 year warranty
Optical StorageCD / DVD read speed 40x (CD) / 16x (DVD)
CD / DVD rewrite speed 24x (CD) / 4x (DVD±RW)
CD / DVD write speed 40x (CD) / 8x (DVD-R) / 16x (DVD+R) / 2.4x (DVD+R DL)
Optical storage interface type IDE
Storage Hard DriveHard drive interface Serial ATA-150
Hard drive installed qty 1
Hard drive size 250 GB
Hard drive type Standard
Spindle speed 7200 rpm
Audio InputAudio input type None
Interface ProvidedInterface 7 Hi-Speed USB IEEE 1284 (EPP/ECP), 2 IEEE 1394 (FireWire) Generic, 1 Parallel Generic, 1 Keyboard Input, 1 Mouse Output, 2 Microphone Line-in, 1 Headphones Line-out, 2 Audio VGA, 1 Audio Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX, 1 Display / video Phone line, 1 Network, 1 Modem
Connector Type 4 pin USB Type A, 25 pin D-Sub (DB-25), 6 pin mini-DIN (PS/2 style), Mini-phone 3.5 mm, Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15), RJ-45, RJ-11
Storage Hard Drive (2nd)2nd hard drive type None
Optical Storage (2nd)2nd optical storage type DVD-ROM
Read speed 16x
Storage Controller (2nd)2nd storage controller form factor Integrated
2nd storage controller installed qty 1
2nd storage controller type IDE
ModemModem 56 Kbps Fax / modem Plug-in card
Modem protocols & specifications K56Flex
Audio OutputAudio output form factor Integrated
Audio output type Sound card
Cabinet (Chassis)Cabinet form factor Tower
Cables (Details)Cables 1 Power cable, 1 Phone cable
Cache MemoryCache 1 MB L2 cache
Cache per processor size 1 MB
Card ReaderCard reader 9 in 1 card reader
Supported flash memory cards Microdrive, Memory Stick, MultiMediaCard, SD Memory Card, SmartMedia Card, XD-Picture Card, Memory Stick Pro, CompactFlash Card type I, CompactFlash Card type II
MainboardChipset type ATI Radeon Xpress 200
Data bus speed 1000 MHz
NetworkingData link protocol Ethernet, Fast Ethernet
Networking Network adapter Integrated
Dimensions & WeightDepth 17 in
Height 15 in
Weight 24 lbs
Width 7.2 in
Video InputVideo input type None
Bay ProvidedExpansion bays 2 (0 free) Front accessible 5.25", 1 (1 free) Front accessible 3.5", 1 (0 free) Internal 3.5"
Storage Floppy DriveFloppy drive type None
Service & Support DetailsFull contract period 1 year
Service & Support details Limited warranty, Technical support
Service included Parts and labor, Phone consulting
Input DeviceInput device Mouse, Keyboard
Power DevicePower device type Power supply
PrinterPrinter type None
Video MemoryMax video RAM supported 256 MB
Video memory : 256 MB
Video memory technology Shared video memory (UMA)
OS ProvidedOS provided Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005
Storage RemovableRemovable storage type None
Slot ProvidedSlot provided 4 (2 free) Memory DIMM 184-pin, 3 (2 free) PCI Socket 939, 1 (1 free) PCI Express x16, 1 (0 free) Processor

Comments

  • TheSmJTheSmJ
    edited April 2006
    I'd go for the 7900GT hands down.
  • edcentricedcentric near Milwaukee, Wisconsin Icrontian
    edited April 2006
    The 7900 is top of the list.
    Ifyou cant' quite afford that, then you have some choices.
    The 7800GS is good, and only a small step down.
  • ArmoArmo Mr. Nice Guy Is Dead,Only Aqua Remains Member
    edited April 2006
    also dont count out the other side of video cards ATI. the X1800 is still not a bad choice, and it might be a little cheaper.
  • primesuspectprimesuspect Beepin n' Boopin Detroit, MI Icrontian
    edited April 2006
    Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm seeing integrated (read: onboard) video on that PC...Do you have a PCI-Express 16x slot for this alternative video card?
  • koollykoolly
    edited April 2006
    primesuspect wrote:
    Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm seeing integrated (read: onboard) video on that PC...Do you have a PCI-Express 16x slot for this alternative video card?

    Was told there is a pci-e slot, havnt looked though, makes it kind useless to me if it doesnt.

    Thanks for all the replys, looking up the prices of the ones reccomended
  • ArmoArmo Mr. Nice Guy Is Dead,Only Aqua Remains Member
    edited April 2006
    i looked up the model and it does look like a X16 slot in it. i caught that too before i posted. :)
  • koollykoolly
    edited April 2006
    Sapphire X1800XT 512MB - $389, this good deal ?

    http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?affiliateid=1158819&sku=18303
  • ArmoArmo Mr. Nice Guy Is Dead,Only Aqua Remains Member
    edited April 2006
    Newegg is your best friend :)

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?Submit=ENE&N=2010380048+1067918503&Subcategory=48&description=&srchInDesc=&minPrice=&maxPrice=

    the 256MB versions are about $280 before rebates
  • edcentricedcentric near Milwaukee, Wisconsin Icrontian
    edited April 2006
    OK, I forgot. The 7800GS is only made in AGP.

    Every comparison that I have seen shows the 7900 well ahead of the X1800.
  • koollykoolly
    edited April 2006
    Oh sorry that was in Canadian, never ordered from newegg. Figured be time I paid the extra shipping, duty and exchange rate it ends up about the same as ncix. Maybe will give it a try though, the $299 7900 gt is alot more up here.
    Thanks for all your help.
  • jradminjradmin North Kackalaki
    edited April 2006
    koolly wrote:
    Oh sorry that was in Canadian, never ordered from newegg. Figured be time I paid the extra shipping, duty and exchange rate it ends up about the same as ncix. Maybe will give it a try though, the $299 7900 gt is alot more up here.
    Thanks for all your help.

    Trust me, its worth the $$.
  • koollykoolly
    edited April 2006
    Ok, thanks for all the help, going to order a XFX GeForce 7900 GT 520M Xtreme 520MHZ 256MB 256BIT 1.5GHZ GDDR3 PCI-E Dual DVI-I VIVO Video Card. Just one more question if you got a sec, I have couple sticks of samsung 1gb 400mhz PC3200 DDR DIMM and was wondering if I could put them in this computer with the 2 512's to give me 3gb. Or would it be better to remove the 512's. Notice it says DDR SDRAM, so not sure if I can even use the the ram I got.
    Thanks again
    Koolly
  • Sledgehammer70Sledgehammer70 California Icrontian
    edited April 2006
    It is coming with 2 512 chips and you have 2 512 chips? that only = 2GB ram! but for the most part it should work fine for you. As the mobo has 4 slots for ram,

    I also have the XFX 7900GT and it is one kick but card... I replaced my BFG 7900Gt with it :) and the BFG one fried
  • koollykoolly
    edited April 2006
    It has 2 512's atm, and I have two sticks of 1gb 400mhz PC3200 DDR DIMM would like to use.

    Just want to know if they ok to use because computer specs says it uses SDRAM, not sure what that is. Also if its ok to mix 512's and 1GB sticks.

    Glad to here its a good card, hardly wait to try it out.
  • Sledgehammer70Sledgehammer70 California Icrontian
    edited April 2006
    Im sure is id DDR400 SDRam and once again you should have no problems
  • koollykoolly
    edited April 2006
    Cool, thanks for all the help, just got to wait for truck now to drop off my card ;)
  • LeonardoLeonardo Wake up and smell the glaciers Eagle River, Alaska Icrontian
    edited April 2006
    RAMRAM installed 1 GB
    Not sure what that is, but I want some! :tongue2:
Sign In or Register to comment.