need a video card

**=DdogG=** · 02-28-2009, 05:21 PM

ok, so I sold my inspiron 1720 and now use my mini9 and ux380n for portability, and used some of the $$$ from the laptop to get a new desktop, along with a 24" 1920x1200 wuxga LCD.

I found a Dell Studio 540 for right at 600 shipped. specs:

c2q 8200 (2.33x4) 4meg cache
8gig ddr2 (4x2gig)
2x 640gig in raid 0
dvdrw
vista home premium x64
350w enlight psu

and the problem:
radeon hd3450 512meg (w/o the hypermemory).

I need some help. I want to upgrade the video (the old card will go into a computer at work that is about to die) but am now out of $$$. I cannot afford the 180.00 for an hd4870, but would like to get something that will score better than 4.0 on the vista index. I can pay shipping, and even a nominal amount for the right card, but probably 50.00 is my top end right now.

I want very badly to get back into gaming (I just bought a 360 and wii finally) but computer gaming is what I really want.

Is there anyone here who has a spare video card that would get me a decent bump - and is willing to help a brother out?

Thanks in advance....

pm me or email bit2byte at gmail dot com.

**Buckets** · 03-01-2009, 06:14 PM

You're going to have a hard time finding a decent card that plays nicely with that 350w PSU. A 256 MB ATI 4650 might work and i just over $50 but you won't get great performance out of it. You could have build a decent budget gaming PC for $600 but you're going to need to upgrade the PSU as well as the video card in order to have a reasonable gaming machine.

**=DdogG=** · 03-02-2009, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buckets

You're going to have a hard time finding a decent card that plays nicely with that 350w PSU. A 256 MB ATI 4650 might work and i just over $50 but you won't get great performance out of it. You could have build a decent budget gaming PC for $600 but you're going to need to upgrade the PSU as well as the video card in order to have a reasonable gaming machine.

well, I got way more for my 600 going to dell, and my initial investment had to focus on video editing, so this setup was almost perfect (a 2.83 c2q would have been much closer to perfect...) I don't have a problem upgrading the psu if there is a reason to... and I knew I would have to for a modern video card. I just hate to sink 80.00 into a part that will not get me any performance enhancement right now. My wife will certainly not approve after spending so much this month on toys.

now, if there were an upgrade sitting on my desk that required it, that's a different story.

oh well... I guess I'll scrounge cl and ebay for a while.

**Vulcan** · 03-04-2009, 10:15 PM

sorry man, wish i could send you my 8600 but it's being used for my g/f. 8600 is a good buy for that price though.

Duc748s · 03-05-2009, 04:13 PM

Here's a 4830 at New Egg http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...L7D-_-14131129

With a coupon code it's $79.99 - Is this in your budget?

Spyder · 03-06-2009, 06:04 PM

Dropped you a line.

nj18 · 03-16-2009, 06:42 PM

I've got a 7600 GS w/ 512mb and a 8800 GTX 768mb and some RAM, check out my posts.

**=DdogG=** · 03-17-2009, 01:45 AM

thank you, but spyder hooked me up beyond my greatest wishes.

Thanks NPA

Tonk · 03-26-2009, 10:04 PM

nj saw the post and instantly replied... he isnt lookin to spend 300 let alone 180... what did spyder hook you up with dog?

Spyder · 03-26-2009, 11:59 PM

I bought him a sapphire 4870 512MB. I owed him a good turn from a few years ago when he did something similar when our situations were reversed.

Tonk · 03-27-2009, 02:41 AM

how nice of you!

**=DdogG=** · 03-28-2009, 12:27 AM

no doubt... I now score 5.9 down the row... and from what I read of Windows 7, I should be mid to high 7's on everything when I make the switch.

I had to get a powersupply and case, but they were so worth it.

Silverstone 700w modular psu and a rosewill 100% tool-less case (I almost went lian li for the same price, but this case had so many more features.. my only gripe is that there is not really a good place for the card reader... I will have to dremel it out of a 5.25 bay.)

psu: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817256045
case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811147038

to go along with my:

intel c2q 8200
8gig ddr2
2x 640gig raid 0
1x 750gig (soon to be 4x in raid 0)
Radeon 4870 512meg ddr5
24" wuxga 1920x1200 LCD

My wife thought it was funny my free video card cost me 200.00. I sold my old video card, case and psu on ebay, added the 50 I was going to put into the video card, and only had to come up with 75 more. can't complain....

Thanks again NPA!!!

Spyder · 03-28-2009, 01:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by =DdogG=

My wife thought it was funny my free video card cost me 200.00.

No such thing as a free lunch

Tonk · 03-28-2009, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spyder

No such thing as a free lunch

embers had one a month back or so....