Another Help BoBo with his rig thread!(This time VC)

BoBoDaClown

Ok guys,

Another rig question; you guys have been great in helping me so far, especially you, Lord Elros.  However the goal posts keep changing.  I have bought a comp, and it needs a video card.

 

My gf and I are relatively cash strapped and decided we both need new computers(rather than just one).  So we are trying to go very "budget*.  We have got the first computer, and please be gentle, because there is no going back.

AOC is going to be the most graphically intensive game this rig will ever have to play; I may not like it, and so don't want to be too single minded in getting the best out of this game.  I want this rig to play AOC smoothly, but realise I can only go so far with what I have got (is mid-quality dreaming?).  We will buy a new computer in a year's time, so this needs to run games wellish until then.

 

We bought(INCREDIBLY CHEAPLY):

a AMD Athlon 64 Dual

Core Processor 4200+

2GB RAM

400W PS

Windows XP

entire thing was set up and ready to go (very important because I am a computer ignoramus), except it had the incredibly grunty 7100gs on board.  I tried it out and it made my eyes bleed.

So... what graphics card... keep in mind money is vitally important.

Options:

nVidia 8600GT 512MB PCI-Express Video Generic $88.00 +GST

         (what is the differnce between that and: Asus 8600GT Magic512MB PCI-E 

          Video Card HDTV 2X DVI-I ASUS $112.00 +GST)



or the



nVidia 8600GT 1GB PCI-Express Video Generic $149.00 +GST



or the



nVidia 9600GT 512MB GDDR3 PCI-E dual DVI Graphics Card nVidia $189.00 +GST

 

Now that $100 between the cheapest and most expensive is significant to me (especially as I'll eventually be doing this with our second system). So how much am I killing myself with the 8600?  I also didn't know how the 1gb version compared.  Obviously the 9600 is the best, but I am not sure I can justify it if the 8600 can do the job.

Is power an issue?  I really hope not.

Anyway, I am buying the card tomorrow arfternoon, or else I may go into DDO withdrawals.

Thanks in advance for any help

BoBo

 

 

Housam

go with the the 9600gt no question about it
probably need a better power supply...like 500w as it uses up 100w of power...

CleffyII

8600 is pure and utter crap.  Don't bother buying it.  The ATI 2600, 3650, and 3400's are far better.

Housam

---

Originally posted by CleffyII
8600 is pure and utter crap. Don't bother buying it. The ATI 2600, 3650, and 3400's are far better.

---

he can also get a 3850 or 3870 in his price range

BoBoDaClown

Thanks for the prompt replies guys.

 

At this moment it looks like I am going to get the 8600, reason being the power supply.  I can't afford to go out and up the power supply too, obviously it keeps on extending the cost. ($60 on top of the extra $100 odd for the better card; I can feel the heat from her glare already).

 

So is there anyway I can check what power supply my computer needs, what it using, etc - some kind of test? or predicter?

 

If I do go for the 8600, is the one gig 8600 version worth it?  Will that run off the 400W?  What performance benefit is there?  What are the good cards, in my price range (at least one mentioned was a little expensive), that will run off the 400W.

Thanks a lot; poor gamers like me must be a source of frustration ;p

 

BoBo

Housam

http://www.extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp

to see how mush power you will need to use

BoBoDaClown

Thanks for that Housam.

 

Actually went for the 8600, really financially the better option.

 

Have just finished patching, but the servers are down... typical...

 

Anyway, thanks everyone

 

Bobo