Video Card Recommendation

Need help?
Post Reply
User avatar
Swanny-CG
Retired Admin
Retired Admin
Posts: 1962
Joined: December 15th, 2008, 9:48 am
Location: Bay Area, California

Video Card Recommendation

Post by Swanny-CG »

Hey fellas,

I have a 2 year old Dell desktop. I'd like to look at upgrading the video card. I don't keep up on hardware, that's never held much interest for me, but I know some of you guys are pretty crackerjack.

Anyway, the tag is 63V3JL1. I looked at what Dell recommends for upgrades with that tag but I don't know DDR2 from DDR3 from GDDR, etc. The video card I have now is OK but I don't think it's going to run anything coming up trhat's worth playing. It's completely possible that I either lack the power or whatever to run a good card, too - that's OK, if so, I just need to know it.

The site is pretty crappy the way it lists components but it's a quad core running 8 GB of RAM.

I'm in NO rush on this but if you guys have good suggestions for purchase I'd appreciate them.
Image
User avatar
Specialist
SILENCE! I STAB YOU!
SILENCE! I STAB YOU!
Posts: 1897
Joined: December 13th, 2008, 1:04 am
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Contact:
United States of America

Re: Video Card Recommendation

Post by Specialist »

I would look into 2 GTX 460's and try to put them in SLI if your system allows it. With that set up you should be able to run all the newer games. What type of power supply do you have Jason?

I run a GTX 560 ti and can run BFBC2 on max settings, my fps is decent but I'm running a dual core system atm so this may be something to consider as well.
User avatar
toolman
Retired Admin
Retired Admin
Posts: 643
Joined: March 13th, 2009, 12:12 am
Location: Toledo OH
United States of America

Re: Video Card Recommendation

Post by toolman »

slight hijack...

if when shopping for a new puter I want a box that has like 525w power supply correct??? at least if I want to run some top end video cards??

thanks
professional driver. closed course. do not attempt.

Image

Image
User avatar
Swanny-CG
Retired Admin
Retired Admin
Posts: 1962
Joined: December 15th, 2008, 9:48 am
Location: Bay Area, California

Re: Video Card Recommendation

Post by Swanny-CG »

It looks like my PSU is only 350w.

Also, I only have the slot the video card is in, one PCI and 2 PCI-e slots.

Am I hosed? I'm not even sure what kind of video slot it is, TBH. It says PCIE x16 next to the slot on the mobo. Has the little flipper tab at the end of the slot to get the card out.
Image
ÇreamzØr°
Member
Posts: 8
Joined: April 1st, 2011, 12:04 am
Contact:

Re: Video Card Recommendation

Post by ÇreamzØr° »

Yes, you want a high wattage power supply for a higher end card. PSU's are pretty inexpensive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817371026 <----marked down from 140 right now. And, of the decent brands for PSU's, Antec is among them. This will keep you from having to upgrade your PSU in the foreseeable future(6-7 years). Now, as far as the card goes, it depends on the chipset of your proc, but it's compatible either way.
I recommend this card for the price. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814130662
It really depends on your price range, but if you have any more questions, feel free to PM me.
Image
User avatar
Payne N. Daiz
Member
Posts: 184
Joined: January 26th, 2009, 10:05 pm

Re: Video Card Recommendation

Post by Payne N. Daiz »

This is what I would buy...if I were buying today. If you don't like mail in rebates, go to the egg and pick your poison. ~$200-$220 will get you a good 560ti

560ti

http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?nam ... Video-Card#

use coupon code DEALMONGO for an additional $15 off. 226.99-40(rebate)-15(coupon)= $171.99

New PSU

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 50%20Green

69.99-15=$54.99 +tax

The rebate and discount on the GPU pays for the new PSU :ugeek:
Image
User avatar
Swanny-CG
Retired Admin
Retired Admin
Posts: 1962
Joined: December 15th, 2008, 9:48 am
Location: Bay Area, California

Re: Video Card Recommendation

Post by Swanny-CG »

What about the connectors from the PSU to the mobo? Do I need to worry that Dell has some weird proprietary cable connection?

Will both of the video cards above work with the slots I have open in my system?

Sorry if they're dumb questions - I'm pretty good with the operations side but the hardware always struck me as kind of a hobby and I have enough of those I currently ignore already.

Thanks for the help!
Image
User avatar
Specialist
SILENCE! I STAB YOU!
SILENCE! I STAB YOU!
Posts: 1897
Joined: December 13th, 2008, 1:04 am
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Contact:
United States of America

Re: Video Card Recommendation

Post by Specialist »

I looked up your tag # and it appears that you have the Dell Studio 540 Desktop.

According to the tech specs, you have the following slots.
http://www.dell.com/us/dfh/p/studio-desktop/pd

PCI: 1 Slots
PCIe x1: 2 Slot
PCIe x16 (Graphics): 1 Slot

Your power supply is: 350 Watt DC Power Supply

The cards mentioned above are all PCI express cards. Based on your computer info, you will be able to run only 1 card since the cards mentioned require a x16 card slot.


Here is a picture to illustrate the difference in slots

Image


Now for the power supply, this information might help you.

Info from: http://en.community.dell.com/support-fo ... 23180.aspx
Dell Dimension systems, 2200,2300,4300,4400,4500, 8200, and above, the power supplies [20-pin] are standard ATX, that have been modified, by having the power on-off switch removed.

Dimension 4700, 8400 systems and above, use standard ATX [24-pin or 20+4-pin motherboard power connector] power supplies.

Dell's small format, the D-8100 and several XPS systems, use a proprietary power supply.

The Studio 540 Mini Tower is not one of them, plus it has a 24-pin main motherboard power connector.

Studio 540 Mini Tower systems can use most generic standard ATX power supply units, with either a 24-pin or 20+4-pin main motherboard power connector, with or without the on/off switch and four SATA power connectors.
Any of these PSU's should fit your configuration.

http://www.newegg.com/Store/Category.as ... r-Supplies


Hope this helps.
User avatar
Specialist
SILENCE! I STAB YOU!
SILENCE! I STAB YOU!
Posts: 1897
Joined: December 13th, 2008, 1:04 am
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Contact:
United States of America

Re: Video Card Recommendation

Post by Specialist »

Also, note that a 560 Ti requires a minimum 500W power supply.
User avatar
Swanny-CG
Retired Admin
Retired Admin
Posts: 1962
Joined: December 15th, 2008, 9:48 am
Location: Bay Area, California

Re: Video Card Recommendation

Post by Swanny-CG »

OK, I have a 650W PSU and the 560 Ti on the way.

Is the 560 Ti a specific card or a chipset or what? I saw them for different prices but the pics of them even looked different.

Thanks for all the help; I'll let you know how it goes when the stuff shows up.
Image
User avatar
Swanny-CG
Retired Admin
Retired Admin
Posts: 1962
Joined: December 15th, 2008, 9:48 am
Location: Bay Area, California

Re: Video Card Recommendation

Post by Swanny-CG »

OK so they're in. I haven't done much of anything yet but they seem to be working properly.

Here is a crappy phone pic of the result:
IMG00349.jpg
Thanks to you guys for helping me get the right stuff the first time.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Image
User avatar
Specialist
SILENCE! I STAB YOU!
SILENCE! I STAB YOU!
Posts: 1897
Joined: December 13th, 2008, 1:04 am
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Contact:
United States of America

Video Card Recommendation

Post by Specialist »

Good stuff Jason, you getting BF3 bud?
User avatar
Swanny-CG
Retired Admin
Retired Admin
Posts: 1962
Joined: December 15th, 2008, 9:48 am
Location: Bay Area, California

Re: Video Card Recommendation

Post by Swanny-CG »

Maybe, maybe not. I got BF2 and BF2142 and ended up still playing the original.

I'd at least like to have the option.
Image
LF55
Member
Posts: 774
Joined: February 21st, 2009, 6:37 pm
Location: Harrisburg PA
Contact:

Re: Video Card Recommendation

Post by LF55 »

I just upgraded. Basically threw it all out except for HD which is now a 2nd backup to external 1T (I switched to SSD for primary). I'm using AMD Radeon HD 6700 Series on PCI Express 2.0. Here's a pic of the bad boy.

Image
How can you shoot women or children?
Easy! Ya just don't lead 'em so much! Ain't war hell?


Image
User avatar
c0loNeL
Retired Admin
Retired Admin
Posts: 550
Joined: June 6th, 2009, 9:12 am
Location: Alberta, Canada
Canada

Re: Video Card Recommendation

Post by c0loNeL »

I think you'll be quite happy Swanny. I've been running this EVGA for a couple of yrs now and loving it.

Image
Image
User avatar
Specialist
SILENCE! I STAB YOU!
SILENCE! I STAB YOU!
Posts: 1897
Joined: December 13th, 2008, 1:04 am
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Contact:
United States of America

Re: Video Card Recommendation

Post by Specialist »

Here is a little guide for those of you in the market for a new GPU.

Image
User avatar
Swanny-CG
Retired Admin
Retired Admin
Posts: 1962
Joined: December 15th, 2008, 9:48 am
Location: Bay Area, California

Re: Video Card Recommendation

Post by Swanny-CG »

Mine says GeForce GTX 560 2GB (no Ti on it). I'm not on here?
Image
User avatar
Specialist
SILENCE! I STAB YOU!
SILENCE! I STAB YOU!
Posts: 1897
Joined: December 13th, 2008, 1:04 am
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Contact:
United States of America

Video Card Recommendation

Post by Specialist »

From what I've read, the GTX 560 2GB will fall slightly below the 560 ti. It's essentially a over-clocked 460 with double the memory.
User avatar
Demonic
Member
Posts: 666
Joined: September 14th, 2011, 1:40 am
Australia

Re: Video Card Recommendation

Post by Demonic »

just a quick question for those who know a bit about GPU's : what could cause a card to not start up on boot u p ? IE: blank screen....until i restart the puter a couple of times til it kicks in. (monitor is fine btw)

as for the card you guys got, does it seem to run cool, because i have read diff stories about the fans on some later cards not being able to do the job well enough...i ask, coz at some point i wanna upgrade my card to the one specsy got.
as for Larry n col....stop posting pics of other peeps puters lololol jk jk jk jk jk nice set ups yas got :(
BROTHERS IN ARMS
Post Reply