Jump to content
SAU Community

Recommended Posts

Hey all,

just got a pc and need to upgrade the video card...

i want a decent one, and essentially wanna play UT07/Unreal 3 when they come out...

i dont wanna spend more than $300

have had a look at a few, but i honestly dunno what exactly im looking at... im a n00b to the whole build your PC thang...

Gigabyte GeForce 6200, AGP, 256MB DDR2, DVI / TV out $99.00

XFX GeForce 7600GT, T73A-UDF7, AGP, 256MB, [email protected], DVI/TV $236.17

XFX GeForce 7600GT, T73A-UDE7, AGP, 256MB, [email protected], DVI/TV $271.04

are the above any good? what would you recommend?

Thanks guys

P.S. whats the diff between the two 7600GT's?

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/164295-video-card-which-one-to-buy/
Share on other sites

As a researcher in the graphics hardware field, I would strongly recommend you to purchase a video card with an NVIDIA chipset as there is more R&D and potential in their products as of late.

The GeForce 7 series is a pretty good range. I'm not sure about prices, but the 7600 series looks seriously weak. Have you checked the prices for the 7800 or 7900 series? I would imagine the 7950 being out of your price range, so we're leaving it out.

The difference is the amount of processing power those two cards have. The [email protected] variant would be able to compute slightly faster than the cheaper version.

ok i checked on ebay for 7800, 7900 and 7950

7800:

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/XFX-GeForce-7800-GS...1QQcmdZViewItem

7900:

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/NVIDIA-GEFORCE-7900...1QQcmdZViewItem

7950:

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/NVIDIA-GEFORCE-7950...1QQcmdZViewItem

There seems to be heaps of different versions of VideoCards which i dont really understand...

Which would you recommend of the 7800 and 7900? does anyone know of any sites that have cheap prices for these?

Edited by SKYLVIA

Go to http://www.nvidia.com/page/geforce7.html for more details. ^_^

Looking at the 3 links, it would be a choice between the 7900GS and the 7950GT. The 7950 is faster, but the 7900 has more memory.

I would choose the 7950 actually because it is a more balanced card (sufficient memory and more computational power), which should let you have a pretty good gaming experience for the next 2 years. However, the 7900 has more memory, so it'll have a longer lifespan provided that you don't mind laggy games when the time comes. Games at this point in time usually don't take up so much memory as to justify having 512mb video memory cards.

Just for kicks, you can try looking at the GeForce 8 series, but they're top of the range, so I would expect them to be much more expensive until the next generation is released.

another question,

Check this link:

http://www.netplus.com.au/products-detail....VDGF7900GS%2DE2

Why is it, the 7900GS on ebay is 512 and the 7900GS on NetPlay is 256?

Arent they the same model? which would mean they should have the same specs?

Also, why does the NVidia 7950 have 3 different names?

Albatron

Gigabyte

XFX

Sorry to be a royal pain in the ass just wanna know which is good to buy.

Edited by SKYLVIA

Theres 1 choice and 1 choice only if u do indeed have an agp motherboard (confirm this though that ur motherboard is not infact pcix, pcix has been around for more than 1 year)

the last of the agp video cards have now been made and they are not making any new ones (so r&d into agp = 0, there for showboxes point is invalid... maybe u should do some more research)

the best AGP video card is the ATI X1950 PRO.

you can pick one up for approx $300 for a 256mb one.. 256mb & 512mb although sounds like a big difference in reality performance is not all that much greater on the 512mb.

PS how much ram do you have and what speed is it?

Edited by izataskyrine?
another question,

Check this link:

http://www.netplus.com.au/products-detail....VDGF7900GS%2DE2

Why is it, the 7900GS on ebay is 512 and the 7900GS on NetPlay is 256?

Arent they the same model? which would mean they should have the same specs?

Also, why does the NVidia 7950 have 3 different names?

Albatron

Gigabyte

XFX

Sorry to be a royal pain in the ass just wanna know which is good to buy.

256mb & 512mb is the amount of onboard ram on the video card.. similar to ram on ur computer.. videa cards come with different amounts even though they are the same chipset.

As for albatron, gigabyte & xfx these are all companies that take nvidia & ati's chipsets and then resell it to consumers (us). They will often bundle the card with software and fancy fans & heatsinks and even overclock them. Nvidia & ATI do not actually sell cards themselfs

An easier way to tell Sky is check the graphics card slot, if you see a white pin about 1cmx1cm that you are able to pull back to clip in the graphics card, if there is a pin there then you have a AGP slot. From memory the PCI do not have this clip, so if theres none on it, you have a PCI!

ok i checked the slot where the graphics card was as you said D-G and there is a white clip

on that same slot it has "AGP1" just above it

BUT

The port under it has "PCI1" above it, there a 4 other ports under that and they go from PCI1 to PCI5

Are these ports able to have a PCI express video card plugged in?

will upload the pic when i get to work

If it says AGP1 then it's an AGP slot and you'll need an AGP card.

The white clip thingy is manufacturer dependant. Some have a pin, some have a clip.

Of the three ebay links, the first is AGP, the other two aren't and thus won't fit/work

PCIX != PCI

Get one with 512mb of ram if you can afford it, it will make a difference in the future

Okdokey,

I'll try not to confuse you here.

I'm going to assume from your picture that you either took the video card out to take the picture or you are running on board video and don't require a video card. either way you have an AGP slot there so it's pointless looking at any video card that isn't AGP. That said yes AGP is being phased out and PCI express is in. Everyone has PCI slots, don't mistake these with PCIexpress slots. Just think of PCI express as the new AGP. It simply runs higher bandwith to the motherboard etc. resulting in your computer being able to utilise a better gfx card.

All that said I would recommend the following. If you are on a budget and you don't want to overhaul your system (basically buying a new computer) then go for an AGP card that has at least 256 meg memory and as stated above you would be unlucky to spend anymore than $300 for a "top of the range" AGP card anyhow seeing as they don't make top of the range ones for AGP anymore.

If you have money lying around like toilet paper then get yourself a computer that has a pci express slot cause all new gfx cards that are going to come out will support that type of slot.

BTW those PCI 1-5 slots you have run things such as tv tuner cards, sound cards, and ethernet cards (add on cards).

If/when you do get a new gfx card, make sure you install the nvidia/ati drivers(depending on what type of card it is) and update the drivers (this can be done manually through the website or sometimes there is an icon in your taskbar that will link your internet explorer with the appropriate download page). You'll just need to download the right drivers that being usually the ones for your type of gfx card and windows operating system.

PM me if you need anymore help, GFX cards are one of the easiest components to install into a computer, I"ve done it countless times. IF you live in or near brisbane I'll even do it for a beer.

Cheers

ok so i bought an ATI X1950 512mb on saturday, turns out its either the AGP Port on the motherboard, or the entire motherboard...

gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay...

My mate had a motherboard from his old pc lying around so im gonna use that... apparently its better than the one i had and as i bought a new case his brother is gonna transfer everything for me. i tried myself but got soooooooo lost...

so ive got a $335 video card which wasnt needed... ohwell i guess i dont need to upgrade anytime soon...

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Similar Content

  • Latest Posts

    • Keen to see the turbosmart data, to date I've only seen negative things in terms of response for them. Very small sample size though.     Hawkins is a big advocate in his videos of the larger rear housings. I managed to make similar power with a lower spec motor on the smaller .8 rear, keeping decentish spool.  The people he works with now are big power cars compared to mine though, mine really is setup to drive around and enjoy.  I don't have any back pressure monitoring though, so couldn't say if its good or bad on my car, just that it does what I want it to do.   Future I want a higher compression more cubes motor to give a bit more bottom end and hopefully the new g35-1150 gets me to the 850 rear comfortably.  But maybe I won't due to exhaust back pressure.
    • No, I refuse to buy their cheap ass crap! I do need to order a bunch of different nuts/bolts to refill my nut/bolt wall though. Maybe you could go for a walk through Bunnings for me? (Or send me some stuff from your work? )   I really struggle to work out how the US standardised to Metric in what the 70s or 80s, and yet, half a century later, there's been little done to actually bring it into fruition. It truly baffles me    On the whole Fastenal thing, I went reading their site (My god they sell a lot of varied stuff!), and it seems like it really depends what store you're near if you can walk in and just grab a few small things, or if that branch is primarily distribution with only a small window of "counter time" available (if at all). That definitely makes it harder, as move locations and it drastically changes your ability for success   For things like your M6x1.0, if you want to work on your own Skyline, and you also have a "home workshop" I'd recommend setting yourself up a small Nut/Bolt wall/section. It doesn't even need to be big at all. Most things depending on the diameter, will be a specific pitch, like the M6x1, M5x0.7 etc. Bigger bolts is mostly 1.5, except for a small number of things and that will come down to torque. From memory bolts for the brake calipers (and other things that need a lot of torque) will end up being a 1.25mm pitch. Save up a few dollars, and order a range of nuts/bolts. If you want to minimise cost a little, buy something like M6 x 40, and M6x70mm (1mm pitch) in both. In addition, buy yourself an M6x1mm thread chaser. That way you have long bolts that you can cut down to size, and then chase the threads out. Funnily enough, I find what I'd pay here for ordering 5 bolts, I can pay about 50% more and you'll get 100 of them.   If that doesn't quite work out due to space / ability to buy plenty up front, then each time you need some bolts, order 100 of what ever you're getting. Put them in clearly marked containers. Over a few years, you'll acquire plenty of different sizes, and will end up ordering less and less. And the cost for 100 bolts won't be much more than you paid for your 5 you needed to order anyway  Just takes a little planning ahead, by investigating what nuts/bolts you'll need, and ordering them before doing the job.     Edit: If it's also primarily for working on just the Skyline, for some reason my brain is screaming that at some point, either Nissan, Nismo, (Or possibly a third party) was selling a "kit" of every nut and bolt in a Skyline, purely for people restoring/rebuilding. It'd likely be quite expensive, but would give you every/any nut/bolt you need for stock/factory things. I'm not sure if it's still available, or even if it actually fully came to market, it's just something niggling in the back of my brain that you could look into further if that sort of thing interested you? (It might have been for the R32 GTR or something specifically too, and not just any Skyline)
    • 90lb/min @ 20psi is wonderful, not so much of a problem with the G35-1050's compressor efficiency (aside from how bad they roll back at higher pressure ratios).  The issue is more to do with the turbine's flow, which is why I'm not sold on going an even higher flowing compressor with the same turbine.  I'd say go back over Motive DVD's testing of the G35 1050 and Hawkins's comments regarding exhaust back pressure issues with it, I'd need to go back but I have in my head he went to the biggest hotside and ended up sacrificing a lot of spool (so it ended up behaving like a bigger turbo) and still had EMAP issues.  I've heard various other experiences along the lines of that. At this stage at least I rate all I've seen about Xonas (for transparency I've not used one directly, but I have spoke plenty with people who have) to have low exhaust restriction for the response they offer for any given setup - basically they allow the engine to breathe, which is good for the engine and makes making power a lot easier.  You arguably don't have to even push quite the same amount of airflow through an engine to make the same power if you don't have the bum plugged up with exhaust gas struggling to escape the engine due to an underflowing turbine.   In terms of reliability, to be fair I've had great luck with Garrett turbos as well - my GT3076R lasted forever, then I sold it and the next owner had no issues, then that car got sold and it was still going strong last I ever heard about it.  The trick is with the old GT-series turbos the compressors etc were no way near as efficient as what we have these days, it was almost hard to push them into severe overspeed situations without having a boost leak or something - and that is what often starts the failure situation.    In terms of your G35 I'm pretty sure you're running yours within sensible limits, something people with Xonas and Precision turbos aren't often so inclined to do.  The "compressor maps" are "Joe blogs ran 45psi through his 6466 so I can do the same" and built their setup to send it to the moon.  I've seen EMAP and compressor speed data where people have actually set that stuff up on Precisions and Xonas which have been run hard and the comp speed numbers are very very exciting at times - like I've seen 76mm Precisions run at rpm that you ideally shouldn't run a G35 1050 lol.   I know people who have run G-series Garretts hard and hard a failure, then replaced them with Pulsar turbos as a cheap "get it going" stop gap with the intent of doing a proper upgrade when THAT fails... and are still running the same thing.   Like anything, ymmv and it's not always to do with the quality or trustworthiness of said product. I've been provided with a bunch of compressor maps for Turbosmart turbos and will update my list based off that, they could prove to interesting reading and an interesting alternative as well.
    • Just cage it, call it a race car, and then fall in love with the chirp chirps through pit area!   Also, this is coming from someone with a completely locked diff...
    • I still have an old R32R left over from when they were a thing in the early 2000's. It was, for its time, done about right. But its time was 20 years ago.  I did try and update it a while back but it was cruelled by a (recommended) muppet of a tuna who couldnt tell his MAP from his TPS. The original spec was: Power FC, 700cc Sards, Nismo pump, 2860-5's, cams (Basically Poncam A's), Z32 AFM's and a half sorted oiling system. Thereabouts 430rwhp irrespective of what was done. So, yeah, very 1990's. I eventually got sick of it not being very refined and bought a Link G4 PNP with some 1000cc Bosch injectors. This was tuned badly and I put the car in the shed for a few years whilst I sulked and went and did other things. Ive come around to the idea of getting it going again so it has a new gearbox installed and some other minor things in the planning. So my questions are, variously (In the context of keeping the Link) What other sensors should I be running eg It has no wideband on it at the moment, nor fuel pressure. $? Is it worth chucking the old ignition system (ignitors etc) for new ignition coils? $2k? Cam/crank angle sensors? Can keep the aircon? $? Anything else? Sorry to launch another what should I do with my car thread but, you know, what should I do with my car? Random photo for historical context.
×
×
  • Create New...