Upgrading Video Card, need advice

[Ares82]

Hey guys, I'm looking to upgrade my 2GB GeForce 8800 GT to something better.

Right now I'm running

Dual Core 3.0 Ghz AMD Athlon 6000+
4 GB Ram

With 64 Bit Windows 7.

Looking for a decent Vid Card around $150 for gaming purposes.

If it matters I tend to run my games at 1680 x 1050 resolution.

 

[Hefemeister]

In that price rang you are looking at:
Newegg.com - XFX HD-487A-ZWFC Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards from ATI

For a bit more you can pick up a gtx260 if you are partial to Nvidia.

What psu do you have?

 

[Ares82]

That's my PSU

Newegg.com - XION XON-500F8X2-201 500W ATX Ver2.2 SLI Ready Power Supply - Power Supplies

Looks like it has enough power to support that ATI card

 

[Hefemeister]

Just barely

ATI Radeonâ„¢ HD 4870 System Requirements

* PCI Express® based PC is required with one X16 lane graphics slot available on the motherboard
* 500 Watt or greater power supply with two 75W 6-pin PCI Express® power connectors recommended (600 Watt and four 6-pin connectors for ATI CrossFireX™ technology in dual mode)

ATI Radeonâ„¢ HD 4800 Series - System Requirements

 

[Ares82]

Would you recommend getting that card then, if my PSU is only barely meets the minimum requirement? Or is there another video card of slightly lesser quality that might fit my PSU better?

 

[Muffin Man]

4770 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150369&cm_re=4770-_-14-150-369-_-Product

or the faster

4850 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150337&cm_re=4850-_-14-150-337-_-Product

 

[Burn]

I'd say stick with your 8800gt and save for something better, maybe in the $200-225 range. Spending $100 to upgrade to a 4850/4770 just isn't worth it IMO...

 

[Ares82]

Yeah, but if I do that, then I'd have to upgrade my PSU as well, which is going to be another $50 probably. But I'll think about that. Maybe there'll be something on Newegg for Cyber Monday sales.