Upgrading videocard

[Animositisomina]

I'm looking into upgrading the videocard for my desktop PC, but I'm curious just how "new" I can go that my system will actually be able to handle. In other words, could I upgrade to something like the nVidia GeForce GTX 400 series, or only the 200 series? Or something else entirely? (I much prefer nVidia, but I'm willing to try ATi if it's worthwhile to switch)

 

My current specs:

 

Power Supply: 650 watts

Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 @ 2.66GHz

Memory: 2GB System RAM

Hard Drive: 250GB

Video Card: GeForce 9600 GT

Operating System: Windows XP Home SP3

Motherboard: ASUS P5N-E SLI

 

So, given that... what do you think my system could handle for a new videocard?

[urbex]

I think a 460 would work nicely, anything more powerful would be bottlenecked by your CPU. A 5770 would probably be better suited but I'd steer clear of ATi's drivers.

Your MoBo/PSU are fine, try overclocking your C2D? You can pick up a great heatsink for $20. Should probably drop $50 on 4GB of ram.

[Animositisomina]

I think a 460 would work nicely, anything more powerful would be bottlenecked by your CPU. A 5770 would probably be better suited but I'd steer clear of ATi's drivers.

Your MoBo/PSU are fine, try overclocking your C2D? You can pick up a great heatsink for $20. Should probably drop $50 on 4GB of ram.

 

Not sure about upgrading the RAM, since I use Windows XP. Most of that 4gb would go to waste, and I don't really want to switch to Vista or 7. I'm looking at the 460's on Newegg, surprised how low-priced they are. Just over $150, which is actually cheaper than what I originally paid for my current 9600 GT.

Edited January 12, 2011 by Animositisomina

[JimboUK]

I think a 460 would work nicely, anything more powerful would be bottlenecked by your CPU. A 5770 would probably be better suited but I'd steer clear of ATi's drivers.

Your MoBo/PSU are fine, try overclocking your C2D? You can pick up a great heatsink for $20. Should probably drop $50 on 4GB of ram.

 

There has been nothing wrong with ATIs drivers for many years.

[urbex]

I think a 460 would work nicely, anything more powerful would be bottlenecked by your CPU. A 5770 would probably be better suited but I'd steer clear of ATi's drivers.

Your MoBo/PSU are fine, try overclocking your C2D? You can pick up a great heatsink for $20. Should probably drop $50 on 4GB of ram.

 

There has been nothing wrong with ATIs drivers for many years.

Did 10.12 fix that?

 

 

 

 

:3

[Feltmarskal]

I think a 460 would work nicely, anything more powerful would be bottlenecked by your CPU. A 5770 would probably be better suited but I'd steer clear of ATi's drivers.

Your MoBo/PSU are fine, try overclocking your C2D? You can pick up a great heatsink for $20. Should probably drop $50 on 4GB of ram.

 

There has been nothing wrong with ATIs drivers for many years.

Did 10.12 fix that?

 

 

 

 

:3

Why should there be anything wrong?

[Paxan_1]

Hi,

would suggest a 460 or a 5770 too. Here in Germany the 5770 is around 100€ and the 460 around 140€. For 10€ more you can have a HD6850. If you prefer NVidia go for the 460.

 

Paxan