I just purchased a Dell new system...

3.0Gig P4
2.0 GB DDR
80 GB SATA drive

It comes with a crappy graphics card though. So I'll be replacing it immediately.

I need suggestions on which one to get. I'd like to be able to run just about any game out there, including BF2, without issues (obviously) and keep it under $300 if possible.

 

There are two main things you have control over that will affect how much horsepower is needed to drive a game. First is all of the various graphics options that most games let you turn up/down or on/off. Second is the resolution you want to play the game at.

For example, I'm probably in the minority now days but I'm still perfectly happy playing my games at 1024x768. At this resolution, I can pretty much crank all of the graphics options to their "high" or "max" settings and have what I consider good frame rates. If I wanted to play my games at 1280x1024 or 1600x1200, then I'd have to start turning down some of the graphics options in order to keep what I consider to be acceptable frame rates.

Now you may have alredy known all that. The reason I mentioned it is to set expectations. I really don't think you're going to be able to play games like FEAR and DOOM3 at high resolutions and high graphics settings with a 3.0 GHz P4 and a $300 graphics card.

But to answer your actual question, I'd go with a 256 MB card based on the nVidia 7800 GT. PCI Express, of course. You may run across a few cards in this configuration that are noticeably cheaper than most of the other ones. Pay attention because these likely don't use the fast GDDR3 memory.

BTW - My answer is based solely on out-of-the-box specs. It's possible to purchase lesser cards and unlock/overclock them to performance levels of higher up models. Only you can decide if you want to go that route.

 

i think hes fine to run anything with that setup and a 7800 GT. 2 gigs of ram is great, the 3.0 p4 im sure is good enough.

 

So then this one looks like a winner?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130256

 

eVGA should do you fine. They're probably one of the larger players in the video card market. My 6800GT is from them and I've never had an ouce of trouble with it.

 

BTW - With nVidia cards you almost always want to run the drivers from nVidia themselves and not the company that made your video card.

 

7800 is a great card

 

Good choice!

 

Don't forget to double check your power supply if it'll support your new card.

 

so i see you took my advice so far, good shyt....

what kind of motherboard does the pc have? and also what kind of video cards does it support... you GOTTA FIND OUT

edit : GO WITH THE 7800 ... that is like the best out there, and $250 is a great price

 

Not sure the exact type of motherboard it has. I know the card that comes with it is a PCI card. It's a Dell 5150 PC

 

Just as an FYI, you will not be able to watch HD video captured with Vista, HD-DVD, or Blue Ray DVD's through any video card that you can currently purchase off the shelf.

 

make sure it has a PCI-E slot, regulard PCI won't work

 

so steve? what'd u get? when u gonna hop on bf2

 

I checked before I purchased the order. It does in fact have a PCI-E card. It comes with a cheap ATI 128MB X300 card. I could have upgraded but the best cards Dell offered wouldn't cut it.

I ended up with a Dell 5150 with a P4 3.0Ghz, 2 GB of RAM, and a 160 GB SATA drive DVD-ROM and dual-layer DVD burner.

It comes with a 19" LCD which sells on ebay for $280. I don't need the monitor (because I already have the exact model) and there wasn't an option to purchase at this price without a monitor so I figured I'll just turn around and sell it.

Once I sell the monitor the total will be about $650 for the PC. Add on the graphics card for ~$250 and I'll have a new PC which I can play games on for $900.

 

Wow... just checked my email and the computer shipped on the 25th. I ordered it on the 23rd.

Looks like sometime in the next week I'll be up and running.

 

Bastard! Your new computer must have stolen the soul form my computer.

 

Anybody know someone who wants a brand new 19" Dell LCD?

 

How much?

 

I do also , went out to buy one today! no luck though

 

go buy bf2 and be ready!

 

PM sent Ken.

 

Okay got my computer today. It came with a 305W power supply. Guess I have to replace that too.

Are there compatability issues with different power supplies?

 

not really, just be sure there is plenty of room. I had to upgrade my computer's power supply when I got my ati AIW 9700 pro, and it has like 25 plugs for stuff on the inside, almost not enough room for all the excess cables.

 

hope thats supposed to be 350 and not 305. and just make sure there are connectors for your fans and MB on the psu

 

No it's 305.

 

yeah on my old HP I had a bunch of stuff installed and ended up killing the power supply as I didn't realise it was so small.