Upgrading video card

Brawn · 06-05-2008, 12:49 PM

Ok i am wanting to upgrade my video card but im having trouble finding the info on my mother board and what kinda video slot i need for my video card. I'm looking at geforce 8800 video card but wanna make sure ill be able to use it on my mother board. I had a friend build this computer and he explained what he was doing as he was doing it so i would say i have a basic knowledge of computers, better than average. So i am upgrading my computer for the game age of conan mmorpg. Any help in making sure im getting a video card that works with my motherboard and any input on video card choices for my intended purpose would be GREATLY appreciated. Thank you for any help you post for me.

**The_Other_One** · 06-05-2008, 12:55 PM

http://img.zdnet.com/techDirectory/PCXSLOTS.GIF

There's a nice little comparison of the slots. There are also programs such as CPUz (tells you most everything about your computer; perhaps search for the chipset model and see if it uses PCI Express) or GPUz (will tell what the current video card is, but realize if you're upgrading from onboard, you may not have anything more than PCI available)

Brawn · 06-05-2008, 01:16 PM

ok i looked my motherboard up from my newegg.com order history. it has 1 PCI express x16 slot and 3 PCI slots. Am i able to add a card to the PCI slots to enhance performance or is a new video card necessary to upgrade. i dont understand the multiple slots.

**The_Other_One** · 06-05-2008, 01:22 PM

The new card will go into the PCI Express x16 slot. The others are for other cards; sound, networking, video, etc. The PCI Express x16 slot is the fastest connection of those in the machine and is what you should use to upgrade the video card.

Brawn · 06-05-2008, 01:31 PM

im looking at the geforce 8800 512 mb card. it says PCI Express 2.0 x16. this is just a regular PCI Express x16 slot right? or is there multiple types of these slots? also there are different types of geforce 8800 cards. how do i know what 1 to choose and what is the difference considering they vary greatly in price. besides the ram that is. cause 512's have different prices

Steelshivan · 06-05-2008, 01:59 PM

Your regular PciE slot will work with that PciE 2.0 video card. They are backwards compatible with each other.

PciE 2.0 offers twice the bandwidth capability that regular PciE offers. But that is the catch, the maximum capability. Since that video card's total bandwidth operation is still within regular PciE slot capability, you're good to go.

As for differences in prices, they generally are in reference to different brands like any other product, but also built-in overclocking. An overclocked video card will be the same as a stock one, but it has already been overclocked. You are paying a little extra for this. Evga is a good brand and it also has the step-up program for a more convenient way to upgrade your video cards over time. There are several excellent brands out there however.

Brawn · 06-05-2008, 02:02 PM

newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127329
this is the card i am looking at. if you think there is a better one i should get for this price range, im open-minded to any input. As previously stated im am playing age of conan and i am looking for a card that kicks ass and wont be needed to be upgraded anytime soon while staying in the approx. 200 dollar range. o and btw i have no clue how to overclock a vidoe card. this is what i am running now(info from belarc advisor.)Radeon X1300/X1550 Series [Display adapter]
Radeon X1300/X1550 Series Secondary [Display adapter]

Brawn · 06-05-2008, 06:13 PM

ok this is the card i am wanting to get newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127329
the customer reviews is saying that it requires 2 slots. i need to actually have 2
pcie slots for this card?

Nevakonaza · 06-05-2008, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brawn

ok this is the card i am wanting to get newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127329
the customer reviews is saying that it requires 2 slots. i need to actually have 2
pcie slots for this card?

no you need 1pci-e slot but it takes 2x of those back plates on the back of your case.

look on the second picture and you will see

Brawn · 06-05-2008, 07:31 PM

o ok. so it will still work on any computer with a pcie slot then right? i have the removable plates in the back which im assuming is for extra slots. so im thinking i wont need to purchase anything extra for this. right?

06-05-2008, 12:49 PM	#1 (permalink)
Brawn New Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Sweetwater Texas Posts: 11	Upgrading video card Ok i am wanting to upgrade my video card but im having trouble finding the info on my mother board and what kinda video slot i need for my video card. I'm looking at geforce 8800 video card but wanna make sure ill be able to use it on my mother board. I had a friend build this computer and he explained what he was doing as he was doing it so i would say i have a basic knowledge of computers, better than average. So i am upgrading my computer for the game age of conan mmorpg. Any help in making sure im getting a video card that works with my motherboard and any input on video card choices for my intended purpose would be GREATLY appreciated. Thank you for any help you post for me.

06-05-2008, 12:55 PM	#2 (permalink)
The_Other_One Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lexington, NC Age: 24 Posts: 12,382	http://img.zdnet.com/techDirectory/PCXSLOTS.GIF There's a nice little comparison of the slots. There are also programs such as CPUz (tells you most everything about your computer; perhaps search for the chipset model and see if it uses PCI Express) or GPUz (will tell what the current video card is, but realize if you're upgrading from onboard, you may not have anything more than PCI available) __________________ Desktop * Athlon X2 4200 \| 2G RAM \| 160G HD \| 7600GT Laptop1 * C2D T5550 \| 3G RAM \| 120G HD \| Intel x3100 Laptop2 * C2D T5250 \| 2G RAM \| 160G HD \| Intel x3100

06-05-2008, 01:22 PM	#4 (permalink)
The_Other_One Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lexington, NC Age: 24 Posts: 12,382	The new card will go into the PCI Express x16 slot. The others are for other cards; sound, networking, video, etc. The PCI Express x16 slot is the fastest connection of those in the machine and is what you should use to upgrade the video card. __________________ Desktop * Athlon X2 4200 \| 2G RAM \| 160G HD \| 7600GT Laptop1 * C2D T5550 \| 3G RAM \| 120G HD \| Intel x3100 Laptop2 * C2D T5250 \| 2G RAM \| 160G HD \| Intel x3100

06-05-2008, 01:31 PM	#5 (permalink)
Brawn New Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Sweetwater Texas Posts: 11	im looking at the geforce 8800 512 mb card. it says PCI Express 2.0 x16. this is just a regular PCI Express x16 slot right? or is there multiple types of these slots? also there are different types of geforce 8800 cards. how do i know what 1 to choose and what is the difference considering they vary greatly in price. besides the ram that is. cause 512's have different prices Last edited by Brawn; 06-05-2008 at 01:35 PM.

06-05-2008, 02:02 PM	#7 (permalink)
Brawn New Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Sweetwater Texas Posts: 11	newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127329 this is the card i am looking at. if you think there is a better one i should get for this price range, im open-minded to any input. As previously stated im am playing age of conan and i am looking for a card that kicks ass and wont be needed to be upgraded anytime soon while staying in the approx. 200 dollar range. o and btw i have no clue how to overclock a vidoe card. this is what i am running now(info from belarc advisor.)Radeon X1300/X1550 Series [Display adapter] Radeon X1300/X1550 Series Secondary [Display adapter] Last edited by Brawn; 06-05-2008 at 02:08 PM.

06-05-2008, 01:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
Brawn New Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Sweetwater Texas Posts: 11	ok i looked my motherboard up from my newegg.com order history. it has 1 PCI express x16 slot and 3 PCI slots. Am i able to add a card to the PCI slots to enhance performance or is a new video card necessary to upgrade. i dont understand the multiple slots.

06-05-2008, 01:59 PM	#6 (permalink)
Steelshivan Gold Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 264	Your regular PciE slot will work with that PciE 2.0 video card. They are backwards compatible with each other. PciE 2.0 offers twice the bandwidth capability that regular PciE offers. But that is the catch, the maximum capability. Since that video card's total bandwidth operation is still within regular PciE slot capability, you're good to go. As for differences in prices, they generally are in reference to different brands like any other product, but also built-in overclocking. An overclocked video card will be the same as a stock one, but it has already been overclocked. You are paying a little extra for this. Evga is a good brand and it also has the step-up program for a more convenient way to upgrade your video cards over time. There are several excellent brands out there however.

06-05-2008, 06:13 PM	#8 (permalink)
Brawn New Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Sweetwater Texas Posts: 11	ok this is the card i am wanting to get newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127329 the customer reviews is saying that it requires 2 slots. i need to actually have 2 pcie slots for this card?

06-05-2008, 07:31 PM	#10 (permalink)
Brawn New Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Sweetwater Texas Posts: 11	o ok. so it will still work on any computer with a pcie slot then right? i have the removable plates in the back which im assuming is for extra slots. so im thinking i wont need to purchase anything extra for this. right?

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