Help with first time graphics card upgrade

Z

Zoltan

New Member
I recently bought an HP h8-1202, because it was on sale at a local store, and I am looking to upgrade the video card. I'm posting here in order to get some suggestions on video cards I should consider around 150-200 dollars that will work with my setup without requiring me to upgrade my psu, or anything else of that nature. The specs are:

Windows 7 Home premium 64bit

Intel [email protected]

8gb 1333 MHz DDR3 ram (2x4gb)

1.5t sata hard drive

Nvidia geforce gt520 with 1gb ddr3 dedicated

460W PFC AC power adapter

Pegatron 2ac2 motherboard

Thanks in advance for the help guys.
 
Ok, say I had about 75-100 dollars to spend on an upgraded power supply. What power supply would you recommend for me, and what video card would you suggest with the original 150-200 dollar allotment for the card.
 
So either of those cards will work fine with my motherboard as long as i get the upgraded power supply? If you had to pick one of the two cards, then which would you pick? I was looking at the 6870 already, but lots of people complain about the drivers messing up and causing system crashes. Also, thanks very much for your input.
 
Personally I would never go back to AMD. Their cards are fine for games, but for anything else they flat suck donkey.

the 6800 series is fine. a 6870 will probably out perform the 560, but a 560ti would beat it. Either of them will be a great card. And they will work with your motherboard and a CX 600.
 
In that case I guess I can just save up some extra cash and splurge on a 560 ti. Does it matter who the actual maker of the card is, because I looked up the 560 ti, and there were a bunch of different brands ZOTAC, MSI, PNY, EVGA, etc. If I went with a ti, would that psu be enough?
 
the CX 600 will power anything except the 590 and 690.

And the maker of the card is not important. It would be best to go for EVGA as they have the best warranties in the industry, but any brand will be fine.
 
Zoltan said:
In that case I guess I can just save up some extra cash and splurge on a 560 ti. Does it matter who the actual maker of the card is, because I looked up the 560 ti, and there were a bunch of different brands ZOTAC, MSI, PNY, EVGA, etc. If I went with a ti, would that psu be enough?
Click to expand...

Yep a CX 600 will power a 560 Ti just fine and I'd buy from EVGA, MSI or ASUS myself if buying an NVIDIA card. Used an MSI Twin Frozr II GTX 560 Ti once, beautiful card, well made, ran cool - recommended.
 
Also when it comes to installation I have only what I have read/seen on youtube. Until recently I was stricken with the fear that if I opened my case a random arc of static would leap from across the room and fry my board, and as a result I only just started being comfortable cleaning the inside. Other than taking the necessary precautions, anti-static wristband and such, is there any advice you guys could give me when taking out the PSU and video card and swapping in the new parts?
 
Zoltan said:
Also when it comes to installation I have only what I have read/seen on youtube. Until recently I was stricken with the fear that if I opened my case a random arc of static would leap from across the room and fry my board, and as a result I only just started being comfortable cleaning the inside. Other than taking the necessary precautions, anti-static wristband and such, is there any advice you guys could give me when taking out the PSU and video card and swapping in the new parts?
Click to expand...

You dont "need" an anti static wrist band you shouldnt be overly worried about static unless you are wearing like all wool or something. As long as you touch a solid metal part of your case (like the drive bay for instance) it will discharge any static you have built up if any.

In my 10 years of building computers iv never once taken any static precautions other than touching the case and have never had any failures as a result. I think people think too much about it.
 
G80FTW said:
You dont "need" an anti static wrist band you shouldnt be overly worried about static unless you are wearing like all wool or something. As long as you touch a solid metal part of your case (like the drive bay for instance) it will discharge any static you have built up if any.

In my 10 years of building computers iv never once taken any static precautions other than touching the case and have never had any failures as a result. I think people think too much about it.
Click to expand...

Agreed.
 
G80FTW said:
You dont "need" an anti static wrist band you shouldnt be overly worried about static unless you are wearing like all wool or something. As long as you touch a solid metal part of your case (like the drive bay for instance) it will discharge any static you have built up if any.

In my 10 years of building computers iv never once taken any static precautions other than touching the case and have never had any failures as a result. I think people think too much about it.
Click to expand...

Yeah to be honest I rarely use my anti static strap, it kind of gets in the way of things and it's a hassle if you need to go over to the other side of the room for example and get something because you have to disconnect and reconnect it. Easier just to touch a piece of grounded metal such as the case or a copper pipe or something.
 
CX isn't one of thier better units.
Both of these are much better. Better built/bronze/modular/more amps/and 5 or 7 yr warranty, which has more meaning with future upgrades, vs 2 yr. About the same price depending on where you buy them. If it's from here, and a person wanted to use the promo towards something, else they could get the ps and 4 days later use the emailed promo.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151095
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703036
Promo + mir + 7yr warranty makes the PCPC a very good deal.
 
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I guess I'll just take my computer into the kitchen and work on it on the counter top since the rest of the place is carpeted. Is the bronze certification just an energy efficiency rating?
 
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