i need a cheap card

[notsmart101]

well ive started to play the sims and command and conquer games again, and my intergraded graphics (nvidia geforce 6150se) are not cutting it. so whats a cheap card id say about 80 bucks or less that will be better....and i also only have a 250watt power supply so if you can show me one that runs on that amount of power thated be great

 

[Droogie]

8600 GT:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150247

 

[notsmart101]

thanks, any others that people would suggest...o and id also like it to be direct x10

 

[Droogie]

thanks, any others that people would suggest...o and id also like it to be direct x10

The 8600 GT is fully supports Directx10. For that price that's the only one I'd recommend.

 

[notsmart101]

i know i was just saying so people dont post a 7 series card

 

[Mez]

sorry for doing this but, you can go with a 7300gt =] directx9 but I love it! It can run bf2 very very well on medium-high settings. It could chew up sims =]

 

[kookooshortman55]

Hmmm for maybe $30 more I would go for the 8800GT or the 9600GT. Yes the 8600GT supports DX10 but it can barely run it. I have Company of Heroes, maxed out in DX9! and I still get like 22 fps. And that is on an overclock of 640/1600 over 540/1400 stock. So IMO the only reason I would go for the 8600GT is for the price and not the features. A better deal would be the 8800GT. A way better deal.

 

[notsmart101]

then i would have to replace my power supply and i dont have that kind of money....im going to check out what my local computer store has in stock now...ill let you know what i end up getting

 

[kookooshortman55]

Your PSU will be fine with the 8800GT. It only requires a 450W PSU with 24A on the 12V rail. I looked up every Rosewill 550W SL on NewEgg and they can all support the 8800GT.

 

[kookooshortman55]

I take that back. 400W and 26A.

http://www.computerforum.com/90110-power-recommendations-video-card.html

 

[notsmart101]

my power supply is only 250 watts haha....my choice is a 7300GT for 59 bucks but needs to be hooked up to the power supply so i dont think i can get that....a ati 2400 pro for 59 also or an 8500gt 512mb for 79.....im leaning towards the 8500gt....what do you think

or
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/nVidia-by-EVGA-e-GeForce-8600-GT-1GB-Graphics-Card-01G-P2-N795-TR/sem/rpsm/oid/218961/catOid/-13043/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

 

[kookooshortman55]

Did u change ur signature? Haha I read 550W somewhere.

 

[notsmart101]

yea i was going to get that but decided not to and never changed it back....sorry lol

 

[kookooshortman55]

Well, low end cards have a very small memory buffer. That one only has 128-bit. My card is 256MB and it works fine. 512MB is a little bit better and would be preferrable but not necessary at all. 1GB is pointless. Also look for a card that has GDDR3 memory. The one you linked has GDDR2. GDDR3 is faster and consumes less power. So basically, in an 8500/8600 GDDR3 memory with 512MB RAM. If a 256MB card is a lot cheaper go for it.

 

[jdbennet]

1) the 7300 absolutely sucks

2) "needs to be hooked up to the power supply" does it? my 8600 doesnt even need to be attatched to the psu?

dude just get a better psu

 

[bomberboysk]

EVGA 8800gs, $79.99 after mir.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130332

 

[jdbennet]

250w PSU!

 

[kookooshortman55]

Well I ran my 8600GT on a 250W PSU for about a month but I wouldn't recommend it. You can get an 8600 for about $80 and my 500W PSU was $50. What is your overall budget? I can find you a nice PCU+GPU or just GPU.

 

[jdbennet]

yah the 8600 reccomends 350w+

then again if it is a good psu, then maybe

 

[kookooshortman55]

Haha mine was a stock PSU with 14A on the 12V rail.