Need the best mid-range card for my system

[lmao]

I bought a stock, complete computer from HP with a fairly crappy graphics card I want to replace sometime in the future. I'm not terribly proficient with computers, so I'm not sure what would be best or what would even run correctly with my specs. They are:

# Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium with Service Pack 1 (64-bit)
# Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Quad processor Q6600 (2.4GHz)
# 4GB DDR2-800MHz dual channel SDRAM (4x1024)
# 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 9500GS, DVI-I, VGA, HDMI
# 320GB 7200 rpm SATA 3Gb/s hard drive
# LightScribe 16X max. DVD+/-R/RW SuperMulti drive
# 15-in-1 memory card reader, 2 USB, 1394, video, audio
# ATSC-NTSC TV tuner with PVR, FM tuner, remote
# Integrated 7.1 channel sound w/front audio ports

I'm looking for something under $300. I hope this was enough info

 

[From_Nowhere]

For under $200 get an ATI Radeon HD 4850, and for ~$300 you can get a Nvidia GeForce GTX 260 or an ATI Radeon HD 4870.

Just make sure your power supply is sufficient enough to power those monster cards.

 

[ShadowFold]

First of all, you need a new PSU.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139004&Tpk=Corsair+550w

As for the GPU, go with the HD 4850!! Best card ever!
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814261018

 

[CrAsHnBuRnXp]

Get this card. I have it currently and I love it.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814143137

With a computer like yours and if your into games, this card is right for you.

If not, just get a 9600GT.

 

[Kursah]

What do you need out of the graphics? 9600GT's and GSO's are great cards in the 100-150 range for sure, you can snag a used 8800GTS 512 for 140-150 in the B/S/T section of this forum, but there's a time limit before you can participate in it iirc.

You could get an HD4850 for around 200 or HD4870 for around 300 from AMD/ATI, you could get a 9800GTX for around 180, 9800GTX+ for around 220, or the new GTX260 around 300. One thing you didn't list is the power supply in that pre-built...you may want to check it out for sure...make sure you have the correct power connections or enough connections if you get one of the newer cards that requires 2 6-pin or adapted to 8-pin plug ins for the vid power.

Check out the PSU, hopefully it'll have an Amp rating for the 12v (may have more than one 12v, it'll be 12v1, 12v2, etc)...that is important...

Depending on what you need an hd4850 may be just fine though, it's a powerful card for the money and currently one of the best bang for the buck cards out there.

Hope that helps!

 

[wolf]

4870, you wont be dissapointed.

 

[ShadowFold]

4870, you wont be dissapointed.

He will be when his OEM psu explodes

 

[oli_ramsay]

lol, I think you should go for the 4850, awesome card and probably the best bang-for-buck (apart from the 9600GT which isn't as powerful)

 

[Scrizz]

4850

 

[DrunkenMafia]

A couple of things you should consider before buying anything:

1. Is your case a tower case ie. vertical case or is is a flat desktop case. If you have the latter then a lot of gfx cards will not fit.

2. Do you play games etc. I imagine you do or you really wouldn't need to upgrade.

3. Check your power supply specs. All of the cards metioned above req a min of ~450watts psu.

4. What size monitor do you have?? If you only have a 19" monitor then you really do not need a HD4870 or 260 etc....

My opinion would be to buy a HD4850 or 9800GTX, these can both be had for under $200 in US. But your psu would be the big factor.

 

[wolf]

He will be when his OEM psu explodes

i wouldnt put any modern card in a sytem with a crap oem psu, its a given. thats been the major advice in this thread so far so i skipped to the gfx.

 

[P4-630]

AMD certified power supplies for single videocards

http://ati.amd.com/products/certified/powersupplies.html