Upgrading Graphics

[egobirchy]

Hi all, this is my first post on here, so please be patient! :welcome:

I'm running a P4 2.4Ghz - 1024mb RAM with an nVidia GE 440 Graphics card.

I'm considering upgrading the graphics card as I've already boosted the HDD (up from 60gb to 180gb) and the RAM from 512 to 1024mb - and enjoy playing games such as Half Life 2, Ghost Recon, Far Cry etc.

At the moment I don't notice any problems in game at all - I'm wondering whether I'll actually notice the difference if I whack in, say an ATI 9600?

Any recommendations? I'm not the type of person to spend 300-400USD (200GBP) on a card - but it looks like there's some good ones at about 170USD (100GBP).

Also - can anyone recommend a free benchmarking programme that I can use to measure the 'before' and 'after' performance of my computer. If I spend a load of money and can't see the improvement, I'd at least like to have some stats that tell me things are heaps better! :)

[night8jim]

Firstly welcome to the forums :welcome:

I would get a 6600GT its good value and you would notice a big differance, also try using 3DMark01, 03, 05, these are good benchmarking programs.

[egobirchy]

Thanks night8jim, I'll try that benchmarking programme and give the card some consideration. I'd still be interested to know what tangible differences I can expect to notice.

Thanks again

[Jacobman]

Yea i would 2nd the 6600gt. Some good brands are XFX, evga and leadtek. And the difference would absolutely blow you away.

[egobirchy]

Right - having read your comments and a load of web reviews - I'm sold on the 6600GT.

The next (and hopefully final) question is whether to plump for 128mb or 256mb.

Not being an expert on these things, it seems weird that the 128mb card out-performs the 256mb one? Is this right? Should I really be plumping for one with half the memory of the other?

On another topic - can anyone say anything useful about screen resolution. Various reviews i'm reading talk of this card supporting higher screen resolution etc. To my experience - there's no point upping the resolution unless you get a bigger monitor...else it just mucks up the proportions of things and makes the in game objects appear small. Does this make sense, or am i missing something fundamental here?

[stang8118]

I would also go with the 6600gt. Or if you can find one cheap enough i would go for a 6800nu. Some of those can be unlocked to 16 pipes fromt eh stock 12 pipes, and perform about 35-40% faster then a 6600gt (if unlocked).

[Sentential]

The 6800GS is another card you might want to take a look at. It is a great deal faster and is within that price range as well (150-199)

Also, :welcome: to the fourms!

[Chickenfeed]

To awnser that it would help know what type of monitor your have (LCD or CRT)
and what you plan on being able to do. I belive the sweet for that card for the current generation of games is 1024x768 and any monitor should do that.

[egobirchy]

CRT monitor (I think)
Thanks all for your views. Reading around it seems very clear the 6600GT and 6800 are very popular, but its great to have 'real people' recommending.

Thanks for your welcomes too. I'll be doing the install in the next 10 days so i'll let you know how i get on.

Thanks

[egobirchy]

Update: Gigabyte 6600GT card bought from dabs.......soooo excited. :clap:

[night8jim]

You will be very happy with it.

[Xoligy]

yeah i have the 6600gt and im pleased with it ;)

[PhoenixOfChaos]

Welcome to the forums!


The 6600 is quite possibly the best budget card that I've ever seen. I dont think you'll regret it.

[JimmyHa]

I go w/ a 6800le. Unlock a quad or two if your lucky and enjoy your 6800nu. 6800le is hard to find, but its cheaper and faster than a 6600gt.

[egobirchy]

All - I said I'd let you know when 'it was done'
It is done.
6600GT is in the house!
It looks good. Had to go out and get a Y molex connnector, but now I'm sorted.
My 3D mark score has gone from 200 with the old card (it would only run the first game test) to 7880 or something in that order - and some of the graphics on that test looked amazing.
Haven't had chance to test the in game graphics at any length yet - but have noticed my Half Life 2 auto-detect settings have all whizzed yup to 'High'. Far Cry only seems to make it to medium though which is a shame.
Still - I'm happy. Thanks for all the advice. My next challenge will undoubtedly be doing a bit of overclocking - its all greek to me, but if i can safely squeeze a bit more performance out of the card then I will!

[Brood_Star]

Overclocking the 6600GT is so fun. Above Average overclocker.