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New Video Card needed, strict requirements, help me choose a new one

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gryffinwings

New Member
Joined
Nov 30, 2011
Hi guys, I need a new graphics card because the current onboard grapics isn't cutting it, it is the Nvidia GeForce 6150SE chipset. The computer I'm using is a Acer Aspire AX1420G-U5832:

http://www.acer.com.tw/ac/en/US/content/model/PT.SGM02.002

I am limited buy needing something that will work with a 220 Watt PSU and needing to be a low profile video card, I also have only a PCI-E x16 v1.0. I've already started considering the following video card:

SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 6450 1GB 64-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.1 x16 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102933
 
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Well so far, I've been trying to calculate the wattage used buy my system, from one site I'm using around 201-204 watts:

http://www.thermaltake.outervision.com/Power

and this site says I'm using around 236.5 watts:
http://www.vbutils.com/power.php

No idea if those are accurate, but if they are even close, it would be a good idea anyways to upgrade the power supply and open up my choices in video cards, I know that Athena makes a 350 watt power supply, which I am very interested it. Now if I have 350 watt power supply, what does that open my options too as far as low profile cards?
 
How much GPU do you need?

That radeon is a decent card if your not planing to play alot of games on it.
 
I wouldnt worry about the PSU calculators...

Like SSJ asked, how much GPU do you need? What are you doing that the onboard isnt cutting it? Playing games?
 
I need a bit more than the GeForce 6150SE can provide. My current setup involves using a Sony Bravia 32" LCD TV as my monitor. At the highest resolution, it's still a bit grainy, and depending on the movie I'm watching, such as one on Netflix, I'm getting those horizontal line flickers. I've tried as much as I could dial it out with the Nvidia software settings, but it's still there.

Other things I do, are some lite gaming as well. Nothing hardcore, just some of the older games.
 
ssjwizard said:
Well the one you selected is pretty decent or if you prefer nvidia these would by my choices.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121475
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814134121
Click to expand...

So far I've been looking at the GT 520, looks more appealing and performs better than the ATI HD 6450.

The GT 430 happens to use around twice the amount of power than is required by the GT 520, not even sure if that would be a good idea without upgrading to a slightly better power supply.
 
Oh yeah, here's the specifications that I am working with on my computer.

GeForce 6150SE (MCP61, also known as C61) is an updated, single-chip version of the Nvidia GeForce 6100. The MCP61 uses less power than the original C51 2-chip version of 6100. Its onboard video outperforms the 6150 in many 3D benchmarks despite its lower core frequency (425 MHz), because of added hardware Z-culling.

MCP61 introduced a bug in the SATA NCQ implementation. As a result, Nvidia employees have contributed code to disable NCQ operations under Linux.[8]

Manufacturing process: 90 nm
Core Clock: 425 MHz
HT Bus = 2000 max
Vertex Processors: 1
Pixel Pipelines: 2
Shader Model: 3
DirectX support: v9
Outputs: VGA only




Now, what added benefits do I get from the GT 520? Other than it has higher performance. How does it make my screen look better than it does now?
 
It doesnt make your screen look better per say. Its just a more powerful card that can actually play a game or two.

And the specs we were after were the CPU, ram, PSU, etc. ;)
 
AMD Athlon II X4 3.1 ghz
4 GB DDR3
Nvidia GeForce 6150SE Integrates Graphics
220 watt power supply

I was thinking maybe the 6150SE is not really made for a TV screen and thatis why it is still not that good, what do you think? Or maybe because. It is really slow it's creating problems?
 
Here's another choice it has more ram which I think helps with smoothing out the video on larger displays. It also has more memory bandwidth.

Free 3DMark 11 download w/ purchase, limited offerMSI R6450-MD2GD3/LP Radeon HD 6450 2GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready Low Profile Ready Video Card. NEWEGG.COM $59.00.

You didnt say what your budget was.

AMD 555BE 3.2ghz, 16gb Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1600, HIS HD 6770 1gb, Logitech Z5500 5.1, Soundblaster Audigy Platinum, Proscan 37" 1080p.

I play a few older games, but use my system for Netflix and other online movies and music. Starcraft 2 is the newest game I have.
 
well im just going to chime in about the GT430, see my last pc in sig. i game on it and the 120watt pico psu is more then enough. now i dont game at high resolutions on that pc, mainly 1080p is for movies. i game at 720p to get decent FPS, i cant give real numbers. playing AC2 at 720P with everthing at high plus MSAA 2x, i get playable fps. i would highly suggest you get the GT430. the GT520 uses less power because it has less stream processors 48 vs 96. while the GT5xx have the updated PV engine. all it does is allow higher bit rates with movie streams, IE BD's. really this isnt enough to justify getting a GT520 over the GT430. here you can see a review that compares the GT520 to a few others in terms of HTPC usage.

if we could get it retail my pic would be the GT530 but it is oem only. should you want something with more power behind and still use it with your pc, check out the GT545.
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0366598
that happens to be the cheapest GT545 i can find, there is a PNY at BB for $149, which is also the same price as the EVGA GT545 at tigerdirect.
 
Evilsizer said:
well im just going to chime in about the GT430, see my last pc in sig. i game on it and the 120watt pico psu is more then enough. now i dont game at high resolutions on that pc, mainly 1080p is for movies. i game at 720p to get decent FPS, i cant give real numbers. playing AC2 at 720P with everthing at high plus MSAA 2x, i get playable fps. i would highly suggest you get the GT430. the GT520 uses less power because it has less stream processors 48 vs 96. while the GT5xx have the updated PV engine. all it does is allow higher bit rates with movie streams, IE BD's. really this isnt enough to justify getting a GT520 over the GT430. here you can see a review that compares the GT520 to a few others in terms of HTPC usage.

if we could get it retail my pic would be the GT530 but it is oem only. should you want something with more power behind and still use it with your pc, check out the GT545.
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0366598
that happens to be the cheapest GT545 i can find, there is a PNY at BB for $149, which is also the same price as the EVGA GT545 at tigerdirect.
Click to expand...

How do you get away with using just 120 watt PSU? What do you mean by pico PSU? What your saying doesn't make sense.

Also, remember, I have to use a low profile video card, the standard size cards will not fit at all.
 
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