Help needed getting a new graphics card

[halpmepl0x]

Here's my system and graphics card info:

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System Information
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Time of this report: 5/17/2014, 09:14:47
       Machine name: ECKHARDT
   Operating System: Windows Vista™ Home Premium (6.0, Build 6001) Service Pack 1 (6001.vistasp1_gdr.101014-0432)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: HP-Pavilion
       System Model: NP238AA-ABA e9107c
               BIOS: BIOS Date: 04/28/09 16:39:33 Ver: 5.03
          Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU    Q8200  @ 2.33GHz (4 CPUs), ~2.3GHz
             Memory: 8190MB RAM
          Page File: 3192MB used, 13389MB available
        Windows Dir: C:\Windows
    DirectX Version: DirectX 10

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Display Devices
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        Card name: ATI Radeon HD 4350
     Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
        Chip type: ATI display adapter (0x954F)
         DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
   Display Memory: 3570 MB
 Dedicated Memory: 502 MB
    Shared Memory: 3067 MB
     Current Mode: 1920 x 1080 (32 bit) (60Hz)

I want to upgrade to Windows 7, I want to upgrade to DirectX 11, and I want to be able to play games in my monitor's full 1920 x 1080 instead of having to pick the lowest resolutions to get anywhere near decent performance. With those in mind, does anyone have any graphics card recommendations? Also, I'd like to keep it under $300. Thanks!

[camerongray]

Personally I wouldn't go mental and get a really powerful card as you'll start to find your CPU is also a limitation in modern games.  I'd recommend something such as an NVIDIA GeForce 750ti.  You would also find that if you were to go above the 750ti to something like a 760 you would need to upgrade your power supply to cope which would be around and extra $70 for a quality unit, the 750ti on the other hand will be happy on your current 300w PSU.

You aren't going to get crazy performance in all games on a card like the 750ti but it will run pretty much everything at your full resolution, you may just need to turn down the detail settings on some more intensive games down to medium/high instead of ultra.

A card like this would do the job fine: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814487025

[halpmepl0x]

Personally I wouldn't go mental and get a really powerful card as you'll start to find your CPU is also a limitation in modern games.  I'd recommend something such as an NVIDIA GeForce 750ti.  You would also find that if you were to go above the 750ti to something like a 760 you would need to upgrade your power supply to cope which would be around and extra $70 for a quality unit, the 750ti on the other hand will be happy on your current 300w PSU.

You aren't going to get crazy performance in all games on a card like the 750ti but it will run pretty much everything at your full resolution, you may just need to turn down the detail settings on some more intensive games down to medium/high instead of ultra.

A card like this would do the job fine: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814487025

Thanks, sounds reasonable.

[jackj]

If you're on a low budget, you can always use a 660ti boost