~Help with Graphics Card Urgent~

[EveritteP0]

I have no graphics card, because I bought one and it wasn't compatible, so I can't play the game I want. I have The Sims 3 (requirements below), and I can't figure out what cards are useable with windows xp. I have a Gateway GT5026E http://www.shopping.com/xPF-Gateway-Refurbished-DC-2-8-1GB-25G-DVO-XPHGateway-GT5026E-Intel-Pentium-D-820-2-8GHz-Dual-Core-1GB-RAM. It has a PCI express x16. Can anyone help me with choosing the right, cheapest card?



NVIDIA GeForce series
FX 5900, FX 5950
6200, 6500, 6600, 6800
7200, 7300, 7600, 7800, 7900, 7950
8400, 8500, 8600, 8800
9600, 9800, GTX 260, GTX 280

ATI Radeon™ series
9500, 9600, 9800
X300, X600, X700, X800, X850
X1300, X1600, X1800, X1900, X1950
2400, 2600, 2900
3450, 3650, 3850, 3870
4850, 4870

Intel® Extreme Graphics
GMA X3x00 series

[Griff]

well.. the cheapest isn't the best way to go. The better way to do this is to ask "How much do you want to spend on this?" Give a budget and I can help ya pick out a good one. You might want to give you RAM a bump up too.

[EveritteP0]

I don't really want to spend more than $100. (I know more higher end ones are expensive, but im kinda just looking for the bare minimum.) So I'd say around $50-$125?

[Griff]

One last thing. Some video crads need extra power, which means you needs a Power supply that can give another power for the card. Can you look inside the case and see how much power that thing has? It should be something like 300w.

[EveritteP0]

Yep, its 300w.

[computeruler]

I dont think your motherboard supports pcie x16 2.0.  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130461   If you had a better psu you could get a better gpu under $100, but I guess thats the best you can get with your psu.  Anything more will overwork it too much

[EveritteP0]

Will my current RAM support the 6800?

[computeruler]

Uhhh ya.  Your computer is the original pcie x16 and so is that card.  It should be fine

[Calum]

PCI-Express is backwards and forwards compatible ...  a PCI-E v1 card will work in a 2.0 slot, and a 2.0 card will work in a 1.0 slot.
Unfortunately I don't have time to check out cards myself right now, if this thread is still not solved when I'm more awake I'll be back.

[EveritteP0]

Thanks everyone, I'm pretty sure I'm going with the NVidia 6800. Thanks for all your help.

[computeruler]

But, pretty much every pciex16 2 card is not going to work with a 300w psu.  And it would be slower.  I think theres more point for a pciex16 1 card.  Cheaper too.

[Calum]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814140095
Much newer, better performing and I believe it uses less power vs the 6800.
Also it's around the same price, cheaper with the rebate.

[EveritteP0]

that could work for different games, except it's not compatible with the sims 3. I already bought the 6800 anyway. But again, thanks for your help.

[2x3i5x]

that could work for different games, except it's not compatible with the sims 3. I already bought the 6800 anyway. But again, thanks for your help.

hd4670 should work with the sims 3 just fine, it's similar to the 4850 but with a slightly lower specs in exchange for lesser power usage and little lower performance but wonder why it wouldn't work with the sims 3 even though your list  don't have it listedf.

[computeruler]

It would work but not with that psu.  It needs at least 400w.