Need a midrage/high end video card

[halogramps]

heres the low down. im buying this computer:

HP Pavilion Media Center TV PC (M8100N)

HP   M8100N
• AMD Athlon 64 X2 5600+
• 500GB hard drive
• 3GB of DDR2 memory
• Windows Vista Premium

and id like to install a video card since it only comes with an NVIDIA® GeForce™ 6150 SE graphics card and 623MB of video memory—128MB dedicated and I had a few questions.

Im assuming this card uses Directx 9, so if i were to buy a Direct x10 card (im looking at the GeForce 8600 GTS with 256MB GDDR3 memory) and have both installed will i effectively have 320 MB of video memory or will the Directx 9 card just be taking up space in my tower?

Is the 8600 gts the right choice? Im not looking to build a power house, I just want a  PC that will play games in a fairly high to higest resolution for the next couple years (especially Crysis).

Speaking of Crysis, should I be able to run it in high resolution with this setup?
Here are the unofficial but realitic specs:

Recommended Requirements
CPU: Dual-core CPU (Athlon X2/Pentium D)
Graphics: Nvidia 7800GTX/ATI X1800XT (SM 3.0) or DX10 equivalent
RAM: 1.5Gb
HDD: 6GB
Internet: 512k+ (128k+ upstream)
Optical Drive: DVD
Software: DX10 with Windows Vista

Also, am I only limited to Nvidia or would an ATI card work as well?

That is all I suppose. My main concern is compatability issues between the two video cards. Thanks for reading and hopefully for the clarifications.

[TehGerg]

from what i have heard the 8600 is a great card for midrange gaming i have an 8800 gts 640mb version and i love it. 

[halogramps]

haha dude, i apreciate the post but you didnt answer any of the questions. you just bragged about your $600 video card.

[TehGerg]

my video card wasn't 600$ i wasn't bragging merely stating that i am happy with it.  If you don't want someones opinion then don't ask for it.  I told you that the 8600 was a good video card

The 8600 is only 2 steps below my card....... and they are not giant steps from what i have read.

[TehGerg]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130071
this is what i have see the price tag

This is what i thought we were discussing
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130086

[Chilly]

TehGreg, the 8600 GTS is a pretty good card and if that is your budget, then I would recommanded it to you. If you have a 100 bucks around somewhere, like the 2nd post in the newegg review you can get the 8800 GTS 320MB. But the difference between the 2 cards that are a major problem to you is that the 8600 is meant for videos such as hooking up a TV on it while the 8800 series are for games such as yourself

[honvetops]

alright, I'll be the jerk here, thats a waste of money on a 8600 card with the type of premium hardware you will be getting, I would go for more pipe lines in a gts card at least. That cpu will be laying on a recliner in nap stage with the 8600. I wouldn't nag on  TehGreg  too much, he might just bale you out some day on *issues.......

[halogramps]

good call chilly, i might get that 8800 but just wait a few months to see if prices go down. Nvidia should make a card bridging the gap between the 8600 and 8800 though. But Directx 10 hasn't been out for long so hopefully they'll be cheaper by the time Crysis comes out. Ill just play CS till then.

[Calum]

Im assuming this card uses Directx 9, so if i were to buy a Direct x10 card (im looking at the GeForce 8600 GTS with 256MB GDDR3 memory) and have both installed will i effectively have 320 MB of video memory or will the Directx 9 card just be taking up space in my tower?

You should disable your onboard video when you get your new card to avoid problems.
You will then just have the 8600GTS, or whatever card you get, and that card's video memory, in this case 256Mb, not 320Mb.

Is the 8600 gts the right choice? Im not looking to build a power house, I just want a  PC that will play games in a fairly high to higest resolution for the next couple years (especially Crysis).

Speaking of Crysis, should I be able to run it in high resolution with this setup?
Here are the unofficial but realitic specs:

Recommended Requirements
CPU: Dual-core CPU (Athlon X2/Pentium D)
Graphics: Nvidia 7800GTX/ATI X1800XT (SM 3.0) or DX10 equivalent
RAM: 1.5Gb
HDD: 6GB
Internet: 512k+ (128k+ upstream)
Optical Drive: DVD
Software: DX10 with Windows Vista

An 8600GTS is about equivalent to either of those cards.  I wouldn't say you'd be able to run it at max details or anything, but it should run fairly well.

Also, am I only limited to Nvidia or would an ATI card work as well?

Either would work fine.

As has been said, you may want to go for a better video card.
How much do you have to spend on this upgrade?

[TehGerg]

Sorry