I Need Help In Buying A New Vid Card

davidlee928 · 16-06-2008, 01:58 PM

Hi

i want to learn about computer hardware and stuff because i consider myself a gamer...i guess everyone needs to start from somewhere so i guess i'll start from here lol

Right now according to my friend i have a CRAP computer...these are the details for it:

Inte(R) Pentium(R) Dual CPU
E2160 @ 1.80 GHz
1.80 GHz, 1.00 GB of RAM
and i use a ATI Radieon HD 2400 series vid card

My first ever piece of hardware i might be buying is this vid card (OR GO TO THIS WEBSITE: http://www.itestate.com.au/products_...e=PD00005608):

ideo Card PCI-e (nV) 9600GT 1GB ASUS EN9600GT/HTDI/1G

Feature: - 1GB DDR3 memory on board
- ASUS Exclusive Glaciator Fansink
- HDMI Supported

Specification: Graphics Engine NVIDIA GeForce 9600GT

Bus Standard PCI Express 2.0
Video Memory DDR3 1G
Engine Clock 650 MHz
Shader Clock 1625 MHz
Memory Clock 1.8 GHz ( 900 MHz DDR3 )

RAMDAC 400MHz
Memory Interface 256-bit
DVI Max Resolution 2560 x 1600
D-Sub Output Yes x 1 (via DVI to D-Sub adaptor x 1 )

DVI Output Yes x 2 (DVI-I)
HDMI Output Yes x 1 (via DVI to HDMI adaptor x 1 )

HDTV Output (YPbPr) Yes
HDCP Support Yes
TV Output Yes (S-Video to Composite)

Adapter/Cable Bundled 1 x DVI to D-Sub adaptor
1 x DVI to HDMI adaptor
1 x HDTV-out cable
1 x Power cable
1 x S/PDIF cable
Software Bundled ASUS Utilities & Driver

and i'll be getting it for $215 dollars (aus)

i was wondering...because this is like my first time...would this piece of equipment work on my computer?? or is there something that my computer doesnt match or have that can support this vid card??

ALSO last question!!!

About RAMS...i thought RAMS were just any chips that you get to shove into your computer somewhere...with the computer I HAVE what type of RAMS can i only use????

i'd appericate if someone took 10mins to help a noob out here

plz go easy on the technical words about computers because iam still new to this... THANK YOU ^^

Big B · 16-06-2008, 02:24 PM

The computer isn't crap. The Pentium E line is based on the same silicon of the Core 2's. It has less cache and a slower FSB, but the Pentium E is vastly superior to other Pentium 4/D's because of it's architecture.

1GB is a little on the low side for RAM, and given the low price of DDR2, you could likely bump it up to 2GB for next to nothing.

The GeForce 9600GT would be a nice bump from the Radeon HD 2400, as that particular Radeon is the low-end for the 2x00 series. Most likely you're set with a PCIe (PCI Express) x16 slot. Info here.

The only concern I have is the power supply you have in there currently. I don't know who built it, but given the low-end video card, I'd bet it's very likely not meant to run a power house rig. You'll have to crack the case open to see what the label says on the unit. If your power supply isn't up to task, you can run into things like instability all the way up to hardware damage, particularly if it's a shoddy unit.

16-06-2008, 01:58 PM	#1 (permalink) Top
davidlee928 Geek Trainee Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 1 Status: Offline	I Need Help In Buying A New Vid Card Hi i want to learn about computer hardware and stuff because i consider myself a gamer...i guess everyone needs to start from somewhere so i guess i'll start from here lol Right now according to my friend i have a CRAP computer...these are the details for it: Inte(R) Pentium(R) Dual CPU E2160 @ 1.80 GHz 1.80 GHz, 1.00 GB of RAM and i use a ATI Radieon HD 2400 series vid card My first ever piece of hardware i might be buying is this vid card (OR GO TO THIS WEBSITE: http://www.itestate.com.au/products_...e=PD00005608): ideo Card PCI-e (nV) 9600GT 1GB ASUS EN9600GT/HTDI/1G Feature: - 1GB DDR3 memory on board - ASUS Exclusive Glaciator Fansink - HDMI Supported Specification: Graphics Engine NVIDIA GeForce 9600GT Bus Standard PCI Express 2.0 Video Memory DDR3 1G Engine Clock 650 MHz Shader Clock 1625 MHz Memory Clock 1.8 GHz ( 900 MHz DDR3 ) RAMDAC 400MHz Memory Interface 256-bit DVI Max Resolution 2560 x 1600 D-Sub Output Yes x 1 (via DVI to D-Sub adaptor x 1 ) DVI Output Yes x 2 (DVI-I) HDMI Output Yes x 1 (via DVI to HDMI adaptor x 1 ) HDTV Output (YPbPr) Yes HDCP Support Yes TV Output Yes (S-Video to Composite) Adapter/Cable Bundled 1 x DVI to D-Sub adaptor 1 x DVI to HDMI adaptor 1 x HDTV-out cable 1 x Power cable 1 x S/PDIF cable Software Bundled ASUS Utilities & Driver and i'll be getting it for $215 dollars (aus) i was wondering...because this is like my first time...would this piece of equipment work on my computer?? or is there something that my computer doesnt match or have that can support this vid card?? ALSO last question!!! About RAMS...i thought RAMS were just any chips that you get to shove into your computer somewhere...with the computer I HAVE what type of RAMS can i only use???? i'd appericate if someone took 10mins to help a noob out here plz go easy on the technical words about computers because iam still new to this... THANK YOU ^^

16-06-2008, 02:24 PM	#2 (permalink) Top
Big B HWF Godfather Join Date: Dec 2001 Age: 27 Male Posts: 9,589 Times Helpful: 584 My Mood: Devilish Status: Offline My Computer	The computer isn't crap. The Pentium E line is based on the same silicon of the Core 2's. It has less cache and a slower FSB, but the Pentium E is vastly superior to other Pentium 4/D's because of it's architecture. 1GB is a little on the low side for RAM, and given the low price of DDR2, you could likely bump it up to 2GB for next to nothing. The GeForce 9600GT would be a nice bump from the Radeon HD 2400, as that particular Radeon is the low-end for the 2x00 series. Most likely you're set with a PCIe (PCI Express) x16 slot. Info here. The only concern I have is the power supply you have in there currently. I don't know who built it, but given the low-end video card, I'd bet it's very likely not meant to run a power house rig. You'll have to crack the case open to see what the label says on the unit. If your power supply isn't up to task, you can run into things like instability all the way up to hardware damage, particularly if it's a shoddy unit. __________________ Hardware Forums\|HWF Rules\|My DVD's\|PSU FAQ\|HWF Folding Team\|2CPU

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