Getting a few more miles out of an aging computer

[fredcdobbs]

My once great comp is now nearly three years old. I'd like to continue using it for gaming for another year. By that time the new OS will be established and I can purchase a new rig.

My system is 420 watt ps, P4 3.0, D875PBZ motherboard, 2GB DDR PC3200, SB Audigy 2 Platinum, 120 Seagate Hd, and ATI 9800 Pro 128 graphics card.

I'd like to be able to play Oblivion and other games at decent settings. Any advice on a new graphics card will be appreciated.

 

[dragokatzov]

erm, thats still a really good computer, and should run vista like a charm, may want to consider upgrading the video card though

 

[Lozzy_Ozzy]

Depending on your budget...

An nVidia 6800 GT is good for its money, but if you've got more money go for a more powerful one, maybe in the 7 series.

Someone else will know more about this than me though!

 

[fredcdobbs]

Depending on your budget...

An nVidia 6800 GT is good for its money, but if you've got more money go for a more powerful one, maybe in the 7 series.

Someone else will know more about this than me though!

Don't some of the 7800 nVidia series require some sort of separate power plug?

 

[dragokatzov]

yeah, but its just a regular power plug for an optical drive

 

[Zakharov]

As you currently have a 9800 pro, I believe it is safe to assume you have an AGP slot. In that case you have to rule out some of the best cards, but you can still buy a very good card. dragokatzov is correct, you still have a very nice machine. It must have cost you a sizeable amount 3 years ago. The graphics card is the only real weak link.

The best card available for AGP is, I believe, the Nvidia GeForce 7800GS. You can get them for around $300 at newegg.com That is of course assuming you are in the US.

If you don't want to spend quite that much you could look at the 6800GS for just over $200, but anything less than that and I don't think you will get a significant upgrade over what you already have. If you opt for the 7800GS I believe you could squeeze another 18 months to 2 years of gaming out of that PC.

 

[Speedo]

yeah, but its just a regular power plug for an optical drive

The PCI Express connector is not the same as a molex connector. It's 6-pin, and an entirely different configuration. Most cards will come with an adapter though that converts 2 molex plugs into a PCIe. (its obviously ideal to havea PSU with dedicated PCIe rails though)

If you are planning on upgrading in a year I would not get anything better than a GF6800GS or perhaps 6800GT. Those cards will be fine what you're wanting. There's no point in spending a very large amount on a card which you'll be replacing in a year, since when you do the upgrade you will definetly move to PCI Express.

 

[fredcdobbs]

yeah, but its just a regular power plug for an optical drive

I have two optical drives and the Audigy2 in the front bays. Would there be extra power plugs already in the system? If not, is it as simple as buying a connection and plugging it in or a more complicated operation?

I've changed cd drives in other computers and replaced AGP cards too( none that required power plugs). I'm not sure that I'd be up to splicing or soldering if that's what would be needed.

 

[Comraddict]

that is pretty good computer, i don't see why calling it aging... intel still sells pentims around 3.0ghz.

 

[fredcdobbs]

that is pretty good computer, i don't see why calling it aging... intel still sells pentims around 3.0ghz.

I think computer years are kind of like dog years, one of theirs equals seven of ours.

Aging relative to gaming, especially in the graphics card area.