I need a little help.

[Upstairs Chris]

Hey everybody. I could use some advice.

I need to upgrade my graphics card.

Now I want to get it out of the way now, I am not in the business of building a super high end PC, not one bit. Civ is the only PC game I play, so no need to recommend some disgustingly high priced card, if you do, please give me some logical reasons for it.

Now that CIV 5 is here, I think we all know, its pretty graphically intensive. I am not overly optimistic, I know I am gonna have to drop some coin on a new card and a new PSU. I just wanted some recommendations from people who actually have a card capable of running it on something other than minimum settings. I don't want to spend 100 and get marginal performance just to find out that if I spent 150 Id get max settings. You understand, you guys are smart.

Anyway here are my specs. In all their glory.



Windows 7 64bit
6gb DDR3 RAM
AMD Athlon II X4 620 2.6
A super badass, M2N78-LA motherboard.

And drum roll.

Integrated 256mb Nvidia GeForce 9100.

Yea...it sucks I know, but no one turns down gifts. Anyway, The recommend specs say 512 Nvidia 9800, mean can I just grab one of those and be set, or should I get something like a Nvidia 450 GTS.

I also need help with a power supply, I currently have a 300w, like I said, I know its got to go also, but I know nothing about them.

Any logical, educated, just general positive comment would be much appreciated.
Thanks.

 

[Upstairs Chris]

You guys are pretty arrogant around here.

 

[tokala]

You guys are pretty arrogant around here.

A bit impatient, aren't we

It would be helpful to know your screen resolution, and the EXACT specs of the PSU, especially brand and 12V rail rating.

Chances are, you won't even need a new PSU

You will want a DirectX11 card, as Civ5 seemingly has a plethora of problems with DX10 cards.
In the price range around $100 there aren't any bad DX11 cards for Civ5, the choices are between "good" and "better"

People seem to be quite contend with ATI/AMDs HD 5570/5670/5750/5770 and nVidia GTS 450 cards.
You get pretty much what you pay for with all these cards, x% more expensive means rougly x% faster, and x% more power consumption