Topic: Dieing Video Card

[Woapalanne]

Well my video card is on its last leg I think.  Starting to get 4 lines on the screen and it is something with the computer, not cable or monitor.    I think it has to do with heat.  TF2 will work for about 1 round before it acts up.  So I could buy a new card fan and hope or by a new computer which is about needed anyway since I am sitting at least the high end of the minimal hardware specs for new games.

The question comes down to do I buy a pre-made computer or build another like I did 3 years ago.

ThinkCentre M57 Series Ultra Small Form Factor (Lenovo aka IBM)
   Processor: Intel® Core™ 2 Duo E6550 Processor (2.33GHz 1333MHz 4MB L2)                     1       
   Operating System: Genuine Windows XP Professional                   
   Total memory: 2GB PC2-6400 SDRAM (2 DIMMs)                   
   Video adapter: Integrated Video GMA3100
   Audio adapter: Integrated Audio AD1882HD

Thoughts from you hardware people?    

[Sidewinder{DoH}]

If you do plan on buying ready built try to get something that is easily upgraded. Often a video card upgrade or more ram is wanted before and entire new computer is needed. Plus integrated video??? That ain't much of a gaming pc that's for sure. Definetly stick with Intel right now, I'd even go 45nm if you can afford it. As for video cards I would stay away from ati. You will get the most performance for your money that way. Also don't hesitate to put in lots of ram. The way these new games coming out are I would recommend going with more than 2gb as with Vista and certain games that seams to be a minimum already. (ie. Age of Conan)

[Woapalanne]

Yeah,
I agree. 

Not sure what I was thinking about the video option on that system.

Going to try to stay away from Vista.

As far as the ati vs nvidia battle.  I have ATI right now so I am not very happy with it, crapped out on me twice already.  Any one have any other thoughts on this war? 

Talking intel chips, anyone know the pros and cons to the two different cores:
Conroe or Wolfdale?

Real differences between the 65nm and the 45nm?

[Woapalanne]

ok, so:
45nm Wolfdale vs. 65nm Conroe

That explains that and the 45 is 7% faster than the 65..... 

So I would be looking at: Intel Core 2 Duo E8200 Wolfdale 2.66GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8200 - Retail

    * Processors Type: Desktop
    * Series: Core 2 Duo
    * FSB: 1333MHz
    * L2 Cache: 6MB
    * Manufacturing Tech: 45 nm
    * 64 bit Support: Yes
    * Hyper-Threading Support: No
    * Virtualization Technology Support: Yes
    * Model #: BX80570E8200
    * Item #: N82E16819115038


Anyone see anything wrong with this mobo?
ASUS P5K-E LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

    * CPU Type: Quad-core / Core 2 Extreme / Core 2 Duo / Pentium Extreme / Pentium D / Pentium 4
    * Dual Channel Supported: Yes
    * FSB: 1333/1066MHz
    * Maximum Memory Supported: 8GB
    * Memory Standard: DDR2 1066
    * Number of Memory Slots: 4×240pin
    * PCI Express x1: 2
    * PCI Express x16: 2 x PCI-E x16 (blue @ x16 mode, black @ x4 or x1 mode)
    * Model #: P5K-E
    * Item #: N82E16813131225


And this video card?

Open Box: ASUS EN9800GTX/HTDP/512M GeForce 9800 GTX(G92) 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card

    * Chipset Manufacturer: NVIDIA
    * Core clock: 675MHz
    * Stream Processors: 128
    * Memory Clock: 2200MHz
    * DirectX: DirectX 10
    * OpenGL: OpenGL 2.0
    * DVI: 2
    * TV-Out: HDTV / S-Video Out
    * Model #: EN9800GTX/HTDP/512M
    * Item #: N82E16814121238R

[Sandman-XX]

Never had an asus, Haven't heard much bad about them.  That vid card looks a bit pricey, might want to check out what an 8800 GTS looks like, price wise.  I'd think 512k minimum to keep it able to run stuff for awhile. That model is still touted as one of the fastest around.  Make sure you want to go with a 775 socket before you buy.  Check out cooling options, I never use the fan/fins in the retail box.  Zalman or Thermaltake is what I use for cooling, unless you are considering a watercool option, which you really should, as you've had heat problems for as long as I've heard your fan on vent   Processor looks ok.  Looks like you are looking at newegg, it would be the cheapest, I think.  I'd look at 4g ram, not stick to just two.  Using the same case and all?  I end up buying a new case almost every time I upgrade   You might like the new (V2) g15 keboard, the orange key one.  I recently got that, and like it a little better than the v1 model (blue one)

[Thor]

I'm not much of a hardware guy, I only read up on it when I'm in your boat Woap, trying to upgrade/build a rig. Like the others, I also suggest nVidia over ATI any day of the week. Beyond that I haven't got much to offer.

[Sandman-XX]

Oh, forgot to mention, you definitely want to go GDDR3, the newer, faster stuff.  For that processor, you think you need that extra 7%?

[Woapalanne]

Oh, forgot to mention, you definitely want to go GDDR3, the newer, faster stuff.  For that processor, you think you need that extra 7%?

GDDR3?

[Woapalanne]

Well, I have a video card from work so I have some limited computer use.  Don't think it would play TF2 but at least I still have forums and email.   

[Sidewinder{DoH}]

Ya like I said I would go with 45nm if you don't mind spending the extra money, but of course it is not needed. Same thing with Quad core right now as most apps dont really make any use of it, but for future reasons it may be a good investment.  Also as Sand said the 8800's still kick ass and are a good way to go for a vid card.

[Woapalanne]

Ram battle....

Kingston
OCZ
Mushkin
Corsair

Those are the top end models that I remember at least.  Mushkin still the best?  ???

[Sidewinder{DoH}]

I dont think you can go wrong with any of them.

[Sandman-XX]

I have bought OCZ gold for ram.  About the same price as most, and once I got a bad stick, I sent it back, and they mailed the good stick back before I got the bad stick in the mail.  Excellent CS for me.

[Razor]

Yeah I have corsair stuff, ended up with a bad stick too but i think that was the exception more than the rule.

[Woapalanne]

OK, I am looking at the following....

Video Card: EVGA 512-P3-N801-AR GeForce 8800 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
Item #: N82E16814130318

Power Supply:
Antec BP550 Plus 550W ATX12V V2.2 Power Supply - Retail
Item #: N82E16817371016

Ram:
OCZ SLI-Ready Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2N800SR4GK - Retail
Item #: N82E16820227269

Mobo:
GIGABYTE GA-EP35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813128337

Processor:
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8400 - Retail
Item #: N82E16819115037