New computer

[Pushit2.0]

What is the model number on the motherboard? Also when you do upgrade to a graphics card you can/should be able to disable the on board graphics so there is no issues there. Do you prefer ATI vs Nvidia?

~John

[INTRIGUED]

I have no clue what the motherboard number is I'd have to take the panel off and look. I know that I have a PCI-express slot from my research. ATI vs Nvidia.. I really don't have a preference.

[Pushit2.0]

You have an available PCIe x16 slot, so no problem there buying the latest/greatest gpu's but the power supply is lacking to say the least. 300watt psu is tiny, so plan to buy at least a 650watt watt psu, mainly look at the watts on the 12v rail/s then divide by 12 to get the amps on the 12v rail, with your GPU upgrade. What games do you play now and what games would you want to play in the future?

Look here for the games you might want to play, look for at least ~60fps for a playable game:
http://www.guru3d.com/category/vga_charts/

And shop newegg, read reviews etc:
www.newegg.com

[JustROLLIN]

I would buy one of those mini PCs and go to wired.com where they show how to hack it and make it run Mac Leopard or whatever the new OS is called. That way I would have a mac and a PC. Pocket the other loose change.

[twack]

I would buy one of those mini PCs and go to wired.com where they show how to hack it and make it run Mac Leopard or whatever the new OS is called. That way I would have a mac and a PC. Pocket the other loose change.
until you find that they have problems freezing and crashing and no harddrive space

[tpunx99GSX]

for a laptop, definitely Dell XPS or Inspiron. For Desktop Dell XPS.

[INTRIGUED]

Already got the computer tom, Picking out a video card now.



Well I got the computer today. Gateway DX4200-09 640 gig hard drive. 4 gig of ram and picked up two 2 gig sticks and threw them in for a hefty 8. Picked out the monitor I have been eying up and I love it. Got a 22 inch samsung, 20000:1 contrast ratio. 2ms response. One thing I am disappointed on and I know I should of researched more was the video card. The damn thing has a ATI Radeon HD 3200 freakin intergrated card. Kind of just settled on it and just figured I would Just upgrade so.. Brings upon the question. What card should I get fella's? Nothing insanely expensive but something above average.

[INTRIGUED]

Alright, I have come to terms that I won't be spending over 250 bucks. I want a new video card damnit. Will I need a larger power supply or no?

[Pushit2.0]

depends on the PSU you already have, and what graphics card you want. Also when you get a grachics card you will have to disable the onboard in your BIOS. Any 1 card from Nvidia or ATi will work in your pcie x16 slot.

~John

[NOT THE BLUE LAMPSHADE]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150351

My friend has a 4850 and it runs Lost Planet at full blast at 1920x1200, and that's one of the most intense dx10 games!

He also pretty much the same setup you have, so a 500 or 550 watt PSU should be just fine.