The right Graphics Card for my computer

[Camey]

Hey, this is my first post to this forum and my issue is regarding my graphics in my computer and upgrades for my Graphics card.

 

I am currently using this computer:

 

Advent SQ9204 specifications | Expert Reviews

 

 

Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q8300

Processor external bus: 333MHz (1,333MHz quad-pumped FSB)

Processor multiplier: x7

Processor clock speed: 2.5GHz

Processor socket: LGA775

Level 1 cache: 4x 32KB

Level 2 cache: 2x 2,048KB

Memory : 4.000000gb

Memory type: PC2-6400

Maximum memory: 4GB

Motherboard: Foxconn G31MX-K

Motherboard chipset: Intel G31

Power consumption standby: 7W

Power consumption idle: 59W

Power consumption active: 90W

 

I am a gamer, my main game being World of Warcraft, however with the new expansion coming, Blizzard have updated their engine and my graphics card is no working with the game. My budget is £130 at the most for a Graphics card, my main game is World of Warcraft as I said, but I do play various other games and hope to get into more Main stream PC gaming.

 

The Card I was thinking of getting was:

Asus GeForce GTX 460 Direct CU TOP 768MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card []

 

- Exclusive Voltage Tweak Technology

- Core Clock: 700MHz

- Memory: 768MB GDDR5

- Memory Clock: 3680MHz (Effective)

- Memory Interface: 192-Bit

- Processing Cores: 336

- Shader Clock: 1400MHz

- Bus Type: PCI-Express 2.0

- Display Connectors: 2x Dual-Link DVI-I & 1x Mini-HDMI 1.4a

- SLI Ready

- HDCP Capable

- DirectX 11 Support

- OpenGL 4.0 Support

- PhysX Enabled

- CUDA Enabled

 

I don't know if this is will run with my computer though, so if anyone could give me feed back of it and perhaps suggest Graphics cards that would run extremley well with my computer(Able to Run World of Warcraft and basically full graphics) that would be great!

 

-Thanks in Advance

Camey

[Dalo Harkin]

The 460 is probably the right choice at the moment, BUT you need to check that your PSU has enough wattage to power it, and enough connectors...

[Camey]

Not to sure what much of that means, or how to check it. And perhaps the numbers I should be checking for.

[Camey]

Oh quikc update: I had someone confirm that it will fit, however, I am still un sure what you mean abotu the PSU, and how to check the PSU.

[Dalo Harkin]

take the side panel off the PC case and look at the PSU (power supply unit) it normallt has the wattage printed on the side (500W for example)

[Camey]

Rightio. One more quick question(or 2)

 

My computer has

 

PCI-E x1 slots (free): 1(1)

PCI-E x16 slots(free): 1(1)

 

The graphics card is PCI-Express 2.0

 

The "(free)" is excluding the current Graphics Card, correct?

 

And with have a:

PCI-E x1 slots (free): 1(1)

 

Will it 100% be able to fited with a:

PCI-Express 2.0 Graphics card?

 

(Without going into other factors like PCU)

 

:]

[Dalo Harkin]

PCI-E x16 is the one that you need, if you have a GPU in one already it just means that if you wanted to you could use SLI or Crossfire (which is the pairing of 2 cards, essentially running together for more performance)

 

PCI-E 2.0 is just the version, it runs faster than PCI-E 1.0 is all

[josephcave86]

Once you have found out your power supply you will need to check if it has enough juice to power your new card.

 

This website is helpful:

 

Antec Power Supply Calculator

 

Then once you know you can either buy a new PSU or keep toyour current one.

 

The GTX 460 requires to wires that come from the PSU they both have a connector with 6 holes in them, they are normally wrapped together. You need two to plug into the card.

[Dalo Harkin]

Most GPU's come with the cables you need if the PSU doesnt have them,

a 6 pin PCI-E can be run off 2x Molex like this:-

 

http://www.keuren.eu/images/72.2MOLEX-PCIe.gif

 

 

You 'normally' get these with the PSU