could use some advice for my next pc upgrade...

My current specs are...

AMD Athlon X2 4600+ dual core

2 Gigs of ram (planning on getting 2 more in two weeks)

550 W power supply

Geforce 7900 GS 256 MB

--------------------------

I want to upgrade my graphics card, I'm considering getting the cheapest Nvidia 8800 but I have two quick questions....

First off its huge, you guys think it will fit in my pc? here are 2 pictures of my pc with my current nvidia...

top view

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v233/adrenaline1320/111507_08571.jpg

under

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v233/adrenaline1320/111507_09011.jpg

I only have 1 PCI E slot and it does not look like itll fit.

Second, is 550 watts enough for the weakest 8800?

------------------------

It does not look like the next gen cards are going to shrink in size any time soon so if it doesnt fit, should I just get the 8600 GTS? Asides from Crysis it does look like it can run anything well at 1280 x 1024.

Oh and I will be able to run Crysis at "higher" medium graphics with 2x AA and 1280 x 1024 res with the 8600GTS?

Well nevermind, looks like I found what I need...

http://techreport.com/articles.x/13479

judging by the power consumption compared to my 7900 http://techreport.com/articles.x/10715/9

does it look like this card will require a power supply upgrade?

http://techreport.com/articles.x/13479/7

The power supply will be enough, so long as it's not too old.

Check the 12v Rail, what's the AMP rating?

i really dislike the low-mid range 8x cards from nvidia. They are overpriced, and the preformance in dx9 is atually worse then most of the comparable 7x series cards. The only advantage they have is being able to run dx10.

Right now i would recommend the ati 3850 over any budget nvidia card,until you reachthe 8800gt. You can also look at the ati 3870 card, which preforms about 10-15% slower then the 8800gt.

Last but not least the best solution is to just buy a new computer case and an 8800gt.

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10006342

Not sure what the amp rating is, ill look into it.

As for the Nvidia cards being too expensive, the newly released geforce 8800 Gt is about 250 bucks which is really not that much considering what it does.

One more quick question = )

I haven't looked into upgrading my pc for about a year now and was wondering whether or not having a PCI E x16 1.0 slot could be backwards compatible with the 8800GT, because the 8800Gt specifications say pci E 2.0

Not sure what the amp rating is, ill look into it.

As for the Nvidia cards being too expensive, the newly released geforce 8800 Gt is about 250 bucks which is really not that much considering what it does.

One more quick question = )

I haven't looked into upgrading my pc for about a year now and was wondering whether or not having a PCI E x16 1.0 slot could be backwards compatible with the 8800GT, because the 8800Gt specifications say pci E 2.0

chris4355

PCI-e 2.0 is backwards-compatible with PCI-e x16. That being said, I wouldn't upgrade a 7900GS just yet. Wait until after the holidays for prices to come down a bit at least, and to see what the 256MB 8800GT has to offer.

[QUOTE="chris4355"]

Not sure what the amp rating is, ill look into it.

As for the Nvidia cards being too expensive, the newly released geforce 8800 Gt is about 250 bucks which is really not that much considering what it does.

One more quick question = )

I haven't looked into upgrading my pc for about a year now and was wondering whether or not having a PCI E x16 1.0 slot could be backwards compatible with the 8800GT, because the 8800Gt specifications say pci E 2.0

RayvinAzn

PCI-e 2.0 is backwards-compatible with PCI-e x16. That being said, I wouldn't upgrade a 7900GS just yet. Wait until after the holidays for prices to come down a bit at least, and to see what the 256MB 8800GT has to offer.

I have heard conflicting reviews about PCIe 2.0 not being backwards compatable with 1.0 or 1.0a, only backwards compatible with 1.1. OP, might want to do some research first.

looks like there are some compatability issues popping up relating to certain motherboards.

http://www.evga.com/forums/m.asp?m=158518

I have heard conflicting reviews about PCIe 2.0 not being backwards compatable with 1.0 or 1.0a, only backwards compatible with 1.1. OP, might want to do some research first.

TUnified

Hmm...between some of the launch issues with DOA 8800GT cards, and that I haven't heard anything about the HD38XX cards not being compatible with motherboards (yet), this might be a problem more with the 8800GT than the actual interface. Still good to know this is a problem though, I'll have to look into this further.

seems like I have a pci e 1.0a

Did some research doesnt seem like there is any information on whether the card will work with it. = /

[QUOTE="TUnified"]

I have heard conflicting reviews about PCIe 2.0 not being backwards compatable with 1.0 or 1.0a, only backwards compatible with 1.1. OP, might want to do some research first.

RayvinAzn

Hmm...between some of the launch issues with DOA 8800GT cards, and that I haven't heard anything about the HD38XX cards not being compatible with motherboards (yet), this might be a problem more with the 8800GT than the actual interface. Still good to know this is a problem though, I'll have to look into this further.

Maybe the dead cards are being caused by faulty backwards compatability that Nvidia failed to address Wikipedia says that PCIe 2.0 is only backwards compatable with 1.1. But PCISIG says that PCI 2.0 cards are all backwards compatable with 1.*.

It's disturbing that the 8800gt might be the fault.