Upgrade questions · DIGIT-ARC

System Specs :

P4 2.0 GHZ
768 MB Ram
Via Unichrome Pro IGP (Onboard gfx taking 64 MB system ram)
MSI PM8M - V

The above is my system & i wanted to upgrade it for a better computing experience. I plan to do some gaming on it, don't matter even if the games run at 800*600 at moderate settings.

I have Rs.3K at my disposal.So which component i should go for.
Is there any decent AGP graphics card below 3k?

Also my current pc has only 40 GB HDD, I want to get a big HDD?
I would like to go SATA as my motherboard has SATA port,preferably it's SATA I.
Will SATA II work in it?? Even a 80 GB will do as I am short on budget & need both graphic card & HDD within 3K.

I would be using this setup for another year & get a new pc in 2009,mostly 4 quarter of 2009.So suggest keeping this in mind.

Suggest the best value for money components for my outdated pc(Brought in 2003),so it can serve me for another year.

Bump

Please comment guys, I am in a dilemma.

u have to change everything ... frm processor to cabinet ..

N

I want to upgrade my computer for converting my Mini DV Tapes to DVD's please suggest the configuration required for doing this work. I have a Celeron 2.4 G.Hz, 845 MoBo, 256 MB RAM 80 GB HDD Sony DVD RW. If the hardware cannot be upgraded suggest the required configuration within 25 K budget.

I don't want to change the rig soon,as mentioned in post I will do a complete overhaul in 09.

I am looking for a temporary AGP gfx solution for around an year.No problem if it's unable to play latest games, but I should be able to play games like carbon,most wanted at fairly moderate settings.

Cool G5 said:
I am looking for a temporary AGP gfx solution for around an year.No problem if it's unable to play latest games, but I should be able to play games like carbon,most wanted at fairly moderate settings.

with 3K u will get this cards :

AGP:

BIG FX5200/FX5500 256MB DDR (2.5k)
Sparkle 6200AUltra2 256MB DDR2 (2.4k)
GeCUbe AGP8x R9250 256MB DDR(Rs2150)
POV 5500 256MB DDR (Rs2150)

chec ur slot 4X/8X....

S

i dont think u can manage a gpu+hdd . . try agp version of 7300 LE / GT whichever comes in ur budget. .if u insist on buying hdd , consider geforce 6200. i think u should look for second hand gfx card..

@KaranTh85 - Which card gives best performance from the one you have mentioned?
I am a n00b when it comes to graphics card.
Also what about sagargv suggestion.How is 7300 LE/GT??

S

7600GS > 7300GT > 7300LE > 6200 . dont even think of radeon 9250 / fx 5200. . . 7300GT maybe out of ur budget , then settle for 7300LE..

try looking in the second hand section. since u'll use the card for only a year more, a second hand card particularly for agp is suitable given ur budget.

Cool G5 said:
@KaranTh85 - Which card gives best performance from the one you have mentioned?
I am a n00b when it comes to graphics card.
Also what about sagargv suggestion.How is 7300 LE/GT??

7600GS offcourse gives best as compared to lower cards...

as sagarv mentioned

visit thitwares.com 4 price quotes...on cards

add RS 400 -500 extra & buy XFX 7300GT 256MB --->Rs 3.4k

I today visited a couple of local dealers for price.
I am getting XFX 7300 GT for Rs.1,800 & XFX 7300 GS also at Rs.2K~.
Which one to go??
Also is 256 MB enough or 512 MB??

What about 7600 GT or 7600 GS.Are they powerful than the above two?

S

7600GT > 7600GS. . but those must be the prices of pcie cards. .u need a agp card.. .they'll be costlier.

Don't know, but I clearly stated that I needed an Agp card to the dealer.
So which one 7300 GT or 7300 GS?
I don't think 7600 will come within Rs.3k...yeah extended the budget & am not getting a HDD now.

Guys where are you??
Plz reply which one to buy under Rs.3K??

S

dude , everything is here . . 7600GT > 7600GS > 7300GT > 7300GS > 7300LE. . buy whichever falls to ur budget. . for 3k , get the 7300GT but if u can get a 7600GS , well and good. .
but again make sure that u're buying a agp card and not a pciex16 card. ..
and 256mb is enough . if possible get the card with 256 mb gddr3. .512mb will be a waste and will not offer any performance increase and if its ddr2 with 512mb u'll lose performace actually.

now , what is it that is bugging u ? i hope everything is clear.

Yesterday enquired about XFX 7300 GT AGP, the dealer told me it retails at Rs.6,800. :O
Point of View 7300 GT AGP for Rs.4500

Are these cards so costly??

While another told XFX 7300 GT for Rs.1800.

This has confused me.

Also now my budget is finally extended to Rs.4.5K max.
So now what should I go for? Also which brand?

Cool G5 said:
Yesterday enquired about XFX 7300 GT AGP, the dealer told me it retails at Rs.6,800. :O
Point of View 7300 GT AGP for Rs.4500

Are these cards so costly??

While another told XFX 7300 GT for Rs.1800.

This has confused me.

Also now my budget is finally extended to Rs.4.5K max.
So now what should I go for? Also which brand?

Did you check if the 7300GT was PCIe or AGP?

I think one dealer told me the price of 7300 GT pci-e & the other told me AGP.

So will 7300 GS come ithin 4.5K?

Cool G5 said:
I think one dealer told me the price of 7300 GT pci-e & the other told me AGP.

So will 7300 GS come ithin 4.5K?

Most probably Yes.
*www.theitwares.com/gfxcards/gfxcards.htm

S

the lower cost one ( 1.8k ) is pcie. .the costlier one is agp. .
but i hardly think the 7300GT is worth 5k . .its u're choice. . get the card now. or save money and get a new rig.

I was going to upgrade my rig,but due to some problems I will have to wait for another year or maybe even 2 years.

So was thinking of pumping up the system a bit. My pc graphics subsection is bad thanks to VIA UNICHROME PRO IGP, that's why a new graphics card.

Finally which brand XFX or POV or any other??

Is 7600 GT available in AGP version? If so what is it's cost?
And any other card having GDDR 3 Ram?

S

7600GT agp is certainly available but out of ur budget.

Any 7300GT having GDDR 3 memory?
I got to know sparkle 7300GT has GDDR 3 memory, any other brand?

S

xfx , galaxy ( or BIG ) .

Also if I purchase a 7300 GT having 512 MB instead of 256 MB DDR 2,will the extra memory help?

I have heard somewhere that 512 MB reduces performance than improviong it? Plz explain this?

Is the graphic core not able to handle 512 MB?

Good news : Budget updgraded to Rs.5000.

Now after lots of googling finally I am stucked with 7300GT & 6600GT??
Which one to buy?Some say 6600GT is good because it has GDDR3 memory whereas 7300GT has DDR2. But I have seen 7300 GT having DDR3 memory from brands like Palit & Galaxy.

Also who will give better performance 6600GT 128 MB DDR3 or 7300GT 256 MB DDR 3 ??
Plz give me your opinion,as this is very important to me as I won't be upgrading the pc too soon.

No problem if the graphics card is unable to run the latest games like crysis,assasins creed etc.

I am happy if majority games work at 800*600 at moderate settings.

Plz reply guys.

i have 6 months old xfx 7600gt agp card available for sale with bill and 3 years warranty , pm me if you are interested . and you can run crysis etc on it .

S

7300GT 256 mb ddr3 will be better i feel .. most of the times with entry level cards 512mb will be ddr2 while 256mb will be ddr3 . . more memory is helpful at higher resoltions. .512 will be needed for 1650x1050 and higher. . but the card is so weak that it cant handle high res. .so better to have smaller but faster memory.. .

@sagargv - Thanks for your immense help.

I will let you know which card I get soon.