BleepingComputer.com: New graphics card

Hi, I was recently running a used geforce9600gt my friend couldn't use and it worked for a while until I started getting problems. Now my computer doesn't even recognize the card and all it does is run its fan at 100% when plugged in. The computer start button flashes for a while before starting up too when the card is in so I'm assuming that it's dead. I had another topic going and I guess thats where the post ended. So now I'm looking into buying a new card and am a little confused with nvidia's numbering system. My card before, which my friend is now using, was a geforce 8600gt and that ran fine. Now I'm looking into buying a 9500gt or possibly even another 9600gt, brand new this time.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Se...&CatId=3670
This 9500gt is the one that I'm leaning most towards. It has ddr3 memory which I've read is better then 1gb of ddr2 memory and it also only requires a 400w psu.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Se...&CatId=3670
This would probably be the 9600gt that I would get, but this requires at least a 500w psu and mine is only 460.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/se...48&csid=_23
There is also a gt 240 but I don't know much about it or how large a psu it requires.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Se...&CatId=3669
Here's a 9800 that I'm just throwing out there. It seems like a good buy but I'm pretty sure it will need a bigger power supply.

If anyone could help me it'd be great. I'm really not looking into spending a lot of money, but I want a decent card. Thanks.

My computer specs are:
AMD Athalon x2 2.7ghz
3gb ram
GeForce 6150SE nForce 430 onboard
Windows Vista Home Premium sp2 32bit

The 9600GT would be ideal for the system config you have specified. You should also choose among the more prominent (XFX, Asus, Gigabyte...) GFX card manufacturers.

Can you tell me which PSU you have, rather specify the +12V rail's rating? Does it have a separate PCI-E power connector?

This post has been edited by ReviverSoft: 23 March 2010 - 08:55 PM

I am using a Cooler Master extreme power plus 460w psu. I do have a pci e power connector, but I'm worried that I won't have enough power for a new 9600gt as it is not specified on the website.

When a company says it suggests a 500W power supply, they mean it. You may be able to start the PC with only a 460W PSU and a 9600GT installed, but when load is placed upon the graphics card, there won't be enough power. I'm going to assume your budget is $100 and suggest the SAPPHIRE 100287VGAL Radeon HD 5670 (Redwood). This 5670 is faster than the GT 240, 9600 GT, and is on-par with the 9800 GT. The 5670 is smaller, requires 400W of power, and has DirectX 11 included. If you want a 1GB version of the 5670, I suggest the POWERCOLOR AX5670 1GBD5-H Radeon HD 5670 (Redwood) 1GB. If you have extra cash on hand, the SAPPHIRE 100284L Radeon HD 5750 1GB is also a viable alternative that easily beats the 5670, though it pushes the limit of what your PSU can provide.

This post has been edited by DJBPace07: 24 March 2010 - 01:39 AM

Thanks for the advice. I was reading some other threads earlier and it said that the 512mb and 1gb didn't matter that much in games as long as it was ddr3 memory.

Actually, that depends on the games themselves. Grand Theft Auto IV will easily use all GPU memory available.

Oh i see. I think I'm going to get the 5670 with 1gb ram. I was completely satisfied with the 9600 graphics and the ATI card is even better. Thanks again for the help.