Right now I'm running an older Compaq (2.8GHz and 512MB ram) with a Radeon 7000. Got a 17" emachines CRT, too. Baller setup, right? I've been out of the upgrade game for a while so I need a little help.

I first and foremost want a widescreen LCD monitor, at least 19" but preferably larger, running a higher resolution like 1680 x 1050. My current vid card won't support anything over 1280 x 768 (for WS), and if I'm getting an LCD I'd also like to run it DVI.

So I was looking into getting a new card, one a little more up to date, and the GeForce 7600GT seems to fit the bill (and my budget). It's gotten great reviews and would allow me to run some of the games like HL2 and Doom 3 that have been gathering dust in my desk for lack of the hardware to run them.

I'm making this thread to ask someone more knowledgeable about compatability issues with that card and my PC, things I need to be aware of/look out for (don't be afraid of going too simple, you won't insult my intelligence). I'm also asking for recommendations on both the monitor and card upgrades; I have a budget of about 150 for the card and 250 for the monitor, or about 400 total, but of course I'm more than willing to spend less than that.

I appreciate it!

3/4/2007 6:14:59 PM

bttt

3/4/2007 8:46:18 PM

now i'm looking at the 7900GS instead of 7600GT. not that much more in price, and ~600MHz increase in core clock and 128-bit increase in mem interface.

it'll probably stay relevant for a little longer...


looking at these two 7900GS's...both come factory OCed, but for about 35 bucks more the second one increases the core clock by about 75MHz and the Mem. clock by about 250MHz (over the first)...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814150202
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814150209


worth it?


(stole this from my posts in chit chat)

3/4/2007 9:22:31 PM

You probably can't go PCI-Express if you have an older compac, check your motherboard specs. I would also look at increasing your ram to atleast 1gig if your interested in games like HL2 and Doom3. The do offer upper mid-range Geforce 7 series cards in AGP you can check out.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130274

3/5/2007 12:15:02 PM

not worth it, get the one for $30 less. I wouldn't pay more than ~$140 for a 7900gs these days anyway. They're around for that price if you look hard enough. also, like ^ said, your board isn't going to support that if you're running a radeon 7000 atm.

3/5/2007 12:17:13 PM

yeah that little oversight hit me the other night, and unfortunately I don't have the money to replace my mobo too. kinda sad that in order to get a better monitor I have to chain upgrades all the way down to the motherboard


I don't have the money it's going to take for all that, so I guess the whole project is going on hold

3/6/2007 5:49:49 PM