Recommend a graphic card.- buying new computer

culabula88

Currently thinking of buying a new computer. I have this one speced up at the moment .its a vostro 200st - 506e including vat and delivery. I am wondering is the graphic card that i am getting with it - 256 mb radeon HD XT is any good?( it cost about 80e) Would i be better off getting different graphic card for the same price and fitting it myself & would there be space to fit it since its a compact case?

I might use the computer for editing photographs in fireworks etc & perhaps a bit of video editing & the odd game.

Base Intel® Core™ 2 Duo E4600 Processor (2.40GHz,800MHz,2MB cache)
Microsoft Operating System Genuine Windows® XP Professional - English
Memory 3072MB 667MHz (2x1024 + 2x512) Memory
Keyboard Dell™ Entry Quietkey USB Keyboard - UK/Irish (QWERTY)
Monitor 19in E198WFP WIDESCREEN UK/Irish Black (1280X800) TCO99 DVI-D
Video Card ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT 256MB
Hard Drive 500GB (7200rpm) Serial ATA/100 Hard Drive with 16MB DataBurst™ cache
Floppy Drives and Additional Storage Devices No Floppy Drive
Mouse Dell 2 Button USB Optical Mouse
Modem No Modem
Optical Devices 16x DVD +/- RW Drive
Sound Cards Integrated 7.1 Channel High Definition Audio
Speakers No Speakers
Shipping Documents English Documentation with UK/Irish Power Cord
Gedis Bundle Reference D05s010
Microsoft Application Software Microsoft® Works 9.0 - English
Standard Warranty 1Yr Basic Warranty - Next Business Day
Enhanced Service Packs 1Yr Basic Warranty - Next Business Day Included - No Upgrade Selected
CompleteCare Declined CompleteCare
Protect your new PC No Security/Anti-Virus Protection - English
Order Information Vostro Desktop Order - Ireland
Dell System Media Kit Resource DVD - (Diagnostics & Drivers)
Promotions Hidden Option Class Free memory upgrade from 2048MB to 3072MB
Online Promotion Option for GEDIS Configs Dell Internet Order

zilog_jones

The best affordable graphics card around now is probably the GeForce 9600GT - usually around €150. Anything cheaper prob isn't worthwhile.

culabula88

thanks

what do you think of the spec of the computer?

Sqaull20

Same pc with much faster Cpu €529

Vostro Desktop 400
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo E8300 processor (2.83GHz, 1333MHz, 6MB cache)
Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium - English
1Yr Basic Warranty - Next Business Day Included - No Upgrade Selected
19in E198WFP WIDESCREEN UK/Irish Black (1440 x 900) TCO99 DVI-D
3072MB 667MHz (2x1024 + 2x512) Memory
500GB (7200rpm) Serial ATA Hard Drive with 16MB DataBurst™ cache
128MB ATI® Radeon™ HD 2400 Pro graphics card
16x DVD +/- RW Drive
Dell™ Entry Quietkey USB Keyboard - UK/Irish (QWERTY)
Dell 2 Button USB Optical Mouse

http://configure.euro.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?b=&c=ie&cs=iebsdt1&kc=N4X40003&l=en&m_30=143659&oc=D054008&rbc=D054008&s=bsd

Anything over a 9600gt is overkill for a 19"..

I would get this 8800gs €92, just as fast as a 9600gt on 19"

http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=345164

Performance of 9600gt and 8800gs are very close at your monitor res 1280 by 1024

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2008/02/21/g94_nvidia_geforce_9600_gt_graphics_card/7

Nice setup for under €650, 8800gs overclock a nice bit too

culabula88

Sqaull20 wrote: »

Same pc with much faster Cpu €529




http://configure.euro.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?b=&c=ie&cs=iebsdt1&kc=N4X40003&l=en&m_30=143659&oc=D054008&rbc=D054008&s=bsd

Anything over a 9600gt is overkill for a 19"..

I would get this 8800gs €92, just as fast as a 9600gt on 19"

http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=345164

Performance of 9600gt and 8800gs are very close at your monitor res 1280 by 1024

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2008/02/21/g94_nvidia_geforce_9600_gt_graphics_card/7

Nice setup for under €650, 8800gs overclock a nice bit too

i will have to add extra 30e to change OS to XP. Is there that much difference in the speed of the CPU - how noticable would it be?

Sqaull20

Cpu is a nice bit quicker, well worth an extra €60 imo..

Why dont you go Vista?

Much better than Xp when you have the hardware..